All That Jazz (Butler Cove #1)(24)

“You’re beautiful, Ma. You don’t need some sleaze ball doctor to take you out for that to be true.”

“I’m not getting any younger. Anyway, what’s the harm? We get along well, and it was just a drink.”

“You know he’s married, right?”

“Of course.” She glanced at me in the reflection of the mirror, then leaned down to rummage in her drawer for her yoga pants. “You know I’d never do that.”

“Never do what? Go out for drinks with another woman’s husband.”

“That’s enough, Jessica.”

“Whatever.” I turned away and headed for the door. I hated the panicked feeling she gave me in my chest. Like everything would fall apart. She’d lose her job, we wouldn’t have benefits, or be able to pay rent, or help me with tuition. I pulled the door, letting it swing back hard. “I’ll see you later.”





I CYCLED FAST to Keri Ann’s house, dumped my bike in the front yard, and ran up the porch steps almost tripping on my yellow flip flops. Flinging the front door open as I looked down to get them properly back on my feet, my head collided with the corner of something hard. Pain burst through my temple and I rocketed back, losing my balance as my ankle twisted. A howl left my throat, and I landed hard on my ass in the doorway just as a grunt sounded and a box came crashing down on top of me with a mountain of paper floating out of it.

“What the hell?” a deep male voice emanated from above. “Oh shit. Jazz, are you okay?”

“God, Joseph,” I yelled as the paper cleared to reveal the tall male in front of me looking down. Irritation, confusion, amusement, and contrition all crossed his face in record time, leaving me staring up into his steel blue eyes. I scowled and cringed in pain. “Ow,” I whimpered as I acknowledged the pain in my ankle joining the one in my head.

“Oh shit, I’m so sorry,” he dropped to a crouch in front of me, denim stretching over muscled thighs, and reached for my foot, his large warm hand closing around it.

My foot felt tiny in Joey’s strong hand. Flinching, I yanked my foot away. “I’ve got it,” I snapped.

Joey looked up in surprise at my tone.

“Is everything all right out there?” Nana’s voice came from behind me. “Oh my word. Joey, be a dear and help Jazz onto the porch swing and come get her some ice.”

“I’ve got it,” I said and held the doorframe, trying to bear weight. I couldn’t. Joey stepped in close, wrapping an arm around my waist and hauling me up against his firm side. “Come on,” he chastised. “Let me help you.”

I released a breath and let him help me limp to the swing. The wood was cool under my bare thighs. I was literally wearing the tiniest pair of cut off jean shorts known to man. It hadn’t bothered me this morning when I put them on, but now I felt practically naked. I did a quick inspection of my legs to make sure I’d been thorough with my razor. Not that I cared. It was just Joey. But still. Anyway, I might see Chase later, so …

Joey got down in front of me again, lifting a sardonic eyebrow. “I’m gonna touch your foot, okay? Try not to be a freaky filly.”

“A filly?”

“A horse.”

“I know what a filly is.” I snorted. “I can’t believe you just called me a horse.”

“Well,” he said and gently palpated up my foot toward my ankle. “Looks like your hoo—”

“I swear to God, Joseph, if you call my foot a hoof, my other foot is feeling just fine and it will happily meet your face.”

Laughter erupted out of him, his blue eyes creasing up. The hand holding my foot let go and reached up to run through his dark blond hair. “Fine. Let me go get you some ice. Looks like it’s a slight sprain. You probably shouldn’t ride your bike, though. And we can probably reschedule the CPR training this afternoon.”

“No!” I yelped. “I really need to get that done. It’s not like I need a foot to do mouth to mouth, right?”

“I guess not.” He stood up just as Keri Ann came out the door.

“Nana gave me an ice pack to bring out here. What happened?”

She came over and inspected my foot as Joey took the icepack from her. He gave her a quick hug, kissing the top of her hair. “Morning, kiddo.”

Then she plopped down next to me, causing the suspended bench to jolt and then swing.

I sighed and winced at the ice cold of the pack Joey applied gently to my ankle. “Your brother just called me a horse.”

“A filly.”

“A horse. And my foot, a hoof.”

Keri Ann grinned, looking from me to Joey.

Joey chuckled and shook his head. “And a beautiful hoof it is too. I need to get this elevated. Be right back.” He unfolded his tall frame, and I noticed how built he’d gotten under his blue shirt. Not that he hadn’t been before, playing football and all, but he seemed a bit leaner, more chiseled now. What was I thinking? This was the third time I’d caught myself noticing Joey as a guy and not my best friend’s brother. My face flamed, and I raised a hand over my eyes.

“You see? I told you he has a thing for your feet,” Keri Ann whispered.

At her words, my body had the strangest reaction. My throat and chest snapped tight mid inhale, like I was a drawstring bag and a boulder was just dropped inside it. I hoped the hand over my face muffled most of the odd choking noise I made, and it certainly hid the instant burning heat on my skin. I mashed my lips together. Holy shrimp guts, boulders suddenly dropped into your insides didn’t feel that great. The first time she’d mentioned his comment about my feet, it slid right over me with little consequence. Now, suddenly I found myself wanting to ask her what he said exactly, and when, and whether he was being serious and what had been the context. And my feet? Was she sure he mentioned my feet? And I also never wanted to speak of it again.