With careful footsteps, she made her way a little closer to the spider, the spider not moving once. Perhaps it thought it would win this war. She was about to prove it wrong. She reached out with the longest stretch she could muster, and with quick precision, slammed down on the spider's body.
Instant relief swamped her.
Until dozens—no thousands—of tiny little baby spiders scamper around the basement floor.
She lost the war.
A loud scream belted from her lips as the sandal slipped from her fingers and she dashed back up the stairs.
Disgusting! Her skin crawled with unease as the impression of tiny spiders inhabiting her body consumed her, even though none had touched her. She didn't stop, but raced for the front door, yanking it open and fell right into Austin's arms.
"Sophie! Are you okay? What's wrong?" he asked, concerned, as he held her gently.
"Oh my, Austin. It's...it's a spider. In the basement," Sophie muttered as she breathed in his wonderful scent. He smelled of fresh outdoor air with a hint of farmness—a mingling taste of manure, hay and whatever else she assumed belonged on a farm. It should make him stink unpleasantly, but it only made him smell divine. As soon as the realization that she was in his arms pricked her senses, she stepped back.
***
He hid the disappointment when she stepped away. He had never gotten that close to her and it had instantly played hell on his body. She had felt so good pressed against his body, he almost kissed her.
"In the basement, you say. I'll kill it for you," he said as he winked and stepped inside the house.
She didn't stop him, so he took that as acceptance that he could enter the house. He walked towards the basement door, quickly walking down the stairs, feeling some of the boards loose under his feet. He made a note to grab more wood and bring it over. He had stopped by today with an old metal toolbox he found in the barn hidden away. He didn't know if she could do anything with it, but he saw some of the great things she created and knew she would think of something creative. He liked that about her—a lot. He needed to quit thinking about her day and night.
The laundry basket sat in the middle of the floor, immediately assuming she saw the spider near that area. Her sandal lay by its lonesome self and the guts of what looked like it was once a spider not far from the basket. Confused, he picked the sandal up and headed back upstairs. She already killed the spider. Why was she freaking out about it? He laughed inside, thinking, she probably was one of those types who felt bad after they killed a bug.
The front door was still open and Sophie stood in the yard instead of on the porch. "I have your sandal. It looks like you already killed the spider. Why didn't you tell me that?" he asked with a laugh.
"I did kill it. But you should put that down, Austin," Sophie said with alarm, eyeing her sandal.
He looked confused. "Why? It's a sandal."
"Yeah, but there could be baby spiders on it. Didn't you see the thousands of baby spiders that exploded out of the spider after I killed it? I can't go back in there. It's disgusting."
Austin jumped and threw the sandal down. "Why the hell didn't you say that to begin with?"
He looked down at his hand and saw a microscopic spider scurry across his thumb. "Ahh! Disgusting." He started swiping at his hand, then all over his body as if suddenly they were swarming him. He continued to make a fool of himself when he glanced over at Sophie to see her laughing and smiling like he had never seen before.
She had laughed lightly, given small glimpses of a smile here and there, but never anything like this. It personified her beauty like nothing else ever could. He loved her smile, and at that moment, didn't care it was his foolishness that was making her smile.
"Alright, miss funny pants. Let me shower and then we will call an exterminator," Austin said with a devious grin.
Sophie stopped smiling. "I don't have the money for that, Austin. And why do you need to shower?"
"Why? Are you kidding me! I walked out of the basement with the killer sandal and they could be—" Austin shook his body, "roaming all over my body right now. I have to wash them off. I'm not a fan of spiders. For you, I was willing to be the hero and kill it. Don't worry. It's my cousin Emmett. He won't charge you."
"Well, I don't know, Austin..."
He braved moving towards her, noticing no slight movement of her stepping back as she normally did. "Sophie, there are probably a million baby spiders loose in your house right now. And you just said you couldn't go back in there. We have to kill them all. But I have to shower. I have to."
She sighed heavily in defeat. "Okay. I'll wait right here for you."
"Good." Austin looked at Axel. "Wait with Sophie, buddy. Keep her company."
She smiled at him, another glorious smile, as he walked to his house to clean the grotesque feeling of spiders inhabiting his body off.
***
Austin could smell the heavenly scent of Sophie, she stood so close to him. Ever since she ran into his arms fleeing the house, she had felt comfortable next to him than she had the entire time he had known her. Her frequent steps backward when he came near, or her subtle moving to the side to make space, familiar to him, seared in his brain as a normal part of who she is. He respected her space, knowing she felt uncomfortable, perhaps a little afraid as well.
When Emmett arrived to her house and put his hand out to greet her, Austin saw the hesitation to shake his hand. He knew Emmett saw it as well, but made no comment on the fact. Sophie had quickly shaken his hand out of politeness, then immediately stepped closer to Austin. He could get used to this. He liked having her near him.
"Austin, I'm not an exterminator. I own a landscaping business and sometimes administer pest control, but that's it," Emmett tried explaining.
"Okay, pest control. Go control the spiders. Trust me, I don't want Sophie's house here swarming with spiders. Do you?" Austin asked.
"Of course not. I still find it quite humorous you felt the need to shower. I can't wait to share that," Emmett said, laughing.
"Really, Emmett? Do we have to act like children and gossip?" Austin asked with annoyance.
"Hell, yeah. I can't wait to tell Gabe and Ethan about this. You tease and rip on us all the time. How about that time when Gabe got on the mechanical bull down in the Twin Cities and he went flying off breaking his nose? You couldn't stop for weeks teasing him about it. Spiders? That's just too funny not to laugh," Emmett said chuckling. He glanced at Sophie. "You were braver than Austin here. You at least killed a spider."
"Yes, well, I wouldn't have if I had known it was carrying a whole family inside it," Sophie replied softly, edging further by Austin.
"Very true. Look, I'll go in there, spray some chemicals, and try to kill as many as I can. It'll also help with prevention. I'll spray some around the outside of the house as well. I can't say it'll kill them all, but it'll help. That's the most I can do," Emmett replied, eyeing Austin with his brows raised sharply. "Because I'm not an exterminator."
"Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time, Emmett. I swear if you tell your brothers, Gabe and Ethan, I will find something to damage you. Mark my word, Emmett," Austin said firmly.
"Not a chance, Austin. I'm even going to tell Zane," Emmett said, still laughing.
"You know, I appreciate your kindness, but I don't have the money to pay for something like this," Sophie quietly interrupted.
Austin turned towards her. "Don't worry, Sophie, Emmett's not charging you."
"No, I'm not. I'm charging Austin," Emmett replied with a smirk to Austin.
"Oh, no, I can't have that," Sophie said with a delicate cringe that somehow personified her beauty to Austin. Or could it be because she was trying to stick up for him?
"I don't mean literally charge him for the services, Sophie. A friend of Austin's is a friend of mine. Plus, he never asks me to do stuff like this, especially for a woman. You would be the first in that sense. But I'm thinking good seats to a Twins game, maybe," Emme
tt said as he looked at Austin.
"What does good seats mean?" Austin asked with a groan.
"Behind home plate, first row," Emmett replied slyly.
"Are you nuts? Do you know what those costs?" Austin exclaimed.
"I do recall helping out at the farm a few weeks ago with the west field and helping with taking some of the hogs to the local market when Zane had to take Ava to a doctor's appointment. Oh yeah, and when baling hay comes around, who are you going to call? When are you guys heading to New York? I suppose you want me, Gabe, and Ethan to help with the farm while you're all gone," Emmett pointed out, as he ticked off each item on his fingers as he said it. "And you need to buy a ticket for yourself. I don't want to go to the game by myself."
"Which means I have to buy Ava one because she'd kill me if I went to a baseball game without her. And Zane won't want her going without him," Austin said, trying to process what the cost would be in his mind.
"Great. When do the Yankees come to town? Might as well make Ava happy and go to a Yankees game," Emmett said happily.
"Are you nuts? Do you know the kind of fanatic she is when it comes to the Yankees? We'd probably be kicked out of the stadium or something with her loose lips," Austin said, shaking his head just thinking about it. "Although, she would love that. I know she misses New York quite a bit."
"Zane's a lucky man that he can keep her here. When are you guys heading to New York so I can figure out my work schedule here?" Emmett asked.
"Zane loves her like nothing else. If she asked him to give up the farm, I bet he would. But she would never do that because she loves him right back. She misses New York, but I think deep down she feels better here. I don't know yet. We've talked about it, but nothing is set in stone. Zane keeps hedging because he doesn't want to go, but he will if Ava does. She mentioned around the Fourth of July. Every time we bring it up, he grumbles about it. New York is awesome if he just gave it a chance," Austin said, smiling, thinking of his good memories there, yet he could see Sophie's frightened expression every time they mentioned the words New York.
"Are you sure he'll go?" Emmett asked, as the concern filtered into a frown and the sadness poured from his eyes.
"Yes, he will. Kicking and screaming maybe, but he will. If it's a last minute notice, I'm sorry, but I seriously think it'll be around the Fourth. You know it means a lot to us when you pitch in at the farm. Thanks, Emmett. Even now, helping Sophie out. The tickets are yours, front row behind home plate," Austin said sincerely.
"That's what family does, man. I'm always here for you guys just as I'm sure you'd be there for us if we needed it. I'll give you money to buy some Tootsie's to give to Jimmy," Emmett said as the sadness touching his eyes increased.
Austin laughed. "Yeah, he loved his Tootsie's alright. I can do that. Enough of this stuff. Go kill some spiders already. Twins game is starting soon. Do you wanna come over when you're done for a beer and watch it?"
"Yeah. I don't have anything else going on. Is it okay I treat your house, Sophie?" Emmett asked, the sorrow slowly dissipating as he glanced at her for approval.
"Is it okay for dogs and humans alike? Axel sometimes runs around the yard and I don't want him getting sick from the pesticides," Sophie said as she leaned down to comfort Axel, who had been sitting nicely by her the entire time.
"Yeah, it's safe for everyone. I would take him into Austin's house while I administer it, but after it settles, it'll be fine," Emmett replied.
"Okay. Thank you for your kindness. Austin occasionally gives me wood and such things to fix my house and I bake him a pie in return. What's your favorite pie and I'll make you one?" Sophie asked shyly.
Emmett smiled brightly. "I love pie. Any pie will do. That's really nice of you, Sophie." Emmett glanced at Austin, who frowned slightly.
"Good. Let me do that while you work and I'll bring it over to Austin's before you leave," Sophie said, walking away before they could respond.
"She's sweet and very beautiful," Emmett said as soon as she was in the house and out of earshot range.
"Back off, Emmett," Austin growled.
"Oh, you like her then? Are you dating her?" Emmett asked, intrigued.
"She's a friend, nothing more. But she...she doesn't like men. At least, that's what she's told me and the impression I get. She likes her space and she likes her privacy. I don't want anyone upsetting that," Austin said with a serious glower, "including you."
"So, you like her," Emmett repeated, laughing as he did.
"I just said—"
"Austin, I know what you just said. You didn't specifically say it, but you like her. Maybe you don't want to, but you do. Since when do you give women things like you do with her? You date casually, but putting in an effort like this is very strange behavior for you. I'm just saying." Emmett rubbed his chin as Austin's frown deepened. "And I know what you mean about the space thing. I'm surprised she stood so close to you. She's wary. You do know what that means, don't you?"
"She normally doesn't. She keeps her space, even from me, but she's known me a bit longer than you. Maybe that's why. Trust me. It's taken a lot for her to get to know me. She never accepts my help in fixing anything with the house, but she does a great job herself, so it's not like she really needs my help. She never invites me inside her house and when I offer her to come inside my house, she declines. I'd like to say we're friends, but the most I can really say is we're friendly. I have a small idea of why she acts that way. I'm guessing someone abused her before. If I knew who it was, they would be the sorriest man alive," Austin said with a slice of venom in his voice.
"I don't know her that well, but I'd be right by your side if you ever find out. Just say the word."
"Yeah, well, I don't know. I'm not going to ask her or suggest to her that I know anything. I'm keeping it light here. I'm just trying to be her friend because it looks like she needs one. That's it," Austin said, glancing at the house.
Emmett slapped him on the shoulder. "Keep telling yourself that if it makes you feel better, but you like her. I think it scares you. Don't drink all the beer. I better go kill some spiders."
Austin scowled as he watched Emmett head for the house. Suddenly he worried about Sophie inside the house as a man she barely knew was heading inside as well. Not that he didn't trust Emmett because he trusted him with his life. Sophie didn't know him and could be very nervous. He had no idea if she would hate him coming inside, but what the hell. She broke a small barrier between them today when she stood so close to him as she did.
"Come on, Axel. Let's get you inside my house and then I'm going to check on Sophie, okay?" Austin said, as Axel happily followed him home. He swore Axel's tail wagged faster when he said her name as if he agreed with Austin's worry.
***
Sophie bounced around the kitchen, pulling ingredients out, trying to calm her nerves. But they refused to calm down, jumping with every movement. Her hands shook every time she pulled something from the cupboard, or opened the fridge, or opened a drawer. She'd burn herself, cut herself, or hurt herself in some silly way if she didn't calm down.
But a man was in her house and she hated it. She didn't even know why she offered him a pie. She only did that for Austin. It felt like a small betrayal, but she couldn't allow him to do it for free. Every man expected something in return. He would get nothing but a pie. Not a grape nut pie either.
That was for Austin only.
She wouldn't cross that line. He would get a simple apple pie. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw she had apples in the house because she was out of every other ingredient for pie except for grape nut pie. He just wasn't getting that.
She stopped in front of the fridge to take a calming breath when she felt another presence. Everything tightened inside, ready to take flight or fight mode into gear when she heard a familiar, calming voice.
"Are you okay, Sophie?" Austin asked, just within the threshold of the kitchen.
She turned around, pasting a small
smile on her face. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"I would like to think we've become sort of friends in the past month. You said so yourself that you don't trust men. Emmett's a great guy, but you don't know him and I don't want you to feel uncomfortable while he's working inside. If you want me to keep you company in the kitchen, I can. Or I can go back home because I know you probably don't want me in here either. You never invite me in and you never accept my invite to come into my house. Let me know what you want and I'll do it," he said with concern in his eyes.
"You're too perceptive for your own good, Austin," Sophie said, pulling open the fridge to grab the apples. "I would feel better with you in the house. I know he's your cousin, but you're right. I don't know him and it is slightly uncomfortable."
She closed the fridge door, set the apples on the counter, and noticed that Austin had stepped into the kitchen and taken a seat at the table.
"I can't help myself. What happened to you, Sophie? Why don't you trust men?" Austin asked softly.
She glanced at him. "I don't want to talk about it. Please don't ask me again, Austin."
"Okay. I won't," he said in defeat.
She nodded, surprised he didn't pry further. "Thank you."
She turned back around and started peeling the apples and slicing them up in tiny pieces.
***
Austin watched in silence, enjoying the way she moved about the kitchen. Fast and efficient in every movement she made, especially slicing the apples. Although, she did have a handy tool to help her along. She would grab an apple, slide it onto a device he had never seen before, and then rapidly twirl the knob on the other end as it would peel the apple skin off and slice it at the same time.
Simply amazing.
Then she'd toss the apple slices into another bowl, grab another apple, and repeat the process. Before he knew it, she had finished slicing the apples.
He hated holding back his questions. The need to know more about her coursed through him every time he saw the slight fear in her eyes. Even though he saw that fear, she was still one of the bravest women he had ever met.
Trust In Love (A McCord Family Novel Book 2) Page 6