Chapter 8
It wasn’t his proudest thought, but Declan really wished Jinx hadn’t been there. Not because of the embarrassment factor, although that was through the roof, but because he and Sydney both had fire left to burn.
He lowered her feet to the porch. “Sorry. Lost my head,” he said quietly.
“Me, too.” She looked up at him. “Not sorry about the kissing, but the thoughtlessly stepping into danger. You’re right.”
They stared at each other for a minute before Declan took a deep breath. “Guess I get to give Jinx a ride home.”
“Have fun with that.” Sydney remained slightly breathless but more than a hint of teasing coloured her words.
Amusement chased away some of his frustration and the flames still licking over his skin. “You sound so sympathetic.”
“Glad it’s you and not me, that’s all I’m saying,” Sydney offered before clearing her throat and speaking louder. “Hey, Jinx, don’t worry. We’re decent and about to come into the house.”
Dixie met them with great enthusiasm, licking Declan’s hand and bumping into Sydney’s knees as Declan followed into the foyer off the small kitchen. Jinx was entirely too focused on putting her notebooks into her backpack and refused to look at either of them.
“Did you find what you needed for today?” Sydney asked.
“Yup.”
“Good. Then maybe tomorrow, or whenever you feel up to it, you can call me and we’ll finish the interview portion of your project.”
“Sure.” Jinx cleared her throat, tossing her bag over one shoulder. “You’ve done some cool stuff.”
“I have. Now, remember my pet peeve?”
“Put my bag on properly,” Jinx said immediately, slipping on both straps. “Fine. I should go.”
“I’ll give you a ride,” Declan said.
“You don’t need—”
“Jinx. Please get in the truck.” He kept his gaze steady until she flounced out the door. “Syd, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Okay. Thanks again for your help today.” Her lips quirked. “Have a nice trip home.”
“Remember that Tansy isn’t the only one good at revenge,” he muttered softly as Sydney stuck out her tongue then winked.
Jinx moved like the wind. She popped Dixie into the backseat of the crew cab and settled in the front passenger seat before Declan made it off the porch. He took a deep, deep breath, then headed into a small and intense hell.
He got onto the highway before breaking the silence. “Awkward?”
“So much,” Jinx said, teenage angst in every syllable.
Dixie whined and shoved her head over the backrest until her nose hit Jinx’s cheek as if checking to see what was wrong.
“It’s okay,” Jinx told her quietly. “I’m just being silly. Lay down.”
Dixie obeyed, and suddenly the entire thing tilted toward the funny side of the equation.
The fact Jinx was icked-out by what she’d seen and not terrified the way she would have been last September when she arrived? Declan could get up on the stage at Rough Cut and dance a jig in front of everyone to celebrate.
They still needed to have a chat.
He cleared his throat.
“You’re going to make us talk about this? Really?” Jinx whined.
“I really am,” he returned. “You’ve seen Petra and Aiden kiss before.”
“And Tansy and Jake, yes. Plus I know how sex works, so don’t, for God’s sake, think you need to have that talk with me.”
“You don’t think I should be kissing Sydney?”
“I already knew you guys were kissing,” Jinx confessed.
Really? “Yeah? That’s not common knowledge,” he admitted.
“I kind of spotted you one day just after Christmas. Sneaking into the barn.”
“Sorry. We were usually more discreet.”
“Ha,” she laughed. “Today was discreet?”
“We were outside her house, which is in a pretty remote location.” Such a strange conversation, but as long as Jinx kept talking, so would he.
“It’s just…that was a little more…heated than most people do in public.”
“Sex can get that way.”
“Ugh, please.” She gave a full body quiver that was clearly at least eighty percent dramatic effect.
Declan snorted. “You know this is a really awkward conversation for both of us.”
“I know.” Jinx stared at his face. “I thought maybe you weren’t getting together with Sydney because of me.”
“The hell?” He shook his head. “Not true.”
“Because you had to be careful around me and that sort of thing. And I appreciate it, but I feel so much safer now. I don’t want you to avoid being together if you want to.”
“It wasn’t you. It isn’t you. Sometimes—” He was going to get revenge on Sydney for making him have to do this, whatever else he did. “Back to awkward conversation territory.”
Jinx sighed. “Just say it.”
“Sometimes adults get together for fun and not forever.”
She made a gagging noise.
“You asked,” he offered dryly.
“Not asking anything else.” Jinx stared out the window, probably because it was safer. “Just so you know, I think you two would be good together.”
“Maybe. But that’s a thing for us to figure out. So, sorry for surprising you, but I expect you’ll keep what you saw to yourself. It’s not really anyone else’s business, and I don’t think Sydney would like everyone talking about her.”
“Agreed.”
He parked outside the house and they both headed for the porch. Dixie pranced in wide zigzags, sniffing happily now that she was home. Jinx hesitated for two seconds before giving him a quick hug then vanishing into the house with the dog.
Twists and turns. The upside was confirming that Jinx was well on the way to being over parts of the abuse she’d suffered before coming to High Water. That was a thing to be very grateful for.
The instant he stepped inside, his brothers hit him with synchronized rebukes.
“Deck. Answer your damn texts.”
“Where the hell have you been?”
“Everything okay? Declan demanded. “What happened?”
“Shit, nothing,” Aiden admitted, slowing down and looking slightly guilty. “Just couldn’t get a hold of you.”
“I was busy, and since you didn’t actually call me or hit the panic button…” Declan shrugged. “What’s up?”
“Invite from Caleb Stone,” Jake said. “We’re headed to Silver Stone in fifteen minutes for supper and poker.”
“Okay.” Declan frowned. “Good thing I’m home.”
“I got the call and accepted for us all,” Jake admitted. “You’re always around.”
Not really, but… Declan eyed his brothers and spoke softer. “Think it’s safe for all three of us to head out and leave the ranch?” Since Kevin would also be away. Not that they knew that yet.
Aiden nodded. “The ladies, including Jinx, are headed over to Petra’s brother’s place. They’re doing some prep for the we got married celebration for me and Petra next week.” His grin flashed bright. “Glad to have a party to look forward to.”
“Even gladder that you’re already married,” Jake quipped.
“Amen to that,” Aiden agreed.
Twenty minutes later, Declan was freshly scrubbed and shaking hands with his neighbour. “Good to see you again with no emergency in the background.”
“Agreed.” Caleb gestured them all toward the side of the house where two large barbecues were sending delicious smoke signals into the air. “Nearly ready, and the beer is waiting and ice cold.”
“How’s Tyler doing?” Declan asked.
“Great.” Caleb shook his head. “He’s already tired of the sling and nearly broke his leg falling off the ridge pole of the goat pen roof.”
“Damn.”
“Right? Tamara gave me hell because I’m the one who told him, when he was higher than a kite on painkillers, mind you, that he’d be leaping around like a goat before he knew it, and the kid took me literally.”
Declan outright laughed even as he patted Caleb on the shoulder. “Glad he didn’t come to any harm.”
“Thanks to Sydney, and thanks to your level-headed response.”
“Didn’t do anything special,” Declan protested.
“You did more than you think. At the time, and after, helping Luke and Tucker.” Caleb held up a hand.
“No more. Tamara’s got something lined up as a thank you for Sydney, and those steaks on the grill are my tip of the hat.
You want to call it a reward for being a good neighbour and nothing more, that’s fine. ”
“Always appreciate having good neighbours,” Declan returned, accepting the beer Luke offered him. He tipped the bottles together with a clink. “To fences that connect instead of separate.”
“Hear, hear,” Luke cheered.
After the stress and sexual frustration of the past days, it was good to simply relax and hang out with his brothers and friends.
As he carved into tender ribeye steak and baked potatoes loaded with sour cream and bacon, Declan spoke with each of the Stone brothers, including the youngest. Dustin had to be barely older than Logan but carried himself like a much older man.
Solid people, family to the core. A connection much like the one Declan had with his brothers. After years apart from each other, it was good that they’d ended up being able to work together so well.
That had been the dream, but it was something to be thankful for.
Thinking of Sydney’s comment about telling people the things that were important, he made a note to share his thoughts with his brothers sooner rather than later.
Walker Stone raised his beer bottle in the air. “As a nod to Caleb, who is now learning the hard way that raising sons is far different than raising daughters. To sons!”
A cheer of “To sons!” went up, and Caleb lifted his beer in salute.
“It’s too true,” Zach Sorenson announced sagely. “Girls tell you when they’re about to do stupid shit, boys just do it.”
“Not sure why you’re wearing that wise old man face. Your kid is barely three months old,” Luke complained. “And a girl.”
“Five sisters,” Zach said with a sigh. He tilted his head knowingly. “Five. Sisters.” He turned his attention on Aiden. “And you married one of them. God help you and thank you at the same time. You’re either a saint or a fool.”
“Fucking lucky,” Aiden quipped. “That’s all I know.”
Laughter and witty snark flowed as fast as the beer. Declan found himself damn near grinning when they headed home hours later.
“Smile any harder and you’ll break your face,” Jake warned, but he smiled as well.
“Both of you are far too happy,” Aiden complained.