Page 22 of Serial Love

“No,” Bethany answered while Jack said, “Yes.”

She whirled around, her eyes wide and hissed, “Don’t confuse her.” She tried to jerk her hand out of his but found his grip was as strong as it was gentle.

“Not planning on confusing her,” he replied, the crinkles next to his eyes deepening as the corners of his mouth turned up.

“Well, the stew’s ready, so ya’ll come on in,” Gram called, as she turned and went back inside.

“You’re not staying,” Bethany seethed.

“Of course, I am. Wouldn’t want to upset Ann and besides, I’d love more of your company,” he said smoothly, a grin appearing taking his handsome looks straight to drop-dead-I-want-to-climb-on-top-of-you gorgeous.

“We’re still going to talk about this,” Bethany hissed again.

He nodded, smiling and said, “Count on it.” Stepping around Bethany, his hand still holding hers, he tugged her along after him. Once inside, he saw little had changed in the few weeks since he had first set foot in the lodge. He followed Ann to the stairs on the left side of the main room, his fingers now linked with Bethany’s.

At the top of the stairs, they rounded a corner, and he could see the apartment that Bethany’s grandparents had lived in their entire married lives. A small, but comfortable den was on the right, the walls of exposed logs with a fireplace at the end. A hall split the area, leading to the bedrooms. The open floor plan included a dining table at the other end, leading into the kitchen. The scent of homemade soup and bread filled the room.

Bethany managed to disentangle herself, stalkinginto the kitchen. Lifting the lid on the crock-pot, she stirred the stew before checking to make sure the bread had not burned. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts as she heard Gram chatting with Jack as they placed the dishes on the table.

She stood at the sink, looking out of the window overlooking the back of the property…the side where Jack lived. The sinking sun cast a myriad of colors over the evening sky, but for once she was not enjoying the view.

She could not remove the events of the previous half hour out of her mind—the guests arguing, the fight, the rescue. Grasping the counter tightly to keep her legs from buckling, she suddenly felt a presence behind her.

Jack’s arms reached around the counter, planting his hands on her trembling ones. He stepped forward until his front was touching her back. He rested his chin on her head, wrapping her in his warmth.

She wanted to lean her head back into him but was afraid to move. Weeks ago, she told him all about herself when they sat on the porch. And he gave her nothing.But now?

He felt her reticence and knew he needed to bridge the gap he had caused. Keeping one arm on hers, he lifted his other and wrapped it around her middle pulling her into his hard body. Leaning his head to the side, he whispered, “Come on, doll. Give it to me.”

With his soft encouragement, she dropped her head back into his chest, taking a shuttering breath. “I…I don’t know what’s wrong with me.”

“It’s adrenaline. It hit you when you rushed out, butnow your body has to deal with the overload. You’ll be fine. It’ll pass, I promise.” Wrapping his other arm over her chest, he enveloped her as the trembling subsided.

He felt her shudder, then a few minutes later felt her body begin to relax as he willed her to take from his strength.

She closed her eyes, her mind utterly aware of every nuance. The power in his arms as they embraced her. The hard muscles of his pecs and abs as they were pressed against her back. The softness of his beard, as it tickled her ear when he leaned in and whispered. He could stand behind her and she fit snuggly underneath his chin as though meant just for his body. It had only been a minute, but her body craved his presence.

“You shouldn’t be kissing in the kitchen,” Gram admonished, walking into the room. Bethany jumped and Jack released her slowly, his chuckle rumbling over her.

The dinner was simple but filling and Jack ate heartily while enjoying keeping up with Ann’s conversations. Bethany had warned him that she was spending more and more time in the past, thinking that she was a young woman.

“Gram, I’m going to clean up and then I’ll help you get ready for bed,” Bethany volunteered.

“I’ve got this,” Jack said, motioning for her to go on with Ann.

Offering him a small smile, she followed her grandmother down the hall. Jack quickly washed the dishes and wiped the counters. He moved into the den andwandered to the fireplace where the mantle was loaded with family pictures.

He could not help but grin at the sight of Bethany as a baby, a gap-tooth grinning child, a pretty teenager, and a gorgeous young woman in her cap and gown, standing with her parents and grandparents.

“She’s in bed,” Bethany whispered as she appeared in the room.

Jack turned and stared at the woman standing in front of him. Her long blonde hair, now out of its braid, lay waving down her back and spilling over her shoulders. The faded jeans, that became that way due to hard labor and not from some fancy clothing store that sold them already faded, cupped her ass perfectly. The baggy, baby-blue t-shirt that had also seen better days showcased her breasts. Her makeup-free face, porcelain complexion, and blue eyes completed the picture he had been unable to forget for weeks. For a second he faltered,Do I take this chance?Then he saw the fire in her eyes and knew exactly what he wanted.

Unable to hold back the grin, he stalked toward hergrabbing her hand as he walked by, turning her so that she had to follow him. Across the room. Down the stairs. To the porch.

9

As Bethany allowed herself to be led to the porch, she had missed that he had two long-neck beers in the other hand, one of which he gave to her after she plopped down in the chair. Her thoughts whirled once again, which seemed to be her normal state of mind when he was around. She had never been around an alpha before, always considering caveman behavior to be boorish. After all, she was a modern woman.So why do I need to clench my legs together to quell the desire for him to take me? Or want him to kiss me until the thoughts stop flying at me?

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