Page 101 of One More Secret

“You can help me.” Kellan’s voice sneaks up on us from behind, and the three of us whip around to find him standing there, as if he’s been here the entire time.

“Okay,” Jess says, her smile widening. “Just tell me what needs to be done.”

He grabs one of the spare hammers and a box of nails and takes her to our cabin. Bailey is by her side with the red vest on. Butterscotch follows them.

And I watch the woman who’s a mystery to me walk away. The woman I can’t stop thinking about. The woman I want to kiss and make her forget about her past. Forget about whatever it is that leaves shadows under her eyes.

But she still hasn’t given any indication she wants what we have between us to move out of the friend zone.

I tear my gaze from her and go back to cutting the joint pieces I’ve been working on.

I finish them and enter the cabin Kellan and Jess are in. Bailey and Butterscotch are snoozing in the sunny spot in front of the window. Jess has removed Bailey’s vest since she isn’t currently working or training. Kellan and Jess are busy hammering. Neither of them is talking. Both appear at peace.

Kellan has never been much of a talker. He prefers to stay in the shadows, watching, listening. When he does talk, it’s economical. He doesn’t waste his words.

I watch Jess for a minute, the way she moves, the way she focuses on the hammer and nail as if nothing else in the world exists. Fuck, she’s sexy as sin, even in clothes that are two sizes too big for her body.

I want to wrap her in my arms from behind. Kiss her neck, the curve of her ear, her jaw. Listen to the sweet sounds I’m positive I can elicit from her. I want to pull her into my body and see what she feels like surrendering in my arms. What she feels like when I’m protecting her from her demons.

Damn, I want to kiss her. Plan to kiss her. But not until she’s ready. Not untilshe’sthe one asking me to kiss her.

The cabin is warm compared to outside. I remove my T-shirt and toss it onto the platform of the short stepladder.

The three of us work for the next hour until Bailey gets restless.

“You two ready for a break?” I ask Jess and Kellan. “Looks like Bailey and Butterscotch could use a walk.”

Kellan glances at the dogs and then at Jess and me. “You guys go ahead. I’m going to keep doing this a little longer.”

I take the hammer from Jess and place it on the workbench. “We won’t be long. There’s a stream not far from here I bet Bailey will love playing in.”

We head out and let the dogs off leash. They run ahead of us, playing and chasing each other through the mix of dead meadow grass and young green shoots. This is when Bailey gets to be in full puppy mode and not worry about her training. If Jess has a flashback or an anxiety attack, I’m here for her.

“The area is so beautiful,” Jess says. “And so peaceful.”

“It is. It’s the perfect place to escape, which is why we chose the spot for our program.”

We continue past the tree line and along the dirt path to the stream. The dogs run into the water, leap and splash. Jess laughs, the sound so carefree. Open. Sexy.

She watches the dogs, and I watch her. The guarded expression that’s been a part of her since the first time I saw her almost melts away. She talks to the dogs, her voice as carefree as her laughter.

Sunlight streams through the leaves, creating shadows on the ground, catching on strands that have fallen from her ponytail. She’s like a water nymph or a fairy or a goddess or some other mythological creature who steals a man’s senses.

And in this moment, watching Jess, I can’t think of a better fate.

She looks over at me, smiling, her face so animated, so alive, it sends a surge of warmth through me. “Someone’s enjoying the water,” she says.

Bailey bounds closer to Jess and shakes her dog body. A shower of water droplets flings in all directions, hitting Jess. She giggle-shrieks, holding up her hands to protect herself from the water.

She looks so fucking adorable.

Like a man under a spell, I close the distance between us, unable to stop myself even if I wanted to. She’s a siren, and her laugh is her siren’s song.

We’re only inches apart when I finally stop moving, when my gaze dives into those beautiful honey-brown eyes that have me mesmerized.

Her laughter dies away, and she’s gazing back at me, almost panting. I want to kiss her, to plunge my tongue into that sweet mouth of hers. And she’s looking at me like she’s possibly thinking the same. Like she wants me as much as I want her.

She takes a tentative step forward, her eyes never leaving mine.

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