in behind the wheel, he cranked the engine, suddenly aware of her sweet fragrance permeating the air. He stole a quick glance. Annie sat pressed against the passenger-side door as if ready to jump out at any moment. He set his jaw. Her aunt had painted him with a very black brush. Suddenly it became important to prove her wrong.
“I won’t bite you. I promise.” Her cheeks turned a very pretty shade of pink and she quickly looked away, though she kept stealing quick peeks at him as he drove. “Go ahead.”
“What?”
“I can practically hear the questions rattling around in your head. Go ahead and ask them before you burst.”
She took her time replying. “You’re not what I expected.”
He uttered a small grunt of amusement. “Let me guess. You expected a tattooed, earring-wearing biker dude with a chip on his shoulder.”
She looked away.
“Don’t feel bad. It’s what everyone expects of a foster kid.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to appear so unfeeling,”
The pity in her tone scraped across every nerve. He gripped the wheel a little tighter. “No need.” Jake pulled to a stop in the parking lot of the county courthouse and got out.
Annie joined him, walking stiffly at his side. He pulled open the large wooden door and they stepped from the humid August air into the cool interior. After checking the directory, they took the stairs to the office on the second floor.
Jake requested the permits and took the applications to a nearby table. “How’s your handwriting? Mine isn’t so hot. You should probably fill them out.”
“Okay, but you’ll have to tell me what to put down.”
Jake pulled up a chair as close to hers as he could, leaning toward her so he could give her the information she needed. Too late he realized his mistake. His closeness made him acutely aware of her silky hair brushing her shoulders. Everything about her screamed femininity. Even her handwriting as she wrote was filled with curvy, ladylike strokes. He had a hard time believing she was as vindictive as her aunt. No one who looked like a fresh spring day could have a black heart.
Paperwork complete, Jake returned it to the desk. “Next up, utility permits.”
“Where’s that?”
“Down the hall.” Annie stepped over to the water fountain while he continued on. He inhaled a deep breath, welcoming the brief separation. Being close to her did strange things to his senses, and he didn’t welcome the feelings that stirred up. Women hadn’t played a part in his life since Crystal had canceled their wedding a week before the ceremony.
A man approached him as he neared the office door.
“Jake. Good to see you.”
Jake grinned and grasped his hand. “Same here, Judge.”
“I was sorry to hear your sentence was extended. I’d hoped with Mrs. Owens passing that would all end. I’ve always regretted that arrangement but at the time, well...” He patted Jake on the shoulder. “I’ll keep you in my prayers, son.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Annie met Jake’s gaze and then quickly looked away, but not before he saw the questions flare up in her blue eyes. He pushed open the office door and took care of the permits.
Back in the SUV Annie fell silent again and he noticed her rubbing her thumbnail, a gesture he suspected meant she was either stressed or confused. “I feel more questions coming on.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because you get all quiet and tense and you worry your thumb.” She quickly clasped her hands in her lap.
She was silent a long moment before speaking. “The man you spoke with.”
“Judge Rankin. He worked out my sentence with your aunt and uncle.”
“He sounded like he regretted it. Do you?”
The muscle in his jaw flexed as he tried to form a response. He regretted everything about that night. “It was better than prison.” It was time to turn the tables. He had a few questions of his own. “You’re not what I expected either.”
“Oh. In what way?”
“You’re not like your aunt.” The two women were like darkness and light. Ice and sunshine.
“I’m nothing like her.”
There was an edge to her words. Had he insulted her? “Then why are you continuing her retaliation?”
“I’m not. I’m honoring her wishes. Big difference.”
“Not to me. Do you agree with this arrangement?”
She kept her face averted. “It doesn’t matter if I agree or not. It has to be this way. It’s about family.”
What did she mean by that? Was she saying she’d do whatever her aunt asked regardless of the circumstances? Jake pulled into the school parking lot, stopping near her car. Annie immediately opened her door.
“Wait. I have your committee packet.”
“I’ll get it later. I’ve got to get home to the twins.” She shut the door, not waiting for him to reply.
He watched her hurry to her car like someone was chasing her. Did she fear him that much? What had she meant about it having to be this way? Did she mean his sentence? Or something else?
He waited for her to drive off and then let his foot off the brake. So much had happened today and he had no idea how to deal with it all.
Maybe she was right. Maybe working together wasn’t a good idea. It definitely would create a lot of tension unless they found some common ground. For reasons he didn’t quite understand, he wanted her to see the man he was now—a responsible adult, a productive member of society—but maybe she’d never be able to see beyond the accident.
What would she do if he told her the truth about that night? Would she believe him? Probably not. He doubted anyone would. It’s why he’d kept silent about the accident all these years.
An accident that didn’t happen the way people believed.
* * *
Annie watched her sons enjoying their meal that evening with gusto. Their appetites were growing as fast as they were. Listening to them talk about playing with Denise’s kids helped relieve her stress over the unsettling events of the day. Sharing quiet time with them was a blessing. There’d been precious few of those when their father was alive.
Her conscience rose up and stung her. It wasn’t as if she were glad that their father was gone, but life was so much more peaceful without his drunken rages.
Ryan took a sip of his sweet tea. “I’m glad we moved here, Mom. There’s lots of kids to
