by Vivian Arend
Combine a close-knit family with small-town social habits, and Len was on the verge of becoming a hermit in self-defense.
There were things he didn’t want in his life, but being absolutely alone was no longer what he aspired to. He was very determined the people in his life would be the people he chose, no matter how much willpower that took.
And it seemed Janey was at least temporarily on his chosen list. Finally.
He closed the distance to her front door with a lot more enthusiasm than even five minutes ago, eager to get things rolling.
A small yellow sticky note was taped to the inside of the window.
Renovations underway. Please use back entrance.
Len caught himself smiling as he walked to the back door. He hadn’t spent a lot of time at the Watsons’ house, but the place was familiar enough from the times he’d come to grab Katy to bring her home.
Mr. and Mrs. Watson had always come and spoken with him, politely inquiring about his parents, and later, once his mom had passed away, asking about his father and his brothers. He didn’t remember much about Janey’s siblings. They were a fair bit older and had gone away to university as soon as they finished high school.
He’d met the Watsons dozens of times, and to this day he still wasn’t sure if they had come to the door to make him feel comfortable, or to do the exact opposite. It wasn’t so much what they said, but how they said it. Always so formal. He certainly hadn’t been in any rush to get close with the family.
Len stepped up on the porch and pushed the bell. Inside the house a musical doorbell played a fancy tune that echoed through the open screen door.
“Hang on, I’m almost ready.”
Something in the distance fell with a rolling crash, and Len shuffled his feet, his amusement rising. Janey, in contrast to her parents, had never been anywhere near what he’d call formal. Maybe he wasn’t the only one feeling the tension.
He stared through the glass, hauling in every bit of patience he had as a momentary glimpse of leg flashed past at the end of the hall. His body reacted far too eagerly, and Len deliberately looked toward the ground, steadying his breathing.
“You don’t have to stand outside,” Janey called. “The door is unlocked. Come in and grab a drink, if you want.”
He took the bull by the horns and stepped through the entrance. That was about as far as he’d ever gotten before, so he slipped off his shoes and moved cautiously into the kitchen.
The walls were patched in places, small scraps of old tile and wallpaper visible in the bin by the door. Janey was going to town on her renovations, and he liked what he saw. She wasn’t only changing paint colour and surface trim. She was fixing things from the inside out, and he wasn’t at all surprised.
If anyone would do a hundred percent thorough job, it would be Janey.
He kept going until he hit the living room, checking out the new hardwood underfoot. Home improvements weren’t his thing. He preferred to play around in the innards of an engine, but he could appreciate what he was seeing around the place.
And then he twisted, and all thoughts about household renovations vanished as he spotted Janey.
Considering how petite she was, her legs shouldn’t look as if they went on forever. Yet somehow that’s the impression he got at the long length revealed by the teeny skirt she’d pulled on. The fabric clung to her hips, partnered with a short-sleeved T-shirt, both jet black and skintight. Instead of pulling her hair into her usual ponytail, the mass was all bundled up at the back of her head, magically held in place as far as he could tell. A couple strands hung loosely on either side of her face, and as she walked toward him, her smile was perfectly framed. She held a sweater in her hands, a brilliant blue colour that made him think of clear winter days.
He was so busy admiring her he forgot to say anything.
The next thing he knew she was staring up, her sweet smile shifting toward mischief. “Hey.”
“Hey, yourself.” He helped her slip into her sweater. It was just an excuse to touch her, and he damn well knew it.
“I hope this is okay. It’s finally warm enough to wear a skirt, and I’ve been dying to wear this one.” She took a couple steps away from him, leaning over to grab a pair of low heel shoes from the dining room floor.
Len’s gaze dropped over her hips and legs. “I don’t mind.”
He didn’t mind at all, only the control he had wrestled back a few moments earlier was utterly gone. Good thing his jeans were slightly loose, because he needed every damn inch of space.
Janey finished adjusting the straps over the back of her heels, mesmerizing him with every move. She straightened then tilted her head toward the door. “I’m starving. How about you?”
He had her outside and into his truck in no time flat. Helping her up into the high seat in spite of her denial.
“I am capable of using a runner board,” she teased.
He paused in the doorframe, hanging on to the truck frame and admiring her legs as she twisted on the bench seat. “Humour me.”
As he got behind the steering wheel, the temptation was there to order her into the center seat. Fortunately, she read his mind, shuffling over and doing up her seatbelt without him saying a word.
Her thigh pressed against his, and warmth seeped through his jeans. Somehow he focused on the road ahead of them, and drove the short distance to the café parking lot.
They were through the front door before he had time to talk himself out of it. All eyes turned toward them, the same as always when people came in. But this time, instead of going back to their dinners, at least half kept staring.
He and Janey had been seen together often enough doing things for Katy, some of them probably figured that’s all this was. But the more alert townsfolk? They sensed something was different.
One of the waitresses slid forward, the ready smile she always had for him flashing bright. “Good to see you guys. You grabbing takeout for Katy and Gage?”
Janey cleared her throat. Len figured the strange noise was her hiding her amusement.
And not answering the question. She flicked her gaze to meet his, and laughter shone in the depths.
It was up to him. A dare? “Nope. We’re eating in.”
Tessa’s eyes widened. “You’re what?”
He should have known this was coming. Tessa had tried to date him before, and it had taken a lot of effort on his part to turn her down without hurting her feelings. Now? He bet her curiosity would be on high, and the inquisition would start.
“Any open booths by the window?” Janey asked before Tessa could find her voice to comment.
The waitress blinked. “Of course. Right this way.”
She led them past three or four open tables, weaving through the room to reach the exact center of the café. Len figured she’d done it on purpose. Like putting them on parade.
Tessa gestured to the table. “Here you go. And here are your menus. The specials are on the board.”
She sped away without announcing them like she usually would, darting behind the counter and vanishing into the kitchen.
Janey slipped onto the bench seat, soft laughter rising from her lips. “Tessa doesn’t want to miss out being the bearer of bad news to all your hopeful love interests.”
Len sat next to her, making Janey slide over toward the wall instead of taking the seat opposite her. “Whatever turns her on.”
Their legs were touching, and he could smell the scent of her shampoo, but the torment of being that close was better than sitting across from her and having to make eye contact.
Or worse, having to keep his eyes from eating her up.
It was right, being there with her. Didn’t mean this relationship was going to be easy, but then again…
That was one lesson he’d learned a long time ago—
The right thing to do was rarely easy.
Chapter Four
Janey played with the edge of the menu as she nonchalantly glanced around the ro
om. They were still the topic of conversation for a lot of the evening diners, but she could handle that.
It wasn’t as if she hadn’t dated before. She knew the rules. Everyone in Rocky Mountain House seemed to know everything about…well, everything. A lack of privacy was a fact of small-town living, and attempting to keep secrets was a waste of time, especially when there was no reason for anything to be secret.
Ignoring curious glances was second nature by now, especially for the girl who had been the black sheep in her family. Not because she was bad, but she had never been as smart, as sophisticated, or as charismatic as the rest of them.
As long as she got to enjoy life, she really didn’t mind.
Right now it was more important to take full advantage of the first time in forever she’d been alone with Len Thompson. Time to do something other than chase him. She’d rarely gotten to simply sit and talk without others being a part of the conversation.
The idea of being alone with him for more intimate reasons was also on her agenda, but she hadn’t been solely fixated on his body these past years, as fine as that body was. Still, she had healthy admiration for the set of biceps accidentally caressing her arm every time he moved. He’d pulled off his jacket and hung it on the rail beside the table, and now there was nothing covering him but that faded T-shirt mercilessly stretched over curved musculature. She couldn’t wait to explore more thoroughly.
But exploring was for dessert.
“Did you ever finish the overhaul on that classic truck?” she asked.
He jumped on the topic. “Not yet. I’m waiting for a couple of parts, but I hope to have her roadworthy by the end of summer.”
“Are you going to get her painted?”
He nodded, flipping through the menu even though he had to have it memorized by now. “Still deciding what colour.”
“Candy-apple red, of course.”
Len shook his head. “Too flashy.”
She paused, and thought it through. He was right. That was a colour she’d go for. Something that would stand out on the road and make an impression. Len liked to fade into the background more.
“She’d look good in midnight black, but that’s not a great colour for driving around on dusty back roads. You’d spend more time washing her than driving her.”
Len leaned an elbow on the table and twisted to face her. His other arm stretched along the top of the backrest, warmth seeping toward her. Having his full concentration focused her direction made a spark of heat flutter through her body. “True.”
“Gray or white you wouldn’t have to wash so often.” Janey made a face. “But I don’t think a paint that bland would cut it. They would make your beautiful truck look like an albino June bug.”
Across from them, someone slid onto the bench seat, and they both turned in surprise to discover his younger brother staring innocently at them.
“You guys waiting for a pickup?” Troy went on without waiting for their answer. “I’m grabbing lasagna for me and Dad. I’ll wait with you.”
Janey stifled her amusement, tempted to nudge Len with her shoulder.
“Go away,” Len ordered.
Troy leaned back, pulling out his phone and staring at the screen. “Forget it, bro. We’re off the pay-clock, and you don’t boss me around out here.”
Len stiffened. Janey laid a hand on his thigh. Maybe if she tried the message would sink in. “Troy, go away,” she said sternly.
That was enough to help him realize something was off. He tore his gaze off his phone and glanced back and forth between the two of them, his eyes widening as he put two and two together. “Shit. You aren’t waiting for an order, are you?”
Janey blinked. Len didn’t say anything.
And then the bastard had the gall to just sit there and grin. “Well, this is a surprise.”
“What part of ‘go away’ did you not understand?” Len demanded.
“So, what can I get for you guys tonight?” Tessa was back, her notepad in hand as she eyed everyone at the table, no doubt eager for gossip.
Janey was fighting a serious case of the giggles. “Burger and fries, strawberry milkshake. Thanks, Tessa.”
“Double bacon cheeseburger,” Len said, “and don’t bother asking my brother what he wants. He’s going to the counter to order.”
“Oh, I don’t mind staying here,” Troy offered. He checked out Tessa, his dark eyes flashing as he admired her. “You’re looking good tonight.”
“You too, Troy.” She returned his smile, but she was still more interested in the whole Len-and-Janey show. She hesitated, examining both the brothers for a moment before finally breaking down and asking, “Where am I taking your order? Here or at the counter?”
“At the counter,” Len and Janey said simultaneously.
Troy’s grin stretched from ear to ear. “No problem. Catch you two later.”
He slipped off the bench and past Tessa, who paused for just long enough to confirm she’d bring out their orders once they were ready.
Silence fell over the table for all of ten seconds before Janey couldn’t hold back any longer. She laughed, trying to keep the sound soft enough the neighbouring tables wouldn’t be aware.
Beside her, Len wasn’t nearly as tense anymore. He snuck his hand over hers and linked their fingers together, and suddenly the temperature in the room rose.
“This is going to be very entertaining,” Janey whispered, not completely sure which part she was referring to—their dinner out, or the subtle sexual tension twisting up her arm as he moved his thumb slowly back and forth over her skin.
He made a noise, somewhere between a snort and a grunt, which only set her off again. This time she couldn’t keep her volume down, and her outright laugh drew the attention of people who had gone back to their meals.
“Next time I’m cooking for you, instead of going through this circus,” Len warned.
She waved her free hand in the air. “They’ll get bored of it, eventually.”
But the entire time they sat there, it seemed they were the best entertainment in town. One after another Janey’s or Len’s friends who happened into the café all slid into that empty space across from them. Made small talk for a moment or two before their jaws hit the table as they realized they were interrupting a date.
By the fourth time it happened even Len snickered out loud.
“We should start charging by the minute,” Janey suggested.
Len shook his head. “I knew they were a lot of busybodies, but what is so entertaining about us?”
Janey snuck a french fry off his plate. “That’s probably my fault.”
This time his laugh was lower, more intimate. “Okay.”
She leaned her shoulder against him, feeling warm from her head to her toes. “You’re supposed to take the blame. Don’t you know the rules?”
It was like a light switch flipped. All his lighthearted amusement vanished between one breath and the next, and Len went from teasing and warm to tense. Every inch of him on alert.
“What’s wrong?” she asked quietly.
“Nothing.” He focused on his plate, finishing the rest of his meal in silence. The quiet camaraderie they’d shared vanished as if it had never been.
Janey poked a fry into her ketchup and ate it slowly, considering what exactly had gone wrong. She wasn’t going to push, not here in such a public place, but if she and Len were going to be a couple?
His days of being Mr. Silent, at least with her, were coming to an end.
Len stared out the front window and held on tight to the steering wheel. Seated next to him, Janey was telling him about what she had coming in for completing the trim around the house. It was easy enough to listen and make appropriate noises, and still use most of his brain to give himself a good solid lecture.
Less than an hour into officially dating her, and he’d already acted like a jackass. And over such a stupid thing, because there was no way she could know her words would trigger a flood of mem
ories.
He and guilt went way back. Guilt, and a whole ton of fear as well.
It seemed that was the way his screwed-up insecurities worked these days, coming out to smack him out of the blue. For the most part he had made his peace with what had happened so many years ago, then he’d be blindsided and all over it was like being pushed into a dark pit.
The strangest things could set him off. A combination of words, the scent of antiseptic like at the hospital.
One time someone’s phone had gone off, and their ring tone had been a series of beeps eerily reminiscent of a heart-rate monitor. He’d come within three seconds of snatching the phone right out of their hands and grinding the case to pieces under his heel.
But whatever took him there, he’d suddenly be fifteen again, watching his family fall apart around him as his mother fought a battle she couldn’t win.
A soft touch landed on his arm as Janey leaned her head against his shoulder. She’d gone silent. He’d probably missed responding to some bit of conversation for longer than was polite.
“I’m sorry. I’m being a shit.”
She’d curled up, legs on the seat as she wrapped her fingers around his right biceps. “You looked as if you’re thinking deep thoughts. I’m okay with that. Not everyone is as obsessed about wood-staining methods as I am.”
That hauled a chuckle from him. “It really is hard to not end up smiling when you’re around.”
Janey twisted in her seat, leaning forward far enough she was in his line of vision without taking his eyes off the road. “I think that’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.”
“It’s true.”
She loosened off her seatbelt so she could stay there, resting her elbow on the dashboard as she smiled back. “I hope this is another fact that makes you smile even if it’s a little embarrassing. Did you know that you’re driving in circles?”
Len glanced out the window. “Damn.”