The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [311]
“Can I do anything to help you first?”
Jordan went back to preparing his salad. “The sauce you made yesterday is already heating, and the spaghetti will go on as soon as the water starts to boil.” He glanced at the kids. “My assistant chefs can wash their hands and start to work on the garlic bread.”
Lisa grinned up at him. She’d lost another tooth and her words now whistled when she spoke. “Grandma said she’s bringin’ dessert.”
Jordan shook his head. Grandma, he knew darn good and well, was smitten with Mr. Malone, who would also be in attendance. Ruth had moved into his vacated apartments over the garage. Neither he nor Georgia had wanted her to, but she’d insisted on giving them time to be alone. When Misty and Honey had begged her to stay close since the babies loved her so much, she’d agreed. She was now a paid housekeeper/sitter with her own measure of independence, which she loved.
She also loved the way Mr. Malone hung around on the pretense of visiting his daughters, though Sawyer and Morgan were both quite disgruntled by that situation. Jordan sympathized with them. He didn’t understand the attraction at all. Ruth was so sweet and open and loving, but Mr. Malone—they’d known the man for ages and still called him mister—was so detached. Ruth claimed he was softening and that he wasn’t at all detached when they were alone. He wasn’t detached with any of the kids, either, and he was openly impressed with Casey.
Georgia touched his cheek. “You’ve got that protective look about you again.”
Jordan grinned at her. “Do you know how many people will be here tonight?” When she shook her head, sidetracked just as he’d hoped, he said, “Fourteen, if we include all the kids. When you add the four of us, that’s a lot of confusion. Are you sure you’re up to this after working all day?”
Adam crossed his arms in the same pose Jordan used. “We’ll need lots of garlic bread!”
Georgia laughed. “Yes, I’m up to it, and yes, we’ll need lots of bread.” Then to Jordan, “You know dancing doesn’t tire me. Just the opposite, I always feel energized after a class.”
In the two months since their small, quiet marriage, Georgia had gotten her studio set up and filled to the maximum with students. She taught not only dance classes for the fun of it, but also aerobics. She had people of all ages coming throughout the day. And true to her word, she was always bursting with energy.
Especially in the bedroom.
Jordan had to pull his thoughts away from that direction or he’d never survive the massive family gathering. Georgia left to shower and dress and a few minutes later all the relatives started to arrive.
He wasn’t surprised to see Casey with yet another beautiful young lady. He seldom saw the same girl twice these days, and other than a few surprise meetings, Emma hadn’t been around.
At her first bite of dinner, Georgia smiled at Jordan and said, “Delicious. You really are perfect at everything, aren’t you?”
Jordan grinned. He was used to her saying that, but obviously his family wasn’t.
Morgan choked on his spaghetti, then doubled over laughing. “Maybe perfect for you,” he laughed, “but I think old Jordan is plenty flawed. Now Malone, she prefers men with a little more steel, don’t ya, sweetheart?”
Misty pretended she hadn’t heard him, though everyone could see her trying not to smile. Amber said, “Daddy’s nasty.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Can’t you control him, Misty? He gets more outrageous by the day.”
“Look who’s talking!” Morgan said.
Sawyer was trying to eat and love on his wife and son at the same time. His mother took Shohn so she and Brett could spoil him just a bit, and Honey found her chair bumping up against her husband’s.
Gabe tipped Elizabeth’s chair toward him and kissed her hard. She didn’t even try to fight him off. Adam mimicked their smooching sounds until everyone laughed. Lisa announced to the table at large that her grandma and Mr. Malone were playing footsie beneath the table.
CASEY SAT BACK in his seat and watched them all with an indulgent smile. Things sure had changed over the past