“Oh.Oh.”
“It’s the only time of year you’ll see a bull moose hanging around other moose. They’re usually pretty lone creatures.”
“Oh, my goodness, is there going to be a Little Ed—or Edwina—in the spring?” Jenna squealed in delight.
“Edwina?”
“Do we get to name it?”
“There you two are,” Haylee said, her tone exasperated. “I’ve been looking everywhere. You’re going to miss the movie I made.”
“Movie?”
Haylee let out an annoyed sigh as she tugged on Cody’s wrist. “I worked on it all week. You’re not hiding in the woods for the premiere.” When Jenna didn’t immediately follow, Haylee looked back at her. “You too, Jenna. I need your help with something.”
ChapterFifteen
Jenna
Jenna traveled down the long basement hall in search of Haylee’s room, amazed at how enormous the log home truly was. She could practically hear the laughter, bickering, and excited voices talking on top of one another from years past. It was a home filled with love and acceptance. The same type of home she’d always wished she’d grown up in herself.
The same type of home she wanted to someday raise a family of her own in.
A slightly frazzled Haylee’d sent her inside in search of the presentation clicker she’d forgotten in her bedroom. Jenna counted three doors on the left, but at the second stopped in her tracks. The door stood halfway open, giving her a peek at stuffed duffle bags lined against one wall.
She should leave well enough alone. Haylee would figure out the projection issue any moment and need that presentation clicker to start showing a movie Jenna definitely didn’t want to miss. But she was lured inside anyway.
When the door swung open, Jenna silently gasped.
Four stuffed duffle bags stood against one wall. A dozen boxes against another. One was open and few things scattered around the floor beside it. The room was nearly bare aside from the bed being made, a sweatshirt draped on the footboard, and a coffee cup on the nightstand. It was possible he’d been packed since the day they met. Possible that he still planned to stay but hadn’tunpacked. But it was also possible Cody was getting on that plane tomorrow and there was nothing she could—orshould—do to stop it.
A cheer from outside reminded her of the urgent mission Haylee’d given her. Jenna started to back out of the room, but she caught something sticking out of the nightstand drawer. She should leave well enough alone. She wasn’t one to snoop. Yet she pulled the drawer open without recollection of walking all the way into the room.
A corner of a printed document had been sticking out of the drawer—a contract.
Jenna knew she shouldn’t touch it, but she’d already pulled it from the drawer. It wasn’t just Cody’s name that jumped out at her, it was thethree million dollaramount they promised to pay him. She gasped. Though Jenna had no idea what a good stuntman was paid, she couldn’t fathom one earning that kind of money. If he didn’t get on that plane, he’d forfeit a fortune. That was life-changing money. When Cody said this job could open doors for him, she hadn’t realized thatthiswas what he meant. He could do anything he wanted after the show.
But he had to go.
“He likes you, you know.” The woman’s voice caused Jenna to let out a quick scream. She turned to find a redhead with sea-green eyes—just like Cody’s—studying her curiously. “But he wouldn’t be happy here long-term.”
“You must be Sadie.”
Sadie folded her arms and leaned her weight against the door frame as Jenna put the contract back into the drawer and closed it. Her hands were shaky and her pulse was out of control, but it had nothing to do with being caught snooping. Judging from Sadie’s expression, she’d already seen it.
“Cody tried staying here one winter when he was twenty-two. After he’d broken three ribs. Did he tell you that?”
Jenna recalled the dramatic way Sadie’s siblings had described her, and the grace Cody always gave in her defense, claiming she was misunderstood. None of it helped her now in Jenna’s own assessment. Sadie seemed like a wildcard, her very presence warning Jenna to keep her guard up. “No.”
“He was miserable. There’s nothing for him here in the winter. His kayak shop is closed, and he hates working at the store. He couldn’t work on any sets that season, but he booked a ticket out of here after three weeks of going stir-crazy. We didn’t see him again until it was time to open his shop.”
“Why are you telling me this?”
“Because I don’t think you should ask him to stay.”
“How do you—”
“I’ve been watching you two all night. Anyone with eyes can see there’s something between you. I know you care about him, so I’m asking younotto hold him back from what truly makes him happy.” Sadie held up the clicker Jenna had been sent inside to find. “Because if you ask him to stay, he will.”
