To Protect the Heart of a Brazen Woman [Brazen Sisters 6] (Siren Publishing Classic) (21 page)

“And I go as far as I can get.”

“Some guys are turned-on by the thrill of the chase.” Bobbie didn’t think Adam was that kind of guy, but it seemed like neither of them could move on until they got some closure. “Maybe you could try something else?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Stick around. Don’t run, or hide. In fact, spend some time with him, but whatever you do, don’t have sex with him. Prove to him that you’re stronger than the desire he makes you feel.”

“Bobbie, you don’t understand. What if I’m not?”

“You are. But until you see that for yourself you’ll have me here to remind you and maybe run a little interference, too.”

* * * *

Jake wasn’t sure what Bobbie was up to. At first, with all the whispering with Molly about Adam, he thought it was simple matchmaking—which happened to be one of her specialties—but now he was damn sure there was more to it than that. When he found out that Adam had been invited to dinner tonight, Jake figured he was about to find out what Bobbie and Molly were up to.

Jake met Adam on the porch. “You look like you’re ready to puke.”

“I just might.” Adam chuckled.

Jake motioned to the chair beside his. “The women are busy in the kitchen, and I don’t think they’re ready for us just yet.”

“Good. I could use a few minutes.” Adam sat down and looked out over the yard. “So have you and Bobbie been together long?”

Jake smiled and nodded. “Sometimes it feels like forever.”

“I know that feeling. What’s worse is to have that person run from you almost as long.” Adam’s remark struck too close to home.

Jake didn’t know how to respond. For a second, Jake thought Adam was talking about him, until he glanced toward the screen door. There was no reason he’d know that Jake had done everything he could to keep a certain distance from Bobbie. In the long run, it had been a useless endeavor. Of course, everyone knew it and had told him so, but Jake was stubborn and had to find it out for himself. All of his reasons that seemed so altruistic to him, and yet lame to his friends and family, didn’t matter anymore.

He hoped Molly and Adam didn’t waste as much time as he did avoiding the truth. Jake smiled, wondering if that was Bobbie’s plan. Was she trying to find a way to help them see what a mistake it would be? Maybe he could help Bobbie, without her knowing.

* * * *

Jake spent the next three days watching Bobbie maneuver Adam and Molly as deftly as a chess master moved his pieces around the board. She let them flirt, but never let Adam get too close. Strangely, Adam seemed to be okay with it. Jake kept his eye on Bobbie, but he stayed busy, too. He helped Frank move some furniture around to make it easier for Beth to get around.

Joey and Cameron had gone to visit Cameron’s family one last time. They’d be leaving in the morning right after Frank returned from the hospital with his wife. Bobbie hadn’t asked Jake if he was leaving with them, but she had a sadness about her that she tried yet failed to hide. Jake knew it was well past time for the two of them to sit down and talk. He found her sitting on the porch watching the birds flit from feeder to feeder in the yard. There had to about twenty of them, feeders not birds. The birds were much fewer, about six or seven.

“They’re a bit fat, don’t you think?” He took a seat beside her and picked up her hand in his.

She shrugged in response, but didn’t try to take her hand away. “Your sister and Cameron are leaving tomorrow.”

“I know.” Her shoulders rose and fell, though her sigh was almost inaudible.

“I’m guessing you’ll probably be here for a little while longer.”

She nodded. “At least another three or four days. Molly and Frank are almost ready to run things on their own, but I want to make sure Beth is comfortable before I leave.”

Jake wasn’t going to draw this out, but selfishly, he wanted to hear her say she wanted him to stay. “Should I plan on going with them?”

“I suppose you’re needed back home.” She turned her head so he couldn’t see her face.

“I am,” he admitted, but Clint could hold down the fort a little bit longer.

“Then I guess you’re going.” Her resounding tone irked him.

Jake let go of her hand as he got to his feet and moved in front of her. “Bobbie, just tell me you want me to stay, and I will.”

She looked up at him, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “I want you to stay.”

Jake pulled his fancy new phone from his pocket. He pressed a few buttons. Clint answered almost immediately.

“Hey, boss, how are things going?” he asked.

“Fine. Everything okay there?”

“We’ve had a few issues, but nothing we couldn’t control.”

“Good. I’m staying through the end of the week, but don’t expect me in the office until Monday.”

“Yes, sir.” Clint didn’t have much of choice, but Jake was sure he would have said something if he didn’t want and didn’t think he could handle the added responsibility.

Jake hung up and tucked his phone into his pocket. He held out his hand and Bobbie placed hers in it. She let him tug her to her feet and into his arms. Jake had two goals. The first was to put Bobbie first from now on. And the second was to make sure she knew every day that he loved her.

Bobbie had packed her bag the night before so they would be ready to leave right after she helped Molly make breakfast. They’d become good friends in such a short time, and she was going to miss her a lot. She hoped things worked out between her and Adam. They were talking a lot, and that was a good start. Bobbie had invited them both to come up to the lodge for a visit any time they wanted, together or alone. Jake had even promised to take Adam fishing with the guys.

Jake—there was another dilemma for her. Bobbie was still getting over the surprise that he came after her. Hearing him say he loved her had been something she wanted for years. She loved being wrapped in his arms as she fell asleep, but one thing still hung over them like a little black rain cloud ready to drench them both. They hadn’t discussed what things were going to be like when they got home. Neither of them even brought it up.

Bobbie knew one thing for sure. With Jake’s position as sheriff, things would be different. Most people wouldn’t be shocked to see them hold hands or share a kiss or two, but Jake believed in setting a good example, and having her sleep in his bed without some kind of commitment wasn’t something she could see him doing.

She wasn’t about to go back to sneaking around. Just thinking about that bothered her, probably more than it should. After all, she’d gotten the guy she wanted even though it hadn’t been easy. Now she wanted to keep him. Her plan was to wait until they were well on their way home and he had no way to escape her questions, then she’d ask him where this was going. They had about an eight-hour ride ahead of them, so she was thinking she’d ask one question an hour leading up to the big one.

Bobbie would marry him in heartbeat, but she knew Jake wasn’t ready for that. Just to hear him say she was his girlfriend would have to be enough for now. And as a couple, they could be together openly, yet discreetly, of course. In a warped way, it made enough sense to her that it just might work.

“What’s wrong? Did I add too much flour? Was that salt, not sugar?” Bobbie knew Molly’s panic wasn’t unwarranted, since baking even the simplest biscuits went against her instincts.

Bobbie glanced at the containers on the counter. “No, you’re good. I was just thinking about stuff at home.”

“You’ll catch up on any schoolwork you missed.” Molly’s staunch confidence in her made Bobbie smile.

“I will. There won’t be much. I’ve done most of the assignments online. Actually, I was focused more on the ride home rather than what is waiting for me there.” Her confession made Molly’s forehead get scrunched up with lines. “Stop thinking so hard.”

Molly laughed and visibly relaxed. “You’re not afraid to travel home alone with Jake, are you?”

“Hell no! I bet he might be afraid to travel with me, though.”

“What? Why? He adores you.”

“He adores me here. I believe him when he says he loves me. Jake doesn’t like to lie and never would about something as important as that. The problem is that we haven’t come to a firm understanding about where things will go from here. I plan to rectify that on the way home.”

“Oh. And you think he might know your plan?”

“Jake may have avoided his feelings for as long as he could, but he’s always been pretty good at figuring me out.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“Just cross your fingers and wish me luck.”

The rest of the morning went smoothly. Molly practically glowed when Adam, who had stopped by to say good-bye to Bobbie and Jake, complimented her on the biscuits. Yeah, those two seemed to be on the right track now. Beth was still sore, but she was on the mend enough to run roughshod over Frank and Molly until she could do everything on her own.

As they drove away with Jake behind the wheel of her Jeep, Bobbie couldn’t resist looking back. These people were more than friends. They were family and she’d miss them all.

Jake took her hand and gave it a tight squeeze. “They’ll come visit, and we’ll come back down soon.”

“I know. It’s just like leaving home again.” She couldn’t explain it any better than that. “But I’m excited to go home, too. Victor said Jessie finally agreed everything is done.”

“So you guys are going to launch all the new promotions and stuff soon?”

“Uh huh. I’m hoping to have the place booked solid right through next summer. Weddings, honeymoons, spa retreats, and of course, just getting out there and experiencing all that nature has to offer.”

“You’re all going to be very busy. Especially with Sam and Jessie adding to the family.”

“True, but we’re all excited about that, too. We’re not worried at all. Us Brazen women know how to pull together.”

“You don’t have to do it all alone. Your brothers-in-law will be there to help.”

“Just like you’ve always been there.” She smiled up at him.

“Yeah.” He tone was a bit sarcastic, but he lifted her hand and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.

Bobbie knew he wasn’t fishing for the compliment. Jake never had been one to take praise lightly, but she wanted him to know she appreciated him being around even though at times it hadn’t been easy.

“Jake, I need to ask, did you come after me because of everything that happened with Patrice?” It had crossed her mind, and since it was one of the easier questions she was going to ask, she decided to do it now.

“No!” He shook his head and she wished he didn’t have on those mirrored aviator sunglass—even though she loved the sexy edge they gave him—so she could see his eyes. “You know that I almost came after you last time.”

“That’s true.” She leaned back against her seat and played with his fingers.

They both seemed content to keep their thoughts to themselves for now. Bobbie hummed along with the light rock music oozing out of the speakers. The windows were down, and wind whipped at her hair, so she grabbed an elastic from her bag and tied it back.

“Before you ask, it had nothing to do with me saying I love you, either.” His lips turned up into a smile. “I think I was about to say it before Jessie and Victor showed up at my cabin.”

“Shack,” she corrected him, and he groaned.

* * * *

Jake had gotten used to being a few steps behind Bobbie’s thought process. He was pretty sure everybody felt that way around her. What surprised him was that she’d tipped her hand so soon. The funny thing was Jake was okay with it. She wanted answers, and he was more than willing to give them. With every question she pretended to subtly ask, he knew she was getting closer to the one she really wanted to ask.

Of course, to keep her from guessing that he was on to her, he suggested that they take Route 1 instead of the Maine Turnpike. It would add a few more hours to their trip, but driving along the coast and being able to check out some of the fabulous views was worth it. Jake insisted they stop every so often along the way to stretch their legs, shop, and sightsee like any normal couple would. He could tell Bobbie was enjoying almost every minute. But each time, right before she decided to ask him a question, her shoulders went stiff and her smile faded just enough for him to notice.

They stopped at a shopping area on the coast to find something for dinner. As they walked, they came to a little jewelry store. Bobbie let out a squeal and tugged him toward the window that took up most of the store’s front wall. His eyes were drawn straight toward a selection of engagement and wedding rings.

Bobbie’s taps on the glass had him looking to the other side. “This is what I’ve been looking for.”

Jake looked at the pendant and rings. Some had little stones of different colors and some were plain gold or silver. Before he could ask what she was talking about, Bobbie tugged him to the door. He reached for it before she could and opened it for her, following her inside.

She went straight to the counter. “I’d like to see the mother-and-child pendants in the window.”