Haley's Cabin (13 page)

world felt whole and clean again. How was a man supposed to live without something so sweet?

The house was dark, but he could see a single light on and there was a big white SUV in the driveway.

Haley drove a Jeep, so who the hell owned the SUV?

She’d mentioned a friend.

Jane, Joyce, no Janice, that was it. Maybe the SUV was hers. It’d better be or there’d be hell to pay.

Jeremy stared at the vehicle a moment longer before he grabbed his keys and left the truck. As he

walked to the front porch, he took a moment to remember how shitty the last two days had been. He

hadn’t made it clear to her on Saturday, but he hoped she counted Sunday as day one. Maybe she

wasn’t expecting him until tomorrow. Maybe she thought Sunday was a free day since it’d technically

been part of the weekend and therefore part of their time together.

“Fuck it,” Jeremy grumbled. It was Tuesday evening and he wasn’t waiting a minute longer. He’d bitten

the head off every person unfortunate enough to cross his path on Monday. He’d been an asshole to his

brother Saturday after Haley had left and then for good measure he’d called Brad on Sunday to bitch him

out some more.

The truth was, Jeremy had nearly made himself sick with worry. Worry that once Haley had had a few

days to herself, she’d realize what a mistake it was to become involved with a man she barely knew.

Hopefully, he wouldn’t have to kidnap her sexy ass and bring her back to the cabin where he could

convince her, in his own way, what an awesome couple they made.

Then again, that thought wasn’t so bad either.

He knocked on the door and waited. He looked down at his clothes and could have kicked himself. A

ratty old blue T-shirt and jeans. He could have at least dressed nice when he declared his love for the

woman. After a few minutes, he spotted the doorbell so he rang that instead. Finally, the door opened

and a man answered. A wet man. Wearing a towel. Fuck that.

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Jeremy swung the glass storm door open and punched the half-naked man square in the nose. The

bastard landed on his ass and cursed.

“Son of a bitch! What the hell was that for?”

Then he heard a female voice shout, “Oh my God!” When Haley ran into the room and saw the bloody

nose, she started to scream. “Oh my God! Are you okay?”

Oh, gee, now isn’t this sweet. She’s worried about her bleeding lover.
Jeremy felt a lump form in his

throat over the concern in her eyes.

Readying himself for battle, he braced his legs apart, hooked his thumbs in his pants and accused, “I see

you had no trouble moving on, baby.”

Haley peeked out the door and frowned. “Jay? What on earth is the matter with you?”

The asshole in the towel was getting up off the floor, which wasn’t the brightest idea in the world,

considering the mood Jeremy was in. He wiped the blood off his face and glared at Jeremy as if he was

the one in the wrong. Ha! Jeremy smirked at him, never once taking his eyes off the interloper as he

spoke to Haley.

“It’s been two days and you’ve already got a man in your bed.” He growled, then his gaze moved from

the man and onto Haley. He looked at her from head to toe and his heart beat faster at the sexy picture

she presented.

She wore a tight pink v-neck T-shirt and a pair of tiny white shorts. No bra. She looked good enough to

eat. “Guess it wasn’t true love, after all. Huh, sweetheart?”

Haley placed one hand on her hip and the other on the half-naked man’s shoulder. Jeremy stiffened as

he glared at her hand. “Jay Pickett, I’d like you to meet my
brother
, Rick Thorne.”

He looked at the guy —really looked—and much to his dismay he could see a striking family

resemblance. The man was like a bigger, harder version of Haley. Same dark hair, same penetrating

green eyes and they sported identical scowls.

“Shit,” Jeremy mumbled, then he raked a hand through his hair. Oh sure, he was thrilled Haley hadn’t

indeed moved on, but he’d just managed to decrease his chances of having Haley—heart, body and

soul—to pretty much nil.

“You could say that,” she chastised, “or you could apologize.”

She scowled, but she wasn’t shutting the door in his face. That had to be a good sign.

She said a little louder, “Now would be a good time, Jay.”

Jesus, it was no damn wonder he’d steered a wide path around relationships. He was a friggin’ disaster

with them.

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Jeremy apologized to Rick, then Haley somehow weaseled an apology out of him for herself as

well—seemed he’d gotten some of Rick’s blood on her carpet. Now Jeremy not only felt like a fool, but

also an unruly little boy. It wasn’t until she’d gotten her apology that she’d allowed him into her house.

Her place was pretty. Feminine, like Haley. Large, beige couches and hardwood floors in the living

room. She also had a beige and burgundy area rug in front of the fireplace. Jeremy could easily picture

the two of them lying on it, twined together and making love in the winter months. He balled his fists at his

sides to hold himself in check.

Her living room was spacious and uncluttered. As she led him to the kitchen, which was to the back of

the house, he was pleased to see it was just as roomy. A large island sat in the center with stools around

two sides. He liked her house, feminine accents and all. It fit her perfectly.

Rick—much to Jeremy’s dismay—followed them into the kitchen. Evidently he’d decided not to leave

his baby sister alone with a lunatic.

“So, what business do you have with Haley?”

Jeremy had to give the guy credit. In nothing but a towel, Rick stood firm in his brotherly role.

Admirable, even if he was a nuisance.

“I mean no disrespect, but this is a private matter,” Jeremy shot right back.

He should have just told him his intent—that he was here to pronounce his undying love. But he wanted

to be alone with Haley when he laid open his heart. The last thing he needed was an audience if she was

going to reject him.

Rick started forward, but Haley stopped him, putting her hand against his chest. “Please, Rick, go out on

your date. Jay and I have a lot to talk about.” Rick looked down at her and scowled. Haley patted him

as if he were a loyal puppy. “I’ll be fine, really.”

He didn’t seem to believe that, though, as he flatly stated, “Her ex-husband was an abusive bastard. She

went through hell once already. I won’t see it happen again.”

Jeremy didn’t like being put in the same class as Eric. “I’m not her ex-husband, so don’t go making the

mistake of thinking I’m anything like him.”

“If you hurt my sister in any way, I’ll come after you and I’ll make you very, very sorry. Got me?”

He wanted to laugh, but he knew he shouldn’t. Rick couldn’t have known he’d just threatened a

member of the Columbus police. Still, Jeremy sucked it up and gave her brother his due.

“I got you, Rick. Just so we’re clear here, Haley is a big girl and she can handle herself. It seems to me

she proved that when she divorced Eric.”

Rick nodded and looked at Haley, brotherly pride shining in his eyes. “I suppose you’re right about

that.”

Haley spoke from her position at the stove where she’d been stirring a pot of something. She’d left them

to their arguing, obviously not willing to take part in their little testosterone performance.

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“Of course I can handle myself. I’m not an idiot, Rick.”

Rick moved beside her and turned her toward him. His voice was tender when he said, “I know that,

sis. Still, I can’t help but feel like shit for being out in California and leaving you to deal with Eric on your

own.”

She smiled at him. “I wanted to handle it on my own. If I’d wanted interference, I could have gone to

Mom and Dad.”

“That whole situation sucked. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She smacked his chest. “Could you please give me a little bit of credit? I do have some sense, you

know. I’m not dumb enough to get mixed up with two idiots. One was my limit. I learned my lesson,

believe me.” She sighed and looked at Jeremy this time when she said reproachfully, “And I do wish

people would stop trying to tell me I don’t know my own mind.”

Rick ruffled her hair as if she were a child. “You’ve always been too sassy for your own good.”

She laughed and pushed him away from her. “Go on your date, I’ve got your cell number if I need you.”

Jeremy was fascinated as he watched the byplay. He’d never had a sister, but he figured if he did, he’d

be just as protective of her as Rick was with Haley. His respect for the man grew.

Before Rick left, however, he grabbed an ice-pack out of the freezer, then glared at Jeremy and

stomped off to get dressed.

With her brother out of the room, Haley turned to Jeremy and invited him to stay for dinner. “It’s only

spaghetti with meat sauce and bread sticks, nothing fancy.”

He leaped at the offer. “I’m not a fancy man. Spaghetti sounds great.”

Apparently, she’d been in the middle of cooking dinner for herself, but there was still plenty for two. The

aromatic scents of breadsticks fresh from the oven and spicy meat sauce filled the air. Suddenly, he was

starving.

He helped her set the plates around the island, and soon they were situated on the stools. She was a

great cook. Just another mysterious Haley fact. He didn’t know much about her, but he was truly loving

the discovery.

Leave it to him to fall in love backwards.

Sometime during dinner, Rick popped back in to say he was leaving. He asked Haley if she’d be all right

without him, making Jeremy want to hit him again, only harder this time. Haley cut him off at the pass by

swearing she’d be fine. He gave her a peck on the cheek, gave Jeremy a look of warning, then left.

They were alone in the house and Jeremy hadn’t been able to take his eyes off her.

She was beautiful.

It had only been two days and he was ready to take her to the bedroom and make love to her all over

again. But he could see by her body language she wouldn’t be too keen on the idea. If nothing else, he

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did know how to read a woman’s body language. And most especially Haley’s. Besides, they had things

to straighten out first.

He made an attempt at small talk as he shored up his nerve. “I thought you said Rick was married.”

She frowned. “Yes, he was. They got a dissolution pretty much right after they were married.” She

shrugged. “According to Rick, they both realized they’d made a horrible mistake. Rick is home now and

I think he may be wanting to move back, leave California for good.”

“That sounds promising.” Jeremy could care less about Rick and his marital woes, but he wasn’t ready

to profess his feelings just yet. He wanted to watch her for a few more minutes. He could spend his life

watching Haley.

“Yes, it would be wonderful. I never much liked having him so far away.”

Suddenly, he blurted, “I’m sorry, Haley.”

She set her fork down and stopped eating, but she never looked at him and that nearly killed him.

“You already apologized for the blood.”

Her voice was so quiet and she seemed so fragile. The distance between them was too much. Jeremy

left the stool and went to her, crouching low beside her. He placed his hand on her thigh and thrilled at

the small contact. “I’m not apologizing for that, baby. I’m apologizing for being a dickhead back at the

cabin.”

She turned to him and Jeremy felt himself drowning in her expressive eyes. They were so vivid, so full of

emotion. “What do you mean?” she asked, still hesitant and wary.

Jeremy rubbed his palm over her thigh, aching to be able to do more, and whispered, “I should have told

you I love you. I should have trusted you to know your own mind.” Her eyes began to fill and he went

on, scared and anxious all at once. “I was the one who was afraid. You handed me your heart and I was

scared to give you mine in return.” He sighed. “I’m sorry for not being as brave as you were.”

“Oh, Jay!” Haley leaped from the stool.

“Oomph.” He caught her, but her momentum knocked him backwards and they both landed on the

floor, Jeremy on the bottom and Haley flush against him. He wrapped his arms around her and felt a

tremble. He was shocked to the core when he learned it was his body that shook with emotion.

“I love you, but I was terrified if I told you that, you’d somehow wake up and see you were only

interested in me for the sex.”

Haley grabbed his face in her hands and kissed him all over. His cheeks, his eyes, then finally his mouth.

At the first feather-light whisper of her lips on his, Jeremy took command. Prying her lips apart, he

sucked her tongue into his mouth and felt her melt against him. His heart jumped. She wasn’t just an

aberration. She was real and she was in his arms and she was everything he’d ever wanted in a woman.

He pulled away from her questing tongue and demanded, “Say it, Haley. Say you love me. I want to

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hear those words leave your mouth right now with you here on top of me. I want that before I make love

to you, baby. So say it quick.”

She laughed full out. “You are quite demanding aren’t you?”

His brows drew together as he realized she was teasing him. “Say it or I’m liable to spank your sweet

ass for disobeying me.”

She pretended to think about it, then in a husky bedroom voice said, “I don’t know. You’re the one