This sucked.
Then came Nick and Axel’s laughter and reality snapped through her again.There was nothing she could do about whomever had tossed that rock through her window, so she’d best get on with life.
She took a moment to check if she’d received any other messages, but nothing.Heat rose in her chest.She felt the betrayal, the irritation, and then the fear that she might have a limited amount of time with Axel and Nick.The emotions tangled around her like a lasso.
Cyn, I am seriously going to kill you.And then fire your ass for not telling me what is going on.
Jenna shook her head in frustration and then she hurriedly towel dried herself, grateful she hadn’t felt the need to cry again about Sam.She’d been doing it off and on all day.Just having waves of grief coming at her and she’d allowed them to come, sobbing her heart out.
Reality had finally set in.
Sam was gone and she had inherited his animals and his place.At the moment, she couldn’t fathom what to do with his little hobby farm.But she knew she would take care of his animals, just like he’d wanted her to do.The thought pressed against her ribs.He’d given her a gift, and a burden.A final request she hadn’t been ready for.
Nonetheless, after her shower she felt so much better and she just wanted this day to be over.To have a good night sleep and forget that Sam was dead.
And if she thought she was hungry before, she was starving now and she knew too without a doubt her morning sickness was gone.
Replaced once again with something stirring hot and low, deep within.That intense need for sex.The relentless pull of something she couldn’t seem to control.That so-called widow’s fire and her pregnancy hormones were all jumbled up inside of her like a volcano waiting to erupt.
Oh boy.She was in trouble.
Such big trouble.
She grabbed her blow dryer and had her hair dried within minutes, then she dressed in a fresh pair of jeans and a cool short-sleeved white blouse that she’d brought in here this morning before heading out to work with the horses.
All the while her tummy growled and her mouth watered at the succulent scents drifting into the humid room.When she finished dressing she silently opened the bathroom door.
Sudden visions of when the men had arrived zipped through her memory.The caring way the two had been looking at each other, like something had been going on between them.Had she read too much into that?It could have just been some deep camaraderie, some shared feelings from being free after years in lockup.
Whatever was between them, it was real, and she wanted to understand it.Maybe if she was quiet enough, she could see if that same connection was going on between them?
Unfortunately, she hadn’t tiptoed even halfway down the hallway when Daisy came scampering up to her, giving her away.
She sighed, unable to be annoyed at the happy little whirlwind circling her legs.
“She can hear you for miles, Jenna,” Axel’s voice cut through the quiet.
His comment was followed by laughter from Nick who appeared to be deeper in the kitchen.The sound of his laughter loosened something tight inside her.
“Better pay attention to her or she’ll never leave your side,” Nick called out.
“Oh Daisy, you are such a happy dog.How am I going to break it to you that your dad has gone to heaven?”she whispered as she bent over and began to scratch the dog’s ears.
Emotions welled and tears blinded her as the dog flopped over and wanted a belly rub.The dog’s simple joy tugged a sudden laugh from her, easing the ache in her chest.
“Told you, she’d want another belly rub,” Axel said from where he was now standing at the end of the hallway watching them.
“She loves her belly rubs.Come on, let’s get moving, Daisy.Aren’t you hungry?Foooood!” Nick called out.
The dog’s ears perked up at the word food, and she rolled away from Jenna and raced into the kitchen.
Seeing Daisy so easily cheered made Jenna’s sadness evaporate and she couldn’t help but laugh as she joined the two men in the kitchen.Seeing them here, in her kitchen, busy, relaxed, waiting for her, felt like she was wrapped in a soothing balm.
Yeah, this was nice.They belonged here.
* * * * *
Jenna enjoyed such a lovely dinner, and after she’d revealed what Ben had told her, the guys had been disappointed, vowing they would keep a lookout without compromising her space.
