Oh brother, she was melting again. “How about we start with lunch? A neighbor gave us an apple pie.”
“Great! If you have some ice cream to go along with it, I’ll throw in a free oil change.”
“It’s a deal—but first I’m going to shower.”
She could feel Jarvis watching her all the way to the door. She would have put a little extra sway in her walk, but her brother was there. Besides, there was a limit to how hot a girl could look in pasture boots and cutoffs.
Chapter 7
“Take it easy, Chase.” Jarvis leaned against a bale of hay. “Slow down until you get it right. Then we’ll go for speed.”
So far, the boy was taking every correction and criticism well—not that Jarvis expected things to stay that way. Right now the exercises he was putting Chase through were new and fun. But somewhere around the hundredth repetition, tedium would set in, and with it a shorter fuse—if Chase followed the same course of behavior that Jarvis had himself, not to mention most of the young recruits he’d ever trained.
“Bring your fists up higher and snap that leg out to the side when you kick.” He moved over to stand beside Chase to go through the motions with him. “That’s it. Much better. Now once more from the top and we’ll call it a day.”
Chase groaned, letting his hands drop to his sides as his shoulders slumped. No doubt his energy level had taken a serious hit between his morning football practice and the regimen that Jarvis had put him through. The kid had gumption, though, because he immediately backed up, assumed position, and went through the entire routine without a single error.
“Jake’s going to be jealous. It took him a lot longer to master that one. We’ll knock off for now and see what we can do for the truck.”
“I’ll go snag us some cold drinks and be right back.”
“Sounds good.”
Chase took off at a slow jog. Considering how hot it was, Jarvis wasn’t sure he could move that fast. He picked up his T-shirt and wiped his face before pulling it over his head. There wasn’t much shade where the truck was parked, and he didn’t want to risk getting fried.
Outside, he reached into his car for his sunglasses. Where was Gwen? He hadn’t seen her since they’d finished lunch a couple of hours ago. He checked the time. Good, he should be able to work on the truck with Chase and still have time to get cleaned up before taking Gwen out to dinner.
Their first real date.
He knew better than to get mixed up with a woman like Gwen Mosely. He knew better than to get mixed up with any woman, but especially one with such innocence about her. She wasn’t naïve, so maybe inexperienced was the better word. Regardless, she deserved better than a man whose career path had been bathed in blood and who could only look forward to more of the same. He didn’t want her to end up like her mother, staring at the phone and wondering why it never rang.
Yet he couldn’t resist the temptation of spending a little more time in her company. His worn and ragged soul basked in the warmth of her touch. And her kiss was nothing short of mind-bending. One taste or a dozen would never be enough for him—all the more reason to walk away for both their sakes. Jake could take over Chase’s training for a few months until the boy turned eighteen, then the Regents could take a more direct approach in bringing Chase into the fold. Once the boy knew what it meant to be a Paladin, Jarvis could reestablish his relationship with him in secret.
That would work—even if it killed him.
Gwen stepped out of the house and headed straight for him, a glass of lemonade in her hand. Her red hair burned fire-bright in the afternoon sun, and her smile had a predictable effect on his anatomy. At least his shorts were baggy enough to hide it. Or maybe not, because her steps suddenly faltered, and her green eyes went all smoky as she got within reach.
How could he ever have the strength to walk away from all that beauty? “You looking forward to dinner tonight?”
“Yes, if you’re not sick of spending all your free time with Chase and then me.” She held out the drink. “Chase got a phone call. He said you needed this and that he’d be out in a few minutes.”
Jarvis cast around for a safe topic of conversation, one that didn’t include trying out that pile of hay in the barn. “We’re about to start on the truck. Nothing like a little grease on a boy’s hands to make him feel all manly.”
“Something tells me that Chase isn’t the only one who can’t wait to get his hands dirty. Still, it’s nice of you to do it. Chase has always been interested in learning stuff like that, but I’m useless in that department.”
“You already have enough on your plate to deal with. And it’ll be good for him to learn a few basics. If his first car is anything like the one I bought, he’ll spend as much time under the hood as behind the wheel.” He nodded toward the Chevelle. “That’s how I learned how to restore her.”
“And you’ve done an amazing job with that car. I really enjoy riding in it.” She smothered a smile. “Oops, I meant to say her.”
Jarvis grinned. “If you’ve enjoyed the front seat, you’ll have to try out the backseat sometime.”
Before she could respond, Chase came barging out the door. “Sorry to keep you waiting. Are we ready to start on the truck?”
“Sure thing. Raise the hood and I’ll be right there.”
Gwen turned away. “I’ll let you get busy. Yell if you want me for anything.”
He couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, honey, you already know the answer to that one.”
“Get your mind out of the gutter, Donahue.”
Then she walked away, her hips swinging.
She’d spent far too much time looking out the kitchen window. What were he and Chase laughing about so hard? Some man thing, no doubt.
Jarvis picked that moment to straighten up, which put him in the perfect position to catch her staring out the window. It was too much to hope that the sun was reflecting off the glass bright enough that he couldn’t see her…No such luck, because he waved at her before turning his attention back to Chase.
Then he started for the house. She didn’t bother pretending to be busy; he would only have laughed at her again. She opened the door and stepped out on the porch.
“Chase and I are going to run into town to pick up the parts we need. We’ll get them installed in plenty of time for our date.”
Now that was a loaded word. It would have been easier for her to think of it as a casual dinner between two friends. “Date” had a whole world of implications she wasn’t ready to think about.
“Where we are going? So I know what to wear.”
“That green dress was nice. I liked it a lot…for a whole bunch of reasons.” That predatory smile was back in full force.
“Okay, I’ll aim for nice, but casual and comfortable.” She needed a cold drink. Now.
“I’ll need to shower after we get done with the truck. Hope that’s okay.”
Jarvis naked in her shower was so okay. She resolutely blocked the image from her mind. “Considering you’ve been working all afternoon on our truck, I could hardly complain.”
“Need anything while we’re in town?”
“No, I’m fine.”
That was a lie. She wasn’t fine at all, not with her hormones eager for what Jarvis had to offer. While they were gone, she’d hunt through her wardrobe for something that would incite another freckle hunt.
Jarvis concentrated on the winding road. He let Chase pick the radio station, hoping the loud music would prevent the boy from asking the question he’d been working himself up to for the past hour. No such luck.
Chase reached over and turned the music down low, then sat tall, staring straight at Jarvis. “So you and my sister are going out for dinner tonight.”
“Yep. You have a problem with that?”
“I don’t know.” After a bit, he added, “Maybe. It all depends.”
He really did not want to be having this conversation with Gwen’s brother. He’d outgrown being grilled by s
uspicious fathers close to twenty-five years ago. “On what?” he asked.
“Gwen doesn’t date much.”
“Maybe she’s picky.” He sort of liked that idea, considering she’d agreed to go out with him.
“It’s more like most guys don’t want much to do with a woman who comes saddled with a younger brother to raise.” Chase shifted restlessly. “She should’ve been free to finish school and maybe marry some college guy. Instead, she spends all of her time taking care of alpacas and me.”
“That was her choice, Chase. You have nothing to feel guilty about.”
“I know that, but now that I’m almost out of school, she’s going to be able to do more things for herself. She deserves some happiness.” Chase shot him a determined look. “With a guy who’s going to stick around.”
Jarvis’s stomach did a nosedive. “Whoa there, big guy. This is just a date. A first date, at that. Don’t go listening for wedding bells.”
“That’s my point. She likes you a lot. She acts different when you’re around.” The boy’s fists were clenched now. “You could hurt her bad if you’re not careful.”
Jarvis liked her a lot, too, more than any woman he’d ever met. And he certainly didn’t want to hurt her. But he couldn’t make himself walk away, especially since he still needed to spend time with Chase.
“It’s just a casual date,” he repeated. “I thought she might like a break from cooking. Now, where’s the auto parts store?” He injected enough strength into the question to make it clear that their previous discussion was closed.
The door to the bathroom opened with a billow of steam. Gwen blinked twice and backed up a step. Seeing Jarvis step out of the mist was like a scene from some romantic thriller. Sort of like that new James Bond guy crossed with Russell Crowe. A charming smile, but with something lurking in his eyes that warned that the civilized behavior was only a veneer. Underneath all that polish was a warrior capable of both extreme violence and hot sex, whichever the moment called for.
Then the air cleared, and it was Jarvis standing there, her date for the evening. It occurred to her that the image that had flashed through her mind wasn’t an illusion—not entirely anyway.
Despite his charm and the way he was trying to help Chase, she couldn’t forget the way they’d met. Whatever he did for a living had almost cost him his life. He was dangerous on so many levels.
“Let me get my bag, and I’ll be ready.”
She walked over to the counter for her purse and keys. The need for a little excitement in her life was clearly stronger than she’d thought.
Her brother ambled into the kitchen, putting himself between her and Jarvis. He had an odd expression on his face, not quite anger, but he was clearly unhappy about something.
“Chase, is everything all right?”
His attention was solely on Jarvis. “Where are you going?”
Jarvis crossed his arms over his chest and widened his stance. “We haven’t decided. It will depend on whether Gwen is in the mood for a good steak or for Italian.”
“How late will you be?”
This time the edge of anger was more obvious. What on earth was wrong with Chase? Since when was it his job to interrogate her dates?
Jarvis wasn’t helping much with his vague answers. “I’m not sure.”
She stepped between them. “Chase, I’m a big girl. I’ll be home when I get here.”
“Fine, Gwen.” He shot her a withering look. “Just know that I’ll be waiting up.”
“Why on earth would you do that? You know Jarvis will make sure I get home safely.”
He glared over her head at the man in question. “See that you do.”
He marched out of the room and up the stairs, leaving Gwen embarrassed and confused. “What brought that on?”
“He’s protective of you, Gwen. You’re a very attractive woman. He knows that, and he senses that I know it, too. He doesn’t trust my intentions.” He followed her onto the porch. “Can’t fault his instincts.”
She couldn’t decide how to respond. Did she thank him for the compliment, or run for the hills because that gleam was back in his eyes? Or grab him and kiss him?
Jarvis opened her car door. “So what’s it going to be? Steak or Italian?”
When he joined her in the car, she answered, “I love a good steak.”
He nodded and started the engine.
As he drove, Jarvis stole another look at Gwen. That soft, sexy dress was creating all sorts of fantasies in his imagination. He needed to cool things down.
“Your brother did good work today. He has a solid feel for the precision needed to excel in martial arts. And with the truck, he already knew enough to identify most of the problems before we even raised the hood.”
She smiled. “I could hear a huge difference after the two of you finished tuning the engine. I’d like to buy a new truck, but that will have to wait until I sell part of the herd next year or the year after.”
Good. Another safe topic. “Is it hard, selling your animals?”
“It almost killed me the first time I sold a pair that I’d raised from birth, but it’s gotten easier. The trick is to make sure that they are going to good homes. As long as I know they’ll be well cared for, I can live with it. And I always make sure my customers know that I’ll buy them back if it doesn’t work out.”
“Has that happened often?”
“Once or twice. Alpacas aren’t always the best of pets, any more than a cow would be. But people take one look at those big eyes and think they have to have one. Trouble is, they’re really herd animals and much happier hanging out with their own kind.”
She gave him a challenging look. “But enough about me. You’ve already heard plenty about my boring little life. Tell me something about Jarvis Donahue.”
What could he tell her? Certainly not what he did for a living.
When he didn’t immediately answer, Gwen sat up straighter. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
He contradicted her. “Yeah, you did, and you should be asking questions about me. I was trying to think of something interesting.”
She laughed. “You don’t need to worry about being interesting. You’ve got that nailed.”
He liked the sound of that. “Why don’t you ask me questions and I’ll try to answer them?”
“Okay, what’s your favorite color?”
“Green.” Because it was the color of her eyes.
“What’s your favorite sport?”
“Football, followed by baseball. Then basketball. Motor sports of all kinds are good, too.” This was easier than he’d expected.
“Do you like to read? If so, what kind of books do you like best?”
They were definitely on a roll. “I read more than I used to. History, mostly. I just started a book on the Civil War here in Missouri.”
“Did you grow up here in Missouri?”
That was a tricky one. “I wasn’t born here, but I’ve spent the last twenty-seven years here, ever since I got out of high school.” He waited for her to do the math.
Her eyes widened with shock. “Jarvis, that would make you forty-five!”
“Yeah, is that too old for you?” He wasn’t surprised by her reaction to his real age. Paladins quit aging physically at around thirty.
“No, not at all. You look a lot younger than that, though.” Then she giggled. “I’d say it was due to clean living, but somehow I don’t think that’s the case.”
How long would it take her to figure out his ability to heal and his apparent youth came from the same source? From there, it was only a hop, skip, and a jump to her realizing that her brother carried the same traits.
“So how old is Jake?”
She was already on the right track. Or the wrong one, considering the Paladins were supposed to keep their different nature secret. “Thirty, I think. Somewhere around there.” Luckily, the restaurant was just ahead. “We’re here. Hope you’re hungry.” For more than just a good st
eak dinner, too.
Halfway through dessert, Jarvis’s cell phone rang. They’d been dawdling over peach cobbler and coffee, keeping the conversation light and easy. He ignored the first call after glancing at the number. When it immediately started ringing again, he cursed under his breath and gave her an apologetic look.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to take this.” He got up and disappeared out the front door of the restaurant.
Whatever it was must be important…and secret, reminding her that she had no idea what Jarvis did for a living. The image of him lying in the river, cut and bloody, filled her mind, and she pushed her cobbler away, no longer hungry. She signaled the waitress. “Can we please have a couple of boxes for the cobbler?”
The young woman picked up the dessert plates. “Yes ma’am. I’ll be right back with them and the check.”
The waitress had come and gone, and Gwen’s coffee had grown cold before Jarvis finally reappeared. His mouth was set in a grim slash, warning her that whatever the call had been about wasn’t good news.
“I’m sorry to cut our evening short, but we’ve got to go. I’ve been called into work.” He dropped a wad of bills on the table, then eyed the boxes. “Thanks for getting the desserts to go. Would Chase like mine? He’s probably worked up quite an appetite, glaring at the door and watching the clock.”
Jarvis’s comments weren’t exactly said in good humor, but she laughed anyway. “Maybe we shouldn’t give him the cobbler. It’s a mistake to reward bad behavior.”
Jarvis looked disappointed. “I’m real sorry to hear that. I had some bad behavior in mind that I’m pretty sure you would have enjoyed. I know I would have.”
At least he was smiling again. She looped her arm through his as they headed toward the door. As soon as she touched him, she could feel the tension thrumming through him.
By the time they reached the parking lot, she almost had to run to keep up with him.
“Jarvis?”
He realized what he was doing and came to an abrupt halt. “Sorry, Gwen, I didn’t mean to drag you.”
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