“You sound relieved,” Nick teased.
“Damn right.I don't know squat about roofing, but she needed to be impressed by you,” Axel said as he chewed.
“What?You were playing me?”
“She needs to know she's in good hands,” Axel replied with a grin and finished his pancake.He started sipping on his coffee.
“And since you never brag, I had to coax it out of you,” he said with a wink.
Nick blinked, the irritation melting into reluctant amusement.Axel had been boosting him up, not competing.
“You're an asshole,” Nick replied, feeling relieved that Axel wasn’t trying to outdo him.
Axel was right.Nick wasn’t one to brag, especially around a woman he wanted.
“Damn right I am and a good one.Thanks for the compliment.”
Nick shook his head and rolled his eyes.Warmth spread through his chest.Axel had his back, even here, even now when everything between them was shifting.
“A total freaking asshole.”
Axel began to laugh.His laughter loosened something tight inside him and gave him a reminder that whatever else was happening, their bond was still solid.
Nick couldn’t help but to laugh too.
* * * * *
As Jenna stepped out onto the back porch for some privacy the hot morning air brushed her cheeks and she quickly answered the phone, immediately recognizing her brother, Brady’s number.
“Hey, Brady.What’s up?”she asked, fully aware that he was keeping tabs on her and Ginny.
“Just checking in.How are you and Ginny doing?Getting along?”he asked.
Jenna couldn’t help but smile at his predictability.
She didn’t miss the amusement in his voice as he knew his oldest sister and youngest sister always fought.
“All is fine here.I would put her on the phone, but she’s out with the horses.You know how it is,” Jenna replied, lying so smoothly, that she surprised herself.
A tiny pinch of guilt tugged at her ribs.She’d never been a good liar, but desperation in this case made her bold.
Jenna wasn’t about to admit to her brother that Ginny was already gone.If he thought she was alone, he’d want to come out, and the last thing she wanted was to have him find out that Axel was out of prison and staying here.He’d loved Axel but hadn’t appreciated what Axel had done to her.He’d be here within hours if he found out Axel and his cellmate were here.He would keep an eye on them like a papa bear.She knew that without a doubt.
There was a pause on the line, and she suddenly heard Daisy start to bark furiously at the other side of the house.Her heart lurched, the sudden barking slicing through her like a jolt of electricity.Either she’d found herself a groundhog or rabbit, or someone was coming.Excitement rushed through her.
Cyn?Oh please be Cyn!
“Hello?Jenna?Can you hear me?Is that a dog I hear?Or maybe we have a bad connection?”Brady’s voice sounded uncertain.
Jenna could hear him clearly though, but all she wanted was for him to hang up so she could see what Daisy was barking at.
“Sorry, I didn’t hear you.We must have a bad connection,” she lied.
Gosh, she was being terrible, dodging her brother like this.
“But if you can hear me, all is good here.No worries,” she finally said.
“Oh good, I can hear you again.”
