home, little sister.”
“I thought you were twins.” Jennie waited beside him with her hands thrust into her pockets so they wouldn’t betray her unease.
“I’m older by fifteen minutes. That’s big-brother privileges in my book.” Ryder laughed.
“Is it time to go so soon, Ryder? Oh hi, Jennie. Hope you’re feeling better today, sugar,” Darleen purred as she slinked down the stairs, looking artfully disheveled.
Speechless, Jennie absorbed the details of Darleen’s appearance—smudged lipstick, mussed blonde hair, which had escaped its high ponytail, the sheer, cream blouse with half its buttons undone. The self-satisfied look on Darleen’s face grated. “Much better, thanks, although my ankle is in need of some TLC. I’ve been on it for too long.” Jennie smiled in an attempt to disguise her distress.
“Who needs TLC?” A relaxed Jared followed behind Darleen. His short hair stuck out at odd angles, and Jennie’s fingers itched to smooth it back into place. His lips were stained with a faint trace of lipstick, and only the top button on his jeans was fastened. He looked as though he’d dressed in haste. Jennie prayed her stomach wouldn’t rebel as it churned at the sight of him.
“Jennie’s ankle hurts again.” Darleen grabbed Jared’s hand as they reached the hallway.
“Nothing an ice pack and cool shower won’t fix.” Jennie wouldn’t be the object of their pity.
“Jen, you promised not to overdo it. What needs doing outside?” Jared’s concern sounded sincere. Too bad it wasn’t.
“It’s sorted.” Jennie didn’t bother to moderate her angry tone as she hobbled from the room. She listened to see if Jared called after her like she wanted him to. He didn’t.
In the sanctuary of her bathroom, Jennie turned on the shower, her body rigid with fury. Alone and safe, she leaned against the cool tiles and rolled her shoulders, letting out a pent-up breath when her tight muscles finally relaxed. She couldn’t stay on the ranch if Darleen became a permanent fixture.
The shower’s pulse beat a tattoo against her soft skin. Jared walked on eggshells whenever Darleen appeared, and she never failed to advertise their closeness when Jennie was around. Darleen saw herself as the new matriarch. Her bossiness at the funeral annoyed Jennie. Perhaps she’d earned her place as hostess there on her back. The nasty thought offered her little comfort. The idea of Jared and Darleen as lovers turned Jennie into a bitch and knotted her already queasy stomach.
Why had Jared kissed her if he loved Darleen? Perhaps he liked the taste of forbidden fruit. That wasn’t the Jared she knew, but maybe he’d changed in their years apart.
The shower ran cold, and Jennie grabbed a fluffy towel from the rail as she left the en suite. Fear crowded her tired mind until her head ached.
Jennie’s bedroom door opened after a cursory knock. Jared scanned the room and placed an ice-filled cloth on her nightstand.
“Is that for me? Thanks.”
Jared jumped at the sound of her voice. His gaze darted round the room, anywhere but toward her. “Yes, put it on your ankle. I’ll go so you can get dressed. We can talk later.” He sounded so reasonable; it grated on her already strung-out nerves. Perhaps he was anxious to get back to Darleen. No, she wouldn’t let him look after Jennie. If she was downstairs, Darleen would have come up too. Or more likely, brought the ice herself. It would have been another opportunity to make sure Jennie knew Darleen’s importance in Jared’s life.
Jared backed towards the door, his body poised for flight from the confrontation he didn’t want. Despite her anger, the ripple of muscles under his shirt made her mouth water as he straightened his shoulders.
“No. I want to talk now, Jared.” She half smiled when his fiery gaze rekindled.
“Jen, don’t do this,” he threatened.
Decision made, Jennie ignored him. They would do this—on her terms. “Sit down while I dress
“I thought you were twins.” Jennie waited beside him with her hands thrust into her pockets so they wouldn’t betray her unease.
“I’m older by fifteen minutes. That’s big-brother privileges in my book.” Ryder laughed.
“Is it time to go so soon, Ryder? Oh hi, Jennie. Hope you’re feeling better today, sugar,” Darleen purred as she slinked down the stairs, looking artfully disheveled.
Speechless, Jennie absorbed the details of Darleen’s appearance—smudged lipstick, mussed blonde hair, which had escaped its high ponytail, the sheer, cream blouse with half its buttons undone. The self-satisfied look on Darleen’s face grated. “Much better, thanks, although my ankle is in need of some TLC. I’ve been on it for too long.” Jennie smiled in an attempt to disguise her distress.
“Who needs TLC?” A relaxed Jared followed behind Darleen. His short hair stuck out at odd angles, and Jennie’s fingers itched to smooth it back into place. His lips were stained with a faint trace of lipstick, and only the top button on his jeans was fastened. He looked as though he’d dressed in haste. Jennie prayed her stomach wouldn’t rebel as it churned at the sight of him.
“Jennie’s ankle hurts again.” Darleen grabbed Jared’s hand as they reached the hallway.
“Nothing an ice pack and cool shower won’t fix.” Jennie wouldn’t be the object of their pity.
“Jen, you promised not to overdo it. What needs doing outside?” Jared’s concern sounded sincere. Too bad it wasn’t.
“It’s sorted.” Jennie didn’t bother to moderate her angry tone as she hobbled from the room. She listened to see if Jared called after her like she wanted him to. He didn’t.
In the sanctuary of her bathroom, Jennie turned on the shower, her body rigid with fury. Alone and safe, she leaned against the cool tiles and rolled her shoulders, letting out a pent-up breath when her tight muscles finally relaxed. She couldn’t stay on the ranch if Darleen became a permanent fixture.
The shower’s pulse beat a tattoo against her soft skin. Jared walked on eggshells whenever Darleen appeared, and she never failed to advertise their closeness when Jennie was around. Darleen saw herself as the new matriarch. Her bossiness at the funeral annoyed Jennie. Perhaps she’d earned her place as hostess there on her back. The nasty thought offered her little comfort. The idea of Jared and Darleen as lovers turned Jennie into a bitch and knotted her already queasy stomach.
Why had Jared kissed her if he loved Darleen? Perhaps he liked the taste of forbidden fruit. That wasn’t the Jared she knew, but maybe he’d changed in their years apart.
The shower ran cold, and Jennie grabbed a fluffy towel from the rail as she left the en suite. Fear crowded her tired mind until her head ached.
Jennie’s bedroom door opened after a cursory knock. Jared scanned the room and placed an ice-filled cloth on her nightstand.
“Is that for me? Thanks.”
Jared jumped at the sound of her voice. His gaze darted round the room, anywhere but toward her. “Yes, put it on your ankle. I’ll go so you can get dressed. We can talk later.” He sounded so reasonable; it grated on her already strung-out nerves. Perhaps he was anxious to get back to Darleen. No, she wouldn’t let him look after Jennie. If she was downstairs, Darleen would have come up too. Or more likely, brought the ice herself. It would have been another opportunity to make sure Jennie knew Darleen’s importance in Jared’s life.
Jared backed towards the door, his body poised for flight from the confrontation he didn’t want. Despite her anger, the ripple of muscles under his shirt made her mouth water as he straightened his shoulders.
“No. I want to talk now, Jared.” She half smiled when his fiery gaze rekindled.
“Jen, don’t do this,” he threatened.
Decision made, Jennie ignored him. They would do this—on her terms. “Sit down while I dress
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