6. Jensen
6
JENSEN
I ’d imagined this conversation going much differently in my mind. In that version, I’d been able to bribe Nessa with a tiny chocolate pie before launching into my desperate plea for help. My only saving grace was the slight wrinkle of her nose when she mentioned she’d be staying in campus housing for the duration of her time in Blackstone Falls.
“A favor?” she repeats as I try to rein in my runaway thoughts. I’m thankful that Remi is still asleep in her car seat because try as I might, the guilt is already gnawing at me.
“Can we sit?”
“I’d rather not.” She crosses her arms over her chest again, and I have to ignore the way the movement accentuates her tits. Dragging my hand down my face, I blow out a sigh.
“What if you stay here?”
“Excuse me? Stay here? Like in your house, here?”
“Yes.”
“With you?”
“With us .” I motion toward Remi, shamelessly trying to sweeten the deal.
“Are you kidding?” Her voice rises at the end as her eyebrows fly up into her hairline. “I don’t know you, Jensen, and you want to what? Play house? Pretend to be a family while I’m here?”
“No,” I say evenly. “I know what I’m asking. I’ve tried like hell but I can’t just take off the time Remi deserves yet. We’re short-staffed—we have been for the better part of a year. The interim sheriff can’t be here for a couple of months.”
“A couple of months?!” she screeches and I grimace as I hold up my hands in surrender.
“Less if I’m lucky. I can cut back my hours but I can’t just up and leave.”
“Months, Jensen. You can’t ask someone you just met to?—”
“Don’t you think I know that? I just thought you cared about Remi enough to at least hear me out. Thought you might be willing to stick around.”
“Watch your fucking mouth when you’re talking to me, Sheriff,” she says, stepping up to me until we’re toe to toe, her hands fisted at her side. “I didn’t have to find you. I didn’t have to do jack shit. Instead I spent every waking moment making sure Remi was loved and cared for when there was no one else. I made sure that you have the opportunity to raise your daughter so don’t put that bullshit on me.”
“I didn’t know,” I grit out, unable to tear my gaze away from her fiery azure eyes.
“And whose fucking fault is that?”
She’s out of line but she’s not wrong, and I want to scold her for that kind of language.
Fuck some manners into her.
The thought is like a punch to the gut, and I force myself back a step and hold my arms out to the sides. “You’re right. I can’t even tell her about her mama, Nessa. What kind of man am I if I can’t even tell my daughter about her mom?”
She doesn’t say anything and I have no idea if I even want her to.
Wiping my palm over my mouth, I look out the window before turning back to her. “You’re the only other family Remi has. I don’t know anyone else.”
“What about your family?” she asks and I notice she doesn’t offer anything about her own parents or sister.
Shaking my head, I give her more power than she can possibly understand. It’s more than I can understand.
I just know I need her.
“It has to be you.”
“Why?”
I don’t know, but the thought of you leaving right now makes it hard to breathe.
She’s not ready for that truth and neither am I.
“You’re the only one she knows.”
“It’s all new…you’ll adjust. She’ll adjust. Everything will be fine.” She says the words but I’m not sure if they’re for her or me.
“Please, Nessa. It’s not that I can’t do this without you. I’m asking you to stay for Remi’s sake and mine. You’re the only one she knows right now, and I just want the chance to know you. To know Scarlett through you. To give my daughter everything I can with what I have.”
“This is crazy,” she whispers, looking out the window at the tall grass blowing in the breeze down the road.
“Please,” I say again like I can will the yes from her lips.
“You don’t think it will be worse on Remi to have me here longer?”
“Can’t be any worse than you leavin’ right away.”
Her eyes narrow. “ If I stayed it would only be until I’m done at the university.”
“Of course.”
“Temporary, like don’t even bother cleaning out half the closet for me temporary.”
“You’d have your own room.”
“I’m just trying to make a point.”
My lips twitch because she’s downright sinful all pissed and flustered, with her cheeks stained a pretty shade of pink.
She’s gorgeous, and I swallow the groan that wants to escape because I’m gonna have to get real good at minding my own business while she’s here.
And thank fuck she’s here.
Almost.
“I need to think about it.” She pauses, pulling her phone from her back pocket and scowling at it before typing furiously and tucking it away again.
“We could use tonight as a trial run. There’s some toiletries in the hall bathroom you’re more than welcome to.”
“Keep that nice and stocked for the ladies?” she says, her eyes narrowed.
“More like my mama says southern hospitality requires it.”
“Your mama, huh? She do your laundry too?”
“Most of my laundry gets dry cleaned but I’m proficient with the rest of it. Mama just likes to fuss,” I say, leaning my hip against the counter.
“She lives close?”
“My parents live across town but they’re visiting my sister in Montana. They’re not set to come home until after Christmas.”
“And they didn’t want to come home sooner when they heard about their granddaughter?” Pressing my lips into a thin line, I don’t say anything. Her eyes widen as she realizes why. “You didn’t tell them? And with all the home visits and court dates and everything else, no one in this town noticed something goin’ on?”
It is a fair question, and aside from my friends trying to run interference with anyone that tried to get close to me or the house, I don’t have an answer.
Bracing my hands on either side of me on the counter, I bow my head in defeat. “I’m thirty-four, Nessa. I’m the youngest sheriff in county history. I’ve been married to my job since the day I took the oath. I’ve never dated anyone seriously let alone brought someone home to meet my parents,”—I look up to meet her gaze—“my prom date in high school, notwithstanding.”
“And you’re saying they wouldn’t support you because you became an instant family overnight?” she says, sounding pissed off and a little protective—whether it’s over just Remi or both of us I can’t be sure. “Hell, not even overnight. You’ve had more than a few weeks at this point.”
“It was a lot to process. You served me with the paternity test and things happened so fast that I’m just trying to get my feet back under me.”
“But no one else knows?”
“My…friends do.” The word is still unfamiliar even after all this time. I’ve been friendly with my fair share of people, been an acquaintance to more, but friends was something that took time. Relationships take work—they deserve care—and for a while I couldn’t give anything else what I was giving my job.
But Montana Greene had never met a challenge he didn’t like.
And somehow I became that challenge.
Montana had collected me along with some of the other guys in town like feral cats, setting out food and water and luring us in until we suddenly felt at home.
It was strange, but now I looked forward to the bonfires and game nights where I didn’t have to be the sheriff.
I hadn’t been me in a long time, and even without voicing it, Montana somehow knew I’d needed the escape, and I’d be forever grateful.
“And they can’t help you?”
“They can and they’ve certainly offered,” I admit, running my hand through my hair, “but doesn’t it make more sense with you havin’ to be here anyway?”
She huffs, not impressed with my answer, but honestly, neither am I. “I still don’t understand why you wouldn’t tell your parents.”
“My mama’s heart is bigger than the state of Tennessee but she’s a lot. She’s incredible—best damn woman I know—but I’m just not ready to let everyone in yet. Until you got here, all of this seemed so surreal like it could all disappear if I even blinked.”
“You don’t want family but you’re begging me to stay?”
“Coercing.”
She crosses her arms over her chest and arches an eyebrow. “Definitely begging.” The words are a challenge, and I could swear there’s a flash of heat in her gaze, but it’s gone so quickly I can’t be sure.
“I have no problem beggin’, Nessa,” I say, the words a low rumble, before clearing my throat. “But that’s not what this is.”
“No?” The question is breathy as her gaze drops to my lips before meeting my eyes.
Fuck.
Dragging my hand over the back of my neck, I count to five and then try my best to defuse this situation before it gets any more out of hand. “It feels like we’re in this together, and something about that is comforting. I just want to keep it a little longer. Please.”
“I’ll think about it,” she says finally. “I’ll stay tonight and let you know tomorrow after my meeting at the university.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t fall in love with me, Sheriff.” Her gaze is like a physical caress as it rakes slowly down my body. “I don’t want to break your heart when I leave.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” My lips twitch at the audacity of her declaration.
“You say that now, but lesser men have done it, and I hate when things get messy.”
“The only mess I can handle right now is the one that Remi plans on makin’.” Standing to my full height, I let myself peruse her the way she did to me. “Your virtue is safe, Miss Hart.”
“That’s cute, Sheriff.” Her hand pats my chest. “And even if that were true, you’re too nice for me.”
In all my years on this earth, I don’t think I’ve ever been labeled as being too nice. It would be comical if she didn’t think it were true.
But now’s not the time to correct her.
That day will come.
And when it does, I’ll take great pleasure in proving her wrong.