“I won't.But he'll be noticing soon enough.Unless he already suspects.”
“Just...not now.”She needed more time.
She studied Nick, suspicion creeping in.Had he been snooping?Was he a thief?How did he know about her prenatal vitamins?
“And exactly what were you doing in my purse?That's the only place I keep my vitamins.”
“I was looking for some baking supplies when I opened up the kitchen cupboard and your purse dropped out onto the counter.Then the prenatal vitamins rolled out of your purse and fell onto the floor.I wanted to give you my condolences too about your neighbour.Sally told me she had bad news to share with you, but I didn’t know what until she told you.”
“Thanks,” Jenna said, feeling grief rip into her.
“Did you find her?”Axel’s shout ripped through the barn and made her jump.She could tell he was outside, but still far enough away that it would take a couple of minutes to reach them.
“Oh damn!I don’t want him to see me like this again!”she hissed.
“Easy, I’ll handle him,” Nick said softly as he placed a reassuring hand on her left shoulder.She was surprised by the comfort she found in his touch, craving the warmth and connection that left her wanting more.
“You better make sure you stay in sight or he’ll be on you like a dog on a bone.Are you going to be okay?”
“Yes,” Jenna replied sharply, the phrase ‘a dog on a bone’ echoing in her mind.She wished she hadn’t snapped like that, and when his hand left her, she wanted it back there again.
“Okay, I shall go out and distract the enemy,” Nick said with a chuckle and then he was gone.
A reluctant smile tugged at her lips.Even now, he could make her laugh.
She was relieved when Axel didn’t enter the barn and true to his word, Nick distracted him, calling out as he left the tack room.
She overheard Nick telling Axel that she was at the back of the barn brushing the horse taking advantage of the cool interior.
Jenna held her breath, expecting Axel to come inside and catch Nick’s lie.But soon, both men’s voices faded away, and she allowed herself to relax.
When she finally felt better, she gazed out the tack room window and saw Nick and Axel working together outside, carrying shingles and supplies to the side of the house.She couldn’t help but notice Axel glancing toward the barn, his concern obvious.
She bristled at the feeling of being controlled.Both men seemed to be dictating her actions, confining her to where they could see her.
She understood their concern, but it grated on her nerves to be treated like a child who needed constant supervision.The protective vigilance that had felt comforting yesterday now scraped against her nerves.
And in that moment, Jenna knew exactly what she needed to do.
* * * * *
“Heads up!”Jenna shouted from behind them.
The shout cracked through the air like a whip, sending a jolt of adrenaline straight through Axel.He’d been keeping an eye on her, noting her movements since Nick had found her in the barn.
A few minutes earlier he’d watched her ride up to the back of the house on a horse.He figured she was going inside to go to the bathroom or get a snack and now here she was.
At her shout, his attention was drawn away from the box of metal drip edging he’d been opening, and he couldn’t believe his eyes at what he saw.
For a heartbeat, he forgot how to breathe.She looked like a damn outlaw queen, fierce and blazing in the sunlight as she sat about thirty feet away, on a black horse.
She wore her cowboy hat and in one hand she held a yellow walkie talkie and in the other hand she held a rifle pointed in the direction of Nick and himself.
Well, actually it was aimed at Axel.Of course she would point it at him first.And by the way she was staring him down, she was pissed.
“Woah!Don’t shoot!”Nick muttered under his breath, raising his hands in surrender.
Nick’s surrender pose almost made him laugh, but the fire in Jenna’s eyes kept him rooted to the spot.
