Page 19 of Praise Me: Lumberjack
We’ve both got it bad.
Erin climbs into a stool at the breakfast bar and Jenna sits beside her, answering my daughter’s rapid-fire questions about being an actress and interjecting commentary when Erin starts talking about her favoriteHey Bettyepisodes, Jenna’s eyes sparkling with patience and fondness.
That’s when I realize I’m in love with her.
Through and through.
I never would have believed until her that this feeling could hit a man overnight, but then again, I hadn’t met Jenna Fairchild yet. Hadn’t witnessed her strength and vulnerability and kindness and generosity. Hadn’t witnessed her spirit and felt the soft welcome of her underneath me. I haven’t just been struck by a single arrow from Cupid, I’ve been plugged full of holes.
“Will you come with me to school today?” Erin asks, eagerly. “We have show and tell. Everyone will freak out!”
“Honey, Jenna has to work—”
“I can help drop you off and maybe say a quick hello to your friends.” Jenna looks at me with hopeful hesitation. “Is that…okay?”
I give her a warm nod. “Better than okay.”
Her back straightens, her expression brightening. Does she think I could tell her no?
“I’ll wrap some eggs in a piece of toast to eat on the way, Erin. We’re running late.” I’ve laid the paper towels over the spilled milk to soak it up. Now I’m rummaging in the cabinet for a skillet. “That work for you, too, Jenna?”
“Yes,” she breathes. “That would be amazing, thank you.”
“Jenna,” Erin says, turning in her stool. “Is Wesley here, too?”
“Who is Wesley?” I bark, my neck heating.
“He was my co-star onHey Betty,” Jenna explains, raising an eyebrow at me, before refocusing on my daughter. “No, he’s not in town with me, but I’ll tell him you said hello!”
“Oh my God,” Erin screeches up at the ceiling. “He’s so cute.”
“Heis.Super cute.”
I glower at her from the stove.
“Wesley is like a brother to me,” Jenna drawls, her face a little flush, like maybe she’s enjoying my jealousy. Which is probably a good thing, because I don’t reckon a man could be in a relationship with a woman so beautiful and not suffer from the green monster.
Constantly.
“See that it stays that way,” I tell Jenna.
Gorgeous eyes darken and she nods.
“Why were you in my dad’s room?” Erin asks, splitting an intuitive glance between me and Jenna.
Jenna looks at me, floundering for a moment, answering before I have a chance to help her out. “He was just giving me a house tour.”
“Oh.” A beat passes. “But you haven’t seen my room yet!” Erin throws herself off the stool, wrapping two hands around Jenna’s wrist and tugging her toward the rear of the house. “Come on, I’ll show you my poster.”
“We have to leave, kid,” I call to their retreating backs.
“I know. I’ll be quick!”
Jenna looks back at me with pure happiness, skipping along with Erin, and that’s it.
There’s no going back.
I’ll do everything in my power to keep her.
