Page 66 of Stay for Me
I release a long sigh. “Fine. I couldn’t sleep. Devney mentioned the sunrise over the mountain, and I—wait, am I on your land?”
He laughs. “You’re on Arrowood land, yes, but not mine. It’s a section where Sydney and Declan’s butts up to yours. It has the best fishing, so I just use it without asking.”
“How nice of you.”
“It’s the least they can do since I’m sleeping in that damn glorified trailer.”
“Instead of?”
He shrugs. “Anywhere that’s not mobile.”
“It could be worse.”
Jacob gives me a side glance. “You have no idea. Do you fish at all?”
I shake my head quickly. “Do you remember the whole fish guts aversion? I would be horrible at it.”
“I bet you wouldn’t. I bet that you could fish better than you think. Unless you’re scared, of course.”
There’s a playful edge in his tone, one that instantly puts me at ease. This is what I like the most about being around him. He makes me smile and forget that my bedraggled attire isn’t what I hoped he’d see me in the next time we crossed paths. I can either make the best of it or run away with my tail between my legs and pretend this never happened.
Since I’m not the run-away kind of girl, I go for the first.
“Are you challenging me?”
“Are you accepting?”
I smile because he’s doing it to me now. “You’re answering a question with a question.”
“I wonder where I might have picked up that annoying habit.”
Laughter escapes my lips, and I shake my head. “She must be a smart person, whoever she is.”
“What makes you think it’s a she?”
“All women are good at being evasive.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jacob replies. “And here you are proving your point. Are you up for a little early morning fishing?”
I nod once. “Sure. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I might as well learn.”
We walk side by side over to the area where he has a few blankets, a tackle box, a thermos, and a book.
“What are you reading?” I ask.
“It’s a book on how to be a director.”
“Really?” I ask.
“I’ve never done it, and I really don’t want to let the kids down.”
Could he be any sweeter? I don’t think so.
“That’s really amazing of you.”
“What is?”
“That you care.”
