Chapter 6 – Jude
Chapter Six
JUDE
I’m helping Mama D and Lola clear the table, putting any leftovers into tupperware before handing the dirty dishes to the mother daughter duo who insisted on doing the dishes.
Paul is sitting in the living room with Patrick and Elle, chatting in hushed voices.
We’re all trying to give Anika and Mabel whatever time they need for the conversation we were sure Mabel was intent on having.
My body feels like it’s vibrating with the need to follow Mabel out into the night. Everything’s cleaned up and I decide to stop fighting the urge. “Have a good night, everyone.”
Mama D offers me a hug, The Warren sisters offer a quick wave, Paul ignores me, and Patrick offers up his fist for a bump. The joker shakes his hand out like I actually put some weight behind the bump.
I do my best to walk outside quietly, not wanting to disturb Mabel if she’s possibly still chatting with Anika. Her silhouette makes me groan, her body is sinful perfection. It takes all I have to keep the thoughts of gripping those hips and driving into her warmth in the back of my mind.
All dirty thoughts escape my mind as I hear a soft sniffle coming from my personal siren. “Mabel, what’s wrong?”
I rush to her, placing my hands on her shoulders. I’m sure I’m crossing more than one line right now but right now, I don’t care. She’s upset and she needs comfort. “Mabel?” I ask again, a small whine escapes her before she turns and wraps her arms around my waist, small sobs shaking her body.
“Hey, hey, it’s okay. Tell me what’s wrong.” I pull her closer to my body, running one hand up and down her back. I’ll do anything to stop the crying, do anything to keep sadness from enveloping this woman.
She doesn’t answer me but eventually the tears stop and her breathing returns to a somewhat normal rhythm. “Mabel, tell me what you need.” This request comes out quieter, she feels so goddamn good in my arms. I want to scoop her up and keep her here forever.
“I…I need….I have to go.”
Before I can react, Mabel pushes out of my arms and all but sprints into the darkness. I’m stunned and can’t turn my brain back on quick enough to follow after her. I instantly miss the warmth that came from our bodies pressed together.
A shiver shakes through me and there’s an uncomfortable tightness in my jeans .
I stand in my confusion for a moment longer before making the decision to start my long walk back to the Bunk House. There was no way in hell I was going to walk back into Mama D’s house with a boner after I’d already said my good-nights.
Thankfully, the walk gives my body the chance to return to its base soft setting. I’m determined to get a good night’s sleep and put the memory of Mabel’s body pressed against mine into a small box, tucked far, far back in my mind.
I slept like shit.
I couldn’t get the memory of Mabel’s soft, sweet body pressed against mine out of my head until I forced myself to replace images of her with the thought of my step-dad chewing with his mouth open.
Bleh.
I still felt like my skin was too tight every time I stopped to think about how much I was going to be around Mabel for the next few weeks between shadowing her and the trip up to the cabin.
I’m a mess the next day as well, so messed up even the most oblivious guys who live in the Bunk House with notices and heckles me about how strange I’m acting.
I’m stomping my way to the education center, thinking Patrick might be able to pull me out of my funk so I can do my damn job. He should have an hour or so available before any tours start today.
I can only hope some of his positive attitude can rub off on me.
Despite my typical silence, Patrick and I have become pretty good friends. We bonded over working at the Farm, enjoying nature, and being head over heels for a Warren sister. The only difference was Patrick’s a lucky bastard and his Warren sister was head over heels for him right back.
I don’t hold it against him.
Most of the time.
A thought flits through my mind that has my breath catching for a moment.
I think about how Elle and Patrick never would have gotten together if not for them being forced to share an office space with each other for weeks when Patrick first started working here.
Similar to what Mabel and I would be…no.
Nope, I needed to get those thoughts gone before they could take root.
“Yo, Rick, you here?” I call out as I push my way into the education center. It’s still early, too early for him to start his tours, but I did almost walk into some NSFW activities by not making my presence known as soon as possible before. I won’t be making that mistake ever again.
“Jude the Dude!” Patrick’s voice rings out from inside Elle’s office.
Yep.
Glad I said something before taking another step. Patrick walks out of Elle’s office, cradling Honey Cat like a baby. He’s rubbing a paw and making stupid faces that seem to only be annoying the tabby.
“Stop infantizing our fucking cat!” Elle’s voice calls from her office and despite her words there is no heat in her tone. Patrick’s attention is pulled from the cat, our gazes connecting and this asshole winks.” I’ll stop once you let me put a baby in you !” Patrick tosses over his shoulder.
I’m regretting my decision to visit Patrick already.
A very un-Elle-like squeak comes from her office before the door is slammed shut.
“What can I do for you, friend?” Patrick asks, chuckling around his question. He strides across the room to let Honey Cat out for her daily prowl. I keep my eyes on the feline as it weaves its way into the fruit field.
Honey Cat, so aptly named as she was a cat who lived on a honey farm, had been sort of a myth around Warren Farms until Patrick showed up. Previously, the cat would only come out to visit Elle or when Henry was around.
Even working here for the last ten years, I could have counted Honey Cat sightings on one hand with a finger or two leftover but Patrick is the freaking cat whisperer, the little thing follows him around the farm unless he’s giving a tour.
During that time, she lazes around in Elle’s office while she does all the paperwork required to keep the farm running.
“Jude?” Patrick waves his hand in front of my face, pulling me out of my thoughts. I push his hand away and he dramatically ‘stumbles’ back a few steps. “You’re such a weirdo. I’m not that big, if anything you’re just a weakling.”
Sometimes I feel like Patrick has made it his life goal to tease me about my size. Just because I may have put a little extra effort in my handshake when Lola first introduced us. He was new to the Farm and I may or may not have felt a sort of misplaced need to assert my dominance on the new guy.
The fact I’d overheard Lola and Mabel talk about what a cutie he was had nothing to do with it. Nothing at all.
“I don’t deny my weirdness but that’s besides the point.”
“And what’s the point, again?”
“Any particular reason you’ve ventured into my neck of the Farm this morning?”
Ah, shit. Yeah, there was but I wasn’t going to tell him why I was visiting, especially after his comment to Elle about babies. I shake my head.
“Negative. Just doing my job of checking on things, making sure people are doing what they’re supposed to be doing. You know, work stuff.” I can feel my cheeks heat as my answer gets away from me.
Thankfully, I’m outside almost everyday, and despite my ball cap’s greatest efforts, I have some type of sunburn or tan that hides my embarrassment.
“Sure. Sure. Always on top of everything, boss man.” Patrick’s giving me a look that has me feeling apprehensive, he’s leaning in now and raises a hand to the side of his mouth.
He looks like an idiot, telling me a secret when we’re the only two people in this giant building.
“Wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain Warren sister stopping by for a meeting with my fiancee in the next, oh, five minutes. Right?”
No.
No, that was most definitely not the reason I stopped by.
That was like the exact opposite reason I came here. “Are you joking?” My voice comes out deep, I’m panicking. Patrick starts to shake his head just as the door that’s open for the public starts to open.
I gotta get out of here.