Chapter Twenty-Eight
Jade
I was glad that it hadn’t taken long for Brian to snap out of his grouchy mood.
The pain reliever probably helped.
As did the snacks he’d loaded up on again when we stopped for gas.
When I came out of the bathroom and saw him in the checkout line with his arms full of junk food, I simply shook my head, grabbed a pack of almonds and a water, and got in line behind him.
He glanced back and snarked, “I know you’re just getting that to make me look bad.”
“Don’t project your guilty conscience on me, JFJ.”
“JFJ?”
“Junk food junkie.”
“Pffft. I guarantee in two hours you’ll be wishing you had some junk food. Maybe, if you ask nicely, I might be willing to share mine with you. But you’ll definitely have to apologize for the JFJ remark first.”
I glanced at his haul as he laid it on the counter to get rung up after telling the man behind the counter, “A hundred and twenty on pump six.”
“I do like Pringles. And jerky. And I might be willing to apologize to get one of those Reese’s cups, since you have four.”
“They’ve gotten smaller,” he replied defensively. “All this shrinkflation is bullshit. Four of these in today’s market was the equivalent of two when I was a kid.”
“As much as I want to argue with you, I can’t.”
The clerk gave him his total, and he said, “Wait, these too,” then reached for my almonds and water bottle.
I shook my head. “I got these.”
He forcibly removed the items from my hands and set them on the counter.
“I got money burning a hole in my pocket, remember?”
I wasn’t going to make a scene and argue with him. Besides, I figured I’d find a way to make it even at the Cape, so I simply said, “Thanks.”
Those stupid dimples of his appeared. “My pleasure, Sunshine.”
I held the door for him, and we walked toward his Chevy parked at the gas pump.
“I’m buying the gas the next time we stop.”
He handed me the bag of snacks, then opened the fuel door and inserted the gas nozzle.
“We’ll see.”
“No, we won’t ‘see’. It’s not up for negotiation.”
“’Kay.”
I felt my nostrils flare as I took a deep breath and yanked open the driver’s door. “You really are infuriating, you know that?”
“Infuriatingly handsome, you mean.”
“No. Just infuriating.”
He wasn’t fazed in the least. “Nope. You said infuriatingly handsome. No takebacks.”
“And you said dick, not feet.”
I got in the truck, shut the door, and realized there weren’t any takebacks about that either. I had actually rubbed his dick last night!
Oops.
Be careful what you wish for next time, Bri.
****
Brian
There was a navy-blue Ford F150 in the driveway when we pulled up to the address that Alan had texted, and Jade glanced over at me with a worried look as she put the truck in park.
“This is the right address, isn’t it?”
I double checked the message and nodded.
“You don’t think he double-booked it, do you? I mean, you told him we were coming, right?”
“Adam did, and then Alan texted me, so I definitely know he’s expecting us. Maybe he has a caretaker or something.”
The mystery was solved a few minutes later when we made our way to the front door. While we paused to take in the Atlantic Ocean behind the house, the screen door slammed and I heard a familiar voice bellow, “Well, you look a helluva lot better than the last time I saw you.”
I turned with a smile, and Alan bound down the steps wearing tan cargo shorts, a white t-shirt layered with a blue and white checked short-sleeved shirt that was completely unbuttoned, a pair of flip flops, and a big grin.
“Good to see you, man,” he said before pulling me into a hug. After two back slaps, we ended the embrace, but he held on to my shoulders. “I was a little worried that the next time I saw you, you’d be in a box.”
“Aw, you would’ve come to my funeral?”
“Begrudgingly, but yeah, I would’ve.”
“Fortunately, I’m here at your cottage, instead, thanks to you.” I reached for Jade and pulled her to my side. “Well, you and Jade.”
“Don’t give me any credit,” she replied. “The only thing I did was put an IV in your arm and help transfer you from a gurney to a bed until the surgical team arrived. Then you wouldn’t let me be your nurse, remember?”
I ignored the part about not letting her be my nurse, and said with a wink, “I’m pretty sure it was the IV that made all the difference.”
“I think it was probably the tourniquet that was put on right away…” She held out her hand and smiled at Alan. “And you must be the tourniquet applier that no one is supposed to talk about. I’m Jade.”
“Alan. Nice to meet you.” He studied her as he shook her hand. “I understand we’re going to be practically related pretty soon. My brother, your sister.”
“I hope so. I haven’t seen Lainey this happy in a long time.”
Alan didn’t take his eyes off her. “I hope so, too. That means we’ll get to see more of each other.”
“Alright, Romeo,” I interjected as I stepped between them. “Why don’t you show us around?”
I suddenly regretted my answer to Alan’s text earlier today about why I was bringing Lainey’s sister with me.
I’d written: We’re just friends. She’s a nurse and was kind enough to drive me.
Alan: Hopefully she’s a really good friend because there’s only one bed.
Me: You got a couch?
Alan: Yeah, but it’s lumpy as fuck. You’d be better off on the floor.
Me: How about a hammock?
Alan: I’ve got one of those.
Me: Then I’m all set.
At the time, I thought that had been a reasonable solution. I’d learned my lesson about sharing a bed with Jade.
But, as the dude openly flirted with her in front of me, I was having a change of heart.
****
Jade
“I can’t get over this view,” I murmured to the guys as we sat on the back deck overlooking the ocean while eating the dinner that Alan had prepared.
“When my real estate agent sent me pictures, this view was the first one I opened. I didn’t even need to look at the rest, I told her to make an offer on the spot before someone else snatched it up.”
“Are you able to get here often?”
“Not as much as I’d like, that’s for sure. But I travel a lot for business, so...”
Brian’s brows furrowed. “Yeah, about that… why do you need to travel if you’re a homebuilder?”
Alan rubbed his chin and glanced away when he replied, “I, uh, do a little consulting work on the side.”
I paused as I brought my wine glass to my lips. “What kind of consulting do you do?”
“Oh, you know, a little of this. A little of that.”
Alan’s vague response was out of character from how boisterous, direct, and at times, flirtatious he’d been since we’d arrived.
I should have been a gracious guest and let it go, but I didn’t.
“No, I don’t know. What does that mean?”
Brian answered for him. “The kind of work that finds your sister when she’s been kidnapped and the police aren’t able to move fast enough for anyone’s comfort.”
I felt my eyes grow wide. “Ohhhh.”
Alan offered me a sheepish smile, and I found myself curious. “So, are you really not a builder, then? Is that like, a cover or something?”
“No, I really am a builder. My company was just awarded a grant to construct an affordable housing subdivision south of Lancastle, where I live. My contract work is on an ‘as needed’ basis.”
“This is so fascinating. How often are you ‘needed’? And, like, where do you go?”
“I can’t tell you where I go. That really is classified. And how often I go varies. I can be called away a few times in one month, then not hear from anyone for more than a year.”
“I guess we were fortunate that you were in Haven Springs at the right time and not off somewhere else.”
“When Adam called me and told me what had happened to him, everything else went by the wayside. Family always comes first.” He gave me a flirty smile. “That includes extended family, too.”
Brian jumped up from his seat and picked up his plate, then mine and Alan’s. “All right. Should we go into town for some dessert?”
“Leave those, Bri,” I told him. “I can get them.”
“It’s no problem. I can handle it, really. Let’s go find some ice cream or something.”
I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “There’s my JFJ. But I’m sorry, I’ve had two glasses of wine; I can’t drive.”
“I’ll drive,” Alan said as he stood up and grabbed the platter that had held our steaks, along with the bowl of remaining mashed potatoes.
I moved to stand, too, but he gave me a head nod.
“Finish your wine. Brian and I can clean up. The ice cream shop doesn’t close until ten—we’ve got plenty of time. ”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.”
I leaned back and took another swig of Chardonnay while I watched the tide come in, feeling a little like a pampered princess while the guys cleared the table.
****
Brian
“So, you and Jade…” Alan asked as we walked into the kitchen.
“What about me and Jade?”
“You’re not dating?”
“No, I told you. We’re just friends.”
“Really? Because if a female friend offered to drive me somewhere sixteen hours away, I’d have to wonder if maybe she was giving me signals that she was interested in more. And unless you’re dumber than I realized, I can’t imagine you wouldn’t want more with her.”
I rinsed the first plate in the stack and put it in the dishwasher.
“Maybe someday, but our timing isn’t right.”
“Why? Is she dating someone? Are you?”
“No. We just both work a lot.”
“You’re not working now.”
I gave him a sad smile. “It’s only for ten days.”
“Maybe ten days is all you need.”
I shook my head. “She’s out of my league, anyway.”
“Well, that’s true. So, if you’re not going to make a move, do you mind if I do?”
Images of my fist connecting with Alan’s nose filled my head as I clenched my jaw and vigorously wiped the next plate in the pile while I tried to come up with a response.
“Hey, if you want me to back off, just say so.”
“I say so,” I bit out without looking at him.
He chuckled as he put the remaining potatoes in a food storage container.
“Is there something in the Haven Springs’ water that turns men into idiots when it comes to women?
Because Adam suffered from the same thing with Lainey.
I’ll tell you exactly what I told him: Get your shit together before someone smarter than you comes along and snatches her up. ”
“You think I don’t worry about that?”
“I don’t know. What I do know is an opportunity has been presented to you on a silver platter—you’re alone with her, in a house with only one bed, for ten fucking days!
If you can’t see that this is your chance or are too big of a chicken shit to do something about it, then that’s on you, buddy.
” He put the container in the fridge and closed the door before continuing.
“But I’m letting you know now, if you haven’t made your move by the next time I visit Haven Springs, I’m not going to hesitate to make mine. ”
I looked over and sized him up.
I think once my leg is healed, I can take him.
“Or,” the little voice in my head whispered, “you could just make your move.”
****
Jade
I could only play the pampered princess for a few minutes before the guilt won out.
After downing the last swallow of wine, I stood and headed toward the house.
I heard Alan’s voice say, “What I do know is an opportunity has been presented to you on a silver platter—you’re alone with her, in a house with only one bed!
If you can’t see that this is your chance or are too big of a chicken shit to do something about it, then that’s on you, buddy.
But I’m letting you know now, if you haven’t made your move by the next time I visit Haven Springs, I’m not going to hesitate to make mine. ”
Were they talking about me?
Was there really only one bed here? That hadn’t turned out so well last night.
Brian’s voice was quiet, so I had to strain to hear his response. “I don’t want to hurt her and ruin any possibility of something long term in the future.”
Now I knew they weren’t talking about me. There was no way Brian would even consider something short-term with me, let alone long-term.
But then Alan replied, “So just be honest with her. Maybe you two can agree to it just being while you’re here. Then make a pact to fool around whenever you have godparent duty or something.”
Okay, wait. What?
Who else did he have godparent duty with? And only while he’s here?
All signs were pointing to me as being who they were talking about.
“I don’t even think she’s interested in me. She had a sex dream about her ex-boyfriend last night.”
“Sex dreams don’t mean shit. The last one I had was about my married secretary.”
“She says I’m infuriating.”
“Dude, that sounds like foreplay to me.”
Foreplay?
As if.
I not-so-gently opened the screen door to make sure my presence was known as I walked inside.
“Hey, I think I’m going to skip ice cream and go take a walk on the beach and watch the sunset.”
Alan asked, “You want us to bring you back something?” at the same time Brian cocked his head and said, “Is everything okay?”
“No and yes,” I laughed and clarified, “No, I don’t need anything.” I glanced at the JFJ with a knowing smirk. “I’m sure we’ll go tomorrow.” He didn’t deny it. “And yeah, everything’s fine. I just want to put my toes in the sand.”
“Take your phone,” Brian advised.
I mock saluted. “Will do, Sergeant.” I backed out the screen door and Brian called, “Which way are you going?”
I glanced at the shoreline. “I think I’ll head left.”
“Be careful!”
“I will be.”
That is if I could keep my head from exploding as I replayed Brian and Alan’s conversation in my head.
****
Brian
We finished cleaning up after dinner, and Alan asked, “You really want to go get ice cream?”
“Nah, I just wanted you to stop flirting with Jade.”
He nodded. “I had a feeling. I’m going to head back to Lancastle.” He walked toward the screen door Jade had just disappeared out of. “Let me know if you need anything. Towels, linens, a set of balls…”
“Fuck off.”
He chuckled when he opened the door. “You got this, Tiger.”
Did I though?