His grin wobbles, and a quiver shoots through me.
In all his confidence, there was always something vulnerable about him when it came to seeking approval. I swallow in anattempt to push the lump resting in my throat down, forcing a smile to line my lips.
I shake my head and let out a soft chuckle, “Of course not. It’s just been a…few decades. Not including the times I’ve watched you play on TV.”
He snorts, and his eyes glance toward the ground before meeting mine again. “Yeah. Well. That was always the dream, right?”
“Jake!” John takes three steps over to Jacob, who’s still watching me, before shifting his face toward my brother as he wraps him in a massive hug, lifting him off the ground. “Thank you for coming! And sorry I sicced Duncan on you.”
A real smile breaks free as I watch them.
“Whoa,” Jacob laughs, a wide grin stretching from ear to ear. “You’ve gotten stronger over the years.”
“I think Jane would say that I’ve always been strong.” He puts Jacob down and waggles his brows.
“How is that saint of a wife of yours?” Watching them together like this reminds me of the two of them in school. Teasing and joking around, but now there are a few more lines around their eyes and some gray hair.
My gaze roams Jacob’s face, while I take in the man I once believed I would spend my life with. It’s not fair that he’s still as handsome as ever.
John clasps Jacob’s shoulder. “Amazing. She told me I need to force you to make time for dinner.”
Stretching the rag, I turn away from them and blow out a breath. I then start to vigorously wipe down the pristine counters behind me. Michelle is very good at her job, but I need to do something—anything—to burn off the nervous energy coursing through my veins.
Jacob Thornton just walked back into my life after promising to call once he was settled in at training camp. Except he never did.
Now he’s back to help my son.
“Are you okay?” Michelle leans in and whispers in my ear.
I nod and give her a smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. Inhaling deeply, I turn around and get John another drink, since the one I made him ten minutes ago is most likely cold.
“Do you want anything, Jake?” John guides Jacob to the counter just as I push his new cup into his hand. “It’s on—”
“Me,” I tease my older brother before turning back to the man I didn’t think I’d ever see again. “What’s your poison of choice? Espresso? Latte? Macchiato?”
“Black,” he says gruffly, eyes twinkling with amusement as his stare pins me. The slightest flutter hits my belly. “Just black.”
“No vanilla sweetener?” I glance at John and wink.
“Hey, what can I say?” John shrugs a shoulder, lifting his coffee and taking a sip. “I need something to cut through the bitterness.”
The carafe shakes as I pour the dark liquid into the cup. My pulse is racing, and thoughts are tumbling around my head.
“Is this your shop, Becca?” Jacob’s voice feels too close, and the room feels like all the air is being sucked from it.
“It is. Caleb and I purchased it a few years before…” A tightness grips my chest as I think about my husband. “It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, but not one of his worst ideas.”
I press a lid on the cup and hand it over to Jacob. Our fingers brush, and a surge of electricity shoots through my body. His eyes flare slightly, and I hold my breath.
“Duncan mentioned he passed away last year. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you.” He looks at me before reaching into his pocket and pulling out his wallet. I push his hand away. “Your money isn’t good here.”
A question lingers in his eyes, and I shake my head.
“It’s the least I can do for you coming to help Steven.”
“It’s unnecessary.”
