Chapter 15

Chapter Fifteen

Jason waited in the cabin's darkness, the hood of his sweatshirt over his head. The motherfucker was taking his time coming in through the door.

TJ had been happy to teach Jason how to pick the lock. He’d even reset the paperclip Ned had put in the doorjamb to tell if someone had been inside. Having TJ around in Brandywood had proven to be useful in more ways than one. They’d spent most of the day together, following Ned to see what he was up to.

And TJ had swept Jason’s cabin for surveillance equipment, which had been an unpleasant surprise.

The scraping of the key against the lock stopped, and Ned opened the door. The light flipped on, then he jumped, seeing Jason leaning against the wall of the front door with his arms crossed.

“What the hell, man?” Ned’s face reddened. He slammed the door behind him.

“You’re not the only one who can slip around locks.” Jason pulled a ziplock bag of electronic devices out from the pocket of his hoodie and tossed it at Ned’s feet. “I did a sweep of my cabin. Took plenty of photos to prove you’re trying to record me illegally, though. Which should be helpful.”

Ned lifted the bag, his face scrunching at the liquid inside the bag. “Is that water?”

“Water. Piss. Whatever I got out of my toilet.” Jason put his hands back into his front pockets. “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re doing here in Brandywood, but it’s time for you to leave, Vickers.”

Ned dropped the bag of cameras with disgust on his face. He lifted his chin. “You know exactly what I’m doing here, so why don’t you cut the crap. And as soon as your dear old grandma comes back into town, we’ll sit and chat.”

His words were chilling. What else had he found out? Dan wasn’t the only person who remembered Kevin. If Ned asked enough people, he was bound to find someone who recognized a picture of Kevin. And if they knew about Kevin, they might know about Jen.

“You stay away from my grandmother, you hear? And my girlfriend.” Jason glared at him menacingly. “Or next time, I won’t just be breaking your toys.” TJ had been the one to suggest that Jason continue the girlfriend ruse for now. Ned probably wouldn’t immediately jump to the conclusion that Jen was his brother’s ex, especially since it made Jason look reckless.

Which he’d been.

He’d been so goddamn reckless.

But Jen was involved now, like it or not.

As he stepped onto the porch, Ned called out behind him. “Amanda’s going to be real interested to find out you have a girlfriend. She says you blocked her number. You’re going to want to talk to her if you’re smart.”

Jason looked over his shoulder. What the actual fuck? She was really pushing this whole pregnancy scam, wasn’t she? But the implication that she’d be upset about Jen was just one straw too far. They were history. And she doesn’t have a heart. “Amanda can go fuck herself. And so can you.”

He stalked back to his cabin, half expecting Ned to follow him. Instead, he was left alone with his thoughts and the cold seeping in through the fabric of his sweatshirt. The wood smoke from fires and the occasional hoot of an owl brought back memories of summers from long ago—camping trips and the trips to visit Mildred. Things had ended with his father.

The cold cut his throat, and he peeled the sweatshirt off as he reached his car. At least he didn’t have to go to the trouble of hiding it now. He’d already dressed for his date with Jen and had even shaved. But it was more than nerves that ate at his gut as he started the engine.

If he told Jen the truth now, she’d think he’d been lying to her the whole time. Which wasn’t completely inaccurate. Omitting the truth was still lying.

He shifted his car into gear and pulled onto the main driveway. He’d loved driving this car from the minute he’d pulled it off the car lot. The muscle memory of shifting and the smooth feel of the leather steering wheel against his hands always worked wonders for stress.

It'd been the first thing he bought for himself after his split with Amanda. He couldn’t stomach the thought of the other car he’d owned. Or the way they’d christened it in a parking garage in Chicago.

But maybe he’d deserved what he’d gotten with Amanda. He wasn’t any good, and his whole reason for being here in Brandywood more than proved that.

How could he start anything off with Jen by explaining that everything she thought she knew about him was a lie?

Jen had been sweet, listing the things she’d tucked into her memory about him. What was he even thinking? He wasn’t starting anything with her at all. He simply wanted her.

Temporarily.

Because that’s all you’re good for.

His fucking grandfather’s voice sneered at him.

Jason slammed the palm of his hand against the steering wheel.

It hadn’t been enough that his grandfather blamed Jason for everything going to hell. Hadn’t been enough that he hated Jason.

He still remembered standing next to his grandfather at his father’s funeral. A ten-year-old boy, sniffing, tears flowing freely.

“Quit your crying. That should be you in that box,” his grandfather had said.

And now, his grandfather had reached those claws out from beyond his own grave and was still sinking them into Jason’s life.

Nothing he’d ever done had been enough to make his grandfather happy.

Jason worked himself up into the worst of moods by the time he pulled up in front of the apartment complex where Jen lived. He was in the mood to run ten miles or pound his fists into a punching bag.

He was in the mood to fuck, especially since he hadn’t seen Jen for twenty hours. Her texts last night had definitely made him horny.

His blood boiled hot as he stalked across the parking lot, thinking about Jen. Maybe they should skip the restaurant and room he’d booked them at the nearby ski resort and just stay here.

He hardened as he thought about her on his lap in the cabin the other night, her voluptuous, perfect breasts rubbing against his chest. He’d strip her down, find the nearest surface to prop her up on, peel her panties off, and then bury his face between her legs.

Jen opened the door to her apartment a few moments after he knocked.

Her hair was down in waves, and she wore tight jeans and a sexy black top that plunged into a deep V. Perfect.

Then he noticed the flecks of mascara on her cheeks and the puffiness of her eyes. Her lips, too.

She’d been crying.

He froze, thinking of Ned. Had he gotten to her already? A flash of panic rose in his chest.

“What happened?” Jason stepped in and closed the door behind him.

She hugged her arms to her chest, which had the unintended effect of making her breasts more pronounced. He’d have to ignore them for now.

Jen took a shaky breath. “I’m being evicted.” She grabbed the paperwork from the console table by the front door. “When I got home today, this guy was waiting who served me the papers.”

Taking the papers from her silently, Jason felt his pulse return to a normal pace. He scanned the papers, then looked over them at her.

Even crying like this, she was gorgeous.

She held a hand to her forehead, her cheeks red. “I’m so embarrassed.” She turned away. “I mean, I don’t have to ask to know you clearly aren’t struggling, and here I am, working two jobs, and I can’t even keep my own place.”

Jason refolded the papers and then pulled her into his arms. She cried against his shirt. She was right. It wasn’t fair. She worked harder than anyone he’d met. She was so soft, yet so incredibly strong. Feisty, yet kindhearted. The feminine scent of her shampoo reached him as he pressed his chin to the top of her head. Even that he liked. Everything about her made him want to take care of her.

“I’m assuming you don’t have the money for the back payments?”

She shook her head and sniffled. “God, I must look terrible.” She stepped back and reached for a tissue. “No, I don’t. And I still owe the preschool, too. I got buried in credit card debt and hospital bills after Colby was born. I had pre-eclampsia and ended up needing to be in the hospital for forever. And I couldn’t work during and after the pregnancy. Everything just piled up. And I’ve spent the past few years trying to get unburied, but I...”

Can’t do it on your own . As she shouldn’t have to.

No wonder Dan hated Kevin.

She grabbed the eviction papers and crumpled them up, then stomped on the ball. “I’m so sick of it.”

Jason watched her outburst. Despite her anger, something was amusing about it, and he repressed the urge to smile. He reached for her hand. “How much do you need?”

She wiped the remnants of tears away and scanned his gaze. She squeezed his hand and let it go. “If you’re thinking of lending me money, don’t. I like you, Jason, I really do. But I’m not taking your money. As it is, I’m going to have to move back in with my parents and live off their help again for a while. And they’ve been really generous. My mom paid off two of my credit cards only for me to max them both out again.”

Despite the inherent absurdity of it, he understood her pride.

If she only knew who he really was.

But would she hate him? He’d have to explain why he’d come to Brandywood. Have to dredge up everything about Kevin. And even if he got her to agree to anything, the money for Colby would take months or years to access after a long bout of legal wrangling.

She needed his help now.

When he didn’t respond, she gave him a brave smile. “I’m going to go touch up my makeup. Sorry to be such a wreck when you found me. Make yourself at home.”

As her footsteps faded down the hall, he stepped a few paces into her apartment. Despite the presence of a toddler, it was neat and organized—well decorated, too. The furnishings were simple but clean. The only thing that even seemed remotely out of place was her chef’s coat on the back of a chair.

If giving her the money she needed wouldn’t work, he’d have to find a way that made her feel as though she’d earned it. But with sex in the equation, it complicated everything. He had every intention of sleeping with her—it was a question of when, not if.

And if he didn’t tell her who he was soon, she might never forgive him.

But if he told her now...

Was there some in-between? Would she be more forgiving of his lie of omission if he let her in a bit more? If he could reduce the scope of what she didn’t know about him, she might see why he’d waited to tell her. Maybe.

He raked his fingers through his closely cropped hair. He didn’t know.

Trying to predict how a woman would react was about as accurate as a weather forecast a month out.

When she came back out to the living room, she held a peacoat over her arm. “Ready to go?” She grabbed her purse from the table.

“Before we do, I have something to propose to you.”

She arched an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

Jason came toward her and took her hands in his. “What do you think of the idea of being my girlfriend for the next few weeks?”

She gave a scoffing laugh as though she’d never heard something so strange. “What?”

“I can probably extend my leave for a bit. I still haven’t been able to resolve my family matter. And I”—he pushed a tendril of hair away from her cheek—“I sort of cost you an opportunity that could have helped you.”

She narrowed her gaze. “What are you talking about?”

“The baking competition.”

Her face lit, unexpectedly. She let out a relieved breath. “Oh my gosh, you scared me there for a minute. The baking competition. I honestly didn’t even think about that. I signed up on a whim, and Brad didn’t bake anyway—”

“But you do. And you’re good. You could probably win.”

She smiled widely. “I saw you making playdough today, Jason. I’m not sure you’re up for the challenge.”

“You just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it. And then, when you win, you can feel completely entitled to the entire twenty-five-thousand-dollar prize since I was basically a handicap.” Jason cupped her face with his hands. “You could accept that, right?”

“Would you do that for me?”

“For the girl who didn’t spit in my food when I wasn’t looking? Anything.” He kissed her lips gently.

She returned his kiss, her lips warm and inviting. As the kiss deepened, she tilted her head back toward the bedroom. “You sure you don’t want to just stay here?”

Don’t tempt me.

But he wasn’t about to let her know what an ass he really was. Not after she’d been so vulnerable with him.

“And miss our date?” Jason held her coat for her and helped her into it. Then he swatted her gorgeous ass. “Not a chance.”