Hidden Shadows (The Shadow Series Book 1) (9 page)

But a place like this would do too
, he conceded, observing the quaint Cape Cod style homes. Be nice to have a neighbor to walk to if you needed a cup of sugar, or hear the sounds of kids playing. Plus, it was far enough away from the masses but close enough if you wanted to take a night out.

He guessed that’s what made the small town have so much appeal. It was just over a thirty-mile drive north to Nashville. Not only was there always some shindig with music going on—usually country, of course—but couples and families could go in for a good dinner, a play, or a Predators game. This time of year there was the extra incentive to make the trip to see his beloved Titans knock the other guys around.

All in all, the neighborhood of Spring Woods was a place of peace with a few people scattered in the mix.

From his post across the street, Ben watched as a shiny SUV pulled in the driveway at 455 Meadow Drive.

He should just turn around, get back to work and get the shrubs in the ground and watered before days end. But his curiosity was peaked, and he couldn’t help but wonder who that car belonged to and why it arrived at Jenna Gregor’s home.

To his recollection, Jenna drove a car. And he was certain his memory was accurate since he stood staring at the Nissan’s disappearing taillights for a good five minutes in the Kidz Land parking lot the night she reverted his hormones back to emerging puberty days.

When no one came around the front walk after several minutes, Ben assumed they entered through another door or the garage.

Ridiculous that he stood there wanting to know if the guest in the SUV was male. Who was he to judge what visitors came knocking at Jenna’s door? It’s not like he’d gotten around to asking her out yet.

And he would. It was all about timing, though. He just hadn’t found that moment yet. Plus, she was still warming up to him. He wasn’t sure at this point if she’d laugh, blow him off, punch his lights out, or show that sexy side if he offered a night out.

Not to mention she’d made it quite clear that she was not open for dating. Except for that unclear signal when she’d baited him, hook, line and sinker last week in that parking lot.

And those little telltale signs she unconsciously emitted whenever she was near him—the colorful cheeks, the hesitant eye-contact, the shy smile he couldn’t help find endearing and sexy.

Either she found him as attractive as he found her, or he terrified her.

No time like the present to find out.

“Hey, Butch,” Ben called to the most senior of his crew, “gonna take a ten. That good for you?"

“We’ve got her covered, boss. Just a few more root balls to plant and we’ll have the House of Roses about done."

Ben chuckled. Butch and the guys got a laugh over this house. The old lady wanted an entire bed of roses, literally. The whole of the front yard beds were being outfitted in pink, white, yellow, and red roses. It was going to be a doozy caring for, but she said she’d be up for it, that she loved gardening. Ben didn’t mind one way or the other, just wanted to please the client.

He eyed Butch as he removed his gloves, tossed them in the bed of the truck. “Keep the rest of these goons under control.”

Butch laughed, nodded as he bent to transfer potted plant to ground.

Certain he had the job site covered, Ben turned with purposeful strides toward the house across the street.

He bet Jenna Gregor wouldn’t have any questions at all about his sexual preference after he was through.

Jenna was proud of herself. She’d finally done it. She’d bought that new car she’d needed for at least a year now. To her, new was a pre-owned model with 10,000 miles, but same difference. The important thing was she’d done it—bitten the bullet of nerves and anxiety about finances and making the right choice, and she’d made the purchase.

She knew people wondered, and some even had the nerve to ask, what she was doing with a car like the Sentra that sputtered every time it roared to life and was nearing the 200,000 mile mark. As a Nurse Practitioner with a respected clinic wing devoted solely to her and her team, people expected her to be driving around in top-of-the-line luxury. What they didn’t know or understand was that Jenna wasn’t your typical physician—in practice or lifestyle.

While she had the knowledge and ability to practice very similarly to a Medical Doctor—see patients, diagnose, write prescriptions—she had veered away from that type of work and focused more on the psychology and educational side in the Perinatal Wing. Plus, let's face it, MD or not, her duties in the past and now were different than one who transplanted a heart and her pay reflected that.

Not that she had any complaints. She was doing fine by her standards for a single mom. Better than fine. She lived in a wonderful house, was able to feed her kids, put them in recreational activities, and have a small amount left over for the occasional get away (occasional being the key word). But a fifty thousand dollar car just wasn’t in the cards when you had two kids and a mortgage.

Keith was supposed to be giving her—i.e. the kids—a chunk of his hefty salary, but do you think she saw any of that? A twenty here and there for the kids on the weekends they were actually with him, and a handful of times since the divorce she'd received a check from his book, but it was nothing significant. Definitely not the amount the court said he should be paying.

Robin had blasted Jenna several times about taking him back to court and reporting his behavior or lack thereof. But Jenna didn’t want the hassle, for herself or the kids. She was getting by okay, she just had to leave out a few luxury’s here and there.

They were over-indulgent wants anyway, if she was being perfectly honest. Plus, she liked to think the ever-present budget made her and grateful for what she did have. Hard work brought rewards, saving brought well-earned wishes.

Today, her wish for reliability in a vehicle had been granted. She grinned, satisfied with herself, as she admired the Jeep in its new space in the garage.

After saving, planning, crunching numbers and too much contemplating, she’d finally gone to the dealership this morning, talked with Jim—the only salesman who didn’t try to schmooze or woo her into buying something—and settled on the Jeep Compass for its safety, efficiency, and roomy back seat.

Surprisingly, they’d taken her beater as a trade-in, and she’d driven off the lot an even happier woman. Add all that to the fact that Keith had actually come through this weekend and taken the kids, and she might as well call today a vacation.

Her agenda had only a handful of items on it, and they all included some form of relaxation or fun. It felt wonderful.

Maybe she should call Robin, invite her over to grill out, watch a movie. She could show off the Jeep, too.

Toeing off her shoes in the laundry room, Jenna grabbed her phone and made her way to the kitchen to see what she could round up for a cookout.

When the doorbell chimed, she furrowed her brow at the unexpected visitor.

Making her way to the front door, she peered through the peephole. And for the first time since meeting him (and possibly the only time it had ever happened in his life), she actually laughed at the way Ben Aston looked. Through the fisheye glass, his head was distorted, a bulbous balloon atop a pencil-thin neck and slight shoulders.

She opened the door, still grinning, and was not greeted with the same distortedness. He was hot, sweaty, a little dirty, and looked absolutely wonderful.

“You look happy.”

“Well, hello to you too,” she teased, trying not to stare at the damp shirt that clung to sculpted shoulders and defined abs. He didn’t grin back. "Is there a reason you’re
un
happy?”

“What makes you think I’m unhappy?”

“Your scowl. It’s intense.”

The scowl softened and the smirk she’d come to know and appreciate finally appeared. “The more important question is, do you think I look good with a scowl?”

She laughed, not deliberating the answer to that question—it was a resounding
Yes
—but curious when she would learn why Ben Aston was standing at her front door.

“I’d assume that is important with you,” she smiled easily and laid her hand on the door jamb, unconsciously leaning toward him. "And yes, since you noticed, I am in a very good mood today. There’s a beautiful, much-needed new car in my garage.”

His tense shoulders visibly relaxed. “I saw you pull in. It’s nice.”

“You saw me? From where?” She stuck her head further out the doorway.

Ben gestured across the street. “Starting, and hopefully finishing, a job today. Couldn’t miss that glossy new car. I wondered who was inside.”

She arched a brow. “You wondered who was inside a car pulling in my driveway?”

He shrugged. “Gauging my competition. Wondered if I have any. Thought that’s why you were so giddy when you opened the door.”

Her heart did a little dance, but she laughed, shrugging off his comment with a wave of her hand. “The last person on earth coming to see me on a free weekend would be a man.”

“No kids?”

“No. Their dad has them this weekend. Which, unfortunately, is rare.”

“Hmm. His loss.”

She smiled fleetingly as the wind picked up, kicked a few fallen leaves to dance onto the porch at their feet. “I think so. At least where the kids are concerned.”

“I’d say it’s a loss on all three of you.”

She dropped her eyes and couldn’t hide the smile.

“Any plans for your time off?”

“Oh, I’m sure I’ll find something to occupy the hours. Of course there’s always the option to cruise around town, show off my new ride with the windows down and the car seat strapped in. I’m sure that’ll bag a man.”

Ben laughed, a great manly sound she enjoyed hearing. When she looked up at him, framed by the backdrop of a crisp blue sky and a climbing autumn sun, she was glad he’d dropped by, no matter what the reason. For the first time since meeting him, she wasn’t on edge. She was being herself, and she liked it.

So her heart was thumping about three skips faster than normal, but she liked that too. And she’d come to expect it when he was around.

“If you need a passenger—and I’d like to point out that I’m also male—I should be done around,” he glanced at the thick black band on his wrist, “six-ish."

“I’ll take that into consideration.” Noting his damp shirt again, she realized that even with the persistent breeze the sun had warmed the air considerably already. She glanced over his shoulder to where his workers dug and hauled across the street. “Warm out today. Do your guys need anything? Or you? What about a drink?”

“A drink would be great. Thanks.”

“I can make up a pitcher if you want. Water or lemonade. You can take it over.”

“I’d appreciate it.”

Because she was enjoying him and his company, because this day and this moment felt easy, natural, right, she opened the door wider, gestured. “Kitchen’s right in here if you want to wait.”

He followed her inside, and the moment his booted foot hit her hardwood, the fear flared.

She wasn’t afraid of him, no. But afraid of herself. Of what she might feel if she was alone with him, without her child as a buffer, without an excuse to leave or run.

She was afraid of what she was already feeling, if she was real and honest with herself. Afraid that they hadn’t even begun anything and he already stirred things inside of her she hadn’t felt in too long. Maybe ever.

And he could see through her. He’d already proven that the day at the clinic when he’d placed his work-worn hands on her skin. She knew now if she got too close to him in any physical way he’d see her skipping heart, he’d know about her fluttering belly.

As they moved from entryway to kitchen, Ben spoke behind her. “There is one thing, Jenna. Something I wanted to clarify.”

She took a breath. Here it was, the something. Didn’t she know it would come sometime? And just as she was getting comfortable being uncomfortable around him. Figured.

Was it her kids? Her work? A huge hidden secret?

Ready to face whatever it was sooner rather than later, she turned.

In an instant, before she had time to protest or even think about protesting, Ben wrapped an arm around her waist, eased his tall frame on one of the stools at the kitchen’s bar so they were eye to eye.

Staring at the intense green, her fears were confirmed. He was trouble.

Without a word, he inched her closer, situating her body between his legs. She tried to think, tried to breathe, but it was difficult.

Swiftly now, he cupped the back of her neck, gently pulled her face to his, and put his lips on hers with a fierceness she expected a man like Bennett Aston would have.

His lips were warm, surprisingly soft, and possessed a strength that had her melting into his body. He knew how to move his mouth, his lips, his tongue, to provide absolute pleasure.

She wanted to pull away, get her wits about her,
think
about what was going on, but she couldn’t find the strength. He was crushing her defenses.

She was young and innocent again. Flips in the stomach, quickness in the heart, pulsing in the head, the loins.