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“Of course,” she replies before standing up and kissing both him and Nora on the cheek.
When the two of them are gone, she looks at me. “That little girl is crazy about you.”
“The feeling is mutual.”
“You hungry? I’ll make us something to eat.” She starts to stand up, but I stop her.
“Can I talk to you first?”
“Of course, Darlin’. What’s on your mind?”
I take a dramatic deep breath as though what I’m about to say will be rough. “I wanted to apologize for how I treated you the other day. I was frustrated and angry, and I took it out on you. I’m really sorry.”
She gives me a warm smile and pats the top of my hand. “It’s okay. Water under the bridge.”
Despite her faults, my momma has always been the queen of understanding. It was true when she put up with my daddy’s bullshit all those years, and it’s true now.
She adds, “Look, Jenna, I’m not trying to take away your independence. But the way I see it, that leg of yours will heal a whole lot faster if you had someone to help you out a little. It’s not going to do you any good to keep falling in the shower. I’ll try not to invade your space too much, but how about you let me help you out just a little? Then, maybe you won’t need someone like Shane to see you in the shower.”
I think about how I’m not entirely upset about Shane coming to help, and part of me is actually glad it was him. And since it happened, I can’t stop thinking about how I want to find an excuse to see him again.
And then, it hits me.
“Momma, I do think I have a way you can help.”
Chapter Fourteen
Shane
After my less than impressive date the other night, I’ve spent every day burying myself in work. If I’m exhausted after a long day, I can just pass out and not think about anything else.
That includes the fact that my grandpa has a terrible cough that seems only to be getting worse. And the stubborn old goat refuses to go to the doctor.
So, I come to the ranch, work my fingers to the bone, and go home and fall asleep.
But all of that does nothing to keep Jenna off my mind while I’m doing all those other things. I haven’t seen her since that day I helped her, so I don’t know why she’s set up shop in my head.
Alright, that’s not true. I do know why. Maybe that crush I had on Jenna back in high school hasn’t completely gone away. Although she does seem somewhat different now, she still has that certain quality that draws me to her.
Every time I think about her, though, I try to think about something else. It’s not like she’s shown any interest in me. I helped her when she needed it, and that’s the end of it.
But I think maybe I’m about to be proven wrong when I’m working out in the field, and I see a golf cart driving toward me. As it gets closer, I see it’s Jenna and Jonas. Jonas is driving and stops just short of me. When he steps out, he walks over to me and says, “Jenna wants to talk to you if you’ve got a minute.”
Taking my thick work gloves off, I walk over to her.
“Did you come all the way out here to see me?” I ask, taking a seat next to her on the cart.
“I needed to talk to you, but I realized I didn’t have your phone number.” She smiles at me, and it’s infectious. Immediately, I find myself grinning right back at her.
“Well, let’s fix that,” I say. “Pull out your phone.”
She unlocks it and pulls up her contact list before handing it to me. I enter all my information and give it back to her.
After she’s shoved it back in her pocket, I ask, “So, you must have a reason for wanting to talk to me. What’s going on?”
“Uhm, I realize I didn’t really thank you the other day for coming to help me. I’m sure it wasn’t exactly your idea of a good time.”
“I got to see Jenna Mitchell in the shower in nothing more than a towel. I’d say that’s exactly my idea of a good time,” I joke.
