“Yeah, you only get half credit. Plus, just ’cause he’s the only one we know of doesn’t mean he’s the only one,” Jake challenges.

John lets out a long chuckle, but Jenny stares at Jake like she could give him an ass-whooping with just her eyes.

“Jacob Brody Allen! You promise me right now I don’t have grandbabies out there I’ll never get to meet! I would never forgive you.”

Jake’s eyes go wide as he chokes on his mashed potatoes and waves his hands in front of him. “Hell no, Mom!”

Jenny gives him a curt nod.

Mariana turns her attention to me, the other outsider. “How about you, Devin?”

“Hmmm?”

“Any kids?”

The room goes dead silent. Seven sets of eyes study my face with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for.

I shake my head with a smirk twisting my lips. “None that I know of.”

Three heartbeats pass in complete silence. Jake is the first one to crack up. This time the mashed potatoes almost come out of his nose. Jessie is the next to keel over in hysterics, followed by her dad. Jared pounds the table as a deep chuckle rumbles out of him. Mariana laughs into her hand, trying to hide it from Jenny.

“Oh, for Heaven’s sake,” Jenny sighs with a shake of her head. Her reaction sets off another round of laughter from the Allen clan.

When Jessie catches her breath, she wipes a tear from her eyes and pulls me to her. She kisses me on the cheek and whispers, “I…I’m crazy about you.”

The words shoot a burning surge of adrenaline from my chest out to the tips of my fingers and the bottom of my toes. I cup her face and claim her lips.

“That’s enough of that,” Jared grumbles from across the table.

Jessie sticks her tongue out at him. Under the table, she slides her hand up my thigh and massages the growing thickness there. Fuck no. I’m not part of her crazy competition with her siblings. I’m not afraid of her brothers, but I respect them enough not to let their sister give me a handy under the dining room table. I slide my hand under Jessie’s, interlocking our fingers and squeezing. She sighs, but squeezes back.

Jenny follows through on her threat, and after dinner Jamie and Jessie sulk off to the kitchen to take care of the dishes. John, Jenny, Jake and Mariana head off into the living room to watch Miguel roll over and other assorted miracles. Jared catches me returning from the bathroom for the conversation I’ve been waiting all night for.

“Jessie is my baby sister,” he starts, his voice firm and cold. His arms are crossed and he’s scowling. I’d be a little more intimidated if I didn’t know how great his cow impersonations are.