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big-time. And she’d be seein’ me holidays, birthdays. I’d wear her down until she came back. I’d never let her doubt how much I love her.”
    Marti glanced up. “How’d you know?”
    “That he doesn’t tell you he loves you?”
    She cleared her throat. “Yeah.”
    “Because he never taught you how to love, baby.”
    Marti glanced away, stricken. “How can you say that? What is it we’ve been doing?”
    “A lot of fuckin’.”
    “Didn’t need to hear that. La-la-la-la,” the carriage driver chimed in.
    Marti wrinkled her nose at the driver’s back. “See why this won’t work?” she whispered harshly.
    “I’m a good teacher, Marti. I learned from the best.”
    “Your mom?”
    “Yes.”
    “My mom was loving too,” Marti said, her voice tight. “She was the glue that held our family together.
    “But you felt abandoned when she died.”
    “Dad was there.”
    “But he was busy. And likely grief stricken. He didn’t know what to do with a little girl. Didn’t understand how to make you feel secure.”
    Marti’s gaze locked with his. There was no judgment, no pity in his expression. Just that quietly intense stare of his. He was there for her. All she had to do was ask for his support, his loving.
    “How’d you get so smart?” she asked gruffly.
    “I’m not. I’ve just had a lot of time to think about us. About what’s wrong with us. I’m gonna finish your education. Show you what lovin’s all about.”
    She gave him a sideways glance. “Oh yeah?”
    “Yeah.”
    “Does this lesson have anything to do with why we’ve taken the slow route home?”
    “Maybe.”
    “Do you have another surprise for me waiting there?”
    “The boys have been workin’ on it as we speak.”
    Marti shook her head, excitement giving her butterflies in her belly. “The List again?” At his nod, she shrugged, trying to pretend a little nonchalance. “But I just told you it’s bogus.”
    Jackson bent toward her ear. “It may have started as a way for you to erect a barrier between us, but I think it serves another purpose now. Mine. I’m gonna show you how much I love you. How willin’ I am to walk through fire for you, baby.”
    The low growling texture of his voice made her wet. She squirmed on the seat beside him, then gave him a glance from under the fringe of her eyelashes. “Has it been that bad?” she cooed.
    His expression tightened. “Like havin’ toothpicks crammed under my fingernails.”
    Marti sighed. “I’m sorry I ever started this. I don’t want to cause you any pain.”
    “Don’t. You don’t have a thing to apologize for, and if you haven’t figured it out, my buddies are part of my extended family. We love and trust one another. This game we’re playin’ is makin’ you a part of us. You’ve got family now, Marti.”
    She blinked her eyes. “It’s a damn incestuous family you have, Jackson Teague.”
    He gave her a crooked smile. “We’re southern boys, what’d you expect? And baby, you don’t know the half of it. Just you wait.”

Chapter Seven
    Jackson twisted the key in the lock. Inside the apartment, the lights were dim in the foyer, but a golden glow emanated from around the corner. He reached back and wrapped an arm around Marti’s waist and pulled her inside.
    She dug in her heels. “My list wasn’t all that detailed…”
    “Worried?” He kept his voice calm and cheerful, knowing it riled her.
    “Scared to death.”
    And she probably was given the scowl on her face. He closed the door, but also kept hold of her hand in case she tried to flee. She tugged, but stomped a couple feet farther into the apartment.
    “All it said was ‘A Ménage’,” she whispered. “That could mean a lot of things. Could even mean that we watch one, but never actually do it.”
    “We already did one,” he said amiably.
    Her cheeks flushed. “The little blow thing?”
    “Blow thing? It was a blow job . Deep throat. Tail wagging and you bleatin’ like a lamb.”
    Her