They were all converged together on the front lawn.
He watched the parents embrace then hug their daughter before turning to him.
“It’s recent,” Daisy said.
“I bet.” Kyle looked at him.
For the next couple of hours he’d be under the microscope with this family.
“I cooked us a feast of beef and roast potatoes,” Sabrina said. “Is that okay for you, Jake?”
“I’m a meat and potatoes man. In fact, give me food and I’ll eat it.”
Bella stood in front of him and he placed his hands on her shoulders.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like for you to meet, Jake. He’s my…boyfriend.”
Offering his hand, he shook both of theirs in turn. “It’s lovely to meet you both.”
“Will you make an honest woman out of her?” Kyle asked.
“Dad!”
“No, Bella. This is a father’s right. I get to know what he intends to do with you.”
“We’re dating and when the time is right, I’ll make her an honest woman,” Jake said.
Kyle stared at him for several moments. “Good, no one takes advantage of my women.” He tugged Sabrina to him, kissing her.
“Ew, Dad,” Daisy and Bella complained in unison.
Chuckling, Jake turned his woman around to stare into her blue eyes. When he got her home she was going over his knee. He didn’t care what she thought. There would be a punishment for her.
“This is totally gross,” Daisy said. “Come on. I’ll get you both a drink before you vomit at the sight before us.” Daisy shuddered, walking toward the front door.
“What do you think of my sister?” Bella asked.
Yes, she was going over his knee and her ass was going to be glowing red by the time he was finished.
“She’s nice.” He placed an arm over her shoulders, following her sister.
“Really? Is that all you’ve got to say about her?”
“What more do you want me to say?” He waited for her to put her foot in it.
“Nothing, forget I said anything.”
She offered up a smile but he saw through it. This lunch was going to be pretty interesting.
His cell phone sounded, giving him the chance to get his bearings back. He saw Chris’s name light up the screen.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I was wondering if you were still alive. I’m only just fucking surviving. Maya is blanking me and the family is planning everything for Jesse. I’m tired of hearing about the wedding dress.”
Laughing, Jake stared at Bella while she talked with her sister. “I’m being pushed toward her sister.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ve got a thing for a woman who’s trying to make me go for her older sibling, go figure.”
“Sorry, man. At least you’re still alive. What is the family like?” Chris asked.
“Like yours. They all care and love each other.”
Every time he met a new couple, he became aware of how selfish his own parents actually were.
* * * *
“What are you up to?” Daisy asked.
Bella looked over at Jake who was on the phone. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not stupid or dumb. You’re up to something and I don’t like it.” Daisy rested a hand on her hip, glaring at her.
Holding her hands up in surrender, she denied everything even though a spark of guilt hit her. She loved her sister. Daisy was a sweet woman who gave everyone a part of herself. Bella had seen one too many times the way people crushed her but still, Daisy found something to smile about.
“Okay, I’ll leave it alone but you better not be trying to do anything with him. He’s got a thing for you. Don’t spoil it.” Daisy pointed toward Jake.
“Got a thing for me? How do you know?”
Bella stared at her sister pour as she poured them glasses of iced tea. She wished there was some magical answer for their troubles.
“The way he looks at you. His gaze is brighter than ever before.” Daisy sighed. “It’s so amazing to watch.”
“Men do that for you all the time.”
“No, they don’t. They use me and spit me back out again. I’m nothing to them other than a good time. Besides, I’ve sworn myself off men for the foreseeable future.”
She followed Daisy onto the back porch.
Bella took a seat beside her sister, wondering what was going on in her mind.
“What? I’m making sure one of my angel’s is being cared for.”
r /> “There are some things you don’t ask,” she said.
“Kyle, come with me,” her mother said. “I’m not going to have you causing problems for our daughters.”
Sending thanks to her mother, they were left alone with Daisy.
“You’re one of the Doms who work there, right?” Daisy asked.