“Oh, I’m sorry.”
He didn’t say anything else. Eventually Jena felt uncomfortable waiting for him. “I’m going to head to bed. I need to get up early tomorrow. First day of work.” She flashed a nervous smile at his back, aware he could see her reflection in the window.
“I didn’t know you’d gotten a job.”
“It isn’t a proper job or anything. It’s at the hardware store, Gordon says I can work for supplies.”
“Sounds like a proper job to me.”
“Not really.” She shrugged. “I’m the in-house entertainment. He thinks my ignorance is funny.”
“That’s small-town living—you take your fun where you find it.”
For a minute Jena’s libido sabotaged her brain and she imagined having all sorts of fun with the sexy cop. She took a step back.
“Okay, I’m off to bed. Bathroom’s at the top of the stairs.” She gave him an apologetic look. “There’s no hot water. If you fancy a cold shower then be my guest. I’m saving for a new boiler.” She chewed her lip. “Or I would be saving for a new boiler if I had any money.”
His gaze zoomed in on her, reminding her that he wasn’t only a houseguest, he was a cop.
“If you’re working in exchange for building materials, what are you doing for money to live?”
Jena forced a smile. “Don’t worry, officer. I’m not doing anything illegal.”
Before he could ask any more questions, Jena ran for the stairs and headed to the sanctuary of her bedroom. The truth was that she wasn’t doing anything to earn money. She was living off what little savings she had left and selling the few bits and pieces of jewellery she’d brought with her. By her estimation she was about two weeks away from living without electricity and eating raw mushrooms from Abby’s farm three times a day. She hadn’t had any time to look for work, and her marketable skills were seriously limited. As far as she was aware, Invertary wasn’t in the market for a go-go girl.
For a second the stress of her life stole her breath. She lay on her bed and stared at the pristine white ceiling. Problems were stacking up and she had to fight not to drown in them. Her money was running out. Her house was falling down around her ears. Her ex was in town looking for payback. And there was a cop sleeping on her couch.
A very sexy cop.
She pulled the pillow over her face and screamed into it.
“If you’re going to kill yourself there are easier ways to do it,” came the droll voice from her doorway.
Jena shot up straight to find Matt grinning—she’d forgotten to shut her door. With a wink, he headed into the bathroom. As soon as she heard the door click behind him, Jena tiptoed over to her bedroom door and shut it quietly.
As she climbed back into bed, she wondered if it was possible to die from embarrassment.
“Night, Jena,” Matt called as he passed. “Hope you don’t talk in your sleep. Every little noise in this house echoes. Wouldn’t want to overhear any X-rated dreams you might have.”
Yep, Jena decided—you could die of embarrassment.
6
The twins were still laughing when they climbed into the ancient lime-green Mini Cooper they shared.
“I don't know who to feel sorry for more.” Megan angled the car out into the dark country road. “Matt for having to suffer Jena's pit of a house, or Jena for having to suffer Matt.”
“Jena, definitely.”
Megan took her eyes off the road long enough to turn to her sister and share a grin. When they turned back to the road, it was just in time to spot the horrified look on the face of a man running towards them. Megan yanked the wheel. The guy made a dive for the bushes. They felt, rather than heard, a loud thud. The two women screamed. The car screeched to a halt at the side of the road.
“Did we hit him?” Megan's voice was barely audible.
“I don’t think so.” Claire's hands shook as she opened the car door. The front corner of the car was wedged against a tree stump. She let out a shaky breath. “We hit a tree.”
“I can’t see the guy,” Megan called.
“There!” Claire ran towards the black-clad body, which was lying on the grass verge against the hedge.