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“Your damn sister.”
“It’s just because she loves you.”
“Well, at least she found me a pretty nurse.”
“She is that.” Jake stood. “So, will you please listen to the pretty nurse and do what she tells you to do?”
Jacob sighed. “I will.”
“Good. Can I get you anything?”
“No.”
“I’ll see you in the morning, then.”
“If the good Lord sees fit to make that happen.”
“Good night, Dad.”
The house was dark except for a small light in the kitchen and the light from the fireplace. Jake checked the fire one more time, then headed up the stairs with Rosie at his heels. There were motion-activated, recessed lights on the stairs. So as you went up the steps, each one lit up. Jacob was dead set against them at first. And Jake was a little skeptical. But he was glad he let J.T. talk him into it. They were quite convenient and pretty cool.
He reached the landing, then went down the hall to his room. There was light coming from under the doors of both Sage and Sawyer’s rooms. They’d most likely be up a while. Sage was an aspiring songwriter and a very talented singer. She’d be up for hours writing lyrics.
And Sawyer was probably reading. He was an avid reader. And next to working out, it was his favorite thing to do.
Jake went into his room and got into his pajamas, then settle down with a book. Reading was one of his favorite past times too. But tonight he was having trouble concentrating. There was something about Ember he couldn’t quite put his finger on. She reminded him of someone. And when she hugged him tonight. It felt so right. He tried to shake it off. She was a pretty woman who seemed to be quiteinteresting. Smart. Funny. “Don’t go there, Jake. She’s barely older than your kids.”
Rosie jumped onto the foot of the bed and Jake frowned at her. “Do you really think I was inviting you up here?”
Rosie wagged her tail and laid down next to his feet. Rosie was a puppy when Rachel died. And after she was gone, Jake found comfort in the dog, who seemed to sense his heart was shattered. They’d had a close bond ever since. Even if she started off on the floor every night. She was on the bed when Jake woke up in the morning.
He patted the bed next to him and Rosie belly-crawled to him and laid down with her head on his chest.
Jake put a hand on her. “What is it about Ember?” Rosie thumped her tail. “I know. I don’t get it either.”
Chapter twenty-seven
"Not manly enough for you?"
Ember parked Jacob’s truck close to the house, then went around to help him out, but he had the door open and one leg on the ground by the time she got there. Unfortunately, it was his bad leg, so he was struggling to put his weight on it.
He grumbled. “Damn leg.”
She took his arm. “Let me help you.”
He frowned at her, but gave into her help and she got him out of the truck and up the porch steps. “I’m prepared to not get back to where I was. But I’d be thankful to be able to get in and out of the damn truck by myself.”
“I’m pretty confident we’ll get you there and a lot further.”
“Hmm.”
Ember opened the door, and they went inside. He was still unsteady on his feet and she kept a hand on his arm until they got to the couch.
“Drop me here. I’m beginning to feel like ashut-in.”
“Can I get you anything else? Coffee? Something to eat?”
“No. I’m pretty sure that’s not in your job description. Go take some time for yourself.”
