Chapter 17
17
Janie
THE LAST THING she expected to see when pulling up in front of her trailer was an unfamiliar car sporting a rental sticker parked in the spot she normally used. “Seriously?”
Changing her trajectory, Janie redirected her small sedan, bringing it up alongside the other car. There was only one person it could belong to, and their arrival had her stomach clenching.
What in the hell was she doing here? Had Sharon decided Florida was too hot? Too lonely? Too far from her family? Was she planning to move back and reclaim Janie's home as her own?
She had time left on her lease, but finding a new place in her price range would be near impossible no matter how many months she had to search. She’d barely managed to find this place, no way would she find another needle in the Moss Creek haystack.
The panic circling her insides ramped up when Sharon came out of her neighbor’s house, laughing and smiling with the woman who lived next door. From what she understood, they'd been friends forever. Sharon was probably over there telling her the good news. Assuring her that they'd be together again soon.
After giving her friend a hug, Sharon turned Janie's way. Her lined face split into a wide grin as she waved.
Janie fought to smile back, struggling against the upset wanting her to do the exact opposite. As Sharon came down the steps, Janie reached for the door handle. As tempting as it was, she couldn't just sit in the car and hide out, hoping her landlord would teleport back to Florida.
Unfortunately.
After collecting her purse and the tray of overflow cinnamon rolls from the seat beside her, Janie climbed out, straightening just as Sharon rounded her bumper.
"There you are. I was just asking Brenda what time you got home and she said there was no telling." Sharon grabbed her in a hug, offering a quick squeeze before leaning back. "How’s everything going?"
Boy was that a loaded question. Up until she saw Sharon’s car parked at her home, she would have told her everything was fine. Possibly better than fine if she wanted to tempt fate. "Not bad." As much as she didn't want the answer, Janie found herself asking, "What brings you to town?"
Sharon perked up even more. "I came to visit my granddaughters before the weather gets too cold."
A little of the air frozen in Janie's lungs funneled free, the tightness in her shoulders relax ing a little. "That's nice." Her eyes lifted to the overcast sky. "I think you came just in time."
Sharon snorted. "I think I came a couple months too late." She rubbed her arms. "The weather down south has me spoiled. I can't take the chill like I used to."
Janie relaxed a little more. Sharon didn't sound like a woman who was planning to move back to Montana. "You want to come inside? It's warmer there."
Sharon was already turning toward her trailer. "That sounds great. We can talk things over in there."
There was something ominous about her words. Talk things over . It had her anxiety ratcheting back up as she led Sharon inside.
Her landlady stood just inside the door as Janie put her purse and coat away. The older woman propped both hands on her hips, looking around the small living room and kitchen with an approving gaze. "You sure have taken good care of this place." She turned to Janie with a big smile. "That's why I wanted to give you the first go at buying it from me."
Janie nearly dropped the tray of cinnamon rolls in her hand. "You're going to sell it?"
It hadn't occurred to her that Sharon might get rid of the place. Maybe it should have, but her landlord had owned the place long enough it was free and clear. Janie paid her rent early every month, kept the place up, and only called in the most dire of circumstances—like when the fridge went out. She'd assumed there was no reason for Sharon to sell it. Not when she was likely making money from the deal.
"When I first moved to Florida, I wasn't sure I was going to stay. I was mostly just looking for a little break from everything here." The sadness that flickered across her face was replaced with another smile. "But I love it down there. The weather's good, and I've made plenty of friends." She wiggled her brows. "Some friendlier than others, if you know what I mean."
She did, and didn't want to dwell on it even though imagining her landlady tangled with another retiree would probably be one hell of a distraction from the worst-case scenario playing out in front of her. "But I thought you had family here."
"I do." Sharon sighed. "But as they get older, my granddaughters get busier and busier with their own lives." She lifted a finger and her brows. "Which isn't a bad thing, but I can't make my life all about them."
Of course she couldn't make her life all about them, but didn't she want to make it a little about them?
"I figure I can come up a couple times a year and visit." She shrugged. "Hell, they can come visit me at the beach whenever they want."
Setting the cinnamon rolls onto the counter so they didn’t end up on the floor, Janie brought one hand up to rub her aching head. "When are you planning to sell?"
"If you buy it, as soon as possible." Sharon hesitated. "If you don't, then I'll put it on the market when your lease is up."
It was a lot to take in. More than she could wrap her brain around with Sharon staring at her expectantly. She needed time. Room to come to terms with what was happening before having this conversation. "Can I have a few days to think about it?"
Sharon held up both hands. "Of course. I wouldn't want you to make any snap decisions."
It wasn't that. There was no decision to make, really. She couldn't afford to buy the place. Was even less likely to get a loan. Janie smiled anyway. "Thanks. I'll get back with you in a couple days."
“I’ll be in town the rest of the week, so take your time.” She opened the door. “I’m off to surprise my granddaughters.”
At least Janie wouldn’t be the only one shocked to see her. “I bet they’ll be super excited you’re here.”
Sharon snorted. “They’ll be excited about getting their Christmas money early.”
She turned toward the porch, jumping back in surprise. “ Oh .” She let out a breath, sagging forward. “You scared the hell out of me.”
Janie moved in behind her, concerned about what had Sharon clutching her chest the way she was, only to discover she had another visitor. Devon stood on her welcome mat, still decked out in his uniform, looking shocked to see a strange woman at her door. Janie stepped closer, intending to introduce them, but stopped short when Devon greeted her landlord.
“I didn’t know you were in town, Sharon.”
Of course he knew her. She forgot most of Moss Creek’s residents had lived there forever. And with his job, he likely knew more of the residents than most.
“I was just about to come see you and the girls.” She poked her head out the door. “Is everything all right?” She lowered her voice as she stepped outside, eyes swinging around the park. “Did someone do something illegal?”
Janie ignored the hint of excitement in Sharon’s voice. She also ignored the way her landlady kept babbling on about who could be the most likely culprit behind Devon’s arrival.
Because the only thing she could focus on was that Sharon said she was just about to go see Devon and his girls.
Devon’s eyes met hers as Sharon hustled down the stairs. If she was like the rest of the town's population, she was likely already deciding how to spread the fire of gossip that didn’t exist on her way to Devon's house.
The shock of discovery was quickly turning to anger. Betrayal. Hurt. And she wasn’t known to make her best decisions when she was hurt. So she did the smartest thing she could and slammed the door in his face, spinning away to march straight into her bedroom so she could fall onto her bed and cry like a teenage girl.
Only the door didn’t slam behind her.
By the time the lack of sound registered, turning her back toward the door, Devon was inside, shutting it behind him, eyes still locked on her. “Take a breath.”
“Don’t fucking tell me what to do.” She sucked in air anyway, but it wasn’t to calm down, it was to fill her lungs so she coul d unleash everything boiling over. “You’re a fucking hypocrite. You want me to be an open book but won’t give me the same.” She laughed, the sound bitter and broken. “It’s the same fucking thing that always happens. I knew I should have—”
“Janie.” Devon’s tone was calm and cool, which only pissed her off more.
“—told you to fuck all the way off.” She pointed an accusing finger at his face. “I knew you were too good to be true. I knew—”
“Janie.” He kept coming closer. Kept saying her name in that calm way that sent her already explosive rage into spontaneous combustion.
“—this is what would happen, and you made me think—” Her voice broke and she looked around for something to throw. Wanting to make him hurt as much as she did.
Just as she reached for the decorative bowl she used to store her fruit, Devon was on her, one hand gripping her outstretched wrist and the other wrapping around her back, pinning her free arm to her side. “ Janie . Will you let me get a fucking word in?”
“I don’t want to hear any more of your words.” She sniffled, throat aching, but she’d be damned if he got to see her cry. “They’re all bullshit.”
She’d been here before. Thought things were finally going to be different. But just like all those times before, she was wrong.
“Not a single word I’ve said to you is bullshit.” Devon’s tone was suddenly sharp. Angry. “And I think you know that. I think you’re look ing for reasons to believe this isn’t what it is, because you’re scared.”
She scoffed. “So you not telling me I’m living in your wife’s old house is just me being scared? You’re a real—”
“You’re right. I should have told you.” He didn’t shy away from it the way she thought he would. “I fucked up and I’m sorry. But I can promise you I’m going to fuck up again one day, so we need to figure out how we’re going to get through that shit. What’s going on with us is real, J, and real relationships are messy sometimes.” He shifted his hold on her, pulling her a little closer. “You were less than sober the night I found out where you lived, and then I got sidetracked.” His lips curved. “Distracted by horseback rides and football games and fire pits.”
A little of her anger bled away at his apology. At his claim of what was between them. He wasn’t walking away or shutting down. He wasn’t yelling or swinging low blows. “You should have told me.”
“I should have.” He dropped his forehead down to rest against hers the way he had the night before. “I’m sure there’s a lot more shit I should tell you, but it will take time.”
The reminder was sobering. “That’s not really something available to either of us.”
She wanted to believe him. Wanted to think Devon would have told her the next time it came up. But would it matter if he did? He still had three daughters to take care of. She still had two jobs—three, counting cleaning his house—to work.
And then there was the debt lingering between them. It hadn’t seemed like a big deal at first, but if she did what he was suggesting and let this be more, it would become a big deal.
Sorta like his mother-in-law owning her rental.
“That’s why we have to make time.” Devon’s body pressed into hers, urging her backward. “Like me coming over here after work instead of going to the gym because I’d rather see you than sweat my ass off and you’ll like me even if I get soft.”
Someone making a sacrifice to spend time with her wasn’t something she was used to. Normally she was the one bending over backwards to make it happen. “You’re putting words in my mouth.”
“Mmm.” Devon hummed, the sound a low rumble through his chest. “Are we already talking about where we want to put our mouths?” He continued using his body to direct her, leading her down the short hall and into her bedroom. “Because that’s actually the reason I came here.”
She was supposed to be mad. Outraged that he kept something so relevant from her. Instead, her stomach and thighs were clenching in anticipation. “You should have come here to tell me your mother-in-law owned my house.”
“I should have.” His arm tightened at her back and her feet left the floor. “For the record, I probably would have remembered to tell you tonight.” He hauled her body against his, pinning her to him as he walked over her mattress on his knees. “But probably not until I was done putting my mouth in various pla ces. Telling you before probably would have ruined the mood.”
“Probably.” She grabbed onto him as Devon leaned forward, dropping her back to the bed. “Then again, I wouldn’t be questioning just about everything.”
“That’s fair.” Devon didn’t back away at her bluntness. He stayed close, his nose running alongside hers. “But we have plenty of time for you to figure it all out.”
Did they though? Because she sure as hell didn’t. Especially not now that she knew Sharon was planning to sell her home out from under her, adding ‘find a new place to live’ to her already full schedule. “How exactly am I going to do that?”
“You don’t have to do anything.” Devon hooked one hand behind her knee, bending it alongside his hip in a move that settled his body between her thighs. “I’ll show you everything you need to see.”
It sounded so good. So simple.
But things like this were never simple. Not for her.
“What do you think, J?” Devon’s lips brushed hers. “Can I show you how good this can be between us?”
She should say no. Kick him out and make him clean his own house.
But…
“You don’t know that it would be good between us. It could be a whole train wreck.” Was she looking for reassurance? Agreement? Denial?
No. None of those. She wanted proof. She wanted to see what he claimed to see. Feel what he claimed to feel.
Devo n’s lips curved against hers, lifting into a heart-stopping smile. “I’m up for the challenge.” Those sinful lips slid along her jaw, teasing down her neck. “But you have to be the one to pull the trigger.”
Was that something she wanted to do? To face down the reality of what could be?
If Devon was wrong, this would all be over and she could go back to the way she was. The life she had.
Minus the little trailer she called home and plus the weight of another broken heart.
But if Devon was right…
She honestly didn’t know what would come after that, and if she thought about it too long, she might shove him out of her house. Out of her life.
And—in spite of her better sense—she wasn’t ready for him to go. Not yet. He’d somehow managed to establish himself as a fixture in her world. Someone she could talk to. Laugh with.
Count on.
So, before she could talk herself out of it, Janie slid one hand between them, gripping the solid line of his cock through the dark blue fabric of his uniform pants. “Bang.”