A past as volatile as his had probably caused major attachment issues. Her eyes widened, and she gasped. Finally! Answers. Brook Lynn and Jessie Kay battled their own attachment issues, determined to hold on to everyone, while Jase must have veered to the other end of the spectrum, determined to hold on to no one, fighting with everything he had to save himself from further hurt.

Which meant...I have the power to hurt him.

He cared!

Her sudden flood of joy was tempered only by concern. Not just a fixer-upper. He’ll have to be torn down and put back together if we have any hope of lasting long-term.

No question, he would resist any attempt on her part to win him over. But if she could just breach his first line of defense—those frosty walls—she’d have a shot at him.

After what had happened in his bed, she knew beyond a doubt the end result would be worth every wrong turn, every inconvenience.

I will have him. One way or another.

But first things first. Her sister.

After she had dinner with Beck and West—Jase had taken off without a word—she drove home to await Jessie Kay’s return. Miracle of miracles, the girl had gotten a job plucking wild strawberries at a nearby facility, and she’d kept it all this time.

An eternity seemed to pass before the front door’s hinges creaked. Brook Lynn jumped up as her sister trudged into the house.

“Strawberries suck.” Jessie Kay groaned with fatigue as she threw her purse on the coffee table. When the bag slid to the floor and the contents spilled out, she flipped it off and left it there. “I’m moving to someplace called Blueberry Fields. Or Pineapple Cove.”

“And they’d be lucky to have you,” Brook Lynn said, her palms beginning to sweat. “I baked your favorite carrot and apple casserole today. Though I had to fork Beck’s hand, I managed to come home with half of it.”

“Thanks, but I snacked on my dignity on the way home.”

“Too bad. Kitchen. Now.”

Jessie Kay sighed. “Warden is in the house, I see. Are you fixing to start counting?”

Gotta take it down a notch. “Sorry. No.” Brook Lynn warmed a plate of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy and the coveted casserole.

As Jessie Kay pretended to eat, Brook Lynn drummed her fingernails against the table.

Finally, her sister asked, “You trying to tell me what’s wrong in Morse code?”

Maybe. It’d be easier. “I’m just going to say it. Blurt it out and live with the consequences.”

“Great. That’d be a nice change.”

Brook Lynn pursed her lips. “When did you become so snotty?”

“When did you lose your lady balls?”

Good question. Okay. So. “Are you ready?”

“Been ready.”

“I...well.” She closed her eyes, drew in a breath. “I want Jase.” And now there was no taking the words back. She peeked through her lashes. “I want him for me, not for you. And I think...I think he wants me, too.”

Jessie Kay paused with her fork midway to her mouth. She peered at Brook Lynn with wide blue eyes underscored by dismay. “You...and Jase? My Jase.”

Her stomach twisted, a single word screaming through her head. Mine! She bit her bottom lip, nodded. “Do you love him? Please, please tell me you don’t love him. Because we kissed. He and I. While I was in the hospital, and then again while I was at his house. There might have been some grinding the second time. And I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I know you want him, too, and know you had him first, but...”

“Wait. He kissed you? As in, mouth to mouth?”

Her brow furrowed with confusion as she said, “Yes...”

Bemusement and sadness warred on her sister’s face. “He slept with me, but he didn’t kiss me. Not on the mouth.”

“No, stop,” Brook Lynn said, slapping a hand over the mouth in question. “I don’t want to hear this.”

Jessie Kay pried her fingers loose. “I thought it was a Pretty Woman thing, that he didn’t think he was good enough to give alms at the door of my temple.” Her shoulders slumped. “Dude. He didn’t think I was good enough for him.”

This. This was what Brook Lynn had hoped to avoid. “He’s clearly a moron.”

“And yet you still want him.”

“I have bad taste.”

Her sister rolled her eyes.

“You are good enough for him. You just aren’t right for him. There’s a difference.”

“True, but somehow I’m never the right one for the guys I sleep with. But that’s my problem, not yours.” Jessie Kay pegged her with a hard stare. “Are you sure Jase is the one for you?”

“Yes.”

“Then I guess you need to know what to expect. Being with him was—”

“No! Don’t say it.”

“—weird,” Jessie Kay finished, and Brook Lynn frowned.

“Weird?” Not pure ecstasy? “What do you mean? You appeared so satisfied afterward.”

“Oh, I was. But anytime I touched him, he stiffened, and not in a good way. He constantly looked over his shoulder, as if he expected someone to sneak up on us. After a while, I just had to lie back and let him do all the work. You know, every girl’s dream.”

He’d stiffened? Looked over his shoulder? She thought back, but couldn’t remember if he’d done either of those things while they were in bed together. She’d been too overwhelmed with pleasure.