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Authors: Karen Nichols

Breanna (5 page)

BOOK: Breanna
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“Our parents swore we should have been born twins,” he admitted with a laugh.

“I can picture you making them both crazy. Although my mother was convinced little girls were pure devils incarnate,” she recalled with a little laugh.

“Somehow I can’t picture you being a handful.”

“They never put me into a label so I never thought along lines of boy or girl and went for it all,” she smiled at the look on his face. “And I’ve got the scars to prove it. I miss them,” she whispered painfully.

47

Jase wasn’t sure how to fix it and wrapped his palm around hers, letting her grieve. In six weeks, she’d lost all the things that mattered to her. Someone was trying to isolate her, he realized sharply. Like prey in the forest.

He carried her palm to his lips, kissing the center before lowering his hand to his thigh.

“A wild child, huh? And here we thought you were a sweet innocent girly type,” he teased, guiding them along the morning traffic to the large grocery store set behind the coastal road.

“Girls can be wild, too. I think it was mostly the sneaky part that annoyed them,” she said, swiping at her face and sliding to the ground when the SUV was parked. “It really didn’t make sense because they denied me little, but it felt more….exciting…if I didn’t ask or tell them in the beginning.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jase watched her stride, long and with the slightest sway that made the male in him growl low and hungry. The jeans he’d bought rode low on her hips and his mind was picturing her in a good pair of boots on the bike with him.

He’d work on that one.

“I never thought of it as being deliberately sneaky,” she protested mildly, aware of him striding at her side as she gripped a cart and pushed it along in front of her.

“Of course not,” he said with a chuckle. “So what don’t we have at the house?” He kept his voice light, casual, all the while watching to see what attention her presence attracted. With both towns being so close, whoever was intent on hurting her could come from either one.

48

“Oh, a few things…and you’re almost out of coffee. I miss blending it. It’s like being a mad scientist…playing with spices and different beans,” she looked up to see his expression and laughed. “Don’t worry. I won’t ever fool with your coffee. I know how vital it is to some systems,” she wrapped her hand impulsively around his arm and hugged before moving forward and finding things she wanted.

They were standing at the young woman finishing bagging the things when he leaned into her throat, his lips moving next to her ear. He’d put his palm around hers when she pulled her debit card free to make the payment and forced it back into her wallet, his replacing hers with a smile at the woman watching them.

“If you simmer the temper, I’ll explain that we’d rather you didn’t leave a paper trail like using your debit card or credit cards until we figure out who’s causing the problems, Brea,” Jase couldn’t resist the tiny nip in the fragrant skin, just below her ear.

She knew he’d kept his voice low on purpose, his words only loud enough for her to hear. She also had seen how he watched people, how he stayed close and how he’d put his hand at her waist with a possessiveness she’d never known before. She knew body languages and psychology and knew he was sending a message to anyone watching them.

A warning that said she was no longer an easy target.

Jase sensed the new wariness in her. She watched him, head tilted as he loaded the bags into the back of the SUV.

49

Chapter 6

“A problem, Brea?” He closed the wide door and waited, meeting the curious gaze. “One of the key rules in our house is communication. We’re not mind readers.

Hell, most males are lucky to figure out what’s in their own heads, let alone the head of an intelligent, quick witted female.” He was relieved when the corners of that teasing bow twitched before she gripped her cheek with her teeth.

“Why are you doing this? Both of you. You don’t know me,” she repeated from the recurring argument in her mind. An argument spreading to other parts of her as she tried understanding them and their behaviors.

“Frustrated white knights?” He opened the door for her, closing it before striding around the vehicle.

“Riding to the rescue,” she murmured when he was behind the wheel, a little petulant sound in her voice at the next question. “Have you done it before?” He heard the suspicion. Even a tiny hint of jealousy that made him smile.

“Never. And probably never again. You’re unique, Brea.”

“You’re both so very good with those words,” she said, still watching him.

“There’s a shop around the corner,” she gestured down the road and gave him the name of the store. “Please.”

“Maybe the words come naturally because you fit them, Brea.” He pulled into the parking slot and followed her into the store, the scents assaulting his senses and 50

stomach at the same time.

“Breanna!” A woman about twenty came running from behind the counter, throwing her arms around Brea with a long hug. “We saw the news! We were so worried about you! What happened? Where’ve you been?”

“I’m alright, Jenna,” Brea laughed with her, returning the warm hug.

“Seriously?” She stepped back, taking in the man standing just behind them. She looked quickly from one to the other, her voice not quite low enough. “He with you?”

“Jase Bishop,” he said, offering his palm and a smile. “I’m with her.”

“Jenna Marshal,” she looked him over and dragged Brea to the side, their heads close together. “Wow!”

“You’re embarrassing me, Jenna,” Brea hissed, both of them listening to the deep chuckle from the man now wandering the shop.

“Yeah…sorry about that….but…wow! He’s gorgeous,” she whispered as they went toward the bulk section.

“You should see the other one,” Brea remarked without thinking, filling containers without waiting. “As you might guess, I’m out a lot of things, Jenna.”

“The other one? There’s more than one of them? Seriously?” Jenna trailed beside her, helping with bags and pens to label things.

“Seriously. Like shoes. They came in a pair,” Brea looked across the large, open shop and sighed. “They’re helping me with….with the shop and the insurance,” she improvised, handing the bag of roasted, unground beans to her before going to the next barrel.

51

“You’re okay, though? I mean, the fire….” Jenna shook her head, carried bags to the counter and began weighing and writing the prices on the bags before stapling them closed.

“It’s a mess,” Brea agreed. “A really big mess,” she admitted with a sigh.

“This is where you get your beans?” Jase came up behind her, watching as she lifted a scoop and inhaled before making her selections.

“For small batches. Jenna orders me more when I need them for the shop,” she stopped, wincing. “Needed them,” she sighed, moving over to the teas and making a few choices before heading to the spices.

“We’ll build another shop, Brea,” Jase told her without hesitation.

“You sound so positive,” she said wistfully.

“Allen’s been asking about you since the news hit,” Jenna commented as they walked and she took the small bags Brea filled, writing on them as they moved through the shop. “He’s called me twice already today and twice yesterday since the fire.”

“Let him know I’m okay, Jenna, thanks.”

“Who’s Allen?” Jase looked from one woman to the other, pinning the wolf in him until he heard the answer. Maybe it was some old guy who thought she was a surrogate daughter.

“He runs a repair shop here in town,” Jenna answered cheerfully. “He’s been trying to convince Brea to go out with him for weeks.” Brea was positive she heard a low growl that sounded far less than pleased and wondered if Jenna had gotten herself a dog.

52

“He’s nice but…..it’s too strange,” Brea commented, her attention on a new selection of fresh spices.

“Strange in what way?” Jase forced himself to ask, ignoring the little whimper from Jenna when she realized where the growl came from.

“I’ve known these guys for years. It’s not just Allen,” Brea commented, a frown creasing her lips as she reached for a special grinder that Jenna carried. Since hers were now bundles of burnt twisted, melted metal. She smiled at Jase when he reached over her and put it into her palm. “Thanks.”

“I had heard Jimmy asking after you, too,” Jenna walked with her toward the register and began weighing and writing before entering things into the machine.

“Exactly. He’s another one. I’m the same boring little Brea I’ve always been and suddenly guys who never had the time of day for me, are finding me interesting?

What’s up with that?”

“Suddenly,” Jase repeated. “Since….” He met the amber eyes edged with sliver flecks, her frown creasing her forehead.

“Since my parents died,” she answered after a long thoughtful minute, her nose wrinkled. “How weird is that?”

“Curious,” Jase looked over the collection, pulled his wallet and handed a credit card over. “Brea can sign for it. I’ll be outside waiting for you,” he told her, his lips brushing her forehead before he looked at Jenna. “Let the guys know she’s off the market.”

Jenna laughed and Brea felt the heat in her cheeks, her eyes rolling as she 53

worked to focus on the things she bought.

Jase opened his phone and leaned against the front of the SUV, one foot up on the bumper as he waited.

“Hey…how’s Newburg?”

“Just finished with the police. He’ll be out to see Brea in two hours. I told him she was out shopping,” Nick knew his friend too well to have missed the tone. “What’s up?”

“Interesting bit of information….courtesy of a conversation with Brea and a girl she knows in this natural foods shop up here. Seems guys Brea has known all her life have suddenly taken an interest in her,” Jase kept his eyes on the shop and Brea laughing with Jenna.

“Sudden?”

“Since her parents death.”

“Huh….” Nick looked down the bustling shops. Friday in spring when the weekend promised to be sunny would benefit all the coastal towns. “I’m going to talk to Mariana,” he announced after a quiet minute.

“You think that’s smart? She’s not going to like Brea being where she wanted to be,” Jase pointed out carefully.

“She’s accepted it, Jase. Besides, the curiosity alone will pull her in. She’s not angry,” he said firmly.

“Jealous? Possessive?” He held back on the word vindictive.

“She’s over it. I heard she found a new guy a couple months back.” 54

“She just wasn’t my type. Aggressive I can handle…..Mariana is nice enough, don’t get me wrong,” Jase ran a palm over his neck.

“She’s wanting upward in directions we weren’t and aren’t interested in,” Nick put the feelings into words. “I know. It didn’t stop her from trying, though.”

“I’m just glad she never made it to your bed,” Jase said dryly.

“Another something she didn’t understand, beautiful as she is….I’m not sure I understood it either, except we changed,” he said simply. “What we were looking for changed somewhere along the lines. I’ll talk to her.”

“It’s really starting to bug me, Nick. What and why would her parents do that to her? And how’s she changed to attract guys she’s know all her life?”

“I’ll talk to Mariana. See you at home.”

Jase slid the phone into his pocket, striding to take the bag from Brea and stow it with the others in the back of the SUV.

“Any other stops?”

“No, thank you,” she handed him his card once they were inside the SUV. “I want to get back and start dinner.”

“You really like cooking.”

“I do….a lot….I went to two specialty culinary schools for training and a third just last year for baking,” Brea shifted in the seat, watching him drive. “Do you think Nick got it? The box?”

Shit. He forgot to ask.

“He said he’d be home by the time we got there. And the police would be out to 55

talk to you about the fire,” Jase saw the little nod she offered, heard the soft sigh. “I meant what I said, Brea. We’ll rebuild the shop if that’s what you want.”

“If….why in the world wouldn’t I want that?” She stared at him like he’d lost his mind. He shrugged.

“Maybe you’ll want it in a different place. Who knows….life changes around us all the time,” Jase watched her digest this information. “These guys….why do you think it’s odd that they asked you out?”

He was surprised at the sudden burst of laughter from her. Clear and light.

“Jase….you and Nick are really sweet. And to be honest, you’re the first guys to look at me like I was more than boring and plain looking, but these other guys….the ones Jenna talked about….” Brea frowned and shook her head. “I’ve seen and heard all the stupid things they’ve done all their lives while not even acknowledging that I’m alive. I’m not the kind of girl they’d look at twice and suddenly I’m on their radar?

Maybe old age is getting to them and I’m one of the few still single. I don’t know, but definitely no thanks.”

Jase felt his mouth open twice before he finally ordered it shut for the moment.

She believed what she was saying. He looked over at her as he drove in the companionable silence. She hummed along with music on the radio and stared out at the brilliant spring sunshine.

It was almost noon by the time he backed the SUV to the kitchen door and helped unload. He put the SUV in the garage and came in the back door, wincing and feeling more than a little out of place as she lifted bags to the table and began 56

emptying things.

“Jase? Something wrong?” Brea looked behind him and then at the expression on his face.

“This is where I confess my woeful inadequacies as far as this kitchen is concerned,” he said slowly, relieved when she laughed. And nothing had prepared him when she came straight at him, arms around his neck and hugging tightly.

“Don’t ask me to change oil in a car and I won’t ask you to figure out a kitchen,” she leaned back and stepped away while his brain was still sputtering. “Deal?”

“I…absolutely….”

“What’s the deal?” Nick asked, stepping inside and staring at the huge collection and the smells filling the house.

“We don’t mess with her kitchen and she won’t mess with our vehicles,” Jase supplied with a crooked grin at his friend.

“Works for me,” Nick laughed and held up a cleaned metal grey box to Brea.

“Your lock box. I’m guessing you have the key?”

“Thank you!” Before he could do more than freeze in place, her arms were around his neck and his body bending forward for her hug. “Yes. I have the key in the other room. I’ll….I’ll take care of it later. Umm….”

“I’ll put it in your room, Brea. What’s the smell?”

“Dinner. You’re on your own for lunch,” she tossed over her shoulder, frowning at the cabinet she was arranging.

“Sandwiches and work always fit our schedule,” Nick said, hitching his head and 57

leading Jase from the kitchen to their living room office. “Mariana is coming out sometime tomorrow. She’s…as I suspected….intrigued and accepting.”

“Will she keep her mouth shut about things Brea doesn’t know yet?” Jase asked tensely.

“She will. She’s amused and curious,” Nick tossed his wallet into a desk drawer along with his keys and carried the box down the hall, leaving it on the bureau for Brea to deal with later.

Nick wandered into the kitchen after half an hour to find the mess gone and the smell of baking something filling the air. Brea was sitting in front of her laptop, fingers moving and her lips curled in little growls now and then.

“What are you working on?” He came forward only to have her jump and turn the computer away.

“Nothing. Go work,” she ordered, waving her fingers at him and bouncing up from the chair to come around and stand in front of him. She worked for a threatening scowl but somehow the hoot of laughter from him told her she was falling short.

Nick pressed forward only to find two palms shoved hard against his chest. He almost laughed but his curiosity was piqued.

“Don’t make me hurt you,” she growled and shoved again.

He tried craning his neck to see the monitor but she shoved again, turning her shoulder into his chest and pushing. He didn’t move, but she kept trying. This time he did laugh when she turned her back to him and gave a harder shove, her shoulders pushing against a chest that felt like concrete.

58

“Just…..go….away…..” She puffed petulantly.

“Now you have me really curious, Brea,” he moved quickly, grasping her waist and lifting her over his shoulder. A shrill scream filled the house followed by his laughter. “You’re playing Warcraft? You?”

BOOK: Breanna
12.75Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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