Shae’s right eyebrow slowly rose and he could see the recognition dawning in her dark gaze under the artificial porch light. He shook his head before she could verbalize what he’d been thinking ever since the phone call.
Though the Decker property was located at the entrance featuring Blyth Lake’s welcome sign, the land was still considered part of the town. It was the perfect residence for a newly chosen sheriff, allowing him to watch the comings and goings of those entering his domain. The impeccable selection all but screamed it was cherry-picked with that in mind.
But Mary and Gus Kendall would never presume to interfere with their children’s lives. Right? Besides Gwen, who had intentionally set the course of her career in finance, Lance was not the only one who had a notion on what to do with his life. His baby brother had constantly followed their father around to help in the shop.
Mitch, Noah, and Jace had spoken often about taking a few months after their discharges to figure out what the future held for them and how their lives would unfold. So, if they hadn’t known for sure what they would do with their lives after the service, neither had their parents.
Shae’s glance to the left made Jace rethink his original assumption. The first time he set eyes on the barn and the large corral made of heavy oak posts culled from the surrounding trees, images of him working with horses immediately sprang to mind. Those large, loving animals gave him a sense of peace he hadn’t experienced for many, many years. This plot of land was perfect for raising horses and had supported that type of a business in the past.
Had Mary and Gus truly known their children that well?
“My respect for your parents has hit another plateau,” Shae murmured, nodding her head as if she’d just closed a file on a patient. Give her a pair of black-rimmed glasses and a couch, and she’d be right in her element. “You’re very lucky, Jace.”
He didn’t argue that sentiment.
“Let’s go inside.” Jace had put off a lot of work today to ensure Shae was safe and to spend time with his family. Now that the day was finally coming to a close and she was in a relatively safe place given the addition of the new alarm system, they could relax for some small part. “You can help me pick out furniture on the net.”
“What?” Shae was on her feet and already walking toward the screened door. Her next reply made him look twice to see if she’d actually pulled out a pair of spectacles. “Oh, no. This is your new home. You need to choose what fits your personality, not have someone else do it for you. How convenient would that be for you?”
“The office is closed, Doc.” Jace reached around her and opened the door, unable to stop a smirk when she shifted so that his arm didn’t brush hers. There was no erasing the kiss they’d shared earlier. “I want help with picking out unique pieces that will do this place justice. Now the barn? I have that all mapped out in my mind.”
Jace didn’t give her time to argue, but instead led the way to the kitchen. He had a small table with four chairs, but he was lacking a dining room set that would seat his entire family with room to spare. Add on the spare bedrooms, the open spaces that could use a side table or two, and he might very well go bankrupt before ever starting the restoration on the barn.
“Dad and Lance will handcraft the odds and ends to put in all the nooks and crannies.” Was that a laugh he heard? “But I’ll still need some lamps, pictures, vases, and all the accessories that will bring the décor together.”
“Oh, you don’t want to buy those things from this place,” Shae said with a wince, having seen the site he’d had up on his laptop. She slid into one of the chairs before placing two fingers on the integrated mouse. “This house has a lot of character, so you’ll want more of the independent stores that have unique items.”
Jace opened the bag Rose Phifer had given Brynn, who in turn had handed it to him at Mitch’s homecoming party. Rose had mentioned she was heading into the city, so he’d given her cash to purchase a few items he thought would make Shae’s stay with him a little more welcoming.
“What’s your color scheme?” Shae was clicking away on his laptop while he made her a cup of hot tea and himself a cup of coffee. “Earth tones? I’m assuming pastels are out of the running.”
“Definitely earth tones, but I wouldn’t mind a splash of color here and there. Maybe burgundy and golds? I saw a picture on a magazine Reese had with her the other day and—.”
The kettle’s whistle began to shriek until it became a full-fledged scream. He quickly shut it off while avoiding the steam coming out of the spout.
“Where did you get a tea kettle?” Shae asked, her attention drawn to the stove. Her bright smile was all he needed to know he’d done the right thing. “I don’t care what anyone says, but heating up a cup of water in the microwave doesn’t compare to doing it the old-fashioned way. Jace, thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
Jace hadn’t purchased her the kettle for any other reason than he wanted her to be happy, but he wasn’t above hoping Shae experienced a bit of guilt by putting constraints on their relationship after their heated kiss this morning.
It was simple.
He wanted more, and it had nothing to do with her admission about coming to see him at Nick’s party. It had everything to do with the here and now.
“There are a lot of basic things I need to purchase for the house.” Jace shrugged off her comment, pouring the hot water over the tea bag he’d set into a cup. He didn’t want to get off track and back onto a topic he truly wanted to forget tonight. “Do you see any lamps for the living room? The one I have in there now is ancient.”
The evening wore on as Shae miraculously located site after site of possible purchases, from lamps, throw blankets, small rugs, and even wall decorations that didn’t include the usual picture frames. Conversation eventually morphed into the design of her apartment, her office, and then eventually more personal components.
“Why haven’t you ever married?” Jace set his glass of water on the side table, taking a seat in his favorite overstuffed chair. They’d moved into the living room, ignoring the fact that it was going on midnight. He’d switched over from coffee, knowing full well he wouldn’t get much sleep otherwise. “I’d heard you were working at one of the major hospitals in Lansing. I’m surprised that another doctor hasn’t put a ring on your finger.”
“That would require my consent in most states, and that isn’t happening,” Shae said rather wryly, her tone indicating that she’d never date a doctor. He had to wonder why, considering she was in the same profession. “The doctors at public and private hospitals work crazy hours and are always on call. It’s not conducive to any kind of relationship, nor is it for most of the marriages I’ve seen disintegrate. Besides, their divorce rate is beyond the stratosphere.”
“Sounds like the military.” Jace had seen and heard enough horror stories to have shied away from a serious commitment himself. “Though there are some friends of mine who’ve made their marriages work under extreme circumstances, and then some. These couples are committed, strong, and their support for one another is unwavering.”
“I would have to say the same in the marriages I’ve seen of my colleagues that have made it work. It’s not easy. A lot of my patients come to me for that very reason.”
“You mean couples therapy?” Jace could see Shae helping couples salvage their marriage. She had great role models in her parents. Those two had made their marriage work in the worst of times, relying on each other through the thick of it. “I’m surprised you work at the hospital. Don’t you want your own practice at some point?”
“I do, but the experience I’ve attained is priceless.” Shae had polished off two cups of tea and had declined anything to drink when they’d left the kitchen. She had curled up in the middle of the couch, appearing very comfortable with her feet tucked underneath her. “It’s hard to let go of something so good. I work with great coworkers, have regular office hours, and share on-call duties every third weekend. Plus, I’
m able to spend time with my parents and have dinner with them every other Sunday.”
“Dad started up Sunday dinner here with those of us who are back in town,” Jace shared, honestly looking forward to spending quality hours with his family. “It’s been a long time since we’ve gotten to do that. Oh, and Noah has claimed Thursday night for future football gatherings.”
“Let me guess,” Shae said with a laugh. “Lance chose a Tuesday or a Wednesday for poker night.”
“Wednesday is what is being bantered around, but we’re all just waiting on Gwen to get back to town. Can you imagine the hell she’d put us through if we started a tradition like that without her here to put in her ante?” Jace was the first to admit that Gwen was the one they all needed to watch out for when it came to the stakes of the game. She had one of the best damned poker faces in the family. “I sure as hell don’t want to be on the receiving end of her wrath.”
“When does she get into town? I thought I heard your dad mention sometime later this month.”
“Last time I spoke with her was the day I drove into town.” Jace had disconnected his call with Gwen when he’d driven into the parking lot of the cemetery. It had been her suggestion when he’d commented he wasn’t ready to pull up to the homestead without their mother on the porch to greet him. “She mentioned the third week of September, so another three weeks maybe.”
“Is she the only one who doesn’t know about your mother’s final wish to give each of you a home?”
Jace shifted in the chair, not eager to be around when Gwen discovered they’d all kept it a secret—no matter that it was a very special gift. She’d always been the one to seek out the various hiding places their parents would stash their Christmas presents. She loathed surprises, and though she would feel left out because she was the last to know, she would have to accept the reason why.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” Shae chuckled, setting her elbow on the back of the couch and resting her cheek against her forearm. Jace had honestly never seen her so comfortable and relaxed. “So, we touched on it before, but what are your grand plans for the barn?”
Jace studied her before answering, gauging if her interest was personal or the ingrained part of her professional experience she could never leave behind. After all, once a Marine, always a Marine. He assumed it was the same with any truly professional career. One didn’t leave that part of themselves behind.
“You’re not talking about my renovations, are you? I wish I had an answer for you and myself, but I have no idea.” Jace stretched out his legs and crossed his ankles, enjoying their conversation. It was nice to get to know her, versus who she always came across as to everyone else—Emma’s sister. “I thought about a horse farm where I can raise a line of quality American quarter horses, lessons for beginner to intermediate riders, and maybe even a place for folks in town to board their animals. Let’s face it, there are a ton of people in town who used to ride out at the Happel Horse Farm when they had the place up and running. Now, unless they want to drive thirty miles, they have no place to go. If Rose ever decides to run the summer camp again, I could even provide the riding stock for the summer.”
“Then why not give the townsfolk back that special place that you remember as a child?” Shae didn’t appear to be asking for any other reason than pure interest. “What’s holding you back?”
“Because doing something that I loved as a hobby doesn’t feel much like a job.” Jace wasn’t so sure he could settle into something he viewed as an enjoyable pastime. “I’m too young to retire, and I don’t have the money to stop working.”
“Your version of retirement might be skewed by your previous career.” Shae settled deeper into the cushions while her lashes fluttered against her cheeks. She was tired, yet he had a feeling she would be wide awake if he suggested she turn in upstairs. Insomnia could be a bitch. “Tell me how the horse ranch would work if you opened it up to the public.”
Jace spent the next forty minutes going into detail about the different avenues he could take with a horse ranch. He’d known Shae would eventually drift off into a light slumber. He eventually stopped talking so that he could sit in the peaceful quiet of his living room and watch her sleep.
How many times had he thought about a moment like this when he’d been in the heat of the Afghan sandbox or in the bitter cold heights of the Hindu Kush? He’d pictured a thousand scenarios where he was back home, surrounded by family with a home to call his own.
So how was it that a woman he’d known all his life had somehow materialized as part of his future? Shae had her family and career in Michigan. She’d said numerous times that she wanted nothing to do with Blyth Lake, other than to ultimately find out what happened to her sister.
Why, then, did every unblemished image in his mind going forward include Shae Irwin?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Shae stretched her arms above her head and inhaled deeply to give herself some motivation to wake up, but the warmth of the blanket was too inviting to throw it aside. She honestly hadn’t felt this refreshed in…well, too long to remember. Maybe she should stay snuggled inside this cocoon for a little bit longer.
The abrupt groan that emanated aloud when her elbow connected with a rib told her that she wasn’t in bed. Or alone, for that matter.
Shae tried to sit up, but something solid prevented her from achieving success.
“You’re one of those, huh?” Jace’s voice was raspy with sleep, letting her know the what, where, and who parts of her question. It was the how she’d come to be asleep with him on the couch that had her concerned. “You could have just told me I was snoring. I’m a light sleeper.”
“You weren’t snoring,” Shae said, struggling to sit up. She managed to leverage herself up on an elbow, but it was to find that the living room was still cast in a golden hue from the lamp on the side table. “What time is it? And why are we on the couch sleeping together?”
“We’re on the couch because you’re not the easiest person to wake up. I had planned to carry you upstairs, but I’m ashamed to say that didn’t go the way I’d planned. Hence why I’m on the couch with you.” Jace shifted in a way that caused Shae to realize there was no blanket. It had been his heat alone that had given her that sense of security. Her body began to respond to that knowledge in an entirely different manner, and one that she wasn’t sure was a wise reaction. “And I figure it’s only three in the morning. We haven’t been asleep all that long.”
Shae briefly wondered why Jace wasn’t moving to get away from her now that her upper body wasn’t draped on top of him. That was before her brain comprehended that her left leg was snuggled in between his.
“Sorry,” Shae muttered, slowly pulling her body away from his in mortification. How embarrassing was it to be caught in such a compromising position? “You should have just woken me. I would have gone upstairs.”
“You looked rather peaceful.” Jace still didn’t move, intensifying the heat that lingered between them. She’d been so immersed with their positions that she hadn’t thought to focus on his features. And there was a reason, because his blue gaze captured hers. “How long are we going to fight the inevitable?”
Shae really wished he hadn’t asked her such a question, because her body instantly reacted to his intimate suggestion. She was in town for one reason, and one reason alone. It wasn’t to satisfy her carnal desire.
The warmth of his hand when his palm cupped her cheek was almost as inviting as the heat from his body, but nothing compared to when he lightly stroked his thumb across her bottom lip. He was opening the floodgate on pent-up emotions, and neither one of them were prepared enough for the repercussions of such a decision.
“I don’t belong here,” Shae whispered, closing her eyes to prevent herself from seeing his disappointed response. “We both know I’m going back to my life in Lansing when this is all said and done.”
“I’m not asking for more than you can give, Shae.” Jace brought her forward enough
so that he could press a soft kiss against her other cheek. That not-so-innocent act weakened her resolve, because it wasn’t nearly enough. She rested her hand on top of his. “If there’s anything we’ve learned over the years, it’s that we should live in the here and now.”
How long had Shae denied herself that exact philosophy, all due to the guilt that consumed her over the years? She’d never taken the advice she’d given to her patients, even though she’d gone through the detached motions as if she’d healed herself. The penetrating arousal he stirred within her told of just how wrong she was about herself.
She wanted to live without remorse.
Shae pushed aside all the doubt and good judgement she used on a daily basis, finally allowing herself to throw caution to the wind. She only allowed herself to feel, and it was the most glorious awareness she’d ever undergone in her thirty-one years.
She took the reins.
Straddling Jace gave her the leverage needed to take what she’d wanted years ago—him. She kissed him as if there was no tomorrow, melding their lips as if they were one. The heat she’d experienced earlier was nothing compared to the inferno that now engulfed her entire being.
Every erogenous zone now ached to be touched, stroked, and caressed by him…only him. Their tongues danced with one another while their hands explored, but it didn’t nearly satisfy the ache that had set up residence in her core.
“Doc, we should take this upstairs.”
“No,” Shae whispered, pulling away long enough to help him sit up in the exact position she needed him to be for what she had in mind. “Do you remember where you were when I arrived at Nick’s house?”
“Sitting on the couch with—”
“A girl I’d never seen before.” Shae was grateful he’d left the lamp on to provide them some artificial light. She hadn’t planned on telling him her fantasy, but this was too perfect. Their situation was too seamless not to take advantage of the moment. “You were sitting just like this, and she was beside you with a drink in her hand. I would have given anything to have traded places with her.”
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