Page 44 of Ruthless

“She asked her parents if she could invite him to dinner one evening, and they agreed. I guess Jimmy is hesitant to ask his dad. Kayla thought it would be fun to have dinner and watch television together.”

Tessa wondered if that would help. “Maybe Mr. Taylor will do the right thing here. At least he’d be socializing a bit.”

“And her folks would be there. Willow has heard her talk about Jimmy and would like to meet him.”

“Then I hope his dad will allow it.”

Jett was frowning. “I don’t think it’ll happen.”

“Uncle Ronan!” Kayla shouted. “Can you and Uncle Jett give us rides to my house on the bikes if Jimmy’s dad will let him?”

“Sure,” said Jett.

“Be happy to,” said Ronan.

Jimmy’s face lit up. “I’d get to ride on one?”

“Sure thing. I’m not about to make any guest of Kayla’s walk.”

“You want to ride with me though, Jimmy. I’m much better at it than Ronan is.”

Ronan rolled his eyes at Jett and said under his breath, “You keep telling yourself that, asshole.”

“I’ll be happy to ride with either of you.” Jimmy’s expression reflected his excitement, and as he headed home a few minutes later, Tessa thought she noted a little spring in his step.

“Perfect,” she said.

“What?”

“I was thinking that Jimmy might actually talk to you guys. He thinks a lot of you two, and I know how seductive a bike ride can be.”

Jett grinned. “It is? Want to go for a ride now?”

“I think the expression I heard you use was, ‘cool your jets.’ You have to take Kayla to the garage, don’t you?”

“Ronan can do that.”

Ronan cleared his throat. “Isn’t Don Wilson coming by this afternoon to check on the bike?”

Jett’s shoulders sank. “Being responsible sure isn’t much fun.”

“But it lets you feel like you’ve earned your fun.” Tessa licked her lips suggestively.

He winked as Ronan laughed. “If it’s fun with you, I can be patient. Well, at least I can wait, even if impatiently.”

That nightat dinner with Willow and Linc and Kayla, they chatted mostly about the normal things—money problems, which were always part of life, and things in general. As she served dessert, Willow said she had some big news. “Linc’s actually been going to rehab, and the physical therapist said he’s making progress.”

“That’s great!” Ronan beamed.

“I’m happy to hear it,” said Jett.

“She takes me,” Linc said. “I yelled at her for nagging me about it. I wanted to be stronger before I went, but it turns out I was just stalling. I needed someone doing that.”

“He wouldn’t listen to me either,” Kayla said.

“Surprise, big brother! You have two women who care about you.”

“And one of them’s my sister, so don’t fu… ah, mess it up,” said Jett with a grin to his foster brother-in-law.

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