Page 41 of Jake

She opened her eyes to find Matt looking around the room as if he was wondering if any surface was safe anymore.

“You can have my bunk in the bunkhouse, if you want it, or we can find a spare tent and bedroll and you can camp in the pasture with the Souls who are up from Tucson.”

“I’ll think about it. I have a bedroll in the truck. I might just unroll it in the back if the weather stays nice.”

“I’ll talk to Lurch, get it cleared. I’m sure there won’t be a problem, but you know how it goes.”

Matt nodded. “I’d appreciate it. Let me know if you need anything, or if I can help out with making sure she’s covered.”

Beside her, Aaron stood. “I’ll go do that, if you’ll stay here with her.”

“Be happy to.”

“I don’t need babysitting,” Heather grumbled, scowling at them both.

“Don’t think of it as babysitting, think of it as guarding. And thank you for dealing with it, for me.” Aaron bent and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. “Hopefully, it won’t be for long. Then you can go and do as you please.”

She watched as he left, wanting to call him back, to have him sit here beside her and tell her it would be okay. Not that she would ever do that or ask that of him. No matter how much she might ache for it.

“Things seem to be going well, if moving a bit fast,” Matt’s words reminded her she wasn’t alone.

“What makes you say that?” She frowned and tilted her head as she watched him. She hadn’t done or said anything for Matt to think things had moved quickly between her and Aaron.

He propped his head up on one fist, arm propped on the back of the sofa where they both sat and watched her a moment, both brows raised.

“What?”

“Do you want me to go point by point or just say it was obvious?”

“Obvious how?”

“Point by point it is.” He took a deep breath, then watched her a moment longer. “First was the way he came in here. He didn’t knock but came in yelling your name and you didn’t even flinch, didn’t act like his just walking in wasn’t something he did every day.”

She blinked but didn’t want to give any indication that it was something Aaron did. He wasn’t usually yelling her name that way, but he’d quit knocking after the first night they’d spent together.

“Second, after he shook my hand, he went to you and kissed your head, like it’s something he does every day. You didn’t react, as if it’s something you’ve come to expect. Third, the way he grabbed the chair and moved it where he wanted. He didn’t hesitate, he didn’t look around. He’s spent a bit of time here and he’s comfortable with you. Comfortable enough, he doesn’t hesitate to touch you, even the smallest touch, and my being here didn’t faze him. Which tells me you two touch a lot, and probably in front of everybody here.” He used his free hand to make a wide motion, that that could easily include everyone on the ranch. “Fourth, he offered me his bunk. Where else would he bunk but here with you?”

“What’s wrong with being comfortable with each other? It’s not like we’re screwing on the picnic table in front of everyone.” She ignored the last part about where Aaron would be sleeping.

“Cuz, I never said there was anything wrong with it, only that it was obvious things have moved quickly with you. And if you wanted to screw on the picnic table in front of everyone, and you were both into it, I wouldn’t judge you for that. As long as I don’t have to see or hear about it.” He let an exaggerated shudder run through his body.

Heather lifted her foot and shoved at him. “Knock it off. Why don’t we go see what they’ve got for lunch?”

31

IttookJakeafew minutes to track down Lurch, who was at the house he shared with Kerry, in the office. Kerry let him in and told Jake that Lurch was in his office, pointed him in the right direction then went back to whatever she was doing. Jake stood in the doorway, watching as the older man scowled at something on a laptop screen to one side of the desktop, then down at the page in front of him, going back and forth a couple of times. Jake knocked on the open door and waited.

“What do you need?” Lurch asked with out glancing his way.

“You got a couple of minutes?” Jake didn’t know if it was his words or his tone, but Lurch stared at him for a second then motioned to one of the chairs across the desk from where he sat.

“Have a seat.”

Jake turned and looked toward where Kerry had gone in the kitchen and wondered how much she knew about the club. Better to be safe than sorry. He closed the door then went to the chair Lurch had indicated and sat.

“What’s going on?” He glanced toward the closed door then back to Jake.

“First, are you aware that one of the Kings of Destruction is on the ranch?”

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