4
COLE
”I was just kidding,” Jenna tells me, her mouth inches away from my ear with the rest of her body curled around my back. “Come on, I’m too heavy for this. Put me down.”
I chuckle and readjust my grip on her thighs. “First of all, you’re far fromtoo heavy. Hell, my gear weighed more than you do, and I carried that around in hundred-degree weather,” I joke. “Plus, I’m starving. And with the way youhikeI think it’d be closer to tomorrow afternoon by the time we got back to the house instead of your original estimate.”
Her hand slaps against my chest. “Shut up.”
I chuckle again and make my way down the steep incline with Jenna perched on my back. And I know she was joking when she’d insisted I carry her. I’m not an idiot. But I’m also not stupid enough to pass up an opportunity to hold her in my arms and have those soft curves pressed into me—especially when it was her idea.
When we make it back to the house, I release her from my hands as she slides away from me. A disapproving groan bubbles in my chest from her sudden absence, and I fight hard to hold it back.
“I need a shower,” she saysona sigh as she makes her way up the deck stairs in front of me. Her ass is in perfect sightline with my eyes, and I’m drawn to the way her hips sway with each step. “You’re not going to fade away from famine if you have to wait for me to take one, are you?”
Sunlight filters through the treetops and bounces off of her golden hair and tan shoulders as she turns back to me. Her smile steals my breath, and there is no doubt in my mind that this will forever be one of those images burnedintomy brain. I’mstaring, but I can’t help it, and—honestly?—I don’t care. I’ve missed seeing her pretty face and smile that warms me to the core … and her laugh, her personality, even that dorky dance move she does when she gets excited after winning at something. Hell, I’ve missed all of her. But she doesn’t know that, and she also doesn’t know how just the thought of her right before I fall to sleep usually keeps the nightmares at bay.
“I’ll be okay.”
She holds my gaze for a moment longer, her amused expression softening, and then disappears into the house as she calls over her shoulder, “Grab a beer and relax. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”
Relax. Yeah right. Every nerve and muscle in my bodyiswound up so tight I feel like I can barely move. I run my hand through my hair and blow out a long, hard breath then force myself to get moving. By the time Jenna’s done with her shower, I’ve got the grill going with our steaks sizzling, and the delicious aroma fills the area of the deck.
“I’m supposed to be doing that,” she says to me, walking barefoot over to where I’m manning the grill. Her hair is still damp from her shower, and I catch a whiff of her fruity shampoo when she stops next to me. She smellsamazing.
“I figured you were pretty worn out from our hike,” I tell her with a shrug, even though I really had no intentions of making her cook tonight anyway—bet or no bet. “They’re almostdone,unless you’ve changed and don’t like your steaks medium rare anymore.”
A soft look of surprise crosses her face and her lips curve upward on one side. “You remember how I like my steak?”
I remember everything you like. “We have known each other forever.”
“Yes, we have,” she agrees, and I notice the tiny sparkle in her eyes. “I’ll go make us some salads and be right back. Do you want another beer?” Her eyes glance around the deck. “Or any beer at all?” She laughs after noticing I don’t have one.
I smile and shake my head. “Thanks, but I … uh … I don’t really drink anymore, Jen. A water would be great, though.”
I see the question in her eyes, but all she says is, “Okay,” and heads into the house.
We sit at the patio table and enjoy our meal as the sun sets—shades of red and orange fill the darkening sky and glint across the still lake.
“Oh my goodness,” Jenna says after taking a bite of her food. “This is seriously the best steak I have ever had. My compliments to the chef.”
“I’m glad you like it,” I reply and shoot her a grin. Our conversation shifts to Jenna as she tells me all about her job. I get to hear all about the Vice Principal from hell that finally got replaced this year—which makes me laugh because Jenna refuses to curse and all of these euphemisms she’s using remind me of those dirty mouth Orbit gum commercials. She tells me about her students and how this last group of kids she taught was her favorite yet. When the conversation moves to our families, I tense.
“Mom and Dad are good,” she says, placing her fork on her empty plate and wiping her mouth with a napkin. “They stay busy with work these days and planning next year’s vacation to Hawaii to celebrate their anniversary.”
I nod my head and take a drink of my water.
“Your parents have been doing pretty good, too,” she tells me with caution, and I look across the table to meet her thoughtful gaze. “They miss you.”
I acknowledge her with another soft nod and change the subject. “How are things with Mark?”
She blinks and straightens in her chair the tiniest bit, but I notice. I may have disappeared for a while, but I did check in with my sister every now and then, so even though I asked, I know how things are with Mark. I just need to hear it from her.
“Mark and I broke up last year,” she says and immediately takes a drink from her wine glass.
“Sorry to hear that.” It’s a lie, but I’m not going to be an asshole about it. I’m over-the-top thrilled that things ended between them. They should have a long time ago.
Mark was never right for Jenna, and I feel like a jerk for even thinking that because he used to be one of my best friends. We went to high school together, enlisted together, served together, and always had each other’s backs. He was fun, charismatic, and extremely flirtatious, which is probably why he did so well with the ladies. Me on the other hand? I was okay, and although I did have my fair share of female companionship, Mark beat me to the one I really wanted. I’m not surprised why Jenna fell for him, but I am surprised that she stayed with him for as long as she did. I knew Mark, and he wasn’t the kind of guy who wanted to be tied down to one woman for the rest of his life. I also knew Jenna, and it was clear that her future plans were far different from his.
