Page 38 of Shielding Maya

"Jasiah," his mother whispered.

He waved, whispering. "Go ahead and rest, I'll come back later."

She sat slightly and he nodded. She nodded in return then laid back down.

He softly stepped outside and crossed the common area to the covered gathering area. He sat at the front table, where he'd stood last night and soon saw Reece approaching.

"Good afternoon," he greeted.

"Afternoon. You only have one challenger. Adam Jacobs."

Jasiah sighed. "That's not surprising. What's his demeanor?"

Reece sat across from him at the table. "The same as always. Confrontational. Combative. Arrogant."

Jasiah nodded and took a deep breath. He'd been dealing with Adam Jacobs for eight years now in this fashion. Before he'd dated Zara, they didn't have any issues. But, Jasiah slept with Zara and she'd developed feelings for him and that was a mistake he'd paid for over and over again. Had he known that Adam had feelings for Zara, he'd never have dated her.

"Okay. And, what are his chances up here?"

Reece laughed. "I suppose you can't really discount him, ‘cause he won't want to be embarrassed, but I don't think there are many up here who believe Craig's way was a good way. We have water up here now. We have electricity and gas. We're embracing it. People are getting jobs down below, and right now, if you want my opinion, the best thing you could do is help Max Couper and Elle Miller get permits to open their own businesses up here. Coup wants to open a woodworking shop. He'll sell wooden bowls, decorative plates, vases, and cutting boards made from wood. Elle wants to use her weaving and sewing skills to make baskets, trivets, hats, purses, bags and such. She saw them in a shop in Glen Hollow and wants to see if she can open her own shop with them."

"I'd heard some rumors to that effect. I can call the mayor and ask what I'd need to do to help them. That would also bring customers up here. Is that what they want? Do the residents want customers to start venturing up here?"

Reece grinned. "I have an idea. Let's get them together and ask that question. You call the mayor and I'll start spreading the word you want to have a..." Reece's brows furrowed.

Jasiah laughed. "I've heard them called fireside chats in town."

"Perfect. You'll have a fireside chat tomorrow night. We'll make it informal and sit around the fire."

"That sounds good."

Maya left his cabin and walked across the common area toward Zara's cabin. Jasiah couldn't stop watching her.

Reece whistled low. "I never thought I'd see it. A woman has finally captured your heart."

"Who said that?"

"The way you're looking at her says it. That's who."

Jasiah watched Maya knock on Zara's door. Zara opened it, stepped back when she saw Maya then glanced across the common area and locked eyes with him. Her mouth turned down in a frown, but Maya continued talking to her.

Finally, Marni stepped to the door and Maya spoke to her. They had a conversation and Zara crossed her arms over her chest, then ushered Marni inside. As soon as the door was closed, Maya stepped away and pulled her phone from her back pocket. Her fingers flew over the phone in that way he'd been impressed with when he first saw her. After she'd finished, tires crunched on the road and she stopped to see who was approaching.

Reece gently punched his arm. "See, captured your heart. Certainly your attention. But, man, you could do worse."

Jasiah watched Maya speak with Spencer, then begin unloading items from the back of his truck. She carried them toward his cabin and set them on the porch. She then approached him and Reece with a smile on her face.

"Spencer's here to install security cameras. He'd like to install three of them. One from the peak of your roof facing out. Which will also capture anyone approaching your door. One across the common area which will be in the tree. And one on this roof pointing out across the common area. That should capture everything except, your back door. So, I'd like to add one more to the back of your house."

Her smile was infectious. "Okay."

"Thank you." She nodded at Reece. "Nice to see you, Reece."

"Yes. Ma'am. Nice to see you too."

Her eyes then landed on his once more. He winked, and her smile grew. "We'll get to work."

She strutted across the common area and he watched her walk all the way across. When he turned his head to address Reece once more, he saw Zara staring out her window. When would she get over him? He'd promised her nothing. They'd actually only had sex a couple of times. There was no promise, no long-term relationship. Nothing.

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