47
J ake stepped into the bunkhouse, intending to snag a couple of sandwiches out of the refrigerator and take them to the trailer so there was food available when Lynnie got hungry. What he didn’t expect was to find Iceman sitting on the sofa, flipping through channels on the TV, when he walked in.
“I thought you were keeping an eye on Lynnie?” Jake said, fighting the urge to race out and make sure she was okay.
“I though you’d figured out by now that woman has a mind of her own,” her cousin shot right back. “I woke her to check on her a bit ago, she decided to use the bathroom and saw herself in the mirror, then decided she had to have a shower.” He waved one hand toward the door that led to the bathroom and communal shower across the room.
Jake looked at the door, then back to Iceman then turned and went into the bathroom.
“You in here, baby?” he called as he stepped in the door. He could hear water running and assumed she was in the shower. He didn’t want to startle her and have her slip and fall.
“Aaron?”
“Do you think Iceman would let anyone else in here while you’re showering?” He stepped farther into the room and saw her standing under the spray from the center showerhead. She stood facing him, water hitting her back. Her hands were buried in her hair, bubbles over most of her head. She grinned as he stopped and stared, unable to help himself.
“I’m shocked he let you in here.” She waggled her eyebrows at him before turning around and tilting her face up to the shower head.
Jake let his gaze play down her body, taking in every curve and making note of several bruises marring her skin, and wishing he could give those asshole’s matching ones for every single one she wore, but they were already gone, and he couldn’t. Knowing that Hex would make sure Mitch paid in pain for what he’d done to her helped, but he didn’t know if it was enough. He didn’t know if it would ever be enough.
“Was your point in all this just to tease me?” he asked even though she had her back to him and her face under the spray. He couldn’t help but watch the way she moved, the way she wiggled her ass, he was sure without any idea what it did to him. He stayed on the far end of the bathroom, fighting the urge to step into the shower with her. To pull her close and hold her, reassure himself she was there, and she was okay.
“I had no clue you’d come in and interrupt my shower, so how could my point have been to tease you?” she said as she reached for a bottle she’d set nearby dumped some in her hand then worked it through her hair.
“Then why the mid-day shower?”
She twisted around and gave him a look that said without words that she thought he was being stupid.
“I was filthy. I had dirt and rocks in my hair, not to mention smeared all over my face. I can’t believe you put me in bed like that.”
“I was more worried about making sure you were okay than that you were clean. I’m glad to see you’re feeling well enough to give me shit, though. How’s your head?” He wanted to ask more but knew her well enough to know she would only put up with so much hovering and he didn’t want her pissed at him. Not too soon.
“It hurts, but not as bad as before.”
“I was getting ready to bring you something to eat. Does anything sound good?”
She turned around to face him, worked her shoulders as if flexing so the water hit different spots as she narrowed her eyes at him.
“I think you’re lingering so you can watch me.”
He wasn’t going to admit it, at least not so easily. But was there anything wrong with that? It wasn’t like he hadn’t slept in her bed last night, and the night before. And would be again tonight. And for as long as he could foresee if he had his way.
“Would you have a problem with it if I was?”
He watched as she pursed her lips and rolled her eyes to one side, as if considering it. Jake had to put his hands in his pockets to keep from reaching for her, even so far away.
“No, I don’t think I would. And you’re so far away.” She shot him a mischievous grin before turning back to the spray to rinse her hair again.
Jake found himself unable to leave, or even look away. She had captured more than his attention, he knew that a long time ago, but after what happened today, he knew he needed to tell her, to make sure she knew.
“Will you hand me my towel?” She turned off the water with one hand, holding the other toward where she’d set her folded towel on the edge of the sink several feet away.
“Since you asked so nice.” He snagged the towel as he advanced on her, unfolding it with a flick of his wrist. He gently wrapped it around her, then carefully blotted her dry, including working as much moisture from her hair as he could while still being careful of her bruises and the knot on the back of her head. When he was finished, he wrapped it around her torso and used it to tug her close. “Stay with me.” He looked down into her face, watching her every expression as he prepared to lay himself bare for her.
“I’m already staying here.”
“Yeah, but that’s temporary. I mean make it permanent. I want you here. I didn’t plan on it, but I’ve fallen for you, hard.”
She smiled at him. “You’re not the only one. But what about the people looking for me? I can’t bring that kind of danger to the people here. They weren’t looking for the kind of trouble following me.”
“I’m working on that. Give me another couple of days and it should be gone. Please,” Jake never thought he’d hear himself beg, not for something like this, “say you’ll give us a chance.”
Lynnie stared up at him for what seemed like a decade before nodding. “I’ll give it a chance, but I can’t make any promises if something like this happens again. I like Kerry, Donna, and the others too much to put them at risk.”
“It won’t come down to that.” He didn’t know quite how, not yet, but he would make sure it didn’t.
“Good, then kiss me.” She stretched up, pressing her nearly naked body against him as she wrapped her arms around his neck and tugged him down for a searing kiss.
He lost himself in her touch, her taste, and thanked everything holy that the assholes today hadn’t made it off the ranch with her or hurt her worse than a few bruises and a headache.
His phone ringing from his pocket pulled him back to the present. He pulled away from Lynnie gave her ass a squeeze as he pulled out his phone. The call was Hex.
“I need to take this. Your cousin is out there so put on clothes before you come out.” He tilted his head toward the door, reluctantly released her, and headed for it, answering the call as he went. “Talk to me.”
“It’s done.”
“What is?” He wanted to look back at Lynnie and make sure she was all right, but he knew she was and just wanted another glimpse of her. Instead he continued into the bunkhouse, listening to his old friend as he went.
“The ex has been delivered to the Sons. They understand that they will not be getting your girl, and if they don’t retract the reward, effective immediately, then they’ll be at war with not just the Warriors but the Souls as well. Since they have no idea our reach, they’ve decided it would be in their best interest to write off the debt, or at least whatever portion of it they can’t collect from the piece of shit that incurred it.”
“Great. I owe you one,” Jake said, knowing it wouldn’t be as immediate as it seemed, but it would work out in the end.
“I’ll remember, but it seems I owed you one already.”
“Not in my estimation. That was duty. I did my job. This was a favor.”
“You saved my life. That’s not duty. But I’m glad I could do this for you.”
They talked a couple of minutes longer before ringing off. Jake pocketed his phone as he leaned back against the kitchen sink and took a deep breath.
“Was that what I think it was?” Iceman’s question reminded him he wasn’t alone. Not that it mattered, nothing had been said that would get him into trouble.
“The Sons say they are retracting the reward. It may take a few days for word to get out, but the threat will be over soon.”
“Good. I’ll let you know when the Kings get word.” He pulled out his phone and sent a text before looking back up at Jake. “I’m still staying tonight, but then I’ll head back. I feel better about leaving now that I know that’s taken care of. Do I want to know what it took?”
“I had a friend in Mobile have a talk with her ex and another with the Sons.” Jake lifted one shoulder and let it fall. “By the way, you interested in selling that trailer?”