Page 46 of Work It Out
Shit. “Sorry, Vic.”
She waved that off. “I saw at least three people sneaking pics when I came in. I probably should’ve gone to Colorado. My parents live deep in the mountains.” She could barely choke out the suggestion. Her parents were useless parasites. “I don’t want to put you all in the middle of this.”
Green eyes focused on him. Vicky knew this would get ugly if anyone dug too deep. She was so young, so innocent despite the horrors she’d faced. And this was important. She’d reached one of those crossroads that defined a person’s life. How she dealt with this tragedy would affect her forever. And, despite the myriad ways he’d let her down, she’d driven hours and hours to get to him.
Jake drew in a deep breath. He was at a crossroads, too. Taking care of Vicky might cost him more than he was ready to give, and yet he’d never leave her to face this on her own.
Rayah must’ve been reading his mind. She shook her head, dividing a look between him and Vicky. “Stay here. We’ll wait a day or two, then spread the story that you stopped to visit on your way to Colorado. If you stay in the cabin, you’ll have all the privacy you want. If you’d rather be out in the community, we can think up another reason you’re here. As long as we leave aliens out of it, Zandar will have every man for miles watching out for you. If you host an acting class or something for the kids, you’ll have the women at your back.”
“That’s the more important group,” Granny commented with a nod.
Gramps raised one brow. Jake nearly laughed. He hadn’t seen that brow-arch in far too long, and it knocked the chill off his heart. His grandparents had their own secret language of looks andhmphsand grunts (the latter coming mostly from Gramps). Some signals, like that brow lift, even outsiders could read. Others were all their own, and wouldn’t it be wonderful and terrifying to know another person down to their soul and have them see him with equal clarity?
Granny’s answering expression was 100 percentgive me a break. “Yes, yes. Men are big, strong protectors we just can’t do without. But be honest, dear. If it came down to a protective man or an angry momma, where would you put your money?”
“Momma bear,” Gramps conceded. “But I’d rather that not become necessary.”
“Me, too.” Vicky bit her thumb. “I don’t know if this is a good idea. I was so upset last night. I didn’t think. I just wanted…” She stared at him. She’d wanted someone in her corner. “I didn’t know what to do. I should’ve called, but I didn’t want you to tell me not to come, so I got in my car and drove. I didn’t even look into a hotel. Do youhavehotels around here? Or a house to rent?”
“Normally, I have guest rooms above the fitness center,” Rayah said. “But they’re booked for a month solid as of last night. There’s a bed and breakfast at the edge of town, but I don’t like the idea of you there alone.”
Vicky turned to Jake. “Where are you staying?”
“Here we go,” Gramps muttered.
“Actually,” Granny Jean said at the same time, “that’s why Quin and I came.”
“Don’t drag me into your schemes, ya nosy old bat,” Gramps admonished. “I’m only here to make sure you behave yourself when Chris tells you to mind your own damn business.”
“What—” he began, only to be steamrolled by his five-foot-nothing grandmother.
Maybe she had a point about angry women being the scariest.
“There’s a terrible rumor circulating that you came back to Bigbone to live in sin with Rayah.” She shook her head as if saddened that people could be stupid enough to believe such things. “I told them you only just met her and that you were staying in the cabin Rayahusedto live in, but she’d found other accommodations. That’s what Pierce told me when I asked a few days ago. But then Blaine called this morning—”
“He what?” Rayah’s tone should have Blaine wondering why his balls were currently crawling back into his body cavity.
“He’s concerned about your reputation, dear.” Granny frowned. “He said he’d tried to talk to you, but you wouldn’t see reason.”
Rayah grumbled something about seeing her foot up his ass, but Jake couldn’t quite make it out. “Ranger Rick tattled on me to my grandma?”
“I’ll take care of Blaine,” Rayah said through her teeth. “We have bigger issues.”
Granny pursed her lips. “We need to figure out something for Vicky, but I can’t let my grandson’s current situation stand, either.”
Jake’s eyebrows made a break for his hairline. “Excuse me?”
“Don’t you take that sassy tone with me, Christopher. It isn’t done. This isn’t Hollywood.” She clapped, her face brightening. “I’ve got it. Christopher and Vicky can stay with us, and Rayah can have her cabin back.”
“The hell—” Jake began.
“Came up with that just now, did ya?” Gramps murmured wryly.
“Hush,” Granny shot back.
The door to Rayah’s office flew open with abang. The man filling the doorway took in the room, propped himself against the jamb, and panted, “Thank fuck.”
“Shawn?” Jake had never seen the guy look so harried. The jacket of his overpriced three-piece suit had gone missing and his tie hung loose around his neck. Dark hair that was usually styled to perfection appeared to have had a thousand fingers raked through it.
