“Glad you’re enjoying the grub,” Nick replied and then he suddenly focused his attention on her.
“Jenna, I was thinking, maybe you could take Axel over to Sam’s this afternoon before the rain hits and show him what needs doing.That way, you’ve got two of us in the loop.”
Jenna’s fork paused mid-air, the sudden weight of their attention landing on her was like a warm, unsettling spotlight.A flush crept up her neck, her pulse thudding in her throat as those two pairs of eyes pinned her in place.Her fingers tightened around her fork as she tried to steady herself.
Her thoughts scrambled.Duty was tugging one way; desire was tugging her another direction and fear tugged a third.
Oh great.What was she supposed to say?
No?
No, I don’t wish to be alone with Axel in the truck?I don’t want to be reminded at how easily we kissed.
Or that I’d slapped him.
Guilt pummelled her.She had never slapped anyone in her life.
Or should she put on her big boss boots and tell Nick that he show him what to do over there?
But that wouldn’t work either because she didn’t really want to be here alone or leave her home with no one here.
“Sure, I can do that.”The words slipped out before she could stop them, leaving her both relieved and terrified.She forced a smile as she resumed eating.
Why had she just caved to Nick’s suggestion?Maybe shedidwant to be alone with Axel?Maybe she wanted to kiss him again?
No.No.
She was so confused.
She stared at her plate; grateful the men had brought in the many bags of groceries and that her morning sickness was gone.
Nick had outdone himself.The boiled eggs, potatoes, green beans, and banana muffins would all be gentle on her stomach.She found herself wishing the food could settle her nerves, too.
“You guys are keepers,” she praised, watching Nick and Axel dig into their meals as if they hadn’t eaten in days.
Axel grinned at her.
Oh gosh, that lethal grin.The same one that used to undo her as a teenager and as a young woman.It tugged at something deep and dangerous inside of her.
“Glad to hear it, though I think Nick’s banana muffins are the real reason I’ll stick around,” Axel replied cooly.
“Good to hear,” Nick replied with a wink.
“We have to admit, the food here is like staying at some ritzy hotel compared to…” Axel hesitated, looking a bit sheepish.
The unspoken word prison hovered between them, scraping against the raw place in her chest where years of hurt still lived.
His gaze drifted to Jenna, as if waiting for her reaction.She remained silent and kept eating.
“Yeah, we pretty much survived on TV dinners for lunch and supper,” Nick said, nudging Axel playfully.“Not that there’s anything wrong with that.If you’re really hungry, they are delicious.”
Axel shrugged.
“True enough.Just no variety.Same thing week after week.I’ll take this over a reheated meal any day.”
Serves you right for not having good enough food, Jenna wanted to say to Axel, but she held her tongue.
She had to admit that every time they mentioned prison, a spark of anger crackled through her, just as it was doing now.She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to focus on the comfort of the meal rather than the memories of anguish of Axel not being in her life over the years that kept trying to surface.
