“I get it,” he says. “We know each other outside of all the drama, and it’s the most normal relationship I have. I’m enjoying the hell out of it.”
“And then I take you to a diner where you’re accosted.”
He laughs now, and I can see his body start to relax. “Well, it was my fault. I let my guard down, and I can’t do that, especially in public.”
“That must be exhausting.”
I glance over at him. He’s watching the road ahead.
“It can be.”
“Well, Ed hooked us up with a ton of food, so at least we still get to eat breakfast.”
“That’s the important thing.” He takes my hand and kisses my knuckles. “I’m sorry that I pulled away. I saw the hurt in your eyes when I did it, and I wanted to pull you to me and kiss the fuck out of you.”
“And here I thought I had a poker face.”
“No.” He kisses my hand again. “I read people for a living. You may think you’re hiding your feelings, but they’re all there in your eyes, fancy face.”
“Did you just call me fancy face?”
He nods. “You’re stunning, Jenna. Someone’s told you that before.”
I shrug. “Yeah. I hear that I look like Grace Kelly a lot.”
“You’re more beautiful than Grace Kelly.”
“It’s just the luck of the draw,” I reply as I pull into my parking space and cut the engine. Neither of us moves to leave the car. “It’s genetics. And while I’m grateful that my mom and dad had the right combination of DNA to produce pretty babies, I’d like to think that I’m also smart and funny and kind. Because those are the things that matter at the end of the day.”
“You are those things, Jenna. And trust me when I say that I’ve met my share of beautiful people. You’re right, it’s the other things that matter, and it’s too often that what someone’s face looks like is the priority. Especially in my world.”
“You have a pretty face,” I reply and give his cheek a little slap. “So pretty.”
“You like to be spanked, don’t you?”
I laugh now and reach back for our food. “I’m sassy when I’m hungry.”
“No, I think you’re just sassy. And I’m going to keep calling you fancy face.”
“Can I call you pretty boy?”
“No. Absolutely not.”
Chapter Seven
~Jenna~
“ARE YOU HERE?” Grace calls from my front door. I’m in town for the day, trying to get everything figured out with my house after the surprise water damage the other day.
“Back here!” I call out and finish putting away the mess that the repairmen made.
“Hey, friend,” she says when she finds me. Grace is short and curvy with curly red hair and the sweetest face ever made. She just might be the sweetest person ever made.
“Hi,” I reply and pull her in for a hug. “I’m excited I get to see you today.”
“Same. We have a lot to talk about. You’ve been holding out on me.”
I bite my lip and look away, but she’s right. I’ve totally been holding out on her.
“Not to mention,” she continues, “I appreciate the ride up to the Lodge. It’ll be fun to see Jacob in his element.”
“It’s my pleasure.” I reach for my coat and hat and lead her out to the garage. When we’re on our way, Grace doesn’t waste any time.
“Christian Wolfe.”
Just the mention of his name sends shivers over my skin.
“Yes?”
“Oh, please, I know he’s staying at your place, and I also know that you were seen with him downtown yesterday at Ed’s.”
“The people in this town talk too much,” I grumble as we head up the mountain road. “First of all, I should have told you myself.”
“Damn right,” she mutters.
“And I’m sorry that you didn’t hear it from me. Just please tell me you didn’t hear it from Misty.”
“Jesus, no,” she says as if I just asked her if she’d like to take a bath in split pea soup. “I don’t talk to that bitch.”
“I thought maybe you ran into her,” I reply with a sigh. “So, yes, Christian has been staying in the tree house for a few days now.”
“And you’re hanging out with him.”
I glance over at her, and she looks like an excited teenager, which only makes me giggle.
“You could call it that.”
“SHUT THE FUCK UP!” She slaps my arm and then squeals in the seat. “Are you sleeping with him? Jenna Maxine, you better tell me if you’re sleeping with him.”
“You’re going to make a great mom, what with using the middle name and all.”
“Spill it!”
“We do sleep sometimes, yes.”
“I can’t believe it,” she says, shaking her head and making her curls bounce. “One of my best friends is fucking Christian Wolfe, the man I’ve daydreamed about for years.”
“You are happily married to the sexiest Brit I know,” I remind her.
“Oh, trust me, Jacob is damn hot and rocks my world pretty much every day. No complaints there at all. But Christian Wolfe.”