Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys)

Home > Romance > Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys) > Page 17
Jake's Biggest Risk (Those Hollister Boys) Page 17

by Julianna Morris


  Hannah sat on the living room couch and tried not to think about how tempting Jake’s bare chest had looked in the sunset. She didn’t actually know he hadn’t been wearing anything beneath the towel. On the other hand, the deck off the master bedroom was private enough for nude hot-tubbing, and with his background, Jake wasn’t likely hung up on modesty.

  It was a tantalizing thought and much easier than thinking about the calls she’d probably get in the morning from Wendy. It was too bad she’d never felt the same tingle from imagining Brendan nude in a hot tub...or any other place. Jake just had a natural zing, the kind that made women do irrational things.

  “Hey.” Jake eased onto the couch next to her, now fully covered by drawstring sweatpants and a faded University of Washington Huskies T-shirt.

  Hannah raised an eyebrow. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a football fan.”

  “I’m not. My brother’s wife thought I should have comfortable things to wear while I was recovering, so she raided his closet.”

  “That was nice of her. Didn’t he mind?”

  “I don’t think Matt minds anything Layne does.”

  Jake sounded slightly baffled by his brother’s attitude, but Hannah thought it was endearing.

  “So what’s happened about tomorrow?” Jake asked.

  “It’s a long story and not very interesting. By the way, I’m sorry I brought up my old boyfriend again. I could tell it bothered you.”

  “That’s all right. I deserved it after being such a grouch yesterday. You got to me with that flute thing, too.”

  “What bothered you about it?” she asked.

  He shrugged. “It’s the way I was raised. That stuff about a healing song for a land sounds nice, but I don’t believe in that sort of thing and it gets awkward. Do you believe the land can be healed with music?”

  “I don’t dismiss the possibility. And there’s something about Native American flute music that reaches inside a person.”

  “True.” Yet Jake almost looked angry, and she sighed. Apparently she was right; he had a whole lot of demons to work out. Maybe it was natural to start questioning your life and the meaning of everything after almost dying.

  The cell phone in her pocket rang and she pulled it out, expecting to see Wendy’s name on the screen, but it showed D. Nolan. “Hey, Dad, how’s it going?”

  “We just finished. There wasn’t that much water, so everything should dry quickly.”

  “I figured Wendy was exaggerating. You’d better get home before she shows up and has another meltdown. Oh, and thank Mom again for watching Danny for me today.”

  “Will do. Sleep well, sweetheart.”

  Hannah put the phone back in her pocket and looked at Jake.

  “Was that the problem with tomorrow getting worked out?” he asked.

  “A lot of it. The annoying part is still there.”

  “That’s too bad.”

  He stroked her hair, an intense, yearning expression on his face, and warmth curled through her body. Without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed him.

  * * *

  JAKE DREW A swift breath and cupped Hannah’s jaw, savoring the taste of her mouth.

  There was little softness in the places where he’d grown up, often in remote campsites, or when it was feasible, staying with a willing villager. Josie had always been proud that she had made it in a hard world that most men couldn’t handle, and she’d taught him to be self-reliant. But he had to admit, there was something to be said for hot tubs and women with skin like silk.

  And Hannah smelled wonderful. He’d noticed it before, but close up, her sweet scent was intoxicating.

  The soft leather cushions of the couch whispered beneath them as he pulled her to him, stroking his tongue into her mouth. Hannah was clouding his thoughts, making it hard to be logical and think about anything except sex...and the thought of sex with her made him dizzy.

  Hell, he’d had his share of women. It was amazing how many of them wanted to sleep with someone who had a small amount of fame and a whole lot of money. Finding a temporary partner was never a problem when he was through with one of his projects. But Hannah wasn’t like the women who were dazzled by his reputation and money, which made the idea of being with her that much more appealing. And dangerous. He didn’t want to hurt her any more than he was willing to give up the life he’d chosen.

  Hannah’s hands skimmed around his waist and under his T-shirt. Her fingers splayed wide on the bare skin beneath and he groaned.

  Telling himself he shouldn’t—that he really shouldn’t—he traced the shape of her breasts and teased her nipples, even as he deepened the kiss. Tasting, searching, the demands of his body outweighing the cool logic in his brain.

  All at once Hannah’s hands were no longer under his shirt. They were pressed against his shoulders.

  Reluctantly, with his senses demanding he continue what they’d started, he lifted his head.

  “I need to get back to Danny,” she said, her voice sounding almost normal. “I don’t want him to wake up and be alone.”

  Danny. Her kid. Right.

  “No problem.”

  Jake eased away, hoping she wouldn’t look down. The sweatpants he was wearing would do nothing to hide his arousal, and while he wasn’t ashamed of it, they were planning several overnight trips around the state. From what he’d seen, Hannah had excellent survival skills. If she thought she’d have to fend off unwelcome advances, she’d probably tell him to find someone else to take him around the Cascades.

  But he didn’t want someone else to do it—he wanted Hannah. The way she talked about the mountains of her childhood...he still didn’t know if looking through her eyes was the answer to his lack of artistic inspiration, but it was a damn sight better than not trying anything at all.

  Hannah left quickly and Jake let out a heavy breath, coming to an unsurprising conclusion—however much fun it was to tease Hannah, kissing her was much more fun.

  * * *

  HANNAH SPENT A sleepless night. What had possessed her to kiss Jake? And she couldn’t fool herself; she’d initiated the kiss...one that had become far hotter than anything she’d shared with Brendan.

  Obviously, she hadn’t resolved her weakness for restless men with intimacy and commitment issues.

  The sun was rising as Hannah went out on the porch and tried to concentrate on yoga, wishing she had her mother’s focus. Then she might be able to get the opposite sex out of her mind altogether.

  The poignant cry of a loon rippled across the water, and it was still so rare to hear one, Hannah stopped chanting and listened. Loons had almost vanished from Mahala Lake after speedboats were allowed, but several nesting pairs had returned after strict rules were introduced regarding where and when the boats could be used. Now all was peaceful again.

  Except for Jake Hollister.

  Hannah tried to focus, but after a half hour she gave up and sat gazing at the lake. It was a typical mountain summer morning, cold enough to make a jacket welcome, yet already showing signs of a warm day ahead.

  She glanced at Huckleberry Lodge. Simple kisses shouldn’t warrant sleepless night or major soul-searching. She wasn’t sixteen any longer and trying to figure out who she was and where she fit in the world. Yet here she was, still thinking about it.

  She’d slipped because of the expression on Jake’s face, Hannah decided—that melancholy, lonely expression that suggested he was more than just a pompous genius with a camera. She couldn’t imagine what it must have been like growing up without a stable home, wandering from country to country, never really being part of anything...just observing it. What she should remember was that Jake had chosen to maintain that life after becoming an adult, so he couldn’t have found it that difficult.

  Gritting her teeth, Hannah got up and went
inside.

  She refused to let her heart get broken by another man who wasn’t going to stay put. Even more important, she couldn’t let Danny get hurt. It was rough enough having a father who didn’t care. He didn’t need Jake Hollister breezing in and out of his life like a kamikaze moth. Besides, if Jake did have a death wish, he would be the last role model she wanted for her son.

  In the kitchen she saw the clock click over to seven o’clock, and almost at the same instant, her cell phone rang.

  “Hello, Wendy,” she answered, resigned.

  “I know it’s early, Hannah, but have you talked to your father about the repairs? I thought we could go over to assess the damage together.”

  “I meant to call last night, but something came up. The repairs are done and Dad said there wasn’t much water, so there’s no damage to assess. We’re all set for Saturday.”

  “Oh.”

  “Gotta go,” Hannah said brightly. “Remember, Gwen will be back this afternoon. Bye.”

  She sagged against the counter as Badger padded around the corner, his tail waving gently.

  “Hi, boy.”

  Danny appeared next, sleepily rubbing his eyes. “Mommy, I like going to Grandma’s, but can’t I go with you and Jake today?” He sat on a chair in the breakfast nook, yawning.

  “We aren’t going after all. I may need to do some work for the pancake supper.”

  “I looove pancakes for breakfast, too.” Danny looked at her hopefully.

  “Me, too. But why don’t we have French toast this morning since we’re eating pancakes on Saturday?”

  “Yummy.”

  Hannah grinned. French toast was their special Sunday breakfast, so getting it during the week was a treat. She got out the ingredients while Danny put a coat over his pj’s and took Badger outside to play fetch.

  Twenty minutes later she was getting ready to call him back inside when the door opened.

  “Mommy, Jake says he never ate French toast before.”

  Hannah spun around and saw Jake standing ten feet away, still wearing his old sweatpants and Huskies T-shirt.

  “I’m sure you’ve eaten French toast,” she said firmly.

  “No, never. I’ve had toast in France, of course, but Danny tells me it isn’t the same thing.” There was a hint of laughter in his face and she glared. Clearly everything was back to normal as far as he was concerned.

  Danny took off his jacket and dragged Jake to the breakfast nook table. “He can have some of mine.”

  Yeah, right. Hannah piled the golden slices of French toast on plates and put them in front of Jake and her son.

  “You put butter all over and stick your fork in a bunch of places so it gets in the holes. That’s maple syrup, and that’s huckleberry,” Danny explained, pointing to the two steaming pitchers she’d put on the table. “Mommy made it, but I helped pick the berries.” He busily began jabbing his toast with his fork.

  “I’ve never had huckleberry syrup, either.” Jake poured a small amount over a forkful of French toast and popped it into his mouth. “Wow.”

  “Some people think huckleberries are the best berries in the world,” Hannah said. She poured another glass of orange juice and put it on the table, along with a cup of coffee.

  “You’ll have to show them to me. Photos of indigenous food sources might be interesting for the book.”

  She smiled tightly. Things were getting complicated. On one hand, Jake was paying her to show him the Cascades, and she really wanted to convince him how wonderful they were. On the other hand, she’d kissed him and she couldn’t pretend it was a platonic thank-you kiss like the one he’d planted on her cheek.

  “I can show you huckleberries,” Danny offered. “Wanna go after breakfast?”

  “Sure, and I’ll tell you about the grizzly bears I photographed in Canada. They like berries, though they’re meat eaters, too. I’ve seen claw marks on trees that were twice as high as my head. Their claws are huge—longer than your fingers and really powerful.” Jake spread his fingers and made a slashing motion through the air.

  “Whoa.” Danny’s eyes were as round as saucers and he seemed barely aware of the French toast he was shoving in his mouth.

  “We’ll all go to see a huckleberry patch,” Hannah said hastily, reminded for the umpteenth time that Jake’s stories weren’t the kind of tales she wanted her son hearing. She especially didn’t like him hearing them when she wasn’t around to put brakes on the gory details. And it wouldn’t do any good to tell Danny that his father wasn’t having those kinds of adventures, or that if he was, it was probably at someone else’s expense.

  Jake cocked his head at her. “I thought you couldn’t go anywhere.”

  “I just need to be available in case something happens, so I can’t go far. The vice president of the fire department auxiliary is very...” She shot a look at Danny, knowing anything she said about Wendy could be innocently repeated. “Um, she’s very concerned because we had a broken pipe last night at the church where the pancake supper is being held on Saturday.”

  Hannah cracked more eggs into a bowl and whisked in sugar and cream before dropping several slices of bread into the frothy mixture.

  “Why isn’t it the vice president’s problem?”

  “That’s the way things work in Mahalaton Lake. My dad is a contractor and he got called to do the repairs. I’m acting as liaison because Wendy is...excitable.”

  “Oh. I get it.”

  “Grandpa builds stuff,” Danny said. “I have a fort and a tree house with real water over at Grandma and Grandpa’s.”

  “Real water?”

  “He means running water,” Hannah clarified. She forked eight slices of egg-drenched bread onto the griddle to cook. “Dad installed a small faucet and drain in both the tree house and fort, which also has a fireplace, electricity and half bath.”

  “Really roughing it, huh?”

  “It’s useful for Cub Scouts meetings. You only saw the front of my parents’ house when we dropped Danny off yesterday, but they have a good piece of land in the back. The south lake trail ends at their place—by road it’s four miles, but only two on foot.”

  “Mommy can walk there, but my legs aren’t long enough,” Danny added. “Do you wanna go to the pancake supper with us, Jake? The firemen make pancakes as big as my head.”

  Hannah flipped the French toast on the griddle, fairly confident Jake would turn down the invitation. It was unsettling having him in her kitchen, looking so sleepy and gorgeous, but she was trying to act normal.

  “As big as your head? Uh, sure, that sounds like fun.”

  She gripped the handle of her spatula and turned around, trying not to show her disbelief. Fun? Jake had come to the ice cream social, and then spent the entire time with a camera up to his eyes. That wasn’t fun—that was someone who needed a barrier between himself and the rest of the world.

  Jake grinned as if reading her mind. “It’ll be a cultural experience—not that I really need one. I presume it’s another fund-raiser.”

  “The volunteer firemen do a supper every month—spaghetti, chicken pot pie, chili, that sort of stuff.” Hannah dropped several more slices of French toast on his plate and another on Danny’s, then sat down with a couple for herself. “Some of them are also on the rescue squad.”

  “Is that staffed by volunteers, too?”

  “Yes. We have a handful of professional firefighters, but no budget for a specially trained rescue squad. Our head of emergency services is an expert climber, though, and a helicopter pilot. I’m not sure how, but Randy talked the ski lodge into donating a helicopter to the town a few years ago.”

  “Altruism?”

  “Possibly. Or motivated self-interest. Their promotional materials talk about Mahalaton Lake’s ‘superior emergency services.
’”

  “Sounds as if you’ve had something to do with them being superior,” Jake commented.

  Hannah shrugged and swallowed some coffee, hoping the caffeine would kick-start her brain. If she’d been thinking clearly, she might have been able to head off Danny’s invitation to the pancake supper. Now Jake would tell him about grizzly bears with scimitar claws and the ability to leap over tall pine trees in a single bound...at least that was how Danny would probably hear it.

  She wasn’t sure what to think. Since meeting Jake, Danny was having some bad dreams and wanted to sleep with the lights on, which was no surprise considering the excitement level of their neighbor’s stories. But it wasn’t unusual for children to have a little trouble adjusting to something new. It didn’t mean they shouldn’t experience new things. She was protective, but not that protective.

  Jake Hollister was an opportunity for Danny to hear firsthand about places and things he’d probably never see for himself. It didn’t necessarily mean Danny would take after his father.

  * * *

  JAKE CAREFULLY MOPPED up the remaining syrup on his plate with the last of his French toast. He hadn’t been able to resist Danny’s description of the breakfast his mom was preparing. And the huckleberry syrup was every bit as delicious as the kid had said.

  He was even more impressed when Hannah and Danny led him to a huckleberry patch an hour later. The berries, mostly located on the underside of the branches, were tiny. Unless they grew to five times their current size, they’d be a major pain to pick.

  “How much bigger do they get?” he asked.

  “A few get to the size of small blueberries, but mostly they’re smaller than a pea. And since they ripen over a long period of time, green berries will be mixed with ripe ones. There should be a few early ones ripe now.” Hannah bent and searched and after a minute held out her hand—five small, purple berries rested on her palm. “Try them.”

  Jake popped the berries in his mouth and a sweet tangy flavor spread across his tongue. “I’ve tasted wild berries all over the world, and those have to be the best.”

 

‹ Prev