15. Jake
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
jake
M y boots kick up a pile of sawdust as I storm over to my laptop.
No matter how often I sweep or vacuum, this floor is always a mess.
Slumping into the chair at my desk, I open the computer and pull up my latest supply order.
How dare she insinuate I’m not holding up my end of our agreement.
I have half the shelves sitting on a workspace in the corner.
I was simply waiting on the lumber for the rest before I installed them.
My intention was to not make more of a hassle or mess in her store than I had to, but to hell with that. If she wants a fight, she has one. I hope she’s ready.
With my mom not coming in today, I’m losing valuable time in my shop.
When I open my store, the first thing I do is print out a “Now Hiring” sign and make an ad for an apprentice and a part-time sales associate.
It’s not fair to either of my parents to have my mom working every day, and with the unpredictability of my dad’s pain, I can’t risk falling behind on orders to work in the store.
When I called my mom at lunch, she assured me everything was fine and I didn’t need to stop by after work.
That gives me the ability to wreak some havoc next door since I close at five and Amber doesn’t close until seven.
Aside from a few sporadic customers, the store remained mostly empty for the day, and I filled that time with drafting some of the custom orders I have in my queue.
The crib for Thoren and Lily takes most of my attention because I want it to be perfect.
Right at five, I close the store and head straight next door.
The tinkling of bells chimes when I walk in, drawing golden eyes to me.
She scowls but goes back to talking with the customer in front of her.
However, her stare is on me like a burn as I walk around the edge of the store looking at the shelves I’ve made replacements for already.
Like the gentleman I am, I wait until it’s just us in the store before bombarding her. “Empty these six shelves, I’m tearing them out and replacing them.”
“Oh, you suddenly have time to hold up your end of the deal? It’s been a busy day, and I have a long night ahead of me, Jake. You can do it next week. Preferably when the store isn’t open.”
I spin around, piercing her with a glare.
Amber has one brow raised in challenge, just waiting for my rebuttal.
The tiny stud in her nose glinting under the store lights reminds me of the way it sparkled under Thoren’s bathroom lights.
Instead of giving in, I start pulling the shoe display from the shelves and setting them on the floor.
“Jesus, okay, okay,” she gripes, coming over to move everything out of the way.
I toss her a self-satisfied smirk before heading for the back door. “I’m going to grab my tools and the shelves. I’ll buzz twice when I’m back.”
All the stores have a door that leads to the back alley, and all come with a buzzer that lets you know someone is waiting to be let in.
It’s meant for delivery purposes but is helpful here too.
Realistically, Cedar Ridge is a safe town, and she could easily leave this door propped open with no issues.
Except, I know all too well how quickly a situation can turn dangerous.
Throwing on my leather apron, I fill my pockets with everything I’ll need before getting the deep-walnut shelves.
Every project I work on is to the best of my ability.
I could have bought cheap lumber since I’m technically doing this job for free.
No part of me would have been okay with that, though.
Walnut is quality, durable, and beautiful wood, so that’s what I ordered for her.
It’s not always the easiest to get in bulk, hence why I’m waiting for my larger shipment to finish the rest of the shelves and tables.
With everything in hand, I kick shut my workshop door and use an elbow to hit her buzzer.
It crosses my mind that she could easily ignore me and hope I don’t feel like carrying this all to the front of the store.
Surprisingly, her keys jingle on the other side, and she lets me back in.
Her scowl is still planted firmly in place.
Paired with her cardigan, ripped jeans, and pink Vans, she looks cute as fuck, and it hits me again that I like her annoyance with me.
“Can you hurry your ass up? I don’t want Socks getting out.”
Totally forgot about that little guy. My back brushes against her as I shuffle through the doorway, trying not to scratch her walls, and a zip of awareness shoots south.
There’s no reason for me to be this aware of her body next to mine.
Hell, last week, I ran into someone I slept with—literally ran into because my big ass was too focused on my phone—and I didn’t even notice until she called me out.
One little brush of T-shirt to sweater on Amber, though, and my cock takes notice.
Thankful for the thick leather of my apron hiding the erection trying to make itself known, I set everything down and get out my drill to start removing the old shelves from the wall.
They come out easily, only leaving small holes I can patch later.
The shelves I built aren’t floating shelves like she had before, but they look much better and should last much longer .
Soft meows sound behind me as I mark off where I need to put in anchors.
The kitten is growing quickly but is still a little fuzzball.
He’s jumping around the shelves, batting at my boots every time I get too close to where he’s hiding.
As much as I hate to admit it, the little shit is growing on me.
It takes me another twenty minutes to get the shelves level and hung. While it’s a small thing, it makes a huge difference in how the store looks. The other displays have chipping paint and are sagging, making mine stand out.
“Those look good. Thank you,” Amber says from behind me.
“The rest of the wood should be in next week, so I should have all the shelves replaced the week after. The tables may take a bit longer.” I put my tools back into my pockets and grab the old displays to throw in the dumpster out back.
“Thanks. Sorry I was rude about it this morning. I’ll be working on that shipment all weekend, but then we can get together to finish up your website.
” She looks sincere in her words, but this morning’s interactions play through my head.
I was genuinely trying to help her by getting those boxes put away and not in towering stacks right by her door.
With her shorter stature, it would have been a recipe for disaster, and I could easily haul the boxes around.
Her feisty spirit and attitude keep me on my toes, and as much as I like it, I equally hate it.
Blood rushes south every time she fights me, and I have to refrain from doing what I really want, like making her get on her knees for me again.
“Sure thing. Just let me know,” I say, putting one extra thing in my pocket when she isn’t looking. Making my way out the back, I toss the scraps of wood and head into my shop.
Tonight, I keep the bay doors closed. I can’t have my new friend escaping. Socks is nestled nicely in one of my apron pockets and doesn’t seem to want to leave when I start putting my tools away.
“Okay, little buddy, I should be working on one of my eight projects I have going, but I think I want to make you something instead. How does that sound?”
His tiny paws flex against my chest as he purrs.
If I’m honest, I don’t know the first thing about what cats like, but I’m sure I can figure it out.
Pulling him from my pocket, I set him on my desk and open my laptop to do some research.
To my surprise, he jumps right back down into my lap when I sit, so I deposit him back into the big pocket on my chest. Stroking his soft fur releases some of the tension from my neck I didn’t realize I was carrying.
Finding what I want to build for Socks is easy, and I have plenty of scrap wood around to start on it.
He’s asleep now, so I go about my business, careful not to bump him into anything.
The wall behind Amber’s register has a large sign that says Cedar and Sage but is otherwise bare.
Some strategically placed shelves for Socks to climb and lounge on would be perfect.
Some will need carpet to give him more traction and something to scratch, so simply making the base of the shelves is easy.
I have four complete when I decide to make one into a house for him to hide in.
I’m making the cuts for the side pieces when Amber comes yelling through the door that leads to her space.
“Jake! Have you seen Socks? Is it possible he followed you out of my store earlier?” Her eyes are trained on the floor, looking around in every nook.
“I searched that place high and low and couldn’t find him anywhere!
Can you help me search the alleyway for him? ” she shouts hysterically over my saw.
I was debating playing dumb, but the look in her eyes stops me in my tracks. She’s petrified, hands trembling as her eyes rove around. On instinct, I move in front of her, gripping her shoulders tight. She glances down where we’re connected, then up to my face.
“Hey, it’s okay. He’s okay. I have him.” I move one hand to the pocket on my chest and pull it open to reveal a sleeping kitten. Her shoulders slump, relief relaxing her body. Soft-honey eyes take in her cat before turning hard again as she slaps my shoulder hard.
“What the hell. Why did you take him? And not say anything? I’ve been frantically looking for him for an hour, Jake!” Her voice wobbles, and tears rim her eyes. Anxiety is pouring off her in waves over the distress of losing her kitten.
I’ve done nothing but fuck up with this woman.
I’m not a selfish jerk, but somehow, she draws that out of me.
Her worry didn’t even cross my mind when I took Socks.
My intention was to do something nice for her and the cat.
He’s my neighbor too, and his playful manner made me happy when I was in her store earlier.
I live alone, I work alone … I do most things alone, and it sucks.
Even my time with Thoren’s dog, Shadow, has been limited since Lily works from home.
Having Socks’s company has been nice, and I wanted more time with him.
The tremble of Amber’s bottom lip is like a punch to the gut, and I feel like an ass. Again.
“I shouldn’t have taken him without your permission, I’m sorry. I wanted to spend time with him and make him something.” Rocking back on my heels, I palm the back of my neck. “Want to see?”
My question takes her by surprise as much as it does me.
She stares at me befuddled, then slowly nods.
I lead her over to the little stack of wood I have on the table.
Embarrassment floods my body when I look at the little shelves.
What if she hates them? This isn’t what we do.
She hasn’t seen a glimpse of the man I am, but that is one hundred percent my fault.
I haven’t shown her the caring, selfless, protective side of myself.
Pushing through the uncomfortable feeling in my chest, I hold one up.
“I was making small shelves for him. I was going to wrap some in carpet so he has something to dig his claws in. This one, I was going to make like a box with a hole in the front and side so he can jump in and peer out. They could go on the wall behind your register, but if you hate that, you can put them anywhere.”
Putting the shelf down, I pet the kitten again to give my hands something to do.
She’s quiet for so long I fear I’ve broken her.
The silence makes my skin itch, so I finally look up from my pocket to meet her eyes.
They’re soft again and scrutinizing me so intently I have to look away before she sees too deep.
“Thanks, Jake. He will love that. Please don’t take him again, though.” There’s a quiet calm to her voice I haven’t heard before. When she reaches for Socks, I step back.
“Will you be working next door for a while?” I ask, nodding to her storage room.
“Yeah, a few hours at least.”
“Can I keep him with me until you’re done?
” I can’t have an animal of my own. I work too many hours, and as much as I would love a shop dog, or hell, even a shop cat apparently, it wouldn’t be safe for them.
The noise, the fumes, the rogue nails and screws always on the floor.
It’s not fair for me to do that to an animal.
For a few hours though, Socks can fill that lonely void in my life tonight.
“Sure,” Amber says, retreating to her side of the storage unit. “Bring him to me if you head out before me.” The door between our two areas stays open until we both call it quits for the night, and that feels like progress.