by Hayden Wolfe
His tone didn’t invite discussion. Blaine didn’t push it. Kyle had mentioned Jack had been fighting with his twin. If their disagreements stemmed from working together, she could relate. Avery was the best brother a woman could have. Her love for her sibling didn’t translate into blind acceptance of his wishes, especially where her private encounters came into play.
Avery never hesitated to question the reputation or worth of anyone she spent time with. Except Iona. Everyone loved Iona. She didn’t even have to fall back on small talk to pass time with people. Everyone treated her as their best friend.
The car moved again. Kyle followed the winding path through Sander’s Farm. Tall stalks of corn towered over both sides of the road. The sounds of birds chirping and bugs she had no name for filled the silence that had descended.
Kyle slid his hand over the steering wheel. “Jack’s been spending a lot of time with Brenna these past couple of days.”
“Yep.” Levi propped his arm over the open window. “He has.”
Blaine waited a moment, but Levi didn’t elaborate. She leaned forward. “Why? Is she his girlfriend?”
Ronnie snickered. “Jack’s never had a girlfriend.”
“He’s a fuck ’em an—” Kyle flicked his gaze to the rearview mirror and caught his fiancée’s eye. He coughed into his shoulder. “Jack believes in having fun.”
“Hmm…” Blaine focused on the ears of corn outside her window. They didn’t have farms in St. Petersburg. Actually, nothing in Sander’s Valley reminded her of the city in Russia she called home, or any of the places she’d visited across the world either.
Here it was…quiet. Everything moved slower, including life. Everyone seemed content with existing, not conquering life or harnessing it. Blaine didn’t understand that drive, or lack thereof. She had no hope of fitting in here. Of course, she didn’t have to.
Blaine didn’t belong here any more than she belonged in this car with Jack’s family.
Blaine smoothed her thumb over her nails. The worn edges would need to be fixed before she went anywhere she’d be getting her picture taken. “Life’s too short not to have fun. I can’t blame him.”
“Jack needs to pick his lovers better, though.” Kyle slowed the car, allowing a groundhog to run across the road. “He’s going to end up getting himself in trouble messing with the wrong woman. Maybe knock up some girl he barely knows.”
“Or destroy his relationship with his family and friends.” Levi’s voice hardened.
“Jack’s thirty. If he hasn’t already left a string of bastard children or done something so unforgivable that he’d alienate his friends or family, I don’t think it’ll happen now.” Ronnie shook her head. “The only thing threatening Jack’s future is regret. He’s going to grow old alone.”
The car stopped in front of a large white farmhouse, saving her from coming up with some response to Ronnie’s predications.
Blaine studied the home she’d barely glanced at driving out here. Chickens walked in the front yard. Two large rocking chairs sat on the front porch. And a big fluffy dog lying near the walkway lifted its head. The sheepdog wagged its tail but didn’t stand.
“Nope. You’re all wrong. Jack faces the same threat I do.” Levi opened the car door and got out. “People telling us how we should live our lives.”
Blaine couldn’t argue with that statement. She’d been fighting the same battle over her two and a half decades of life too. By living in the spotlight, she’d invited the scrutiny, however. Luckily, she’d gotten used to maintaining her image as others expected.
She took one last calming breath and mentally ticked off the list of superficial things she could discuss with the Sander family, then sighed. It would be a dreadfully long evening without Jack. She couldn’t help but think small talk would be the death of her one of these days.
Chapter 5
No amount of manual labor cooled the edginess riding him. Jack rolled his shoulders and jogged up the porch steps of his parents’ house. At least Brenna would be able to open the café section of her little bake shop in time for school to start. With the store being a block away from the college and the town’s business district, she’d be able to take advantage of the kids looking for a snack and businessmen in need of a quick lunch.
Anything that enticed people to spend their money locally helped all the businesses in town, including Sullivan’s Pub. Those enjoying lunch in her quaint little shop would see the signs across the street for his and Levi’s place. Too bad the satisfaction of completing the project he’d promised to help with last month hadn’t quieted his mind or worn out his body.
Damn if he knew why he felt ready to crawl out of his skin. He’d been fine earlier in the week.
Jack shook his arms, loosening the tightness in his body, then opened the front door. Looking tense would tip his mother off. She’d nudge him for the reason all night. He wouldn’t be able to help her when he didn’t have a clue what bothered him.
Laughter carried through the house. The clank of dishes and clink of glasses added to the sounds of life. The hearty scent of beef stew and homemade rolls lingered, but the soothing aroma of coffee killed his hope of indulging in his favorite meal. He’d missed dinner.
Jack bypassed the dining room and walked into the sitting room, where dessert was always served. His gaze zeroed in on Blaine sitting with Levi. Their thighs touched. Their heads were close. Levi held his phone between them. His mouth moved. He was telling her something. Jack couldn’t focus on his twin’s words. The sight of them together stirred something dark within Jack.
He curled his hand and took a step forward.
Kyle grabbed his arm and led Jack to where Ronnie stood. “Wedding emergency first, then cake.”
Ronnie drew him close while Kyle snuck away, leaving Jack to his fate. She lowered her voice. “I need to ask a huge favor.”
“You need something, tell me. You’re family.” Or at least she would be in a couple of days.
“We have a last-minute addition to the reception. I need to change seating arrangements.”
Jack cracked his neck. Ronnie didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of his pissed-off mood. Nobody did. He should’ve stayed home. Hell, he would’ve skipped out if he hadn’t promised to be here.
“Don’t care, Ronnie. Seat me and Brenna wherever.” As long as it was far from Eric. Ronnie would know that, though. Everyone in the family was questioning Eric’s intelligence. Jack’s stupid-as-rocks cousin had decided to bring a different girl to the wedding, leaving Brenna alone. Again.
Ronnie hugged him. “You’re the best.”
“He is, isn’t he?” Blaine stepped next to them. “I was just telling Levi the same thing.”
“You were?” The overly close vibe that came from Blaine and Levi didn’t match any conversation Levi would have about him. After refusing to accept Levi’s offer to buy himself out of the business they’d started together, Jack didn’t expect his twin to have any civil words for him for a while. If anything, he should be the one giving Levi money, buying Levi’s share of the business. His stubborn twin thought that idea ridiculous. Levi promised to pay for half, so he’d pay for half even if he was no longer an owner.
“Mm-hmm.” Blaine flashed a bright, mischievous smile that left her eyes cold. The conflicting signals added to the edginess riding him. “And he was showing me some pictures of how you looked after you helped him move into his place.”
“Excuse me.” Ronnie touched his arm. “I have one more call to make before I rearrange seating.”
“I didn’t believe Levi at first,” Blaine went on without acknowledging Ronnie’s departure. “The man passed out with that woman draped over his legs didn’t resemble you at all.”
Jack stroked his beard and chuckled. Everyone who’d shown up that day ended up drinking themselves into oblivion that night. It’d been years since he’d had as much fun. “It’s the beard. Makes me look older.”
“And more handsome.”
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Desire gave her already rough voice a sultry quality. He studied the woman who stood a couple of feet from him. Her narrowed eyes didn’t match her tone or the relaxed pose she’d struck. He had no idea if she was pissed, indifferent, or waiting for her chance to kiss him. Any of those options would fit Blaine in this instance.
Jack had a feeling he was finally seeing Blaine Zima in action. An actress had replaced the woman who’d loved him more openly than any girl before her. Hell, maybe the sex they’d shared had been part of her performance. If so, he’d been truly and effectively played. He’d fallen for it.
“I like the beard.” He shrugged. “Don’t care what anyone else thinks.”
“Being self-confident is important.”
He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “It has nothing to do with self-confidence. I couldn’t give a shit what people think of me.”
Blaine tilted her head and studied him with the deep awareness that made him wonder if she could see into his soul. “Why?”
“Why do I like the beard? Or why don’t I care what people think?”
She pursed her lips as if considering the choices. “Both.”
“I was in the Marines. Couldn’t have facial hair. Now I can. So I do.” The other question would be harder. He shouldn’t have offered to answer it. “And I like me as I am. No need to change.”
Blaine studied him. Her slow perusal stirred his body. His parents’ house was not the right place to be turned on by this woman, but it was hard not to react to Blaine. The memory of what they’d done had kept him up the last two nights. He should never have touched her, because he wanted to do it again. Addictions started that way.
He stepped around her. “Now that you have your answer, I’m going to see if there’s any food left. I’m starving.”
“Were you so busy you couldn’t find time to eat?”
The annoyance in Blaine’s voice compelled him to look at her. She stood where he’d left her, facing the wall. “Yeah, actually. I worked up a huge appetite too.”
She glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes held a promise. Of what, he wasn’t sure, but it would involve him. He knew it.
She blinked, and the intensity in her glare eased. “Doing what?”
“Helping a friend.”
“Brenna, right?”
Her mood made perfect sense now. Blaine Zima was jealous of Brenna. He bit back a curse and went to Blaine.
“Yeah, with Brenna.” He bent his head close. “I’m grabbing a beer and heading out to the barn out back. Make your way out there. We need to talk before this shit goes any further.”
“This…shit?” She raised a brow as if she had no idea what he was talking about.
His teeth ached. He eased the clenching in his jaw. He hated the games women played, as if riding a guy’s dick gave them special privileges or something.
He nodded, then pivoted on his heel and walked to the kitchen. Levi stepped through the patio doors, stopping him from escaping.
“I hear we’re no longer sitting together at the wedding.” Levi crossed his arms over his chest. “Are you that damn angry you’re now throwing a hissy fit?”
“What the hell are you talking about? Angry about what?” Jack stepped back.
“About me wanting out of the pub.”
Jack ran a hand over his head. He didn’t want to deal with this now. The stony look on Levi’s face warned he wasn’t backing down. “I’m not accepting a buyout from you. That’s ridiculous. We’re family. You want out, then I’ll pay back the money you invested into the place and you can walk. I’m not stopping you.”
“And leave you with the brunt of the mortgage?” Levi shook his head. “Hell, no. I agreed to pay half, so I’m paying half.”
“Jesus—” Jack clamped his jaw shut before he finished uttering the curse that would bring his mother’s fury down upon him. He lowered his voice. “We’ve talked about this. I don’t care about the money. You want out, then—”
“I want out because you won’t listen to reason, not because I don’t want to be your partner anymore. Adding a third business partner will help finance renovations on the pub. I’ve tried explaining this to you. I showed you blueprints on how we can expand—”
“Not tonight, Levi.” Jack shoved past his twin and slipped through the sliding glass doors leading onto the patio.
The mugginess of the day had given way to a cool breeze. He closed his eyes as a gust of wind hit him. It didn’t calm him, however. The tightness in his muscles bordered on pain. He rolled his shoulders and strode for the barn. He wanted this next talk over with, then he’d embrace the solitude of his house. At least there, nobody bothered him with ridiculous gripes or jealousy.
The smell of horses hit him the moment he stepped into the hundred-year-old barn. He didn’t make his way to the stalls on the opposite side of the large structure. He waited just inside the door near the ladder to the loft.
Minutes passed. Finally, the barn door opened on a squeak. Blaine stepped in, carrying a bottle of beer. Her gaze zeroed in on him. A small smile flitted over her plump mouth. She walked closer to him and held out the bottle. “You forgot your beer.”
He looked from the amber longneck to Blaine’s face. Irritation no longer simmered in her eyes, but she didn’t appear warm and open either. He couldn’t read anything from her expression. The obscurity left him at a disadvantage.
He curled his fingers around the bottle. “Thanks. I forgot to grab it.”
“Because you were fighting with your brother.”
She’d overheard them. Wonderful. He tried his hardest to keep his fights with Levi between them. No use bringing others into their issues. They’d been going at each other since they were toddlers. Fighting was just what they did.
“We weren’t fighting.” More like discussing from opposite sides. At least they no longer pummeled each other like they had when they were kids.
Blaine smirked. “Right.”
“I’m serious.”
“Sure you are.” Blaine leaned a shoulder against a wooden support beam and crossed her arms. “Just like I’m serious when I say I don’t mind all the security checks and protocols my brother makes me endure at my shows.”
“I’m sure Avery has your best interests at heart.”
“Just as I’m sure Levi has yours.” Blaine’s brows drew down. Her lips pursed. “And I have to agree with him. A third partner would bring funds into your business. If you plan these renovations correctly, they’d pay off. Sullivan’s Pub is a lovely place in a great location. With the college around the corner, you’d probably do quite well.”
“You sound like Levi. Did he prep you to come talk to me?”
“No. You ordered me out here to talk before this shit went any further.” Blaine made air quotes around the word “shit” and scrunched her nose. “Though, I must admit, I still don’t know what shit you’re talking about.”
Jack took in Blaine’s image. Wearing jean shorts and a button-down short-sleeved shirt, she fit the image of a local. Her voice and the large diamond studs in her ears betrayed her true identity. She was just visiting, and he didn’t want to deal with her jealousy while she was here.
“I don’t need to tell you where I go or who I’m with.” He paused, giving her a chance to flip out on him. She frowned instead.
He motioned toward the house. “You’re going to tell me that little show in there wasn’t about you being jealous?”
Blaine turned, looking in the direction he indicated. After a moment, she faced him. Her brows were pinched. “What little show?”
“You asking about Brenna and where I was all day.” The second the words were out of his mouth, he wanted to take them back. He was the one who sounded unstable. He rubbed at his neck. “Look, forget it. I’m in a crappy mood. I shouldn’t be taking it out on you or accusing you of—”
“Shit?”
He chuckled. He matched her amused smile. The tightness in his shoulders eased. “Yeah.”
“If I’d known asking about Brenna would upset you, I wouldn’t have done so.” Blaine examined her fingers. She rubbed her thumb over her nails. The move struck him as a nervous gesture, but her body posture remained neutral. So did her voice. “I was just curious as to who I’d be sitting with at the wedding. It’s easier to prep small talk when I have a few details to go on.”
“You’re coming?”
She looked at him from under her lashes. “I was invited weeks ago.”
No doubt because she was Iona’s friend. “Are you bringing anyone?”
She inclined her head. No details on who. The silence demanded he find out everything, however.
“Who are you bringing?” Maybe a lover? She’d said she didn’t have a boyfriend. Didn’t mean her bed had no one to warm it.
“A friend.” Blaine smiled. She motioned to the bottle he held. “Your beer’s getting warm, Jack.”
With his gaze on Blaine, he took a drink, then licked his lips. “Do I get a name?”
“No.” Blaine laughed. “I wouldn’t want to cause any more shit.”
“That’s not fair.”
She gave a half shrug and turned to the door.
“Wait.” He grabbed her hand before she could get away.
She looked from his hand on hers to his face and raised a brow.
“You’re leaving?” He didn’t know why he asked. From the response she gave, jealousy hadn’t been the motive behind her earlier questions. There was no reason to talk longer.
“Yes. It’s late, and I’ve got stuff to do.” She gave him the same parting words he’d used the other night after he’d finished helping her move into the cabin. “See you at the wedding, Jack.”
The barn door closed behind Blaine. He stared at it for a long time and fought the urge to follow her. He wanted to know about this friend she was bringing. He wanted to apologize for assuming she was going to turn into a clingy lover.
He wanted to kiss her.
At the moment, he couldn’t come up with a reason not to love her again. Unless this friend of hers came with benefits.