Page 12 of Jobe

“You’re working with these girls so you must have done some research about gangs and I don’t care if they’re members of a national gang or some punk-ass local group—respect is their mantra. You disrespect them, they will take you down. Do. You. Understand?”

She nodded, realizing how foolish she had been. “I’m not usually reckless,” she replied softly. “I just got so mad.” She blinked fast, trying to keep from allowing a tear to slip.

Tony’s voice softened. “You’re doing a good thing here, Mackenna. Let’s keep you safe so that you can keep doing it.”

Tony began the conversation about her security needs, but Jobe could not keep his mind on the words that were spoken.Ms. Dunn. That’s her maiden name.He quickly glanced at her ring finger and found his breath leaving him as he noted she was not wearing an engagement ring. His palms began to sweat as he thought back to the last letter she wrote after he had ignored all of her pleas to not break up with her…where she admitted he had shredded her but that she would work every day to erase the memory of him from her very soul.And I let her. What a fucking prick.

Tony had asked Mackenna about the center and what her major concerns were. His eyes cut over to Jobe but realized his most steely soldier was staring openly at his former girlfriend.

Mackenna could feel Jobe’s eyes on her but refused to look at him. Wishing Jennifer had come with them into the kitchen, she knew her friend was outside grilling her husband on the scene she had witnessed.

“If it weren’t for the latest drive-bys, I would feel very safe about the center. The neighborhood isn’t bad and we haven’t had any problems. But our new girl is pregnant by someone in a gang and I’m wondering if that’s causing their interest. I…I don’t really know what to tell you. I have no idea what we should have as far as security goes and I have to be up front—there’s no money in the grant for anything.”

Tony began explaining the basics of security, the lighting at the entrances, cameras installed, and even bars on the first-floor windows.

Mackenna’s head began to pound as Tony continued to list the things that he would recommend while the man who had ripped her world apart five years earlier was sitting next to her at a kitchen table as though he had every right to be there.Don’t look. Don’t give him the satisfaction of even talking to him. No, wait. That makes it seem like I care. I don’t care. Well, I don’t want him to think I care.

“Mackenna,” came his warm voice from beside her.

She could not help herself. She turned and forced herself to stare at him in the eyes.She had thought that having him cast her away while he was overseas had been the hardest thing to bear, but at this moment she was not sure. Facing him was pure agony.

The silence in the room was deafening. Jobe could hear his own heart pounding and was sure that he could hear hers too.If only—

Just then the others entered the kitchen from their outdoor assessment and sat down at the table as well. Jennifer appeared stunned, so Jobe was sure that Gabe had filled her in on some of their story.

The others, determined to keep the conference professional, began immediately planning. Mackenna felt as though she had fallen down the rabbit hole—one minute she was threatening some thugs and the next she was emotionally assaulted by the past. And all the while, these other people in her center were taking charge, making plans as if she were not there.

Jobe looked at her, realizing that even after five years he could tell what she was thinking. Only the girl from his past was facing off with his co-workers with a toughness that he had never seen before.What’s happened to you?

The meeting came to an awkward end and Tony assured her that they would begin work the next day with the equipment that they had and the installations would continue after some special orders came in. Walking them back to the front of the building, she noticed that Jobe was right behind her. Not close enough to invade her space…but close enough to let her know that he was still there. And still affected her.

She shook Tony, Gabe, and Vinny’s hands and gave Jennifer a heartfelt hug. Her friend whispered in her ear, “We’ll talk. It’ll be okay, I promise.” Nodding, she let them walk down the stoop. Steeling herself to be professional, she turned with her hand out.

“It was nice seeing you, Jobe. Thank you.”God, I hope that sounded icy enough.Forcing herself to look into his eyes, she saw the smile on his face.

Taking her hand in his much larger one, he did not let it go. “It was very nice seeing you again, Mackenna.”

Just as she was pulling her hand back, Tony called out from the street. “Gabe’s going with Jennifer in her car, so Vinny and I’ll ride in this one. You can have the other one yourself.”

Jobe grinned as he nodded, silently conveying his thanks to his buddies.They know what this means. They know she was put back in my life for a reason. Don’t have a fucking clue what that is, but I’m sure as shit gonna find out.

Mackenna’s expression was one of shock that his co-workers would just leave them like that. She watched as they drove down the street and then felt pressure on her hand. Jerking it back, she realized that he had been holding it while she gawked at the others leaving.

“Yes, well…um…I have to get back to work.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow when we come,” he replied.

“No! I mean, that I won’t be here. I’m sure that you can do all that you need without me. You can just see…um, Rose. The teacher. She can help you. I’ll be…somewhere.”Jesus, I’m babbling.

Smiling, he could tell that she was nervous.Nervous good or nervous bad?He was not sure, but he intended to find out. “Tony’s gonna need you here. You’re the one who’ll have to sign for everything, so you’ll need to be here. At least for part of the installation.”

Drawing herself to her full height, she still had to lean her head way back to look him directly in the eyes, saying, “Fine. I’ll be here. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Turning she walked on unsteady legs back into the center, closing the door behind her. As she heard him walking down the sidewalk, she peeked out of the window. Black, tight t-shirt stretched across his back. Tall, muscular. Thick hair that just beckoned fingers to be run through it.

Closing her eyes, she drew in a ragged breath.Why did you have to come back into my life? Why couldn’t you have just stayed a memory?She leaned her forehead on the pane of glass, as her heart ached for the millionth time as she wiped away another tear. Lifting her head, she saw him sitting in the driver’s seat. Staring. Directly. At. Her.

5

Jobe opened his apartment door at the knocking, knowing before he did who would be outside. Vinny, Gabe, and Tony all stood in the hall. He threw open the door, wordlessly inviting them in.How many times over the years have we done this?Shutting the door behind him, he watched as they settled onto his oversized sofas. He also noticed Tony eyeing the whiskey bottle on the coffee table.

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