He wants me.
He wants me, and I want him, and we’re both single adults.
The thing I keep going back to is that I only have one life. I’ve seen death take someone early. I’m sure Luke had regrets. There were things he wanted to do, we wanted to do, but we put them off. Each year that want slipped away as something else took precedence.
I don’t want to ever look back on my life and wish I had chosen courage over fear.
Taking a chance with Jacob is the risk that might have the biggest reward.
The sounds of the creek start to become clearer, and then I freeze when I hear something.
“Damn it!”
My heart starts to race. I have no idea who would be out here this early, and on my land no less. Or at least, I think I’m on my land.
I really should’ve thought this through.
I start to turn, not wanting whoever it is to see me.
“Brenna?”
That voice. Jesus, please tell me that my mind conjured it because it’s five in the morning, I didn’t brush my hair, and I am wearing ratty old sweatpants and a US Navy shirt.
I hear squishing footsteps making their way toward me.
Don’t turn around. Don’t do it. Walk away.
“What are you doing out here?” Jacob’s voice is not a hallucination, and he’s right behind me. Great.
I turn, plastering a smile on my face. “Oh, you know, just . . . taking my morning stroll.”
“You’re out here every day?” he asks with a hint of skepticism.
“Sure! I love to get some fresh air before the world wakes up. Plus, the view of the mountain here is really spectacular first thing in the morning.”
He nods slowly. “It is.”
“What are you doing?” I volley back, hoping he doesn’t hear the slight tinge of panic in my voice.
“Well, every morning, I come out here and fish.”
And I would like to please throw myself off that mountain. “Every day?”
He smiles. “Every. Day.”
Of course, he does. “We must just miss each other.”
“Yes, that must be it. Don’t worry, I’ll adjust my plans to make sure we don’t miss again.”
“Right. You should . . . because I’m out here all the time. Like you are.”
Jacob waits two seconds before he calls me out. “You’re a terrible liar, Brenna. Don’t go into acting.”
I release a long sigh. “Fine. I couldn’t sleep. Devney mentioned the sunrise over the mountain, and I—wait, am I on your land?”
He laughs. “You’re on Arrowood land, yes, but not mine. It’s a section where Sydney and Declan’s butts up to yours. It has the best fishing, so I just use it without asking.”
“How nice of you.”
“It’s the least they can do since I’m sleeping in that damn glorified trailer.”
“Instead of?”
He shrugs. “Anywhere that’s not mobile.”
“It could be worse.”
Jacob gives me a side glance. “You have no idea. Do you fish at all?”
I shake my head quickly. “Do you remember the whole fish guts aversion? I would be horrible at it.”
“I bet you wouldn’t. I bet that you could fish better than you think. Unless you’re scared, of course.”
There’s a playful edge in his tone, one that instantly puts me at ease. This is what I like the most about being around him. He makes me smile and forget that my bedraggled attire isn’t what I hoped he’d see me in the next time we crossed paths. I can either make the best of it or run away with my tail between my legs and pretend this never happened.
Since I’m not the run-away kind of girl, I go for the first.
“Are you challenging me?”
“Are you accepting?”
I smile because he’s doing it to me now. “You’re answering a question with a question.”
“I wonder where I might have picked up that annoying habit.”
Laughter escapes my lips, and I shake my head. “She must be a smart person, whoever she is.”
“What makes you think it’s a she?”
“All women are good at being evasive.”
“Don’t I know it,” Jacob replies. “And here you are proving your point. Are you up for a little early morning fishing?”
I nod once. “Sure. I have no idea what I’m doing, but I might as well learn.”
We walk side by side over to the area where he has a few blankets, a tackle box, a thermos, and a book.
“What are you reading?” I ask.
“It’s a book on how to be a director.”
“Really?” I ask.
“I’ve never done it, and I really don’t want to let the kids down.”
Could he be any sweeter? I don’t think so.
“That’s really amazing of you.”
“What is?”
“That you care.”
Jacob shrugs and then leans down to grab his pole. “Here, come cast the line.”
“You only have one pole?”
“I wasn’t exactly planning to have company at five in the morning.”
Yeah, that makes sense. I wasn’t planning to see anyone either. Thank God I brushed my teeth.
“Of course. I just didn’t want to ruin your morning.”
“Brenna, you showing up here is the exact opposite of ruining my morning.”
The breath escapes my lips in a rush, and I’m sure my cheeks match my hair. Not knowing what to say, I take the pole and mimic what I think I’m supposed to do.
“What are you doing?” Jacob asks with a laugh.
“I’m going to fish.”
“Not like that you’re not.” He steps up behind me, covering my hand with his. The heat from his touch warms me everywhere. “Here, you hold it with your right hand like this. Loop your pointer finger on the line right here.” He places it where he wants it. “Good. Don’t let go of that or you can lose all your line.”
I’m losing something.
“Now, with your other hand, you flip the bail.”
“Flip the what?”
His warm chuckle vibrates against my neck, and his fingers wrap around my wrist, bringing it up to the place he’s trying to get me to flip. “This is the bail.”
What I wouldn’t give to have someone bail me out of this right now. I’m swimming up shit’s creek without a paddle. His arms are wrapped around me, holding me against his chest, and it feels too good.
“If you say so,” I manage to sound halfway normal.
“I do. Okay, we are going to pull the rod back, and when we rock back forward, you’re going to ease up on the line and let it go, okay?”
I nod and pray I can hold on to the rod, line, and my self-control.
When he does the motion, my back is flat against his chest, and I want to close my eyes and sink into him. He’s so warm, smells so good, and looks so unbelievably handsome that I’m not sure I will be able to keep from mounting him if he doesn’t stop touching me soon.
Once we’re stretched back, Jacob brings our arms forward, and I watch the hook go flying forward into the creek.
“I did it!”
When he speaks, his voice is low and filled with heat. “You did.” I feel his lips graze the shell of my ear and then move toward my neck.