Page 51 of The Handy Men
"And only in public, until you got your feet on the ground and everything settled down." Jack groaned as he got up on his feet. Wincing, he put his hand on the small of my back. "If I ask nicely, would you rub some massage oil on my back?"
"I don't know if I have any.” Paige was shaking. She had convinced herself it was over. It was very hard to believe that she hadn’t dreamed being with them.
"That's okay," Dean said. "We stocked up."
Paige's head was spinning when they walked back to her car. "You almost made me forget about the money. I think it's a beautiful gesture, but I can't let you do it."
"It's already done," Jack said. "As soon as the money is out of escrow, we're wiring the funds into your bank account."
"And you're then wiring it into your parents' bank account. And then you're free and clear."
"I can't believe this." Paige leaned against the car. "This is too much. Look, I love that you did that for me. And believe me, I'd rather owe you two money than owe my parents."
"So what's the problem? Jack nuzzled her neck.
Paige lost her train of thought.
"Let's go home," Dean said and pried them apart.
Clarity came back as she drove the three houses back to their house.
"My parents don't think I can do this. If I paid them off now, they'd be convinced of it."
"She has a point," Jack said.
"Well, the money is there if you need it. We're not going to touch it. You can immediately pay them off and get them out of your business, if they give you an ultimatum. We've got your back on this."
"You really do," Paige marveled.
"Missed you, gorgeous,” Jack said, swinging her around and kissing her senseless once they got out of the car. It didn’t take much after the big shock she just had. "And by the way, we were serious about the marriage thing. I know it won't be legal, but it will be binding to us. That is, if you want to be with us like that." Jack looked unsure, almost as if we was waiting for a blow to knock him down.
She could never hurt him. She wanted this with all her might. "I do. I do," she said to each of them and kissed them both soundly.
"Do you want to be a stepmother to Brendon?" Jack asked.
"Will Stephanie allow that?" Paige refused to acknowledge that the bluebird of happiness was beating its wings inside her chest. It was too soon to hope. She braced for the final blow, but it never came.
"She's going to need all the help she can get with that kid." Jack grimaced. "Wore me the hell out. Do you want to be his stepmother? Because we need you."
"I do," Paige said again. “I love you both so much.” Step mother. Wow. She was going to have a family of her own after all. Sure, it was unconventional but who cared?
"We should go inside before someone tattles to your parents on us," Dean said.
"They finally left." Paige groaned she followed them into the house. She had a moment to admire the new furniture and freshly painted walls. "It's beautiful," she said, spinning around. "You guys did so much in one week." She held on to their hands. She never wanted to let them go. "Is this real? I feel like I'm dreaming."
And of course, Jack pinched her.
"Ow, jerk," she said.
"You don't have to tell your parents any of this," Dean said, smacking Jack for her.
"It's none of their business, but yeah we can keep it on the down low until I pay them off in full. The good news is I'm getting them out of my hair sooner rather than later. You are not going to believe this shit." She told them about Barbie booking the entire inn for two weeks in August.
"She came through." Jack smirked.
Paige's eyes narrowed. "What did you do?"
"Me? I just made a suggestion and her guilty conscious did the rest."
