Chapter Seven #4
“A temporary health care worker. We’re paid a premium for being willing to relocate every thirteen weeks to fill a position that would otherwise go unfilled.
We have a critical nursing shortage in this country and…
” Why was she telling him this now? He needed to get Darby Jane inside.
“Never mind. You don’t need to hear me get up on my soapbox. ”
He smiled gently. “Some other time, perhaps. Again, I’m sorry about the inconvenience. If you’ll just pop into the cabin for a minute, I’ll give you that article. It’s an old newspaper clipping that I found tucked in a book featuring my aunt Lois and the woman I believe is your grandmother.”
Oh. Jovi shivered, jamming her hands deeper into the pockets of her coat. “I would like to see that. I guess I can come in for a minute.”
The beeping of the forklift interrupted them.
Another truck drove down the road, then slowed to a stop and pulled over behind her car. A man got out. He was in his midtwenties and wore a gray hoodie, faded jeans and black work boots.
“Hey. I’m Jensen. Connie from Trailside sent me a text, said you might need some help moving?”
“Here’s the man you need to speak to.” Jovi tipped her head toward Burke, who’d opened his truck’s door. Darby Jane stirred. She opened her eyes, blinked, then rubbed her eyes with her fists. She did not look well at all.
“Thanks for coming by, Jensen.” Burke gave a quick nod. “I’m Burke Solomon. This is my cabin. We’re taking delivery of our household goods today, and with my arm in this cast, I’d appreciate the help. If you’ve got a couple of hours.”
Darby Jane groaned.
“Here, why don’t you let me take her?” Jovi held out her arms. “Are you all right, Darby Jane?”
“Uh-uh.” Darby Jane’s lip quivered. “I don’t feel good. But I wanna watch the guy move our box.”
Poor baby. She looked so pitiful.
Burke smoothed his hand gently over her forehead. “She started looking ill when we were at breakfast. Pretty sure she has a fever.”
Yikes. “Come here, pumpkin.” Jovi scooped the little girl into her arms. Boy, she felt really warm. “I’ll take her inside. Is your front door unlocked?”
“Here.” He handed over the keys. His expression softened. “Thank you for doing this.”
“No problem.” Jovi turned toward the cabin with Darby Jane wedged on her hip. “How long have you felt bad?” Jovi’s breath came out in little puffs of white as she worked her way around the truck and forklift.
“Since I waked up.” Darby Jane leaned her head against Jovi’s shoulder. “I’m hot and cold at the same time.”
“Yeah, I know. It happens. Your body’s fighting those germs.”
“Germs are icky.”
“Indeed.” Jovi sidestepped the truck driver as he directed the forklift operator to maneuver the pod off the truck.
When she got to the porch, she fumbled with the key, managed to jam it into the lock, and then carried Darby Jane inside. She settled the girl on the couch and plucked her boots from her feet.
“Let me get you a blanket.” She pulled an afghan from the back of the couch and draped it over Darby Jane’s trembling body.
“That one’s ugly.”
“I know, but it will have to do. I’m sure your favorite blankets are going to be unpacked shortly.”
“Will you stay with me until we’re all unpacked?”
The words pierced Jovi’s heart. As much as she wanted to say yes, exhaustion weighed her down. And Burke wouldn’t want her to make promises she couldn’t keep. “I don’t know about that. I’ve been up all night working, helping take care of other sick people at the hospital.”
“Can you help take care of me too?”
How could she say no to that? “Of course. Do you like crackers and ginger ale when you feel yucky?”
Darby Jane nodded and tugged the afghan up over her lap. “And a movie on my daddy’s laptop.”
“We’ll have to wait for him to come inside to handle that part. I’m sure he’ll just be a minute. I’ll look for the ginger ale and the crackers while we wait. Okay?”
“Okay.”
Jovi set the kid-sized boots and jacket by the door, then toed off her own. Shivering, she padded into the kitchen. When Burke came inside, she’d ask about starting a fire in the woodstove. It was chilly in here.
On the counter, she spotted a yellowed newspaper article, obviously clipped from a larger section ages ago.
Her breath caught. The photo in the center of the page was blurry, but she could still make out the familiar outline of Grammie.
Just a much younger version. She looked beautiful with a sweet smile on her face.
Lois stood beside her. They both grinned at the camera as they held out boxes of cookies or candy.
Jovi leaned closer and scanned the caption.
Lois’s and Grammie’s names were there in print.
They’d won a local contest in Evergreen with their confections.
She checked for a date at the top of the article, but for some reason, whoever had clipped the story out hadn’t included it.
The women couldn’t have been more than twenty-one or so in the picture.
So when had they stopped being friends? And why?
“Jovi?” Darby Jane called out. “May I have something to drink, please?”
“Be right there.” She opened the pantry.
A box of saltine crackers stood on its end.
She pulled out a sleeve, then added a few to a bowl she found drying beside the sink.
Thankfully, a can of ginger ale was already chilling in the fridge.
Did Darby Jane have a favorite cup? Or did she need to use a straw inside the can?
Jovi peeked inside a few of the almost bare cabinets until she found a plastic mug with a sturdy handle.
That would probably work. After pouring half the liquid into the mug, she carried the soda and crackers into the living area just as the front door opened and Burke came inside with three guys behind him, all loaded down with large boxes.
Chaos ensued with the men trampling in, trying to figure out where to place the stacks.
Boy, Burke had a job ahead of him. Especially with his arm in a cast. Darby Jane watched wide-eyed from the couch.
Jovi made her way around the obstacles and sat beside her.
“Which one has my special blanket in it?” Darby Jane shivered, and her voice held a whine.
Jovi eyed the first stack of boxes. Even though they were all labeled, this wasn’t the time to start digging for things. They’d only be in the way. Besides, something told her the girl wouldn’t want to stop once they got started.
“Want to try the ginger ale and crackers I brought for you?” Jovi held them both out. “You might feel better after a little snack.”
Darby Jane nodded and selected one cracker.
Her little body trembled. Chills from the virus or just too cold?
Jovi set the bowl and the mug on the coffee table, then crossed to the woodstove.
She’d start the fire herself. After locating the box of matches tucked away on a high shelf, she put a log from the neat stack nearby, some kindling and crumpled newspaper inside the stove, then lit the paper and stoked the fire until flames licked the wood.
Jovi couldn’t stop a huge yawn as she sat back down on the couch. Darby Jane mimicked her action.
“After you finish your crackers and soda, why don’t you curl up and take a little rest?”
“Can’t.” Though her eyes drooped, Darby Jane shook her head. “Too loud.”
Jovi stroked her flushed cheek. “You’ll feel better after you rest.”
Her own body ached with fatigue. She just wanted to go home and sleep.
Except she felt bad leaving Darby Jane here, and Burke was distracted, giving the moving crew instructions on where to place things.
As soon as he came back in from the other room, she’d ask for a thermometer to take Darby Jane’s temperature.
She settled into the corner of the couch. It wouldn’t hurt to close her eyes. Just for a few minutes.
* * *
Burke stood in the living room of the cabin, debating his options.
Jovi had fallen asleep on his couch. Darby Jane, at some point, must’ve snuggled close, because now she slept with her head on Jovi’s lap.
His heart swelled at the sight. Jovi’s peaceful expression, the pink bow of her full lips, and the warmth from the fire sent his thoughts all sorts of places they shouldn’t go.
Then logic immediately stormed in, like a drill sergeant on a mission, determined to restore order.
He couldn’t be with Jovi. Not like this, not now, and maybe not ever.
Did he want to be a single dad for the rest of his life?
Of course not, but it seemed like the only way.
Besides, he’d barely waded into investigating their families’ mysterious feud.
Even though he hadn’t come up with any concrete details on the cause, the existence of the rift served as enough of a warning.
They couldn’t get involved with one another.
Yet here he stood, wondering if maybe he should just turn around and go fix himself something to eat. What was the harm in letting her sleep a little longer? His head spun as he stood there in limbo, not sure what to do.
Except, what was he supposed to do with his oh-so-conflicted emotions?
He couldn’t pretend he hadn’t caught himself stealing peeks out the window to see if she was around.
Or that his heart hadn’t expanded at the sight of her doing all the maternal things for Darby Jane that his late wife had once done.
And don’t even get him started on what happened to his insides when she smiled. Or laughed.
He bit back a strangled groan. Yeah, he had to put a stop to this.
Pulling in a deep breath, he stepped closer. Instantly, Jovi’s eyes opened. She blinked, then looked down at Darby Jane. Her mouth parted, but when her gaze flicked to his, she found her voice.
“What’s going on?” Jovi asked, her voice thick with sleep.
“You fell asleep.” Burke kept his voice low. Waking Darby Jane was the last thing he wanted to do.
Jovi’s brow furrowed as she sat up. When Darby Jane stirred, whimpering, Jovi winced. The little girl sighed, then curled into a ball on the couch and hugged the afghan tighter.
“I guess I should go,” Jovi whispered.
No. Shoving the petulant thought right back where it came from, Burke offered her his hand to help her stand up without disturbing his daughter.
Jovi hesitated for a moment before accepting his offer and allowing him to help her up to her feet.
She stood close enough that he breathed in a pleasing vanilla-scented aroma.
Her eyes roamed his face. The sensation of her fingers still clasped in his kicked his pulse up a notch, and his stupid traitorous eyes dipped toward her lips.
Jovi angled her head slightly. She peeked up at him through dark eyelashes. It wouldn’t take much for him to lean in and—
“I’ll walk you out.”
Somehow, he forced himself to let go of her and turn away.
Without another word, the two of them moved toward the door.
She stopped long enough to shove her feet into her boots.
But when he held the door open for her, Jovi paused and looked at him with an expression that seemed almost…
hopeful? Burke’s heart skipped a beat as their gazes locked, but he quickly looked away, not wanting to succumb to temptation.
He had already made his decision: he wasn’t going to take a chance on a relationship with her.
Instead, Burke cleared his throat and stepped aside so she could leave without him blocking the way.
Outside on the porch, a bitter cold swept over him.
He shivered, but he’d be a gentleman and walk her to her car.
Overhead, millions of stars spilled across a black velvet sky.
A bright round moon had crested the mountains silhouetted in the distance.
They walked in silence until they reached Jovi’s car where Burke opened the door for her.
Except she didn’t get in. “Burke.”
As his name left her lips, the air around them shifted. Burke froze as their gazes locked again, scared at what might unfold. He wanted so desperately to reach out and take her in his arms, but a paralyzing fear kept him still.
No. He couldn’t. Not after the horrific losses he’d endured. Stepping away, he shook his head. If he allowed himself to get too close to her, there would be no turning back.
“I’m sorry.” Her expression was difficult to read in the silvery moonlight as she scrutinized him. “For whatever I did to make you uncomfortable.”
“It’s all right,” he said quickly. In a tone far too abrupt for his liking. He could almost feel the heat radiating from her as she stood there in silence. One hand gripping the car door’s frame. The seconds ticked on in agonizing silence.
Suddenly, there was nothing else to say. Jovi slid behind the wheel, barely mumbling good night before she slammed the door.
As she started the engine and then drove away, Burke couldn’t help but feel both relieved and saddened at the same time.
Relieved that she was leaving so he could remember why they couldn’t be together—they were all wrong for each other—and sad because he wanted nothing more than to keep talking with her for hours.
He watched her taillights until she pulled into her driveway before finally letting out a deep breath and walking back inside the house.
He’d pushed her away. But what might’ve happened if he’d kissed her instead?
His stomach tightened. Yeah, okay, so tonight had proved that he wanted to open up to her, but fear held him back every time. Fear of getting hurt, fear of feeling vulnerable, fear of how falling in love might impact his daughter’s life.
His thoughts raced on endlessly as he retrieved the thermometer and fever-reducing medicine from the bathroom.
Darby Jane, his manuscript, unpacking all these boxes—those were the things that mattered.
Not pursuing a relationship with his beautiful, available neighbor.
Especially since she’d only signed a contract for thirteen weeks.
What if her family sold the company and she left town?
He and Darby Jane couldn’t afford to get attached.
Besides, his selfish choices had resulted in catastrophic consequences.
Time had softened the edges of his grief, but not his guilt. He didn’t deserve to find love again.