Chapter Thirteen #2
“Thank you. Very much appreciated. But you guys can hang out in the house until bedtime, y’know.”
The offer slipped out before she could stop it, her voice softer than she intended.
Nick and Axel shook their heads.
“We’ll let you get your rest,” Axel said.
“It's about to rain too, so we should head over before it starts,” Nick said.
Okay, so they could use the raincoats, but sure if they wanted to go, that would just give her some more alone time.
“Are you sure you’ll be okay here with just Daisy?” Nick suddenly asked.
Hmm, she could ask them to stay the night. In her bed. With her.
Shut that down, naughty woman!
“I'll be fine,” Jenna replied, happy that Daisy wanted to get inside and not go off with the guys.
“Alright, we will get out of your hair, then. Bang a couple of pots together if you need us. We’re light sleepers. Good night, Jenna,” Nick said softly.
“Good night. Sleep well.”
Both men smiled at her, then headed toward the barn.
They walked with long, powerful strides and their voices drifted through the air as she opened her door.
She loved that they got along so easily. Loved that she would be alone tonight.
Yup. Tonight she was going to be masturbating again.
Big time.
* * * * *
The next morning at breakfast, Nick couldn't help but feel a rush of adolescent excitement.
It was as if he were back in eighth grade in Mrs. Palmer's art class.
His excitement reminded him of the unmistakable high he used to get when Sophia, the most popular girl in grade eight, would notice him.
It made him feel seen for the first time.
His stomach fluttered the same way it had back then.
It was a ridiculous, boyish rush he thought prison had beaten out of him.
Jenna's sweet voice pulled him from his daydream.
“How long do you think it will take for the roof to be done?”
Her voice slid through him like warm honey, derailing every coherent thought he’d been trying to hold onto.
Her question came from directly across the table where she sat, and Nick was acutely aware of her presence.
Had been acutely aware since they’d come in this morning to find Jenna making pancakes for them.
He kept his eyes glued to his plate, afraid that if he looked at her too long, every secret he carried would spill out.
He wanted her, desperately. He wanted Axel’s woman. A sharp pang of guilt twisted in his chest. Wanting her felt like crossing a line he had no right to even approach.
This frustrating longing was Axel’s fault. While the two of them were having sex last night, Axel had begun to recount, in vivid detail, how Jenna would look in the shower, naked.
The memory sent heat crawling up his neck. Axel’s voice, low and reverent, had painted images he couldn’t scrub from his mind.
Axel had recounted the sexy, mewling sounds she made when she climaxed. And Nick remembered vividly the huge erection Axel had when talking about her.
And now his tongue felt glued to the roof of his mouth, his mind a jumble of desire, nerves, and the desperate need not to make a fool of himself.
Oh man. He couldn't even come up with an answer.
“I'm guessing we'll get half the roof ripped off today. Then we can start laying down the water shield and underlayment followed by shingling,” Axel answered as he approached the table. He’d insisted Jenna sit and eat the first pancake, while he’d poured batter for Nick and then one for himself.
Relief and jealousy tangled in his chest. Axel always knew how to step in, how to sound confident, how to fill the silence when Nick couldn’t.
“We should have it half done by tomorrow night. Then start the other side,” Axel said.
“Don't forget there’s time involved for the drip edge and the ridge vent. So that might make it that much longer,” Nick found himself saying, getting swept up into the conversation wanting Jenna to know that he knew stuff about roofing too.
The words came out steady, surprising him.
The small spark of confidence lit in his chest when Jenna’s attention flicked to him.
“Yeah, that's right. Forgot that stuff. So yeah longer,” Axel said as he poured Brady’s homemade syrup onto his pancake.
Nick suddenly felt damned important for knowing stuff. Man he truly had reverted into a teenager. It was ridiculous how good it felt with her noticing him, even for something as simple as roofing knowledge, which he had a lot of since he’d spent a season working as a roofer out west one year.
“It will more than likely be done by Sunday afternoon. Unless it rains. Then we'll have to get those tarps up again,” Nick added.
He could feel Jenna’s hot gaze on him. Man he hadn't been with a woman since...Callie. But she was nineteen and she couldn't hold a candle to Jenna. Callie had been a distraction. Jenna was a gravitational pull.
“We also need to take into account trips to Sam's place. That will shave two to three hours off each day,” Axel said.
Nick nodded and responded.
“I did notice some damage on Sam’s barn roof over at his place too.
Minor work. A couple of shingle repairs.
There is a tree down on one of his corral fences.
I couldn’t find a saw or chainsaw, so I was hoping you had one I could borrow?
” he asked Jenna. He wanted her to see him as capable, dependable and someone worth keeping around.
Jenna nodded.
“There are a couple in the workshop in the barn,” she replied.
“I can take care of that the next time I'm out there,” Axel said.
Irritation snapped through Nick.
Were he and Axel trying to impress her with this back and forth bullshit?
Nick wanted to mention that her barn roof was also in serious need of repair. While having sex, they’d felt a few drops of rain last night. Leaks started very small, but they grew quickly if not repaired.
He was about to tell her just that when Jenna’s cell phone on the counter began to ring.
“Excuse me” she quickly said as she stood.
He exhaled quietly, grateful for the break in tension. Talking around Jenna was starting to feel like walking a tightrope.
They watched as she swept up the cell and walked down the hallway and a moment later the back door closed quietly.
“Saved by the bell,” Axel muttered and then he cut a big chunk out of his pancake, forked it, and shoved it into his mouth.
“You sound relieved,” Nick teased.
“Damn right. I don't know squat about roofing, but she needed to be impressed by you,” Axel said as he chewed.
“What? You were playing me?”
“She needs to know she's in good hands,” Axel replied with a grin and finished his pancake. He started sipping on his coffee.
“And since you never brag, I had to coax it out of you,” he said with a wink.
Nick blinked, the irritation melting into reluctant amusement. Axel had been boosting him up, not competing.
“You're an asshole,” Nick replied, feeling relieved that Axel wasn’t trying to outdo him.
Axel was right. Nick wasn’t one to brag, especially around a woman he wanted.
“Damn right I am and a good one. Thanks for the compliment.”
Nick shook his head and rolled his eyes. Warmth spread through his chest. Axel had his back, even here, even now when everything between them was shifting.
“A total freaking asshole.”
Axel began to laugh. His laughter loosened something tight inside him and gave him a reminder that whatever else was happening, their bond was still solid.
Nick couldn’t help but to laugh too.
* * * * *
As Jenna stepped out onto the back porch for some privacy the hot morning air brushed her cheeks and she quickly answered the phone, immediately recognizing her brother, Brady’s number.
“Hey, Brady. What’s up?” she asked, fully aware that he was keeping tabs on her and Ginny.
“Just checking in. How are you and Ginny doing? Getting along?” he asked.
Jenna couldn’t help but smile at his predictability.
She didn’t miss the amusement in his voice as he knew his oldest sister and youngest sister always fought.
“All is fine here. I would put her on the phone, but she’s out with the horses. You know how it is,” Jenna replied, lying so smoothly, that she surprised herself.
A tiny pinch of guilt tugged at her ribs. She’d never been a good liar, but desperation in this case made her bold.
Jenna wasn’t about to admit to her brother that Ginny was already gone.
If he thought she was alone, he’d want to come out, and the last thing she wanted was to have him find out that Axel was out of prison and staying here.
He’d loved Axel but hadn’t appreciated what Axel had done to her.
He’d be here within hours if he found out Axel and his cellmate were here.
He would keep an eye on them like a papa bear. She knew that without a doubt.
There was a pause on the line, and she suddenly heard Daisy start to bark furiously at the other side of the house.
Her heart lurched, the sudden barking slicing through her like a jolt of electricity.
Either she’d found herself a groundhog or rabbit, or someone was coming. Excitement rushed through her.
Cyn? Oh please be Cyn!
“Hello? Jenna? Can you hear me? Is that a dog I hear? Or maybe we have a bad connection?” Brady’s voice sounded uncertain.
Jenna could hear him clearly though, but all she wanted was for him to hang up so she could see what Daisy was barking at.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you. We must have a bad connection,” she lied.
Gosh, she was being terrible, dodging her brother like this.
“But if you can hear me, all is good here. No worries,” she finally said.
“Oh good, I can hear you again.”
Jenna groaned inwardly as her attempt at ending the call failed. She waited, and soon enough, Brady spoke again.
“You just call if you need something, okay? I’m here for you.” The warmth in his voice reminded her of how fiercely he loved her.
“We are doing fine. Thank you so much, Brady. You’re the best,” Jenna said, her tone softening.
“Okay, sis, sounds like you’re busy, say hi to Ginny from me.”
“I will tell her the minute she breaks from training the horses. Thanks. Bye.”
And just like that the call ended, and the guilt once again assailed her for lying to him. She exhaled shakily, the weight of the lie settling like a stone in her stomach.
Whew! Now, she just hoped Ginny didn't get in touch with Brady and squeal on her. Her pulse quickened. One word from Ginny to Brady that Jenna was alone and her brother would be barreling down the driveway before sunset.
“Who is her?” Axel suddenly said from the other side of the screen door catching Jenna off guard.
She jumped, her hand flying to her chest as his voice cut through her spiraling thoughts. Heat rushed to her cheeks. She hated being caught off guard, especially by him.
She turned and found that he wore a curious grin, and his muscular arms were crossed over his chest in a judging kind of way.
“Since when do you eavesdrop?” Jenna asked, irritation snapping through her at getting caught. The irritation wasn’t really about him. It was about the secrets piling up faster than she could manage.
“Wasn’t actually. Who is her?”
Jenna rolled her eyes.
“If you must know, Brady thinks my sister is still here. If I told him she isn’t then he would come. Did you want my brother here?”
She enjoyed Axel’s frown and quick shake of his head. Brady would not like this situation at all, and she had enough stress without her brother coming and telling her what she already knew. Having Axel and Nick here was a bad idea.
“I thought not. He’s not your biggest fan. So, why are you eavesdropping?”
“I came to tell you that you have a visitor. Daisy has her corralled by her car and Nick’s gone out to greet her.”
Before she could ask who was there, Axel had already disappeared.
Relief washed over Jenna.
It had to be Cyn! Thank God!
Her heart lifted. Finally, answers, finally someone who could steady the chaos swirling inside her. She would get the answers to all her questions and then she’d fire her!
Her relief was short lived as moments later, Jenna stepped out onto her front porch and spotted Nick and Axel speaking to a woman whom Jenna didn’t recognize. The hope drained from her so fast she felt light-headed, her breath catching in her throat.
The newcomer was tall, slender, and appeared a little older than Jenna. When she spied Jenna on the porch, she waved and began to walk toward her, flanked by Axel and Nick.
Daisy, having lost interest in the woman, was now quiet as she dashed off across the meadow toward the horses.
“Hi! I’m Sally Bradshaw,” the woman said as she stepped onto the porch in front of Jenna and extended her hand. The woman wore too much perfume, Jenna thought as they shook hands and Jenna noticed the two men were frowning.
“I’m a lawyer,” she explained.
A cold spike shot down Jenna’s spine. Lawyers never arrived with good news. Was she here to send Axel and Nick back to prison? Had Cyn screwed up?
Jenna’s thoughts began to spiral. Would they have to go back to prison?
Oh gosh, she felt faint.