Caged

5-2

SMUGNESS COATED JESS’S lips as a sparkle invaded her eyes. Her confident strides carried her across the floor of the local job centre where she worked. Each step matched the swing of hips I’d once wanted to feel beneath my palms.

Three times, I’d made excuses to the pack and ducked off to meet with Jess late last winter, but we never went much farther than first base. Of course, it’d bugged the crap out of her, because I’d been the one to stall it every damn time. Though, if I’d clicked to the reason why sooner, we wouldn’t have done that much. Because Jess’s base scent matched Jem’s way too closely, a sisterly vibe—which made the appeal seem off on a whole level of incestual-don’t-go-there.

“Well, well, well.” Jess came to a wide-legged standstill with one hip jutted out and her hands at her waist—not unlike the females in one of my magazines. “What brings Ethan Holloway to my doorstep?”

“Nice to see you, too, Jess.” I spotted the interest from her work colleagues in my periphery. “I need to speak to you.”

“Sorry, but I’ve moved on already.”

“This is important ... I wouldn’t ...”

“Be here otherwise?” The twinkle faded from the hazel of her eyes, and I knew the business-not-pleasure aspect of my visit had sunk in. “What’s happened?”

“Any chance you can take a break?”

A few seconds of visual penetration preceded her nod. “Let me square it with my boss. Meet me outside.”

She walked away in her tight skirt and heels, brown hair bouncing with each step.

Did she really hold a grudge over my deflection?

As she rounded the corner, I snapped my attention away, catching four females, all seated at desks—all of whom smiled my way.

With a rough hand-brush of my hair, I spun and made my second escape of the day.

Clouds had nudged across to block the blinding sun and left the car park’s surface a dark shade of grey as I stepped outside.

Dad’s face greeted me through the windscreen. At my nod, he climbed from the truck and shut the door. “Did you see her?”

“Yes.” I slid my hands into my jeans pockets and rested against the front bumper of the pickup. A quick inhalation reminded me I hadn’t washed since the morning before. “She’s coming out to us.”

As Dad joined me, arms folded across his chest, Jess pushed out the door, heels exchanged for flip-flops. The smile that played on her lips vanished as her gaze landed on Dad. “Has something happened to Jem?”

“Jem’s fine,” Dad said.

“Then, why isn’t she with you?”

“She’s better protected at home,” he told her.

“Better protected?” Jess’s gaze flittered between Dad and me, like she could catch us out if she only moved fast enough. “Better protected from whom, Nathan?”

“Anywhere decent to eat around here?” I asked.

Her mouth opened for a second. “What?”

“I missed breakfast. I’m starving. Is there anywhere—”

“A bakery at the bottom of the hill.” She pointed off to the right behind her.

“Excellent.” I pushed up from the truck, started walking that way. At lack of noise behind me, I glanced back to see irritation in Jess’s eyes, and my lips curved as I spun to walk backward. “Walk and talk, Jess. Come on. You know you want to.”

Her head shook as she smiled and took the first steps. “I guess I could murder one of their lamb and mint pastries.”

“There you go.” Chuckling, I changed direction again and trod the path with Jess and Dad brushing my sides.

***