Chapter Three - Jessica

I slid into Jacob’s truck and watched as Mason grabbed the door handle to the passenger seat. The bucket seats were old and left little room as both of them climbed inside. Mason’s warmth settled against my right side and his scent wafted over me. This was madness. I’d been at a university for four years with thousands of guys but none of them had this sort of effect on me. Jacob started his old farm truck and backed out of the driveway. I cleared my throat and spread my palms down my thighs. “Do you guys go riding often?” I asked. Jacob pushed on the gas and I jerked backward against the seat. “We do when we have time. Most of us have jobs and Liam is attending the local college.” Intertwining my fingers in my lap, I was very aware that Mason’s body was brushing against mine. Get. It. Together. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply. “What do you do, Mason?” I mustered up the courage to ask. He shifted, almost nervously, and cleared his throat. “I work at the sawmill with Jacob and I fill in at my Gran's bookstore when I can.” “There is a local bookstore?” I asked. Mason nodded and his green gaze settled on mine. “Yeah, Gran’s taste still lingers with the 1980s Fabio romance novels but the older woman in town enjoy it.” I chuckled. “Don’t knock ‘em to you try ‘em,” I said. Jacob laughed. “You read smut in your free time, Jess?” A feverish blush warmed my skin. “No, not usually. I’ve been busy for the past four years. I read many thriller mysteries. I dabble in an occasional werewolf romance. Sue me.” They became oddly still and uncomfortable which startled me. Jacob rarely became uncomfortable. He drove us to Aunt Tasha’s small cottage on the outskirts of town and parked. Jacob got out and I slid after Mason. “Come on, Mason. Hop on the back and I’ll give you a ride to your four-wheeler. Is it at your Grans?” Mason ran his fingers into his dark hair. “Yeah, you sure you don’t mind. I could run over…” Jacob shot Mason a look that I couldn’t decipher. What did it matter to Jacob if Mason wanted to run to get his four-wheeler? I folded my arms while watching their exchange. “Okay,” Mason said. Jacob walked toward his four-wheeler parked underneath a magnolia tree and slung his leg over. “Come on, Jess. Sandwich between us.” Oh, God. Another round of sweat dripped down the back of my neck and soaked into my T-shirt. I climbed on behind Jacob, realizing how big he was in front of me. Mason got on behind me, his thighs touching my hips and electricity zapped down my body. Why did that keep happening? This T-shirt had never attracted static before… Jacob pushed the gas and I flung forward against his back and then backward against Mason. His strong arms steadied me and his warmth seeped into my veins. “Watch it, Jacob, you birdturd. I’m going to fall off.” Jacob chuckled. “You’ve lost your edge since moving to Denver.” I rolled my eyes and felt Mason’s body move as he chuckled behind me. The drive to Mason’s Gran’s house was long. I was surprised he’d wanted to run the entire way. Maybe he was in track growing up. Jacob swerved into the driveway, surprising me by running over a bump and bounding me upward. Mason reached out, circled his arm around my waist, and drew me back against him. The movement sent me into a lustful pool of desire and irritation. Jacob laughed but Mason reached over and smacked the back of his head. “Chill out, she almost fell.” He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Sorry, Jessica. I don’t want to deter you from staying.” “Is this what this four-wheeler ride is about? Encouraging me to stay?” Mason slipped off from behind me, and a chill raked down my spine. “Maybe,” Jacob said, turning to look at me. “I want you to stay. Mom needs you to keep up the place…” “Why can’t you do it?” I countered. “You live here. You have a job and a life here. I don’t.” Mason glanced at Jacob as he climbed onto his four-wheeler. Jacob sighed. “I can’t keep that house up the way you can. You can work from home…plus, she wanted you to have it.” Which still didn’t make any sense to me. I rubbed my forehead with my fingertips. I wished my mother was around to talk to. She’d have some good advice to give me. Some that would help me decide what to do. “I don’t know, Jacob…” He huffed out frustratingly and turned to face the front. “Hold on. Mason isn’t back there to keep you on anymore.” He jolted forward as I wrapped my arms around his waist. The wind blew in my hair as he hit every bump from here to Timbuktu. I was sure he did it on purpose. Mason kept close on our tail as the other boys joined us somewhere amongst the dirty hills they used to ride. After what seemed like hours, my shoulders had loosened with the tension of the day. Grandmother’s funeral lingered in the back of my thoughts, as did her proposition. Live in this Podunk town in Louisiana for one year. Why? I wanted to know why she chose me. I hadn’t been to visit in ages… Jacob halted to a stop and I jerked forward against his broad back. I grumbled as the other boys raced over and parked in a semi-circle around us. Mason’s emerald green eyes met mine over Jacob’s shoulder. “That was fun,” Seth said. “We haven’t done that in ages.” “Here we go,” Jacob mumbled. “Don’t start complaining.” Seth chuckled and winked at me. I looked down at Jacob’s back and leaned back to glance at the sky. The sun was lowering over the trees in the distance and the boys all seemed to notice it at the same time. “It’s time to get back,” Mason said swiftly, revving his motor. I glanced around at these grown men wondering what the hurry was. “Do you have a curfew?” I asked. Liam snorted and sped off toward a trail in the corner of the vacant field. Jacob shrugged and pushed his fingers into his hair. “No, there are just wild animals that roam at night. You should stay inside.” A shiver ran down my spine at the thought of animals roaming so near to where I’d be sleeping. I shifted, and Mason seemed to notice my unease. “As long as you stay inside, you’ll be fine.” I nodded. “Is Aunt Tasha going to stay over tonight?” “I’m not sure, she has to work in the morning. Are you scared?” Jacob asked, smiling back at me. “I’ve been having these crazy dreams…I’m sure I’ll be okay.” “I can stay in one of the guest bedrooms if you want,” Seth said. A low growl sounded from close by and I jumped at the noise. “What was that?” I asked. “Just a dog or something,” Jacob said. “I’ll come by tonight and keep you company. I’ll see y’all later.” Jacob swerved his four-wheeler around as I clung to his body. I dared a glance over my shoulder, noticing Mason watching us drive away. Maybe he felt that same electricity as I did? Either way, I waved until we disappeared into a patch of trees that stood between us and the dirt road home. Jacob parked close to the front porch and walked me inside. Aunt Tasha’s vehicle was long gone and the loneliness of the house settled into my bones. I looked at the clean kitchen and the plate of food sitting out on the counter. “What time will you come by? Are you staying now?” Jacob looked back at the door. “I have a few things to do at the house. I’ll be back by soon. If not, I’ll send Mason over to check on you.” Another round of crimson heat touched my cheeks. “Okay. I’m going to sleep in the downstairs guest room. It’s the least scary.” Jacob smiled. “You have nothing to worry about, Jessica. I promise you’re safe here. I’ll check the windows and the doors before I leave.” Knowing I was going to be alone had me on edge. I grabbed the plate from the kitchen and pulled back the plastic wrap. “Please, answer if I call you,” I mumbled. Jacob walked toward the door. “I’ll be back soon. Relax. Grandma has a TV in the living room and her room upstairs.” I wasn’t staying in her room upstairs. It was too soon. A wolf howled in the distance and I tightened my fingers around my fork. “I’ll be back,” he said. The door shut and I walked over to lock the deadbolt behind him. The sun had sunk beneath the forest in the distance and left me feeling more alone than ever. I couldn’t imagine Grandmother living here alone for all those years. I grabbed my plate and walked to the guest bedroom. As fun as today was, I was positive that I couldn’t agree to stay here. There was no way I was living in this house alone.