Chapter 5
JACOB
She’s mine.
I know that now.
Who the hell am I kidding? I knew it from the moment I stepped onto her porch, and she opened her front door when she had needed help moving her stuff.
One look at her blue eyes and soft honey-blonde hair pulled back in a French braid, and my heart, the one fucking organ I had always wondered if it worked, started to beat for the first time.
I have been to war, to hell and back, and yet never felt as alive as I did that crisp morning. I shut the door to Reed’ place and frown.
“Hold on, angel.” I squeeze her hand and quickly let it go. I shrug the flannel I’m been wearing under my thermal off. “Here you go,” I murmur and wrap her up in it.
“What are you—"
“Taking care of you, baby girl.” My girl looks up at me with her big blue eyes as we stand outside of Reed’s house, and all I want to do is kiss her.
But I don’t.
Somehow, I hold back and take care of business. I button up the flannel, slowly. One by one until I have her all covered up. Then, finally, I lean in and drop a kiss on top of her head. “Warm?”
“Cozy,” Eden whispers. Even under the moonlight I can see the pink tinge over the apples of her cheeks.
I love how she blushes for me. I can’t wait to see her brighten up for me time after time.
“It feels like snow,” she whispers, and I lose her eyes.
She looks up at the mountain sky. It’s littered with stars that look like diamonds sparkling against the darkness.
It’s beautiful but pales in comparison to the woman in front of me.
“I’m not sure I know what snow feels like yet.” I mutter. She turns and smiles at me.
“You’ll know before the season is over. I have a feeling it’s going to be a cold one this year.” She shrugs, and I nod. I reach for her hand, and she lets me hold it. It feels soft but chilly.
“Shit, your hands are cold.” I rub both with mine and then bring them up to my mouth to blow warm air over them. “Let’s hurry up and get you to my truck.”
“Okay.” She smiles and hurries right along with me.
I open her door and get her buckled up before shutting it and rounding my truck.
I glance toward Reed’s door. I’m not surprised to find him standing there, looking at me like he doesn’t recognize me.
I’m going to need to have a conversation with him soon.
I tip my head before I get into the truck and get her home.
The drive is quiet but comfortable.
Especially since I’m holding her hand the moment I get into my seat.
If she notices I take the long way home, she doesn’t mention it.
No, my girl simply slides closer, and I’ve never been happier about keeping this old truck with a bench seat.
Her head’s resting on my shoulder when we pull up to her house, and I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
What the hell is wrong with me? When I walked out of Reed’s place, I was confident.
I was going to drive the pretty little girl to her place and claim her.
But during the drive, feeling her soft body pressed against mine, the soft murmurs of her singing along with the radio, my mind went blank, I lost my plan, and nerves settled in deep.
All I want to do is follow her around like a freaking puppy.
I park my truck and glance down at her. She looks up at me with wide blue eyes, and I swear to god, it feels like my heart is about to burst out of my chest. She’s so damn pretty.
All I want to do is pull her in and kiss her.
But I know if I do, I may not be able to stop, and she deserves better than to be mauled.
“Thank you for the ride.” She smiles, and I nod.
I can’t trust my voice in that moment. I lick my lips.
My mouth suddenly feels dry while the palms of my hands are a little sweaty.
She shifts and puts space between us. “I have to work late Friday night,” she shares, and again, all I can fucking do is nod.
Nod. Like a freaking puppet. Because for some damn reason, I can’t seem to sack up and make a move or say a goddamn word. Nerves get the better of me. Her hand rises between us, and she touches the longer hair at the back of my neck.
“Reed mentioned you work late?” Her dulcet voice is making things tight in the front of my pants.
“Sometimes.” My voice sounds scratchy in my own ears.
“If you need a cut, you should stop by.” She tilts her head, but I don’t say anything. How is my brain supposed to work when she’s looking up at me like that with the moonlight shining in through the windshield casting her in the most beautiful silver hue?
“Friday,” I repeat and nod again. “Why do you have to work late?”
“Oh, umm…” She shrugs, and her hand drops.
I miss it stroking the ends of my hair immediately.
“The salon is one of the places you can drop toys off for the toy drive we have going on. I’ve been staying a little later to make sure it’s open to those who want to stop by.
” The salon? It was most likely her idea.
“That’s sweet,” I murmur unable to look away, still holding her hand. My thumb strokes the back of her hand. “What made you want to organize a toy drive?”
“What makes you think it was me?” I give her a look, and she blushes again. “It’s the city’s.” One of my brows rises, and her eyes drop, her lips tipping upward. She shrugs and looks out the truck’s windshield.
“When we were little, after my dad… well, you know.” She squishes her face. “My mom was stuck raising my brothers and me alone. Four kids,” she groans adorably. I have to shift in my seat to get a little more comfortable.
“Anyhow, she worked hard, but during the holidays, it was always so difficult on her, you know? Moonlit Pines isn’t huge, and people aren’t rolling in it, but I figured, I don’t know…”
“Tell me,” I urge, wanting to get a deeper insight into the woman who had stolen my heart the first time we met.
“I figured a toy drive would be helpful, you know? I don’t know, it probably sounds stupid. My brothers always say I’m up to one shenanigan or another.”
“It’s not stupid.” I let my hand drop hers so I can tip her face in my direction. “You’re not stupid, Eden. I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to help out your community and making your corner of the world a better place. I fucking think that’s admirable.”
“Thanks.” Her eyes are warm and sweet while she stares at me.
“Anyhow, one of my best friends is working at city hall and we got to talking and well… let’s say she can be more persuasive than me.
” she smiles. Now there are boxes all over the city including a makeshift Santa’s workshop at the brewery. ”
“What’s an issue you’ve found doing this?”
“An issue?”
“Something you didn’t expect. A problem.”
“Oh.” She presses her lips together. “People hear toy drive and get toys, which, duh, it’s in the name, but no one thinks about the teenagers.” Her cheeks brighten, and I know she’s going to tell me. “You can’t tell my brothers I’m telling you this.”
“Okay,” I drawl slowly.
“My mom got help once from a boys and girls club a couple towns away. One of her friends put her in, and she got chosen. I got the prettiest Barbie,” she shares wistfully.
“I still have it,” she admits, and I chuckle with her.
“But my brothers, I kinda felt bad for them. They got coloring books and a little nerf ball. They were teenagers. And I noticed that’s the demographic that’s missing donations. ”
“I can see that.” An idea starts to stir. “So, you stay late every night of the week?” She nods, unknowingly giving me the green light and the opportunity to make sure I see her again, and soon.
“Yeah. Plus, I get a walk-in or two, and that’s never a loss. Anyhow, if you ever want to stop by…” She lets the offer hang between us, and I don’t say anything for some goddamn reason. “Well, I better get inside so you can get home. Thanks again for the ride. It was fun hanging out.”
“Hold up.” I point at her before slipping out of the truck and make my way to the passenger side.
If she thinks she’s walking herself anywhere when she’s with me, she has another thing coming. When she called me Daddy earlier, she might have been kidding, but I saw the truth in her eyes. The interest in me.
Our souls match, and I’m done fighting the pull I feel when it comes to the gorgeous, curvy angel sitting pretty in my truck. She might be forbidden, my best friend’s sister and twelve years younger than me, but damn it, she’s mine!
I open the door and extend my hand for her. She takes it without saying a word, and we walk together toward her house. “What time do you usually leave to work in the mornings?” I ask the moment we reached her front door.
“Oh, umm, usually about eight. But I might have to leave early since—" She points at the old sedan.
“Early?” I feel my brows bunch.
“Yeah, so I can walk to the salon.”
“Walk? In the morning?” It will be freezing at that time. Way too cold for my girl.
“Yeah, it’s only a mile from here, and I can grab a ride home from one of the girls.”
“Do they usually stay later with you?” She opens her mouth, and I have a feeling she’s about to lie but decides against it. Instead, she shakes her head.
“No, but I can always bug one of my brothers.”
“I’ll be here at eight.” Probably earlier. I’ll be lucky if I’m able to sleep from the anticipation of seeing her again. “And I’ll take you home.” It’s not an offer but a statement, and she knows it. Eden looks at me and chews on her lower lip.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is, I’m taking care of you.” I don’t play coy. I’m done keeping my distance.
“Taking care of…” She frowns. “I don’t need to be taken care of.” I step closer, unable to stop myself as I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her closer. She gasps but thankfully doesn’t push me away.
“Earlier, you called me something.”