Chapter 90

Her stepdad exhaled loudly as he sat in the big chair that was beside the one his mother sat in. Grandpa Leodegrance’s chair. He leaned forward, resting his weight on his forearms. “Ryder and I had a long chat.” He scowled a bit at Ryder. “Not only did he reveal his long-standing feelings for you, but he let me in on the way David has tried to suppress his own for you.”

Ryder smirked at Kingston. “And I told him you made the moves on me.”

Jane nervously laughed as she met Kingston’s disapproving glare. “Yeah, I kinda did.”

“He also said you’ve been in love with David, and David had revealed his love at the same time.” Kingston shook his head. “I had no idea, Jane. You two had been so close growing up, but I never imagined you as anything other than the daughter I never had. When you grew apart, I saw it as simply the two of you growing up, and I was counting the days until this one would knock on our door and ask permission to date you.”

“Date?” Ryder scoffed. “Old man, I told you. She’s wifey.”

Jane covered her face. “Ryder.”

“You mean, husband, hun.” He chuckled, raising their joined hands to kiss her fingers. “I told him about Luc as well. How neither David or I knew Luc had an interest in you, and the fucker took advantage of you trying to make things ‘wrong’ between us by making yourself a lonely spinster.”

She lowered her arm, smiling. He was so silly; she never would’ve imagined Ryder doing this.

He grinned at her. “I told him I’m almost positive Tercero is in love with you.”

Her smile fell, and she worriedly darted her gaze to Kingston. He was frowning but not blowing up. More than anything, he looked puzzled and probably didn’t know which one was Tercero.

Ryder squeezed her hand. “He knows you can’t make up your mind, and he knows I was fine with letting you take time to decide. And by taking time, I mean, you’re my girl but you’re exploring your relationships with them. If you decide just me, or one of them, fine. None of us are going to fight. If you decide all of us, that’s fine too.”

She stared wide-eyed at him before watching Kingston.

His face was red. “Obviously, I’m not going to allow this, Jane. But, as he pointed out, you are almost eighteen. I won’t be able to stop you from making choices forever. So, what I am going to propose is this: You may date Ryder, Tercero, or Luc.” She went to open her mouth, and he held up a hand. “Wait. I can’t stop you from loving David, but I have to do my duty as a father. While you are underage, I will make rules, and my rule is you do not subject yourself to the chaos that will ensue if you publicly date your stepbrother.”

“But I’m not ready to let David go,” she whispered. “I don’t know if I’ll ever be.”

Ryder sighed. “Babe, all he’s saying is you have permission to have a boyfriend. When you turn eighteen, he will give you a choice.”

Kingston nodded. “Until your birthday, Ryder . . . or one of his brothers will be allowed to see you. Supervised. If you choose Ryder, you may tutor him, as you had originally planned.” “He means we have to keep the door open, and I can’t feel you up.” “Jesus Christ,” Kingston muttered, rubbing his forehead.

Ryder grinned at her. “He’s way off.”

Jane was obviously going to take this, but she didn’t believe it was real. “So, I can come home? David can come home?”

Kingston shook his head. “David isn’t speaking to me, and I have to work things out with your mother.” He winced. “I’ll be here with you, and you’ll stay enrolled at Helldonna until we move home. Ryder has managed to make arrangements to skip practices for the next two weeks to get his grade up. He’ll pick you up from school if you want, but you are to come straight home. If I get one call about you two getting into trouble, he’s no longer allowed, and you’ll be enrolled in an all-girls academy on the other side of the country.”

Ryder rolled his eyes. “I already told you; I’ll only kiss her in the car.”

“And in this house, there will be no kissing.” Kingston sent them both a dark look. “Respect my father’s house. You get to know each other, not just sex.” Jane’s face burned. He did not just say that.

“Fine, old man,” Ryder said, his smile deadly. “You know she’s having my babies, right?”

Kingston had been taking a bite out of a cookie, and now he was spitting it across the room as he tried to roar, “You’re pregnant?”

Ryder’s smug smile widened. “Well, I don’t know about now, but she will be. Told you—wifey.” “I’m on my period,” Jane blurted.

Kingston breathed heavily, his blazing eyes on Ryder. His head was going to explode, for sure.

“Yeah, I told him I was with you,” Ryder said, his tanned cheeks pinking. “That you’re the only girl I’ve been with.”

Kingston pinched the bridge of his nose, just like David did when he was frustrated. “Do I need to get you a pregnancy test, Jane?”

“No.” She held a hand over her warm cheek.

“Are you on birth control?”

Ryder snickered, kissing her head. “Old man, she’s fine. I’ll follow your rules. Now can we let her tell me if I’m the one, or if I need to call one of my brothers?”

Kingston glared at her. “Please tell me I don’t have to go through this again. He’s bad enough for all of them.”

Jane got up and went to Kingston, throwing her arms around his neck to kiss his cheek. “He’s the one.”

It wasn’t long before Kingston was hugging her tightly. His body trembled as he clutched her to him. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair.

“I love you,” she said, wiping her eyes as she smiled over his shoulder. Sylvia was watching from the kitchen.

“Just promise you’ll tell me if you decide to see the others,” he said, holding her at arms’ length.

“You tell me before you sneak off with David.”

She nodded. “I love him, Kingston. I’ve always loved him.”

He sighed; his sad smile almost broke her. “I should’ve seen it because I see it now. I’m sorry.” Her whole body hurt, but she was so relieved. She didn’t even know she needed this with him.

Kingston nodded to Ryder, and her boy was there, lifting her away and hugging her. “You be good to her,” he told Ryder. “I’m not past tying you up and throwing you down a hole.” She thought Ryder would say something snarky, but he surprised her.

“Nothing would make me hurt my girl.” He grabbed her hand. “I’m going to let her call my brothers. Mind if I take her outside? I didn’t bring a car, so you know I’m not going to steal her.”

A real smile spread over Kingston’s face. “Stay on the porch. No making out because it’s still considered the house.”

Ryder muttered a curse. “I’m kissing her,” he said, pulling her behind him.

“Keep it respectful, boy,” Kingston yelled after them.

“Yeah, yeah.” Ryder opened the door and immediately lifted her up, hugging her tightly. “Fuck, how am I going to stay respectful around you?”

She tightened her arms around his neck, and she bawled.

He chuckled, kissing her cheek. “Ah, my baby figured out how to keep me in check.”

“I’m sorry,” she croaked pitifully. “I’m just so happy you’re here. I didn’t know if I’d really see you again.”

“You doubt me too often, babe.” He pecked her lips and carried her toward the porch swing. As he sat, he arranged her on his lap and put a hand over his spot. “Did you keep me?”

Tingles. She covered his hand, nodding. “But I kissed Tercero today.” His smile fell, and he searched her face. “When the fuck did you see him?” “Lunch.” She waited for him to get angry.

“Slick fucker. That’s where the phone came from . . .” He put a hand over her tummy. “No fucking? I’ll have to beat his ass if he fucked you while I was crying about not seeing you.”

She laughed sadly, shaking her head. “Your friends kinda scared him away. I felt bad.”

His eyes flashed. “Well, you’re gonna have to tell him to keep his distance for the next couple weeks. I’m fighting all of them if they fuck this up for us.” He began sliding his hand across her stomach. “You’re really on your period? I thought David was with you?”

Gosh, she wasn’t sure he would be okay with this, but lying to Ryder wasn’t going to happen. “He was.”

Ryder’s hand stilled. “Babe, you let him when you were hurting? Are you okay?”

Cutest boy in the whole world. Jane cupped his cheeks and kissed him long and hard. “I really fucking love you, Ryder Godson.”

Pure beauty when he smiled down at her. “And I really, really fucking love you, Jane Mortaime.”