Chapter 5
JINX
“No way could I do that.” Arms crossed over his chest, Jack stands back and watches as Connor scales a huge hemlock in the Bishops’ backyard. The tree itself isn’t the problem; the branches that hang over the Bishops’ sunroom are. I removed the biggest of them a few weeks ago. It was by luck and luck alone that it didn’t do any damage.
“Good thing tree-climbing isn’t in your job description, then, huh?” I clap the kid on the back. Jack’s been working with me for a couple of summers now, but he’s only seventeen, so there won’t be any tree spikes or harnesses in his immediate future.
“Any word on when the bucket truck will be fixed?” he asks.
Inwardly, I groan. Unfortunately, our unit has seen its final days. I thought I could milk it for one last season, but the lift is no longer stable, and I can’t risk mechanical failure when one of us is in the air.
“The truck is officially out of commission. I’ve been gathering quotes for a new one. Just have to show them to Jesse and see what he thinks.”
Jack nods, looking far more mature than his age. “Better safe than sorry.”
My phone rings in my pocket, so I dig it out and give him a nod. “That’s for sure.”
Speak of the devil.
“Huh. Jesse’s ears must’ve been ringing.” I accept the call and put the cell to my ear. “Enders Exotic Adventures. This is Jinx, rendezvous master. How may I help you?”
Jesse snorts. “Master, my ass. Not unless you mean master-bater.”
Tipping my head back, I grin. “I’m definitely good at that.”
“I’m sure you are.” He mutters something unintelligible under his breath. “Hey, I need you to do me a favor and take care of some trees at the Willis site.”
“Take care of them how?” Any tree removal required for his projects is typically done with a chainsaw and a front-end loader, not my equipment.
“Lenny wants to keep some of them for landscaping, but we got some limbs stuck when we removed the trees around them. Figured it’d be easier to get the bucket truck over there and cut them out than it would be to wait for a good storm to do it for us.”
Shit. “Hate to tell you, but no can do.” I cringe and fuss with the brim of my hat. “The lift mechanism got stuck a couple of times on Thursday. Connor took a look and said the motor’s shot. We’re actually at the Bishops’ now doing some tree work by hand.”
Jesse’s silence makes it clear he’s not happy. And rightfully so. I should have told him about the truck right away. In my defense, I wanted to get the quotes in order before I broke the news.
“Let’s talk about this on Monday morning,” he finally responds, his tone short. “I have to get out to the Willis place and come up with another plan.”
Fuck.
I scrub a hand over my face. Despite trying to do the right thing, I still fucked this up.
Story of my goddamn life.
RACHEL
Five more minutes,Rachel.
Just one more song.
Gripping the bike’s handlebars, I ignore the sweat dripping down my chest and pedal hard for the duration of the metal rock song pulsing through my earbuds. When the music fades and the next song begins, I sit back with my hands on my hips and heave in one deep breath after another.
Craig picked the kids up before dinner, and instead of crying, I focused my energy on working out. Unlike Mason and Emma, I’ve never been an athlete. Even so, pushing my body and getting my blood pumping effects more than just my physical health. It makes me feel mentally stronger, too.
Legs burning in the best way, I slide off the bike and head upstairs, already looking forward to a shower and the comfy pajamas I plan to put on early. I won’t be sleeping or even relaxing, of course, because I have a continuing education class to work on, but there is a bottle of red wine in the kitchen, waiting to keep me company.
After a quick shower, I step out and towel off. My skin is still damp when the sound of a lawn mower passes by the bathroom window.
What the hell?
I stick my fingers in the blinds and move them just enough to see what’s going on. My heart leaps into my throat a moment later when Jinx rides by on a mower.
In my backyard.
Dressed in what I’d planned to lounge in all night, I march outside, plant my hands on my hips, and wait for him to turn the mower around.
When he finally does, he grins brightly and lifts a hand in greeting.
I throw both of my arms in the air. “What are you doing?” I holler.
He points to his ear protection and mouths, “I can’t hear you.”
So, I wait again. The man takes his sweet time, making a couple more laps up and down the far end of the lawn before he finally drives over.
He cuts the engine and drops the ear protection to his neck. “What’s up?” Slowly, he looks me up and down, one brow quirked. As if I don’t already know that I’m barely dressed in a pair of skimpy sleep shorts and a tank top without a bra.
“Why are you cutting my lawn?”
“Needs to be cut.”
“Obviously. But why are you the one doing it?”
He gestures toward the mower still sitting outside my garage. “Your mower is broken. Mine isn’t.”
Oh my god. “How do you… okay, you know what? Forget that.” I didn’t hire him to do this, so if he thinks he’s getting paid…
Wait. A zap of anger courses through me, and I narrow my eyes on him.
“Did Craig send you over?” I demand. “Because I swear to god if—”
“Fuck no,” he bites out.
Fuck no? What is that about?
“Are you sure?”
He removes his sunglasses, revealing those icy blue eyes of his.
I almost shiver.
The contrast between them and his tanned skin is startling. And sexy. Or it would be if I weren’t so annoyed. And if he weren’t so young.
“I don’t talk to your husband,” Jinx says, his tone still clipped. “Let’s set that straight right now. He and I may both work for Enders Excavating, but he’s on Jesse’s team. And he’s Aiden’s friend. But he’s not mine.”
Tell me how you really feel. Jeez.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Okay. That still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
“Looked like you could use a hand.”
Again.
He doesn’t say it, but we’re both thinking it.
“I’m not going to send you a bill, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
I’m not. But I can’t let him do this for free, either. “I don’t expect you to work for nothing.”
The smile he sends my way is far too bright. “But you didn’t hire me, either.”
“I’m going to pay you.”
“Whatever floats your boat, Rach. Now, can I get back to work?”
Ugh. Why must he be so damn irritating and kind at the same time?
“Fine. Whatever.” I wave a flippant hand.
With a single dip of his chin, he returns his ear protection to his head and his sunglasses to his face, and then he goes back to mowing.
I, on the other hand, close my eyes and turn my face up to the sky.
God, please give me the strength.
For what, I don’t know just yet.
But I have a feeling I’m going to need it.