by Freya Barker
When Jordy mentioned Mia was planning to head into town this morning, I was hit with guilt. All week, I’ve been using and abusing her kindness by leaving Jordy in her care, while taking care of some medical appointments in Toronto and a long awaited sit-down with my agent, Brian, in Barrie. Loose ends I’d planned to take care of the last few weeks before the baby was born, but the little bugger decided to come early. It took me less than forty-eight hours to realize that with a baby in the house, time is no longer yours. I grabbed the opportunity and told myself it had nothing to do with the fact I was trying to avoid my very attractive, and confusing neighbour.
I’m not a fool. I know there is something going on when someone is confident, taking charge, one minute, and is a scared little mouse the next. I’ve seen both sides of her, and while the one intrigues me, the unpredictability of the other scares me witless. Avoiding her seemed easier. I was wrong. I may have avoided seeing her in my space, but her smell lingered, instantly triggering thoughts of her.
Seeing how frazzled she was the first time I saw her coming back from town, and how panicked she was at the hospital, I’m guessing being out in public is not easy for her. Which is part of why I swung by to pick her up. The other part being that I’m an ass for disappearing on her, when in all reality, I’d like nothing more than to find out more about her.
She took me by surprise when she spoke of her profound sense of loss since giving up her calling. The words rang true for me in a way that was uncanny. I recognize the feeling because I’ve lived it every day this past year. But this past week, tying up those loose ends, I think the finality of it ultimately hit me. Yeah, I feel that loss.
My eyes wander back to where Mia is scouring the shelves, with her eyes darting in the direction of anyone passing her in the aisle. I start moving toward her, tampons be damned, when she squeezes her eyes shut, drops her head down, and sways on her feet. Shit. She’s barely hanging on. The shallow breathing, buckling knees, and death hold on her cart tell me I’m not wrong. I quickly step up behind her, bracing her between my body and the cart. To anyone looking, we hopefully look like nothing more than a loving couple.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper, with my lips against the shell of her ear. My arm wraps around her waist and bears her weight as I tuck her tight against my front. “Breathe, baby,” I encourage her, when she starts gasping for air and fighting my hold. “You’re okay. You can do this, Mia. Breathe with me.”
I quickly glance around, hoping no one saw her brief struggle and got the wrong idea, but the aisle is blissfully empty. Slowly I feel the tension sliding from her body as she struggles to match her breath to mine.
“I’m sorry,” I barely hear her say.
“Nothing to be sorry about. Now, what was it you needed here?” I try to set a normal tone when I slowly release her, making sure her legs are once again steady. She turns her head with an incredulous look on her face.
“I have to go.”
“Nope,” I say firmly. “We’re not done getting our groceries.”
“But...what if I...” Her eyes are almost panicked when she looks at me, so I lean in once again and bracket her in against her cart. This time front to front.
“What we’re going to do, is finish picking up our groceries, grab a nice couple of steaks from the butcher, and casually browse the bakery on the way to the register. And if, by chance, you feel another one of those coming on, we’re gonna breathe right through until it passes,” I enforce on her, almost nose to nose. “Now, like I said, what is it you need in this aisle?” I watch with interest as the fear in her eyes is replaced with the fire of indignant anger. Oh yeah, the lady is pissed.
“Kotex maxi pads,” she says, an evil little smirk on her face when she catches my flinch. “A small pack of heavy flow and a large package of medium flow.
They’re for your sister,” she points out with some venom. “And you can help me find the nipple shields. Her breasts are leaking through her bra.” I feel like she just nailed me in the gonads with an oversized pair of steel-toed boots.
I swear she’s snickering as she walks away, pushing her cart. At the end of the aisle she looks over her shoulder.
“I’ll be casually browsing the bakery if you need me.”
With a toss of her wild curls, she disappears from sight, leaving me to gape after her.
Nothing left to do but peruse the gazillion choices of feminine products. It takes me way too goddamn long to find what I need, so I ask a passing grocery clerk, who smiles at me sympathetically as she points me in the right direction.
The entire exercise is uncomfortable as hell, and when I find Mia at the counter in the bakery, I quickly dump that shit in her cart. I glare at her, but it doesn’t stop the corner of my mouth twitching up in a smile, when I’m met with the mischievous sparkle in those green eyes.
-
By the time I pull into her driveway after our otherwise uneventful grocery run, the trunk and back seat filled with bags, we’re chatting easily. I was stopped by a fan while we were loading up the car and had to smile at the confusion on Mia’s face, when she was asked to take a picture of us. Apparently she didn’t have a clue who I was, something I found oddly refreshing. Apparently she’s not a big hockey fan, by her own admission.
I just finished giving her a very brief synopsis of my career when I hear her gasp beside me.
“Sonofabitch,” she mutters under breath, before turning to me. “Stop the car.”
I’m about to ask why, when I see what got her attention and slam my foot on the break. Before I have a chance to react, Mia is already scrambling out of the car.
“Honk the horn,” she instructs me as she bends down, picks up a loose branch, and starts waving it in the air.
She looks fearless as she takes a few steps toward the black bear, who is taking notice. Half his body had been stuck in a bin beside her shed, but it’s big head is now turned toward Mia, who is yelling and getting a little too close for comfort. I get tangled in the damn seatbelt when I try to climb out of the car, and it takes me a second to get free.
“Horn!” she yells again, when the bear rears to its hind legs, from what I understand, not a good sign. I dive back in the car and lay on the horn. That draws his attention away from Mia as he drops down on all fours and calmly lumbers into the trees beyond, casting a last glance behind him.
I’m pissed when I stalk around the car to give her a piece of my mind.
“Are you out of your fucking mind?” I roar, making Mia jump a foot in the air before she swings around, dropping her stick in the process. The only thing she manages is a choked protest as I pull her tight in my arms, my focus on the tree line beyond.
“Your heart is racing,” she points out, her hands splayed on my chest, and I drop my eyes to her face.
“Ya think? You scared the crap out of me,” I admit. “What were you thinking, getting out of the goddamn car?” I’m still shouting even as she pats my chest with her hand.
“This is not my first rodeo, Jared,” she replies way to calmly. “You’ll get used to them. It’s worse in the early spring when they’re starving.” She looks back at the trees before facing me again, a reassuring smile on her face. “It’s just a little unusual he showed up in the middle of the day, but it’s my own fault. I left my compost bucket out, the scent must have drawn him in,” she says, pushing back from my hold. “Besides, he was just a young one, more brawn than brains. He doesn’t know who’s boss here.”
I’ve got nothing to say as I watch her pick up the bucket before she walks to her cottage.
It’s only then that I notice the dog frantically barking inside.
It takes me a second to get over the fact that the same woman who, less than an hour ago, was trembling in fear in the grocery store, just went head-to-head with a bear with nothing but a skinny little branch, and cojones the size of bowling balls.
She’s something all right.
NINE
Mia
“T
hanks,” Jordy says with a smile, when I hand her an iced tea. “It’s getting pretty steamy out here.”
I drop down in the second deck lounger and put my own glass on the small side table.
It’s hot all right. Has been for a few days now and doesn’t show any signs of letting up. I haven’t slept much. There’s no air conditioning in my cottage and the nights haven’t cooled off like they usually do. The last cool one we had was Tuesday, when we found the bear in my compost bin.
Today is Friday, and as usual, traffic on the lake has picked up since midafternoon. Weekenders driving up from the city to enjoy their little corner of heaven for a few days, before heading back to the rat race.
I take a sip of my drink and watch a boat, pulling a tube with a bunch of screaming kids behind it, going by. A little breeze coming off the lake makes it bearable to be out here, under the large umbrella, and I sigh as I lay my head back.
“Tired?” Jordy asks. I turn my head to face her, smiling.
“I am,” I admit. “But I’m pretty sure not as tired as you are.”
Ole had hit a bit of a growth spurt, and with Jordy still feeding on demand, she’s been up every two hours or so during the night. Both her and Jared looked a little the worse for wear when I came over to check on her. I watch as a little smile tugs at her mouth.
“Exhausted,” she shares. “But I don’t mind. I sleep when he does. It’s harder on Jared. He can’t sleep during the day.”
“I don’t need sleep.” The subject of discussion walks up to our loungers, setting the baby monitor on the table between us. “The kid is diapered, burped, and down for the count, however long that is. I’m going for a dip. Anyone game?”
Without waiting for an answer, he saunters to the end of the dock, giving me full view of his large body, clad in just his swim shorts, with a towel draped around his neck. He drops the towel beside him before stretching his arms above his head, the muscles in his back moving—mesmerizing. His legs push off as he dives into the water with a splash. The memory of that body protectively wrapping around me recently has goosebumps rising on my skin, despite the heat of the sun. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve been touched by someone other than my best friend, and even those moments of brief connection have been few and far between. So being held by his big body, firmly placing himself between me and the world, had a greater impact than I’ve been comfortable acknowledging. It’s been on my mind—especially in those sleepless moments the past few nights.
“He likes you, you know.”
My head whips around to Jordy, who is staring after her brother, before turning to face me with a glint in her eyes.
“Okay?” I hesitantly say, not quite sure what to do with that information. It makes her chuckle.
“He always has his eyes on you,” she clarifies. “My brother is—or maybe I should say was—a bit of a manwhore, never lacking for female attention, but I’ve never seen him ogling anyone quite as closely as he does you. You’re nothing like the groupies he’s used to. I think it’s throwing him off his game.” If that isn’t the understatement of the year. Despite the blush heating my face, I can’t help snort, remembering the stacked blonde of my first encounter with him. She’s right on that account, I am nothing like what he’s used to. “What?” she prompts me.
“It’s just that I think you’re a little delusional,” I tease her. “I’ve seen his usual, and believe me, I saw more of it than I cared to.” I feel a little pang of guilt at the partial lie. I have seen his usual, but I’ve also come to the conclusion that I had him pegged wrong. He’s done nothing but show me that every day since. And I haven’t seen enough. Not nearly.
“Pray tell,” she urges me, as she leans over her armrest, smiling like the Cheshire cat.
“Fine,” I bite off with a sigh. “Your brother was buck-assed naked, the first time I saw him.” I tamp down a laugh when Jordy’s eyebrows shoot up in her hairline. “Right here, on the dock, in the middle of the afternoon. She was tall, blonde, and carried around her own impressive, built-in, floatation devices.”
“No way!”
“Way,” I confirm, smiling at her shocked expression. “The second time I saw him was when he was hugging a brunette in his driveway, and I just knew he was a player.”
Jordy’s loud laughter bounces off the water as she throws her head back and lets loose.
“Oh my God,” she gasps, holding her stomach. “You thought he was stepping out on me?”
“Well, yeah,” I defend myself. “What else was I supposed to think, when one moment he’s making waves on the dock with the leggy blonde, and the next he’s welcoming his very pregnant woman home?”
“I’m so gonna torture him with this,” Jordy snickers, before turning to me with a serious expression on her face, putting her hand on my arm. “You know he’s a good guy, right?”
“I’ve come to that conclusion,” I reassure her with a smile. “But it doesn’t change the fact I know that whatever you think you’ve seen is a figment of your imagination. I’m pretty much the polar opposite of his type.”
She doesn’t respond, but simply leans her head back on the chair and closes her eyes, a little smile playing on her lips, when the baby monitor crackles to life.
“I’ll get him,” I tell her, with my hand on her arm when she makes a move to get up. Ole’s angry cries indicate he’s not likely to fall back asleep, and I quickly make my way inside.
“What are you making such a fuss about?” I coo as I lift him out of his crib, his little legs pumping in frustration. “Oh, good grief. You’re soaked right through, kiddo.” His little romper is drenched and judging by the smell, I’m bound to find a mess when I peel it off him.
Instead of putting him on the changing table, I grab a clean towel from his dresser, and take him straight into the bathroom. The trough sink is perfect for his baby bath, as we’ve come to discover. In no time I have him stripped, sinking him carefully in the warm water. Before long, his crying stops as he floats contently, his little head firmly in my hand, and his eyes intently on my face as he appears to enjoy the nonsense I babble.
A noise from the door has me lift my head to the mirror, and a little gasp escapes my lips as I watch Jared push away from the doorway in the reflection. I don’t know how long he was standing there, but his hair is still wet, and he’s wearing only the towel he brought outside earlier. With his eyes focused on me, he walks up behind me, placing a hand on my shoulder as he leans his chin on the other.
“He smells,” he concludes, a smile in his voice as he looks at his nephew.
“That he does,” I confirm. “It was up his back. I had no choice but to dunk him.”
“Thanks,” he rumbles in a low voice, his breath warm against my neck. “Appreciate all your help.” I feel him press a kiss where my neck meets my shoulder, before he backs away, leaving me swaying a little on my feet. I concentrate on not letting go of Ole when I hear his voice behind me, and I look up at his reflection by the door.
“For the record; I know you saw me. As fucked up as it is, the thought of you watching me—getting off on it—has been sweet torture since.”
I suck in a breath at his crass confession, and I want to turn away from the mirror as I feel heat flushing my face, but his eyes won’t let me go.
“So you see, you’re dead wrong. I can’t seem to help watching you, which makes you very much my type.”
Jared
I caught enough of their conversation when I leisurely swam back to the dock. I suppose the gentlemanly thing to do would have been to alert them to my presence, but my interest was piqued at what I was hearing.
“You’re a sneak,” Jordy says, when I pull myself out of the water. Her mouth is set in a straight line but amusement dances in her eyes.
“And you’re meddling,” I fire back, before picking up the towel and drying myself off.
We hear Mia’s soothing voice over the baby monitor, along with Ole’s pitiful cries, when Jordy reaches over and
shuts it off.
“She’s nice.”
I look at my sister, who is clearly not ready to let it go.
“Yes, she is, Pipsqueak, but she—”
“Who’s the blonde?” she cuts me off, squinting her eyes at me.
“A distraction.” I look toward Mia’s screened-in porch before turning back to Jordy.
“Clearly.” Her distaste drips from that single word. “On the dock, Jared? Christ...what if...never mind.” She waves her hand dismissively. “I was gonna say what if someone saw you, but it seems a moot point. Someone did see you. Poor thing probably had to rinse out her eyes with bleach.”
I smile at that. I’m pretty sure Mia hadn’t been thinking about bleach.
“You know...” my sister starts, but I’ve had enough.
“Let it go,” I tell her firmly, before she can finish that sentence. “Not kidding, Jordy, drop it.”
Without waiting for a response, I head to the house, tying the towel around my hips. Instead of taking the hallway to my own side, I find myself heading left—toward Jordy’s quarters.
Mia’s focus is on Ole, murmuring soothingly as she holds him firmly in one hand and washes him with the other. She doesn’t notice me and I use the opportunity to let my eyes wander. She’s wearing cutoffs and one of her man-sized T-shirts, her standard getup, with little but her strong, firm legs visible. I’ve watched her move, though. Enough to know she hides generous hips and a full ass, and she rarely wears a bra.
I’ve caught myself staring, more than once, quickly lifting my eyes to her face. A more appropriate focus of attention, but no less appealing, with her slightly slanted, expressive green eyes—cat eyes— and full lips. Not a lick of makeup on her. No attempt to hide the fine lines on her forehead or around her eyes. No expert colouring job, masking the sparse silver threads running through her hair, either. Completely natural and uncomplicated, and fuck if I don’t like it better than the carefully put together women I’m used to.