by Vivian Arend
Crap, no wonder he was upset. He’d spent the morning acting as her answering service. “Sorry, Blake. I told people to call my cell phone but the battery died. I guess since everyone knows I’m staying with you they decided to try the house. I’ll tell them to stop.”
“Who’s Royce?”
She blinked in confusion for a moment. “Oh, a guy from college. He’s trying to convince me to sign up for another class.”
Why was he asking about Royce? Especially in that gravelly voice that made shivers scurry up her spine.
“The twins are already registered and ready to start. Can you still get into classes at this point?” Blake kept his gaze straight ahead on the road, but his hands hung on to the wheel a trifle tightly, his knuckles white.
Curiouser and curiouser.
The moment had come to be blunt. It was hardly right for her to fault Cari and Leo for not communicating when she was guilty of the same thing with Blake.
“I’m not interested in taking any more classes. I figure I need to move on to the next stage of my life. Meet new goals, fulfill new desires.” Okay, it wasn’t a totally blunt declaration of wanting to jump him, but it was a start. Especially as she opened her shoulders to face him, pulling one leg up on the bench seat so that her knee bumped into his thigh. A gentle caress. Barely there but enough to get her heart pounding.
“Where’s he live?”
Her mind clouded with the image of Blake reaching to touch her, smoothing his strong fingers over her thigh. His work-hardened hands opening her jeans and unbuttoning her blouse, caressing her bare skin…
“Jaxi, where does he live?” Blake demanded.
She shook her head and lifted her gaze from his hands. What the hell were they talking about again? “Who?”
“This Royce guy.”
The urge to giggle rose, and she beat it down unmercifully. Acting like a teenager wasn’t the impression she wanted to project right now. “Don’t worry about Royce. He’s a nice enough guy but I’m not interested in him.”
She adjusted her leg casually, rubbing his thigh again.
Blake changed gears, his leg shifting away from hers. “Well, you let me know if he gives you any trouble, alright?”
She leaned toward him slightly, letting her body soften, letting her desire for him show in her eyes and the tone of her voice. “Now why would you do that? You’re not my father to watch over me and save me from the big bad wolves.” Come on, Blake, make a move. She was sure she’d seen signs of his attraction, but the man was damn stubborn. Whatever held him back was driving her up the wall.
“No, I’m not your father, but I’ve thought about you a lot lately. I haven’t been taking care of you as well as I did before you began college classes. I’m going to work on that, Jaxi. You need someone to watch out for you.”
Hope rose in her heart. Was he coming around? Maybe his earlier anger was because he felt responsible for her and wanted more?
Then he dumped cold water on her dreams as he reached to pat her knee gently. Playfully. As far from a lover’s caress as possible. “You’re a good girl, and you deserve to be cared for. I’m going to be the best big brother you could ever have.” With a final squeeze to her knee, he turned up the radio, and his strong hands thumped the wheel in time with the song, a peculiar pinched smile on his face.
Jaxi stared at him slack-jawed, her body and mind both reeling as she tried to understand what he’d just said.
He’d gone insane.
A big brother? Like hell that’s what she needed. If he wanted to care for her, it wouldn’t be as a big boy reluctantly playing house with a little girl. Making mud pies good-naturedly when he would prefer to be anywhere else. They’d done that already, years ago. It was time to shake things up, to show Blake she was no little girl and he was definitely not her big brother.
She’d told Jesse earlier she played to win. The game started now in earnest, and Blake wasn’t going to know what hit him.
6
The testosterone in the room was driving her crazy.
Jaxi dipped her hands into the sink and tested the water, turning her face away to hide the smile that rose unbidden as Jesse and Joel scrambled to impress her. They carried in dirty plates, scraping and cleaning the few leftovers into the slop buckets for the animals. They were well trained—Marion Coleman had never let any of her boys slack off, in or out of the house. Jaxi turned to the stack of hand washing and began.
If it hadn’t been for the other chores, and helping Marion, she bet she wouldn’t even be here now. Between the guys’ skills at batching it, and the fact the twins would occasionally be home on weekends from school, there were a lot of hands around.
Just not enough when you added Marion’s work to the list.
“You sure can cook up a storm.” Joel nudged her hip lightly to get her to step aside as he rinsed one of the large roasters in the second sink.
“How come you seem to know how much to prepare to have enough for us all? You’ve only got three in your family.” Jesse stacked plates in the dishwasher, standing to flash her a grin. “And for the record, I agree with Joel. That was great. Thanks.”
She shrugged, rinsing bubbles from utensils and passing them to Joel to dry. “You’re welcome. And I estimate, then double. You know, to be able to feed you two bottomless pits.”
Their good-natured responses made her smile. That’s what she wanted from them—friendly, not sensual. If she could just keep them on the right track.
“Hey, you guys looking forward to college? What you got on your schedule this semester?” Jaxi wasn’t going to miss it. Not with the plans she was finally moving on, but there was a part of her that was real happy she’d gotten a chance to go for a few semesters.
“It’s all awesome. The technology classes—so incredible what they’ve got set up for using with the crop rotations and helping with the planning.” Joel leaned against the counter, the dishtowel fluttering in one hand as his face lit with excitement. “I’ve already managed to incorporate some of the information from last year into this coming season. I show Dad what I can as I learn it. By Christmas I hope to have more solid plans to be able to help arrange for our spring purchases.”
Jaxi shook her head in wonder. “Computers and crops. Never thought that would happen.”
“It’s only a part of it,” Jesse interrupted. “You wouldn’t believe the genetics classes. That’s my area of expertise.”
The boys rambled on for a bit, enthusiasm and energy quivering through them. Jaxi wiped down the counter and began breakfast preparations. Marion had different methods, but since she’d taken over in the kitchen, Jaxi did things her own way. And her way involved planning ahead.
“One of you grab me the oats, please? Your mom said there’s supposed to be a big bag tucked somewhere, but I can’t seem to find it.”
“I got it.” Travis slipped in through the swinging door and tilted his head toward the pantry. “Last time we did groceries, I had to put it up on the top pantry shelf.”
“Good timing, asshole. Dishes are nearly done.” Jesse snapped his towel at his older brother as Travis paced past.
Travis spun out of the way and nabbed Jaxi, tugging her against his body to use her as a shield. “I was working.”
“Working on skipping work.”
Travis’s forearm pressed hot against her belly where he held her close, dragging her across the room. “Now, now. I’m here and eager to be of assistance. Why don’t you kids go do your homework or something, and I’ll take good care of Jaxi for the rest of the night.”
Oh brother.
“I don’t think I need much taking care of.” Jaxi tugged on Travis’s arm until he released her. He turned to pull down a full twenty-five-pound bag of oats only after winking at her mischievously. This was a complication she hadn’t expected. It was bad enough having to fight off the twins’ attention, but Travis?
The boy didn’t take no for an answer very easily. Come to think of it, none of th
e Six Pack boys did. Except Blake, damn it all.
Travis carried the bag to the counter while Jaxi grabbed the other supplies she needed, dragging a Crock-Pot over and loading it with the fixings for overnight cooking.
She was in the middle of measuring vanilla when he stepped behind her again, reaching around to grab the brown sugar. He adjusted the lid carefully, organizing her supplies. All the while far too close, rubbing and bumping her at every chance.
Double oh brother.
She glanced across the room. Yeah, the twins had noticed. Joel opened his mouth, probably to lambaste Travis. She moved to cut him off—Travis’s damn competitive spirit would just encourage more attempts if Joel rubbed him wrong. It had taken a long time to figure out Travis’s weak spots, but now that she knew what they were, she had no objection to exploiting them.
“If you’re all going to hang out and get in my way, you may as well be useful. Jesse, grab me the eggs from the fridge. Joel, I need some cheese grated, about a cup, please. Travis, move your ass back two feet or I’ll be using your balls for playing marbles.”
Jesse snorted.
Travis scooted away. “You don’t want to be doing that.”
“Course she doesn’t,” Joel teased. “That would be like playing with peewees. Makes it tough to win anything.”
Travis swung at his brother. Jesse moved forward and the wrestling began.
Jaxi ignored them—fighting between the boys was as regular as breathing. Didn’t matter that they were now over six feet tall, just meant the crashes had gotten louder. She finished up a couple more things, weaving her way around the guys as they slipped into familiar routines of taunting and goofing off.
It was fun and relaxed, and all a part of the whole picture. Family. What she wanted so badly.
Joel handed her a dishtowel to dry her hands. He hung on to it for an extra second, catching her attention. He spoke quietly even as the other two kept up their lighthearted bickering in the background. “You okay?”
She smiled. “I’m great. Thanks for the help tonight.”
Joel tilted his head toward the others. “You know, Jesse doesn’t mean to be an idiot. Travis? I’m not so sure about.”
Jaxi laughed. “I can handle them both. Thanks.” Impulsively she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “Breakfast at seven, right? That give you guys enough time to get where you’re going in the morning?”
“More than enough.” He grinned. “I’m glad you’re here, Jaxi. And you need something, you be sure to ask, okay?”
She smiled, happy to have his support, even though the next part of her plan didn’t require much but her and Blake and a little good timing. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”
Blake entered the house long after dark. He’d ridden until the cobwebs cleared from his brain. He’d cared for his horse and polished a couple of saddles in the tack room. Anything to keep his hands busy, anything to keep his mind off Jaxi and what her presence did to him.
It hadn’t gotten any easier over the past week. Sitting across the table from her at meals, playing games as a family. Every time they bumped arms in a hallway, his damn cock stood up and took notice.
What a disaster. This whole mental shit storm—no matter how many times he went through alternatives, there was never a better solution to his dilemma. He couldn’t act on his desire for Jaxi because it wasn’t right. Thinking about her made need build deep in his core. She’d bolt like a wild horse if he even hinted at how much he wanted to seize total control over her body, touching her, taking direction over her pleasure.
The whole business of her dating someone else raised its ugly head again today with the calls from Royce. The third time the asshole phoned Blake actually growled before controlling himself. Imagining her with anyone but himself made his stomach clench.
Yet if he didn’t approach her, the twins would think they had the go-ahead to try and convince her to accept them. Seeing Jaxi with them today outside the store, even briefly, had made him pause. It wasn’t that they weren’t good enough. They were both smart, good-looking fellows who would care for her.
But—both of them?
Blake threw his coat on a hook and brushed his boots clean. Whatever made Joel and Jesse think double-teaming a woman on a constant basis was a good idea in the first place? How could they watch another man, even their brother, touch skin that had flushed under their fingers moments ago? Or hear the woman they cared for cry out as another brought her pleasure?
Could he stand it if Jaxi did hook up with one of the twins? To watch them cuddle and kiss in front of the family? It had been bad enough when she went out with Travis, and he’d rarely seen many signs of affection—let alone passion—between them. Blake’s need to be with Jaxi seemed to grow instead of fade as time passed, and knowing his brothers were making love to the girl would just about kill him.
He ran upstairs and poured himself a glass of iced tea. The table was already set for breakfast, and in the kitchen three Crock-Pots lined the counter, filled with food to slow cook all night long. His ma used the pots once in a blue moon so this had to be Jaxi’s doing. A slip of paper rustled on the bulletin board. A menu and a to-do list in her flowery print.
She didn’t turn her dots into little hearts anymore.
Strolling through the quiet house en route to the basement, he spotted the twins, deep in conversation on the deck. They waved and he joined them, sitting with his back to the house to look out at the lawn and road, into the starlit sky.
“House is quiet.”
“Jaxi made Ma take a couple of painkillers, and Dad said he’d hit the sack early to care for anything she needed.” Jesse darted a glance at Joel. “Daniel said he was wiped from sitting in the sauna of a tractor all day, and Matt went out to spend the evening with Helen. They both disappeared some time ago.”
“Where’s Travis?” Blake asked.
Joel spat out a sunflower seed shell and grinned. “Him? He’s pouting in his room.”
“Pouting? What happened now? Dad ask him to deliver the shipment to Red Deer or something?”
Jesse sat back, side by side with Joel. It was like looking at mirror images. “Yeah, well, Dad did tell him he’s on the broken tractor until further notice since it was his responsibility to arrange for the air conditioning to get fixed. But nah, this time he’s pouting because of Jaxi.”
“Because she’s here?”
“Because she’s here and treating him like he deserves.” Jesse reached his arms in the air before easing them back and resting his head in his folded hands. “We all helped do the dishes after supper, and he was acting all sweet and dopey. She basically told him to stuff it.”
Blake stiffened in his seat. “What’d he try?”
“Relax, Blake, it was fine. He was pretending to brush against her by accident, nothing too bad. The funny part was she didn’t get mad, just told him off real matter of fact. Like we all knew he was an idiot so why should she waste energy getting upset.”
Joel stood and stretched lazily. “Feels strange, all of us home and headed to bed early. You’d think it was ten years ago or something. Hey, the gang’s meeting at Traders tomorrow. You’re planning on going, right?”
Blake nodded slowly. “I told Leo I’d partner with him playing pool for the night. No use letting you boys retain the title any longer than we have to.”
“You think your game is on enough to beat us?”
“Damn right it is.”
Jesse swept the remainder of the sunflower shells into the dustbin as he gave Blake a cocky grin. “Hope you sleep well tonight. Get enough rest. You know, being you’re so old and all…”
He danced out of Blake’s reach. Joel snickered and hit his brother on the arm. “Lay off him. Night, Blake. Jaxi said breakfast at seven.”
The twins slipped into the darkness toward the main floor room they still shared. Blake watched them go, caught by how much it was like hitting a time warp, seeing the house filled at every corner. Those two h
ad been a handful as kids, but they’d turned into fine young adults.
If they didn’t want Jaxi, he would have thought even better of them.
Blah. That was sour grapes on his part. If he couldn’t have her—and he couldn’t—maybe the twins were the best thing for her. One of them. Maybe.
Blake rose and made his way downstairs. His feet seemed to stop of their own accord five paces too soon. He stared at the door of the den, closed tight. Behind those doors Jaxi would be curled up, her blonde hair draped over the pillow, body nestled in the thick comforter covering the sofa bed. She probably wore one of those baby-doll nighties, her long legs exposed, her smooth shoulders bare under thin straps of some kind of soft, shiny material. Sleeping in the room next to her the first night had been difficult, and after only a week, his desire for her had grown even stronger.
Blake bit back a growl and headed to his room. His ma needed the help but this week had been sheer hell on his body. Even now he was harder than a railway spike, the thought of Jaxi close by teasing his senses. He swore the scent of her filtered through the walls.
He stripped off his jeans and shirt, then padded toward the bathroom door. Fingers on the latch, he stilled. Oh hell, he’d nearly forgotten he couldn’t go in. As the oldest son he’d taken advantage of picking the only downstairs bedroom with an attached bathroom. But it had a connecting door to the den as well, and Jaxi had all her things in there. He stood, his hand glued to the doorknob. He wanted to enter, even hoped by some chance she’d have left the other door open, and he could torment himself with a glimpse of paradise.
Blake dragged a breath of air into his lungs in an attempt to cool his burning body. This wasn’t right. She was a guest in their home, and yet here he was, acting like a hound dog. He should be ashamed of himself.
He grabbed his travel kit and marched down the hall toward the large shower room in the annex. He, Matt and Daniel had promised to use the larger bathroom and let Jaxi have the privacy of the other for herself.