Page 16 of Out on a Limb

Secret, manly reasons. That’s what I told Jana before, and damn it, that was good enough for her. But something tells me that won’t fly with her less trusting friend, and honestly, I can’t blame her.

“A bet,” I settle on saying. It’s not even a lie, not really.

I’m betting myself that I can make this work. That I can land the ultimate prize.

Jana glances over at me, surprised, her dark eyebrows shooting up her forehead. Christ, she looks cute when she’s all sweaty and messed up at the end of a long day.

Her short, black hair is rucked up at the back, and the brown skin on her chest gleams with sweat where it peeks through the open collar of her polo shirt. Want to ruffle that hair and lick the salty sweat off her skin; want to peel those clothes off and toss Jana in the nearest lake, then jump in after her.

“A bet?” Jana repeats, nonplussed.

Tess sighs, loud and long-suffering, and turns to my fiance. “You didn’t even ask?”

They start bickering quietly, and I hook a bar stool with my foot and drag it closer to sit down. The room’s emptied out a little since I arrived, and there’s a frosty breeze blowing in through the open back doorway. Out there, wooden tables stand abandoned in the moonlight, while stars glitter above the shadowed treetops.

It’s late. Long gone midnight now, and Jana was gonna hike all the way back to the cabin on her own in the dark. How long has she been doing that? How long has she lived in my cabin all alone, unprotected? Has she ever run into any trouble?

My chest throbs, and I rub at it with a wince.

Ever since meeting Jana Kumara a few days ago, I’ve been kicking myself for things I cannot change. Namely, the fact that I spent so many years away from Starlight Ridge when she was here all along; the fact that I set off around the world chasing adventure when my perfect person was here in this bar, pouring drinks and walking home alone at night.

I didn’t know back then. Didn’t realize what I was accidentally turning my back on.

But damn if I’m not punishing myself for those choices now.

And I keep thinking: how can I make it up to her? What can I offer this woman to atone? But all my ideas involve things like burying my head between her soft thighs and licking her until she screams every day for the rest of our lives, and obviously, that gesture only works if it’s wanted.

So I’m starting small, with walking Jana home from her late shift at Flint’s. That, and smiling pleasantly through her friend’s interrogation, doing my best to be patient and polite even as my back teeth grind.

It helps that Tess is grilling me because she cares about Jana. Of all reasons for someone to prod at my personal business, I’ve got a lot of time for that one.

“I just think it’s weird,” Tess announces at last, throwing up her hands. “It’s your life and your decision, Jana, but I want it on the record: this is weird.”

My fiance looks hurt at that pronouncement, her shoulders curving in, and my gut aches at the sight—but we don’t have time to discuss this any further, because Flint’s office door slams open, bouncing off the wall, and the girls’ boss nods at them as he crosses the room, heavy boots thudding against the floorboards.

The clock on the wall says 1am. Guess it’s time to start wiping down surfaces and collecting empty glasses; time to chase out the last few drinkers and wish them well on their way home. Trying to stay out of the way, I make myself useful and bus a few trays of empty glasses to the bar while Jana finishes up her shift.

The boss squints at me at one point from his spot behind the cash register, counting up the takings for the night. Like he’s trying to place me. I smile broadly and drop off another tray.

Pretty sure that fucker changed the locks on my cabin.

Does he do a lot of favors for Jana? Is he sweet on her? I mean, who wouldn’t be sweet on my girl? No one with any taste, that’s for sure.

And even though Flint looks to be about a decade older than me—probably two decades older than Jana—he’s wearing it well. Silvering at the temples, with a few lines around his eyes, but still strong and tall and tanned.

Shit. Does Jana have a thing for her boss?

By the time the bar is closed up and we’re all bundled up in jackets, muttering our goodbyes under the stars, my insides are twisted into a jealous pretzel. I reach automatically for Jana’s hand in the darkness, knotting her fingers through mine, and thank god she lets me, clinging to my hand like she’s holding on for dear life.

Mine.

Flint goes one way, stomping off toward the treeline. Tess and the enormous man who came to walk her home go toward town, with Tess throwing suspicious looks over her shoulder until they’re out of sight. Meanwhile, Jana and I set off toward the mountain trail that leads to our cabin, dewy grass swishing around our boots as we walk.

“You didn’t have to meet me this late.” Jana’s voice is quiet after the rock music and yelled conversations in the bar. I squeeze her fingers and she squeezes back.

“I wanted to.”

There’s a long pause, but I can tell she’s pleased. After a lifetime of struggling to connect with other people on a deep level, I’ve finally found someone whose silence I can read like a book.

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