Chapter Sixteen
“Nick took the dog and went to Sam’s. Should be back any minute.
Half the roof’s done. The drip edge, underlayment, ice, and water shield, and half the shingles are set.
We tied tarps over the open ridge vent just in case it rains.
Had a shower too,” he said, glancing back at Jenna as she stepped into the kitchen through the kitchen door.
He stood at the stove, turning the sizzling steaks and monitoring the boiling potatoes. The simple rhythm of preparing a proper meal outside of prison offered him a sense of peace, far more than he would ever admit aloud.
“That’s awesome. You guys are hard workers,” Jenna said.
Axel smiled at her compliment and noticed Jenna hesitating by the doorway, the rifle clutched in her right hand, thankfully pointed downward and not at him, her teeth worrying at her bottom lip as she watched him.
Her gaze made him acutely aware of her presence and her stillness tugged at him.
She looked like she was holding something in, something fragile.
“I hope you don’t mind I got supper started?” Axel ventured, gauging her mood as he spoke.
“I’m glad you did. I’m starving,” she replied.
Yet she didn’t move from her spot and continued to study him. He wanted to ask if something was wrong but the faint redness around her eyes hit him like a punch. She’d been crying. She was of course, grieving.
He decided she might need some space, especially after the morning incident when she’d given them a stern talking-to with said rifle and then handed over the walkie talkie.
“You always did have a good appetite,” Axel said with a chuckle. He almost made a cheeky comment about saying she had a good appetite in more ways than one but thought better of it. Besides, he’d already used that line the day he’d arrived and she had remained silent.
She would be sad for awhile about Sam, and of course about her late husband; he had no doubt. Hopefully though, having Nick and himself around to keep her occupied, she’d be okay.
While working on the roof, he and Nick had taken turns watching over her, making sure she was safe during her trail rides. It was a miracle they’d managed to finish as much as they had.
He had even caught himself timing how long she was gone each time she took a horse out, not out of controlling her, but out of genuine concern.
From their vantage point on the roof, they’d catch glimpses of her out on the trails, and he’d watched as she patiently groomed each horse and then she’d place stepping stools and other objects around the horses to see if they would react then she’d lead them back into the pasture.
He figured in order to turn them into therapy horses; the animals would have to get used to all kinds of things. The horses seemed content after their rides, and training, and their glossy coats would shine brilliantly in the sunlight as they played in the pasture.
Watching the peaceful scenes of the horses being joyful and carefree brought Axel rare moments of happiness.
Happiness hadn’t come easily over the prison years. Nick and the hope of one day leaving prison had been his only motivation but reconnecting with Jenna…he hadn’t imagined his hope coming true in this way.
“I’d like to call my mom and dad, maybe after some time has passed and let them know I’m out. Think you could help me with that?” he asked quietly.
He’d been thinking about his parents a lot since getting out of prison.
He figured he owed them the news of his conditional release.
He also knew they would flip out in a really good way if he decided to tell them that he was with Jenna.
They loved her so much. But he needed to wait for awhile before telling them. Just in case he screwed this up.
“You can use the landline anytime. It’s got unlimited long distance. I’ve got their number, including your brothers and sister in case you want to reach out to them. In the phone book beside the phone,” Jenna replied.
Axel nodded, thinking back to how prison had filtered every message.
Emails would be printed off and handed to him by a stranger, and his own replies would have to be handwritten and read by others before being mailed.
It never felt private, and that was another reason he refused contact.
Prison simply wasn’t a place for connection.
“Do you think Nick will be okay out there alone?” Jenna asked softly, her concern clear in her voice.
Ahhh, so she was worried about Nick.
“Hey, after what happened with him getting jumped, he’ll be alert, and he’s got Daisy with him,” Axel reassured her.
“I’ll relax when he’s back safe and sound,” Jenna replied, her tone earnest and a bit clipped.
Axel chuckled, weighing whether to lighten the mood further. He decided to take the risk.
“Hooey, you barely know the guy,” he teased, watching for her reaction.
He caught the rosy flush creep into Jenna’s cheeks, and the cute way she avoided his eyes. Sometimes, she was just too easy to read.
He grinned at her, unable to resist.
“Oh man, baby doll. Don’t tell me you’ve got a crush on Nick already? Should I be jealous?” he asked, half-joking.
Suddenly, Jenna bolted from where she’d been standing, hung up her cowboy hat on the peg, and then strolled across the kitchen, past him and down the hall, leaving Axel with a pang of guilt for teasing her.
“You just focus on supper. I’m going to freshen up. It does smell good,” she called back over her shoulder.
He watched her retreat down the hallway, the rifle still pointed downward. He enjoyed the familiar sway of her hips as she walked. It brought back memories of when they were younger.
He couldn’t help yet again to think about all he had lost over the years. He really had thrown it all away.
She disappeared into her bedroom and minutes later, he saw her dart back out into the hallway with a bundle of clothes in her arms.
“Don’t change the subject. I know you’ve got a thing for Nick. I can read you like a book,” he called after her, unable to resist one last tease.
He couldn’t help himself. Teasing her felt like slipping into an old, comfortable skin, even if it no longer fit the way it used to.
And Nick has a thing for you, he added silently.
The only reply was the quiet sound of a door closing, followed not long after by the steady stream of water running from the shower. The sound of running water sent heat surging through him. His memories and his imagination collided in a way that made his breath hitch.
His mind filled with vivid images of Jenna. Naked. The spray of the shower pummelling her luscious breasts, the water meandering over her tummy and dipping between her thighs.
Those thoughts distracted him from his cooking.
Yeah, she was in the shower. No clothes.
He exhaled, tense, fighting to banish those naughty visions, but it was pointless.
His body instinctively responded, as his imagination spun out of control. Desire surged and his shaft became a rock-hard post, pressing boldly against his pants.
“Come on, don’t do this to me,” Axel muttered to his cock.
He gripped the spatula a little too tightly, forcing his mind back to the stove, to the meal, to anything but the image of her under that spray. The absurdity of scolding himself almost made him laugh. Prison had taught him discipline, but Jenna had unraveled it in seconds.
“Hey! I’m back,” Nick called out as he pushed open the screen door and stepped into the kitchen.
Damn but it smelled like heaven in here. The scents of steak and spices wrapped around him like a hug he didn’t know he needed.
Behind him came a bark and Nick held the door open, allowing Daisy to trot inside.
“Thought you were going to visit the horses, woman?” Nick said to the dog as she entered.
But Nick was all forgotten as the moment she spotted Axel, the poodle dashed over to him, her tail wagging, her feet prancing up a storm as she circled him with obvious excitement.
Watching her choose to go over to Axel sent a strange, unexpected warmth through him.
It was like he was seeing two pieces of his world click together.
He didn’t miss the warm smile that played on Axel’s lips and the slow shake of his head as the man looked down at Daisy. It struck Nick that Axel was likely to fall for Daisy’s charms, just as he had and that gave his heart quite a bit of joy.
“Wish I could scrub you behind your ears, sweetie, but I’m cooking. Go on, get your pats from your dad over there,” Axel said. The tenderness in Axel’s voice tugged at something deep inside Nick’s chest. It was a softness he rarely let himself feel.
Daisy wasn’t having any rejection. She let out a small bark making Axel swear softly.
“You won’t resist those beautiful brown eyes of hers for long, and she won’t leave you alone until she gets what she wants.”
Nick stepped to the double sink, quickly washed his hands, dried them on a towel, and then opened cupboards to get out the dishes and glasses.
He noticed that Jenna’s purse was missing from the spot in the cupboard and realized Jenna must have removed it, preventing Axel from accidentally discovering her pre-natal vitamins.
Relief flickered through him. One less secret at risk.
However, the weight of what he knew pressed heavier on his shoulders.
“Fine,” Axel eventually grumbled in reluctant surrender.
Nick laughed as Axel leaned down to scratch the dog’s curl enshrouded head. As expected, the dog then flopped onto her back, clearly demanding a belly rub.
“Oh come on, man. Are you freaking kidding me?” Axel exclaimed, half-laughing and half-annoyed as she wiggled like a grub in anticipation.
“Better take care of her needs or—” Nick began.
“Or she won’t leave me alone. I get it.” Axel shot Nick a glare, then pivoted.
“Fine, then you can set the table,” Axel conceded.
“Way ahead of you,” Nick replied.