Page 42 of Between Now and Forever
Hmm.Right.
The gutters, Gabs. Get to the gutters.
The ladder is steadier than it was earlier. Still, I keep my weight leaning forward so I don’t tip backward. There’s no need to play with unnecessary risks any more than I already am.
Jay’s voice is warm, and the deep notes find me before I find him. The sound drags across my body, caressing it in a way that isn’t safe for a woman this far off the ground. Come to think of it, it wouldn’t be safe if I had both feet planted firmly on the soil either.
“Thanks again for the shirt.”
“Thanks again for the shirt,” I say, mocking Jay’s words that echo through my head. I scoop my hand in the gutter and fish out a heavy, water-laden pile of yuck.I ought to throw this on you, Jay.
Why has he convoluted my brain with all his mixed signals?He doesn’t want to connect with people. He accepted my coffee. He almost kisses me, calls me gorgeous. He went out of his way to help my sons. He doesn’t want anything, obviously, between us, but how am I supposed to understand his behavior?
Why come over here? Why show up for us two days in a row? Why air up Carter’s ball and help Dylan fix the porch?
My insides clench as I recall the bulge in his pants.
I don’t think he’s screwing with me to be a dick. But he’s screwing with me, nonetheless.And I plan on screwing with him right back.
I drop the pile of yuck into the bucket I hung off the ladder earlier.
“Mom on a ladder never ends well,” Dylan says.
I look down at him. “Very funny.”
“I’m going inside and taking a shower. I don’t want to see how this ends.”
“Did you get the deck all done?” I ask, ignoring Jay standing next to him.
Dylan nods. “Yeah. Jay helped me.” He peers at him out of the corner of his eye. “He let us have some boards.”
I can’t quite work out Dylan’s tone. It’s steady and void of overt sarcasm, but the edges of his words are a little too raw to be conversational.I hope he wasn’t a complete brat to Jay all afternoon.
I move my attention to Jay. The sight of his sweaty T-shirt clinging to his body makes my mouth water.Play it cool, Gabby.
“Thanks again for the boards,” I say, mimicking his words about the flannel.
He nods knowingly, shoving his tongue into his cheek. I smile with a cockiness I might regret later.Oh well. Gotta roll with it now.
“Can I go in?” Dylan sighs.
“Yes. You can go in,” I say. “Make sure you thank Jay for his help.”
He hops over the missing stairs and lands on the porch. “I did.”
“Dylan . . .”
The door closing is his response.
I look at the sky. “I love him. I love him. I love him.”
Jay chuckles.
“I hope he wasn’t so moody with you—whoa!” I lean forward and grip the rails so tight that my knuckles burn.
Jay’s gaze is hot on the side of my face. I don’t dare look at him.
“Why don’t you come down from there?” he asks carefully.
