Page 17 of Serial Love

And there it was again…the feeling that someone understood that what she needed was peace. Her fingers closed around the bracelet, and she nodded as she wiped a lone tear with her other hand.

“Thank you. I...it’s hard. Seeing someone you love stop being that person,” she admitted quietly. “She’s always been so spry. So vibrant. And smart…Jesus, she had a quick wit that kept us all in stitches.”

Taking another sip of lemonade, she added, “But now, she lives mostly in the past, a little bit in the now,and sometimes in her own little world she has made up.”

He leaned back in his seat, picking his lemonade up again. The quiet of the afternoon was occasionally broken by the laughter ringing from the lake where the Taylor family and others were enjoying the summer fun. Jack stayed silent, figuring if she wanted to talk, she would; and would do it easier if he was not filling the void with useless conversation.Don’t know what the hell I’m doing here, but come on girl. Trust me. Let me in, even if just a little.

“My grandparents bought this land right after they got married with some of granddad’s Army money,” she said, her eyes still on the vista in front of her.

He knew this from the search Luke had done but kept that to himself.Stories were better told by the people involved anyway.

“He knew carpentry and they built the first cabin and lived in it while working the next one. He wasn’t trained in marketing, but Gramps understood people. Knew what they wanted and what they’d come for. He advertised it as a honeymoon getaway and by the time he had built five cabins, they were full most year ‘round.” She chuckled, adding, “He’d say that he didn’t have to offer too many things to keep people busy if they were on their honeymoon.”

Jack smiled, acknowledging her grandfather had been an intuitive man.

She saw his smile and felt the tingle straight through her. With her grandfather’s small stature and Jack’s huge presence, they could not have looked more different.And yet there was a strong similarity. Gramps knew what people needed and worked to provide it. Feeling the bracelet still clutched in her hand, she knew that Jack shared the same trait.

“After cabin five, he built this lodge with the apartment on the second floor and the office, reception, and lodge room below. They only had one son, my dad, so it was big enough for them. Then he finished through to cabin ten.”

The silence was disturbed by the fishermen driving back in once more. She threw her hand up in a wave and watched it return.

Jack spied it too, but with a completely different reaction. He saw the look on the men’s faces—the same one he had when he looked at her.Goddamn, she’s a beauty and got no fucking clue how much of a beauty, which only made her more attractive.A flash of something new, something different flew through him. Smart enough to recognize jealousy, he tamped that emotion down, struggling with wanting her and wanting her safe. And not sure how his lifestyle could accomplish both.

Bethany, unaware of the thoughts of the man sitting next to her, continued. “Gramps and Gram had a good life here. He died about three years ago and she’s been doing okay on her own.”

At this, he swung his gaze back to hers, knowing how much work she was putting into running the place now.

She saw his questioning expression and quickly added, “With some help of course. My parents were professors at Richmond State University until just thispast year when they were offered a position with research capability in Arizona. Dad and mom helped out a lot. By then I was out of college with a business and marketing degree working for an ad agency in Richmond.”

“You gave up your life?” he asked, already knowing the answer and that she quit a decent paying job.

She shrugged, “Yeah. I mean, I liked the job and the people, but…” She looked back at the mountains and sighed. “But look at that. I’ve always loved that. And Gram needed me. I couldn’t let this place be sold or get run down.”

“So, you took all this on yourself?”

“I’ve got help. Sally does the cabin cleaning and Roscoe does the handiwork around.”

The warm vibe changed once again to chilly as he stood, moving his large body to lean against the rail as he peered down at her. “You’ve got a man here to do handiwork?” Jack asked, his voice still low, but growling this time. Before she could answer, he continued, “So, why the hell were you out with an axe today?”

“I’m not helpless,” she protested. “He’s off today and I saw a job that needed to be done so I did it.”

He leaned back, letting his breath out slowly, as though counting. Frustration warred with anger inside of him.

“Jack, I’m not sure what’s happening here,” she whispered, her eyes meeting his. “We've only been around each other a couple of times and every time I find myself confused. You seem angry and then interested and then pull away.”

He stared at her face, so full of pure honesty it almost hurt. Her beauty pulled him in—made him want the things in life that he had assumed were not for him. Relationships. Love. Family. He dealt in a world of missions, violence, and money being paid to get things done. Things that others could not get done.And she’s got no fuckin’ place in that world.

His thoughts warred with each other, then finally gave in to the darker side of his mind. Pushing away from the rail, he gave her a curt nod. “Just being neighborly,” he lied. “Make sure you secure that bracelet around Ann’s ankle ‘cause we’ve already got it on our radar.” With one last head jerk, he stalked down the steps and to his truck, leaving her sitting on the porch.

As his vehicle pulled out of sight, she stood sighing heavily, disappointment filling her soul. It had been so long since she was interested in a man. Someone more than an occasional date. His rugged handsome looks drew her in, but it was his intensity that had held her gaze. As though he would stop at nothing to slay my dragons. And then…nothing.Sighing again deeply, she looked down at the bracelet in her hand. It was a very nice gift. For a neighbor from a neighbor. A neighbor who was tying himself to her whether or not he realized it.

Snagging the two glasses off the porch, she headed inside to find Gram and start dinner.

7

The humid night was dark, and few stars shone with the impending storm. The campus was sparsely populated in the summer with fewer students taking classes. The parking lot lights gave off very little illumination and it was easy to stand in the shadows and hide. The wind gust caught his coat, whipping it out for a second before he grabbed it back, buttoning the frontsecurely.

Who have I seen here lately? Who comes to the library night after night?A dark-haired girl pushed open the heavy doors. He watched her come out of the library and down the steps.Yes, I recognize you from the other night.Studying. You’ve been studying. Such a good girl…always a good girl until they become sluts. And they all become sluts.

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