“My dad was thinking that I’m perfectly capable of both fixing the fence and taking care of myself. I’m not an invalid, Jake, I just have trouble hearing.”
“I didn’t mean it like, that, Anna,” he said, stepping close and rubbing his hand up and down her arm. “I just don’t want you to be in situations where you could be in danger and not know it.”
Anna decided the biggest danger wasn’t in a snake bite, but in being this near to Jake. His hand on her arm was making her lightheaded and tingly. To stay alert, you had to stay focused, and that was nearly impossible when he was near enough for her to smell his spicy aftershave. Knowing Jake meant well, she sighed.
“Thanks, Jake, I appreciate your concern,” Anna said in her common sense manner, handing Jake the pliers when she picked up the hammer again. “But I really can take care of myself.”
“Obviously,” Jake said. Part of him wanted to shake Anna until her teeth rattled for scaring him and endangering herself. Part of him wanted to kiss her senseless and never let go. And then there was a part of him that wanted to shout “What a woman!” and let everyone know she was about the most unique and complex female he’d ever come across. He’d never in his life thought he’d meet a girl who didn’t run screaming from a snake, let alone pop it on the head with a hammer and go on about her business like she did it every day. Anna, his sweet innocent Anna, was turning out to be quite a handful.
Taking a deep breath, he grabbed the hammer from Anna and said, “Let me help.”
Sitting back at the house an hour later, nursing cold glasses of lemonade, Anna was surprised how fast they finished the fence repairs. She knew Jake grew up on a farm, but she had never seen him dirty or with a hair out of place. But he had jumped in to help her like he knew what he was doing, which he did, and they finished up in no time.
She couldn’t say she’d minded watching while Jake stretched the wire, his shoulder and thigh muscles straining as he pulled the wires tight. Or the way his biceps bunched when he pounded in the staples. Before she knew what was happening, Jake had taken over her job and she became the tool caddy.
Now, Jake was as covered in sweat and grime as she was, his hair a tousled mess, and Anna didn’t think she’d ever seen him look quite so enticing.
“I didn’t know you had it in you to work that hard, fancy boy. I’m impressed” Anna teased, passing him a plate of sugar cookies. “You didn’t say what brought you out this morning, besides hunting for snakes.”
Jake just grinned at her. He wasn’t a stranger to hard work, but he really hadn’t planned on getting this dirty or staying this long. He had a reputation to uphold and wasn’t sure he was ready for Anna to see him all disheveled and dirty. Then he realized his practical little library mouse wouldn’t care. Knowing her, she’d probably like him better this way than pressed and polished. He’d come out this morning to ask Anna a question and still hadn’t gotten around to it yet. No time like the present.
“I was coming out to see if you had plans for the Fourth of July. If you don’t have anything already set, I’d love to spend the day with you,” Jake said, remembering to look her in the face when he talked since she wasn’t wearing her hearing aid.
Anna smiled. “I’d like that very much. What do you have in mind?”
“Just the usual festivities like check out the events in the park, attend the rodeo, watch the fireworks. Aunt Bobbi and Uncle Steve will be hosting a big barbecue. You could invite your folks and Sam and Lisa to come if you wanted,” Jake wasn’t so sure he was ready for her family to meet his, but he’d throw out any incentive that would reel Anna into spending the day with him.
“It sounds like fun,” Anna said, swirling ice around in her glass. “Sam is going to be with Lisa’s family all day, but I’ll see if Mom and Dad would be interested in the barbecue. You’re certain we wouldn’t be imposing?”
“Not at all,” Jake’s answered truthfully. His aunt and uncle opened their home to half the county when they hosted big barbecues. The more the merrier, was his aunt’s usual comment when asked about adding another guest or two.
“Let’s plan on it then,” Anna said, already looking forward to spending the holiday with Jake.
“Great,” Jake said, taking another cookie and smiling at Anna. “Do you have plans this afternoon?”
“Not really. Why?”
“I promised Jace and Jaret I would take them to the zoo this afternoon. There’s a new dinosaur exhibit and the dinosaurs actually move and roar and all that stuff. Would you want to go with us?”
Anna smiled, thinking of spending the afternoon with the adorable little twins and one very big, very appealing boy. “I’d love to. Are you sure Josh and Jenna won’t mind?”
Jake laughed. “Jenna will probably be relieved to know someone else is going along. She often accuses me of spoiling the boys, for whatever reason.”
“I can only imagine,” Anna laughed, picturing Jake out with the twins. “What time should I be ready?”
“I’ll pick you up at one and then we can go get the boys,” Jake said, getting up and putting his dirty glass in the kitchen sink.
“I could meet you in town if that’s easier,” Anna offered, picking up the plate of cookies and setting them on the counter.
“Not necessary,” Jake said, opening the kitchen door. When Anna walked over to see him out, he snaked his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him. Placing his lips close to her good ear, he rumbled, “If I come get you, it means extra time with you all to myself.”
Anna’s eyes twinkled even though she blushed. “I’ll be ready and waiting.”
A few hours later, Jake and Anna headed toward Portland with Jace and Jaret chatting up a storm from the backseat.
“Are you gonna be our aunt?” Jaret asked Anna as they took the exit toward the zoo.
Anna shot Jake a deer-in-the-headlights look while she tried to think of a suitable response. Jake came to the rescue.
“What makes you ask that, buddy?”
“Well, Anna is pretty and nice and we like her bunches,” Jaret said, nodding his head toward Jake.
“Yeah, whole bunches,” Jace added. “More than cupcakes and frogs.”
Trying not to laugh, Jake put a serious look on his face and glanced in the rear-view mirror. “That is pretty serious, boys. You must like her an awful lot.”
“Yep, we do,” Jace answered for them both.
Anna turned around to look at them and smiled. “I like you both heaps and bunches, too. How about just for today I can be your pretend aunt. Would that be okay?”
“Sure!” Jaret said unbuckling his seat belt as Jake pulled into a parking spot. “We can call you Aunt Anna all day. Right, Uncle Jake?”
“Right on, sport,” Jake said, helping Jace out of his side of the pickup while Anna helped Jaret. Walking around to Anna’s side of the truck with Jace’s hand firmly in his, Jake hunkered down and looked both of the boys in the eye.
“Now you two know the rules, right? No running away from me, no wandering, no talking to strangers, no screaming and no fussing,” Jake said with authority. “What else?”
“We have to hold on to your hand or Aunt Anna’s and we have to stay where we can see you,” Jaret said, squishing up his face in thought.
“And say please and thank you,” Jace added. “Mama said, or she won’t let us come again.”
Anna was biting her lip to keep from laughing. With Jake’s dark head bent near the ebony heads of the twins, they looked like they could be father and sons. They were even dressed alike. The boys had on shorts and T-shirts with tennis shoes and little ball caps on their heads.
Jake had surprised her when he picked her up wearing a pair of cargo shorts and running shoes. She didn’t know he owned anything besides Wranglers and boots, but he must wear shorts on a fairly regular basis since his legs were tan. Anna tried unsuccessfully to ignore just how entirely attractive they were. It was going to test her sorely to keep her focus on the little bo
ys and not on the big handsome one that brought her here today.
Pushing her sunglasses firmly into place, she looked down to see Jaret and Jace looking up at her expectantly.
“Are you ready to take on the dinosaurs,” she asked with a silly grin.
“Yeah,” the boys cheered, each grabbing her hand and starting toward the zoo entrance. Looking back over her shoulder at Jake, she shrugged and smiled.
Jake felt rooted to the spot as he watched Anna saunter away with the boys holding her hands. He was thrilled that Anna agreed to come. He enjoyed taking the twins for fun outings, but they were sometimes almost more than he could manage. He was grateful to have another adult along to share the responsibility. It was an added bonus that he could spend time with Anna and watch how she interacted with the boys. He’d have to remember today was about the twins or he could easily lose his focus in Anna. She wore a khaki skirt with cargo pockets, canvas sneakers and a soft blouse, making her look both down-to-earth and extremely appealing.
“Focus, man, focus,” Jake gave himself a mental lecture as he followed the boys and Anna to the gate.
By the time they carried two sleepy boys into Josh and Jenna’s house that evening, Jake and Anna were ready to call it an evening. They had explored the zoo, visited every dinosaur, rode the train that went on a tour through the trees around the outer edges of the park and taken the boys to eat at Chuck E. Cheese’s.
“Thanks for wearing them out for us,” Josh laughed as he took a sleeping Jaret from Jake while Jenna took Jace from Anna. “We hope they were good.”
“They were really well behaved,” Anna said with a tired grin. “Just very energetic.”
“That’s our boys,” Jenna said, smiling as she walked toward the stairs. “If you two want to wait while we put them to bed, we can have some iced tea and dessert.”
“I’m beat, Jen, but thanks for the offer. Maybe we can take a rain check?” Jake asked, putting a hand to Anna’s back as he turned them both toward the door.
“You’ve got it. We owe you dinner for giving us a peaceful afternoon,” Josh said. “Drive safe back to town and thanks again.”
“Anytime,” Jake said as they walked out the back door.
Holding Anna’s door for her, he could tell she was as exhausted as he was. It seemed to be taking all her effort just to climb into the pickup. He shut her door and trudged around to the driver’s side.
Heading back toward the highway and town, he smiled at her. “The boys can be kind of tiring, especially when they get excited.”
“I think it is safe to say today was extremely exciting for them,” Anna said with a laugh, taking off her sunglasses and putting them on top of her head.
Jake chuckled while he held Anna’s hand in his. “Thanks for being a good sport and going along today. I know the three of us can be a bit overwhelming.”
“I don’t know when I’ve encountered kids their age with such nice manners, despite their exuberance. The boys are so cute and sweet. I really did have a good time.”
“I’m glad you had a good time. And I’m glad you enjoyed the twins,” Jake said, flashing Anna a cocky grin. “What about the third boy you spent the day with? Did you find him to be cute and sweet, too?”
“Well,” Anna said, pretending to give her response some thought. Exhaustion had knocked her guard down and made her a bit flirtatious. She couldn’t stop herself from teasing Jake, using her stern librarian tone. “He is kind of cute in an obnoxious sort of way, but he is terribly conceited and somewhat obtuse. Really not that appealing at all.”
Jake glanced at her with his grin fading, clearly taken aback by her answer. Anna was keeping a straight face which led Jake to believe she might be serious. When she cracked a smile at him, he let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding.
“Is that so?” he asked, reaching his arm across the seat to tickle her.
“Jake, stop that. You need to pay attention where you’re driving,” Anna said between giggles.
“Just wait until we stop and then you are in for it, Sugar.”
Anna batted her eyelashes at him playfully as she grabbed his hand in hers. “Promises, promises.”
<><><>
“You should have seen her, Davey. She just leaned over and popped the snake with the hammer like she was picking a flower. I couldn’t believe it.” Jake was telling the snake story to Dave as they walked into the office Monday morning.
“You are kidding me, right?” Dave asked, sitting down at his desk and turning on his computer. “I can’t take much more of your joking, man. I still haven’t quite embraced the fact that the babe with the cool car is Anna and now you are telling me she spends her weekends like some Amazon warrior queen killing venomous reptiles. And she went with you and the twins to the zoo and is still speaking to you?” Dave leaned back in his chair with a dejected look and put his hand over his heart. “Please, dude, I just can’t take it. Don’t tell me anymore!”
Jake shook his head at his friend, smiling. He was so enraptured with Anna, he didn’t care who knew it. She might appear to be quiet and timid, but once you got to know Anna she was nothing short of absolutely amazing.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Like many rural communities, the Fourth of July was a big deal in their hometown of Tenacity. The park would be filled with vendor booths selling everything from elephant ears to hand-crocheted doilies. A stage set in the center of it all would offer a variety of talent throughout the day.
At 6 p.m. sharp, a parade with horses, kids, bikes, dogs, old cars and loads of candy would roll through town. Half the town would be in the parade, the other half lining the streets, cheering and waving. The rodeo would burst into action at seven-thirty followed by a firework display that was big, loud, and most often impressive.
Anna was ready to take it all in. She looked in the mirror one last time to make sure she was presentable. Jake always looked so nice, she often worried he’d be embarrassed by her appearance. She cringed whenever she thought about her wardrobe selections of just a few short weeks ago. How had he ever given her a second look?
She decided for today she could hold her own, though. Her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. She wore a knee-length dark blue denim skirt and a sleeveless red blouse with her white canvas sneakers. She looked like any other all-American girl, if she did say so herself. Grabbing her sunglasses and purse, along with a duffle bag containing clothes for the rodeo, she wandered into the kitchen where her mom was adding ice to a cooler box and carefully setting in the layered coconut cake Anna made the night before.
“Are you sure Jake’s aunt and uncle are expecting us, Anna?” Sue asked for the tenth time. Anna didn’t know what her usually unflappable mother was all worked up about. She and her dad typically enjoyed meeting new people, but they both seemed a bit nervous today.
“Yes, Mom, they are expecting us. You spoke with Bobbi yourself yesterday and confirmed on what we were bringing to the barbecue. I know everyone will love your salad and I’m hoping they like my cake.”
“You’re right,” Sue took a deep breath then smiled at her daughter. “And you know they will gobble up that cake. It is always delicious.”
The back door opened and Ken came inside ready to carry their cooler out to the car. The plan was for Anna to ride with her folks to the barbecue then Jake would bring her home after the fireworks. She had been looking forward to it all week.
“Let’s go ladies, food and time wait for no man,” Ken joked, as he shooed them out the door, heading for Sue’s car.
“Daddy, let’s take my car. That way, you and Mom can have a chance to drive it home.”
“Are you sure, Sugar?” Ken asked, already thinking about driving his Susie-Q home in the car. Despite what their kids thought, they were still young enough to enjoy riding around in a sporty car.
“You bet, Dad,” Anna said with a grin, knowing he would love every minute spent behind the wheel.
Jake provided detailed instruc
tions on how to find Steve and Bobbi’s ranch. That he called it “The Ranch” made Anna wonder just exactly what it looked like. As she turned off the road on the Matthews’ tree lined drive, Sue leaned between the front seats and stared.
“Well, why didn’t you tell me we were coming to the Matthews’ ranch, Sugar? I know this place well. Steve is one of my best customers,” Ken said. “How are they related to Jake?”
“His aunt and uncle. Bobbi and his mom Maggie are sisters,” Anna said, her old feelings of fear around crowds settling over her. “There are a lot of people here.”
“Anna, you are going to be just fine. You’ve met Jake’s family before, so just be yourself,” Sue encouraged, giving Anna’s hand a squeeze.
Anna parked in the pasture in a long row of other vehicles. She didn’t even have time to open the door before Jake was there giving her a hand out and a kiss on her cheek. Turning his mouth next to her good ear he whispered, “How’s my little firecracker?” which caused Anna to smile.
Ken helped Sue out of the back seat of the car and smiled to see Jake already putting Anna at ease. Jake picked up their cooler and escorted them to a huge backyard with a picturesque view of a pond, rolling hills of pastureland and fields of hay and grain. Ken always enjoyed coming out here. It was one of the prettiest places he had ever seen and with his sales job, he’d seen quite a few.
Jake made introductions. Sue went off to chat with Maggie and Bobbi while Steve and Ken walked off discussing farm equipment, cars and their offspring.
Anna was taking everything in when she felt a tug around her waist and looked down into Emma’s bright blue eyes.
“Hi, Anna. I was hoping you’d come today. Jake kept teasing me and wouldn’t say for sure if you were.”
Anna returned Emma’s hug and put an arm around her shoulders. “I can’t believe Jake would ever be a tease,” Anna said with a warm smile.
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