All her tension suddenly left her shoulders as she realized something.
She wouldn't be out here all alone tonight.She had Axel and Nick.
She let out a long breath.
She really was safe.
* * * * *
Axel spent the next hour or so inspecting every inch of the house, inside and outside and discovered a lot of repairs needed to be done.A tinge of anger zipped through him as he remembered how some inmates would brag about how much their wives or girlfriends did for them, expecting nothing in return.Had Jenna’s late husband been a taker?Had he taken advantage of her giving nature?
He sucked in a deep breath and removed himself from his anger as he’d been taught to do while in prison in the mandatory anger management classes.He didn’t know her husband and he shouldn’t jump to conclusions about him.
Earlier he had seen Jenna head to the barn and let out the horses.Now she was working with them one on one.
Cyn had said she was training horses, and he didn’t want to disturb her in asking her if he could go into her bedroom.He’d gone into the other rooms to check for wood rot, water stains and structural issues, but her room was intimate.It was a room she’d shared with her husband.
Had her late husband made Jenna cry out as pleasure raged through her while he made love to her?Did he enjoy bringing out the woman in her over and over again, like Axel had?
Axel hesitated and inhaled the fresh air.He’d been here not even a morning and yet it felt as if he’d been out of prison and living here forever.As if prison was just some far off experience.
How odd that he was so quickly adapting to life on the outside.Maybe because he was with Jenna?
Axel headed into the ranch house by the back door and stepped into Jenna’s bedroom with full intention of measuring the window frame for a new glass pane and getting right out.
But her scent lingered everywhere.It bombarded him.Brought back memories of them being together.
A wave of regret washed over him as he stood there, unable to ignore the truth.He and Jenna had truly been good together.
The memory of what they’d shared brought a sharp pang of guilt twisting inside him.He cursed himself for the umpteenth time for letting his own actions destroy what they had.She had promised she would wait for him.Had said she would stand by him, and they would pick up where they’d left off when he got out.
Why hadn’t he just let her stand by him?Why had he pushed her away, unable to accept the hope she had offered?The questions echoed relentlessly in his mind as the crushing weight of his choices pressed in around him.
No, she had deserved better.He hoped she’d gotten it with her husband.
He gazed around her bedroom room.It was a soothing blend of comfort and elegance.The walls were finished in tongue and groove boards painted a crisp white, which was enhanced by the cheerful light spilling in from the open bedroom doorway and the hall beyond.Coordinated light blue and white comforters had been hastily thrown aside as if she’d suddenly gotten out of bed.Which, of course, she had if she’d been asleep when the window had been broken.
The bed was an oak pencil post Queen-sized bed, edged by matching oak night tables.Two oak dressers were set on each side of the room.The dated simplicity of the decor invited a sense of calm and order.
On one of the dressers sat a wedding picture of Jenna and Tim.In the photograph, Tim stood tall, his posture confident, his smile…cocky.Yeah, cocky.
Immediately Axel didn’t like him.Was he jealous of his replacement?
Probably.
Her husband’s suit was classic black, with a white pressed shirt, red tie and a red rose peeking out of the breast pocket.Jenna, beside him, looked radiant in a V-neck white wedding gown, an arrangement of red roses with white baby’s breath flowers.
Huh, Jenna had always said she wanted to get married with a bouquet of white tulips.It had been a wedding dream of hers.
Her happiness was unmistakable as she leaned into Tim.The photo captured a moment of profound connection and joy between them.
Axel sighed as raw emotions tangled within him.He was glad she’d found a man she’d loved enough to marry.But he was also sad that he himself hadn’t been that man.
He swore softly as regret pummelled him and he hurried to get the measurements for the window.
* * * * *
Jenna froze the instant she stepped into the dark cool interior of the barn.She'd been coming back in to retrieve a saddle when…
