by Lori Foster
Unconvinced, Gabe looked at each of them. “And?”
“And,” Briana said, going on tiptoe to give her a dad a kiss, “I need to finish moving my things here so that next time I decide to jog—” which would be never “—I’ll be better prepared.”
“I told you I can help you.”
“We all could,” Morgan added. “I could get Garrett, Shohn and Adam together.”
“We’d have you moved in a day,” her dad finished.
Briana’s heart swelled. “You’re all awesome and I thank you, but I’ll handle it.” She hadn’t yet told them she wanted to live on her own. She planned to find the right place first, and then she’d break the news.
Backing out of the room, she called out, “Thanks for the ride, Uncle Morgan.”
He winked.
She made it to her room and dropped face-first on the bed. No doubt Jax had seen right through her ruse, too, but he hadn’t taken the bait. Other than one quick perusal of her person, he hadn’t really looked at her.
What did he think?
Oh God, did he think she was desperate? Her face went warm as she considered every encounter they’d had. She’d been obvious, right? And not once had he reciprocated.
The truth hit her.
Jax acted the same way she did when trying to be polite without encouraging someone. He flat-out wasn’t interested.
Huh. She was so used to guys chasing her...but then, looking like he did, Jax was probably just as used to being chased. So maybe she needed to change her tactics.
No more subtle hinting.
The next time she saw him, she’d ask him out. Smooth and easy. If he declined, she’d smile and act like it didn’t matter.
Now all she needed was opportunity.
Since she was up and dressed, she decided to visit each of her sisters. As married working women, neither of them would be available for a while still, so she’d look at some properties first. She’d stay so busy, she wouldn’t be able to think of Jax.
At least for a little while.
* * *
DISCONTENT CHASED JAX the rest of the day as he drove from one community to the next. He didn’t mind the monotonous work, or the fact that he handled his routes alone since Hayes had retired. He preferred it that way.
The quiet, mindless work gave him plenty of time to think—about the future, security...and his younger brother and sister.
Planning for their futures was important. It was now his responsibility, and he wasn’t about to let them down. Owen was only nineteen, but considered himself a man. He insisted on sticking close to home to help out, when he should have gone off to college.
As Briana had done.
Worse, Owen wanted to boss around Ella.
At sixteen, Ella was more drama than anything else, and the girl didn’t take to anyone telling her what to do—especially her brothers. It seemed every day with her ended in one argument or another. Still, Jax adored her. He remembered those sullen years of being not quite an adult, definitely not a kid. Tough times, especially without a mom or dad around to spoil her, guide her, give her meaningful direction.
Owen meant well, but he needed to lay off.
Ella thought she had all the answers, when so far she didn’t even know the questions.
Jax tried with them both, but what did he know of sixteen-year-old girls and nineteen-year-old boys, except for how he’d felt when he was their ages. That, more than anything, terrorized him.
No, he wouldn’t be a hypocrite. He wouldn’t protect Ella more than he himself had been protected...and yet, it was different with Ella. At sixteen, he’d been tall, fast, strong. Same with Owen.
But Ella was a petite thing. Easily broken.
When he’d gotten news of his parents’ deaths, his first instinct was to grieve—until he’d seen his brother and sister. Owen had held Ella tight while she wept inconsolably. His poor brother had been forced to hold it in, and that had nearly broken Jax.
He’d embraced them both, willing and able to take on their pain, glad to do it even, if it made things a little easier for them. At twenty-five, he was six years older than Owen, nine years older than Ella. They were still kids.
He wasn’t.
He knew what was at stake, knew that their current happiness was fragile at best, how it could be easily lost. He needed to concentrate on giving them a home, stability, love and direction.
What he shouldn’t be doing was craving Briana Kasper.
Jesus, she looked good. Like the perfect mix of hot sensuality and sweet innocence. Potent, powerful.
Clearly she’d set her sights on him, but to what end? He couldn’t fool around.
Couldn’t really get serious either.
His parents had died at the beginning of the year. They were halfway through August, and the holidays would be on them soon.
He dreaded it.
How could any of them be festive with their mom and dad gone?
A stupid freaking car wreck.
Rainy day. Traffic. Dark night...and just like that, they’d lost two people they loved so very much.
No, he definitely couldn’t think about Briana, but thinking of her beat the dismal thoughts of all he’d lost, and all he now had to tackle.
Slowing, Jax steered the big truck around a sharp curve on a gravel road. The closer he got to the lake, the more distance there was between houses, and the more treacherous the roads. Still, it was his favorite part. The quiet, the scent of the water, the wildlife and towering trees...
And a little yellow hatchback.
Oh, hell no. He watched as Briana stepped out of the car, eyes shaded with oversize sunglasses, still in those snug snorts and that boner-inspiring halter. There wasn’t room to go around her.
Damn it.
She looked up, smiled and waved.
Stopping the truck as far off the road as he dared, Jax climbed out and circled around the front. “What are you doing out here?”
His tone got her back up and she stiffened. “Is there some law I’m unaware of that prohibits me from being here?”
“You know there’s not.”
She smiled, a sweet smile that belied her tone when she said, “So drop the attitude or go away.”
It was nearing the end of his shift. He’d skipped lunch, and the afternoon sun had made him sweaty.
Jax drew a breath, let it out slowly—all with Briana watching, her eyebrows lifting above the rims of those big glasses—and then he said, hopefully more reasonably, “I’m unable to get around your car.”
“Oh.” The brows disappeared, along with her attitude. She looked from the truck to her car and back again. “Well, shoot. There’s really nowhere else for me to park.” Taking a few steps closer, which made him want to back up, she explained, “I’m checking out the house.”
“House?” He didn’t see a house. Just scraggly woods and overgrown weeds. “Where?”
“Down there.” One dainty finger pointed.
He peered in the direction she indicated, halfway down the hill toward the lake, and spotted the...shack. “Why?”
“What?”
“Why are you checking it out?”
“Oh.” She gave him a beautiful smile that made his stomach muscles clench.
He seriously wanted to kiss that smile right off her mouth. He wanted to kiss her and go on kissing her until neither of them could breathe.
“I’m going to buy a place here and fix it up.” She smiled again, this time looking very proud of herself.
Jax shook his head. “Not that place, though, right?”
The smile tightened. “I don’t know. I like the land, but I haven’t yet seen the house.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “You realize you’re no more properly dressed for tromping through the woods than you were for jogging?
”
“Less dressed, I’d say, since I’m now wearing sandals.” She posed, showing off incredible legs, in a pretense of drawing his attention to her sandals.
He didn’t want to think about her less dressed, not when that particular thought had already occupied far too much of his time since her return to town. “You could come back another day, maybe when you’re wearing jeans and boots?”
“I don’t think so. Other people are looking at this place. I can’t risk losing it until I know if I want it.” She chewed her lip. “You probably remember this road better than I do. Is there a place up ahead where I could pull in until you get around me?”
There was—he wouldn’t be on the road if there weren’t houses and driveways—but his conscience prickled. “Tell you what. I needed to grab lunch now anyway.”
“Lunch?” Lifting her phone, she checked the time. “At two?” Then with a frown, “When did you last eat?”
Before he’d left the house at five thirty, but no reason to tell her that. Instead, he shrugged.
“You have to be starved. Go on then and eat, and I’ll take a quick look. By the time you’re done, I’ll be ready to go, I promise.” She took one step into the weeds.
The brambles would shred her skin.
Jax put a hand on her arm. “Why don’t I grab my lunch, take you down there, and I’ll eat on the dock while you do your looking?”
She stepped closer again, bringing with her the scent of sunscreen and floral shampoo and—damn it—soft, sexy woman. “Take me down there...how?”
When his jaw ached, he realized he was clenching his teeth. Another deep breath. Another slow exhalation. “I’ll carry you.”
She pushed the sunglasses to the top of her head and stared at him in surprise. “Carry me?”
Oh, sweetheart, that isn’t helping. The Kasper girls had the prettiest blue eyes ever. They all three had a similar look: blonde, blue-eyed, gorgeous. None of them had inherited their mother’s red hair and freckles—much to their father’s torment.
For as long as Jax could remember, the Kasper girls had had guys after them. They each flirted, were always nice, had brains and killer bodies, and this one, the youngest, had been the feature in many of his fantasies.
Back in high school.
And okay, since then, too.
He’d prefer she keep those baby blues hidden. Maybe then he wouldn’t feel himself sinking.
“Jax?” She gave a small, uncertain laugh. “Did you really just offer to carry me through the weeds? Seriously? Or did I misunderstand?”
“I’ll carry you.” Rather than stand around debating it, he strode back to the truck, stripping off his thick utility gloves as he went. He dropped them in the front seat, turned off the truck and pocketed the keys. Without giving himself time to change his mind, he grabbed up his lunch cooler and headed back.
Briana hadn’t moved. In fact, she almost looked frozen.
Just do it, he thought. Put hands on her and get it over with. As he walked back to her, he asked, “Okay?”
She shifted slightly, her mouth twitching. “Well, okay. If you’re sure—ack!”
Without missing a step, Jax bent his knees and gently put his hard shoulder to her stomach, hefting her slight weight over his shoulder.
“Oomph,” she grunted.
He gave her one little jostle to better position her and got on his way.
Stiffening, Briana tried to wiggle around to see his face. “What are you doing?”
Likely she’d expected something else, something more romantic, but this way was expedient and less provoking.
“Keep your feet up,” he instructed, and then waded through the weeds. “Just saw a snake.” He figured it was prudent to tell her so she didn’t start complaining once she caught her breath.
“Snake?” she squeaked.
Jax kept going. His bare forearm was wrapped across the backs of her smooth thighs. Holding her like this, feeling her hands braced against him, her boobs on his shoulder, shouldn’t have seemed sexual and yet that’s where his mind went.
Straight to a bed with them both naked, those thighs around his waist—or his face—and her gasps full of pleasure instead of horror.
“There’s another.” Seeing the snakes helped him focus his mind, and hopefully kept her still. Her wiggles weren’t helping his concentration.
“Hell, the place is riddled with gray snakes.”
Her hands knotted in the back of his shirt. “Describe riddled.”
“I’ve seen four.”
A slight shudder passed through her body. “What kind?”
“Rat snake.” Kentucky had both venomous and nonvenomous snakes galore. Luckily, rat snakes were pretty harmless. They’d bite if they felt threatened, but for the most part they just skedaddled when faced with a human—as these were now doing. “If you’re thinking of buying this place, you’d definitely have to get them cleared out.”
“It would be top of my list.”
Halfway down the hill, he found the walkway. Overgrown with weeds, it wouldn’t be easy to find, but it led to a nice wraparound porch on a small clapboard house. “Here we go.” Jax set down his cooler, then eased her to her feet.
As he did so, her body slid along his until she stood on her own. Her hands remained on his chest, and for a single moment, she leaned into him.
The urge to kiss her was strong, but then she looked around and delight lit up her face. She moved away.
“Oh, look at this! Isn’t it cute?”
Not the word he would have used. “Careful. A few of those boards are loose, and another snake could be hiding under the porch.”
She backstepped into him quickly. “Okay, so...how about you go first?”
“Sure.” Hands on her shoulders, he held her steady. “What is it you want to do?”
When she peeked over her shoulder at him, he realized he’d made a mistake.
“That’s a loaded question,” she teased.
There were a hundred things Jax wanted to do, and one thing he didn’t. He chose the latter, releasing her and taking a step back.
CHAPTER TWO
SIGHING AS IF he were the biggest pill ever, Briana said, “Fine. I’d like to peek in the windows.” She glanced back at the house, releasing him from those bright blue eyes. “I didn’t get a key yet, but if I like what I see, I’ll get the owners to let me in.”
Both relieved and disappointed that they were back to business, Jax did his own quick look around. The land hadn’t been touched in a while, but the windows looked newer, the roof still solid, the front door secure. He found a stick and cleared away the cobwebs on the largest window, then set a tree stump under it and deftly lifted her up to stand on it.
Again, she squeaked, but then quickly thanked him.
He guessed her to be around five and a half feet tall, but she weighed almost nothing. With her small waist and delicate bone structure, that made sense. Not that she was lacking in curves. Far from it.
Jax forced himself to release her and step away.
Cupping her hands against the glass, she looked in. “It’s nice,” she said with optimism.
Unable to resist, Jax stood beside her and did his own quick survey of the interior. Being six feet four and a half inches, he didn’t need anything to stand on.
There were only two bedrooms that he could see, a single bathroom, but everything looked updated, including the kitchen, with room for a table and chairs. The living area was the largest space, but that didn’t say much. She’d be able to fit a couch and two chairs if she got creative. A stone fireplace filled one entire exterior wall, big enough to heat the whole house in winter.
Leaving her to do more looking, he moved away to stand at the porch railing. Mature trees, scrub brush and weeds had at first disguised what looked to be a nice dock, half of it cover
ed to shelter a boat, though the only boat he saw was an overturned rowboat on the shore, nearly buried in weeds.
“Well?” she asked, suddenly beside him. “What do you think?”
“I think I’ll eat my lunch on the dock.” Sunlight poured over the weathered planks and twinkled on the surface of the placid water. The rock retaining wall hadn’t fallen, but ivy twined all around it, along with morning glories in shades of purple, lavender and white. All in all, it was an inviting sight. “Want to join me or should I carry you back up?”
She, too, looked at the dock, and her face lit up. “It’s beautiful.”
He couldn’t disagree. So far, the dock was a highlight of the property. Whoever had lived here probably liked to fish.
Facing him, Briana announced, “Dock, for sure.”
Smile going crooked, Jax nodded. “All right, then.” He scooped her up once more, grabbed his cooler and headed down the hill. This time he found the path right away. “You’ll need a bush hog to clear all this away, but there’s a nice stone pathway.”
“I see it!” Hanging over his shoulder, ankles crossed, she was more relaxed this time. “Flagstone. Love it.”
He imagined with the land cleared, she’d have a stunning view of the narrow cove at the far end of the lake. He didn’t see any cows, but their lowing carried on the quiet air. Somewhere nearby, geese honked.
Peaceful, that’s what it was.
When he let her down this time, she snagged his hand and tugged him along to the end of the dock. “More webs,” she complained.
“I’ll get them.” He went back for another stick and, lying on his stomach with his head and arms off the end of the dock, he cleared away every web from the wooden ladder and along the pilings. If there were spiders under the dock, he couldn’t get to them without getting in, and he wasn’t about to strip down for her.
Not here, under these circumstances anyway.
No, no—what the hell was he thinking? Not ever.
Damn it, he had to keep reminding himself that he had bigger priorities right now than sex, even if the woman involved was none other than Briana Kasper.