Page 179 of Perfect Satisfaction

“Good,” Sula says vehemently.

JB steps closer. “We’re meeting on the jet because I'm leaving if you don’t want me here. I refuse to ruin your holi—”

He doesn’t get the word out because he’s busy catching Sula as she hurls herself at him. He lifts her up and hugs her close. Joy and sorrow crease his face. He lowers his head and murmurs in her ear. She nods quickly. He says something else before lifting her chin, turning it one way and another. “Still have all your teeth. That’s a good sign.”

“Not only am I still pissed at you, I’m going to murder you,” Sula informs him sweetly.

He hooks an arm around her neck before rubbing the top of her head. And there it is. The love I always see in Sula’s eyes reflected in Joshua Basset’s. After a moment of studying the two of them, I let out a self-deprecating laugh.

“How did I never put it together after meeting Brendan?” I wonder as I extend a hand to JB, willing for Sula’s sake to let bygones be bygones.

JB scans Sula’s face one last time, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Who is your American reference... ah, yes. Clark Kent, you’re not, Ronan. Despite Sula’s pleading with me to spill the tea, I’ve been wondering how you didn’t figure it out a long time ago.”

I retort, “I’m madly in love. Can you say the same?” I throw down the challenge about Liza.

His eyes gleam at me, but he doesn’t answer directly. Then he clasps my hand before saying, “We’d better head up to the house. Dani was chasing Max, trying to recover her lipstick.”

Sula hoots, “Ohh, this is going to be fun.”

JB grabs our suitcases before either of us has a chance to. I clasp Sula around the waist. Her eyes are sparkling gems. I hate to ruin her day when I say, “This is going to be a nightmare.”

She frowns at me. “What makes you think that?”

I kiss her. “Your brothers.” Another kiss. “Have a long time.” A longer kiss. “To make up for.” Still another. “Lost time.” One more. “Now they’re together and can gang up on me.”

Sula grins wickedly. “I’ll be enjoying a massage while that happens.”

I cock my head. “What will I be doing?”

Sula doesn’t get a chance to answer. It’s JB who yells, “Haul your arses into the truck. Brendan just pinged me. Max is painting the walls with lipstick.”

Sula almost topples me over with the force of her laughter.

God, she’s right. This is going to be a blast, especially once my grandfather gets here.

If I didn’t know how much JB, Brendan, Dani, and their heathens loved Sula, this room would tell me. A million photo collages line the walls. Sula and Brendan. Sula and JB. Sula and Dani. Sula and Dani’s cousin Jenna, which is when Sula makes the connection to how she’s related to the infamous designer. “Jake’s Dani’s first cousin. Jenna’s his daughter from his first marriage. Em’s Jake’s wife and Jenna’s stepmother.” Sula wraps her arms around my waist.

“Who’s the man with you two?”

“Ahh, Jenna’s husband Finn. They met when Jenna was a student at UConn. He was her international marketing professor. They had this whole student/teacher thing happen right after she turned in her last assignment.” She smacks her lips loudly in my ear.

Amused, I spin in her arms. “How much older than me is Finn?”

“Maybe five years?”

“Hmm,” I say before I pick her up and carry her out of the room. When we reach the suite we’re staying in, I toss her to the bed, where I proceed to teach my errant wife why writer trumps teacher every time.

Much later, she’s tracing patterns on my chest. “You’re not upset?”

“About what?”

“About JB suddenly showing up.”

I roll her over so I’m caging her slightly. “Sweetheart, contrary to what I said, there are a number of reasons I’m thrilled you had him in your life.”

“And they are?” She holds her breath.

“One, you weren’t alone in the house with West. You had JB with you. Even if it was just him, you had a home.”