“In the meantime, you’re poor little body is struggling so hard to carry our babies, and there is so little we can do to help,” Cole said. “Please let us do what we can to make you comfortable. It’s all we can offer.”
For once Jenna didn’t question herself. He was sincere, they both were, and she knew it. “Yes, please.”
“Fantastic,” Cole said with a grin. “Let’s get you laid down comfortably first.” He shifted her so she was lying down, then paused. “Is there any reason not to use this on other parts of your body?”
“No, not at all.”
“How would you feel if we took off your pajamas and rubbed it in all over? Would you like that? We’ll be good, I promise.”
“I’d love that,” she said honestly. “My skin feels so tight all the time but I can only apply moisturizer on the areas I can reach and with the bowling ball babies here, I can’t reach much.”
They both chuckled at that. Within moments they had her stripped and, at her suggestion, lying on a couple of large bath towels in the center of the bed to protect the bedding. They also draped another towel over her breasts and one across her hips to help her feel less exposed, which she appreciated. Then Dillon lit a couple of her favorite scented candles and turned the lights down before they both climbed onto the bed in their sleep shorts, one on either side of her.
Jenna closed her eyes as their strong hands gently rubbed the body butter into her skin, massaging the tight muscles in her legs and feet, going lightly over the areas where the bruises were fading, but still visible. They were both so gentle, their hands moving so slowly as they rubbed the butter into her tummy that it nearly brought tears to her eyes.
“Do you plan to breastfeed, Jenna?” Cole asked quietly as they shifted the towel and very carefully rubbed the butter into her breasts, their touch light and gentle. She’d already increased her bust size a couple of times and it instantly eased the tight feeling there, too.
“Absolutely,” she murmured softly. “Does that bother you?”
“Bother us?” Dillon asked in surprise, then smiled. “No honey, we can’t hardly wait to watch you with our babies at your breast.”
“I can’t wait to experience it,” she said, her eyes still closed. They massaged her shoulders and arms, avoiding sore spots and bruises, then shifted her to her side so they could work on her back. When they were finished and moved her to her back again she smiled up at them.
“Thank you so much,” she said sleepily. “That was wonderful.”
“I’m glad we’re able to do something that makes you feel better and relaxes you,” Cole said, putting the lid back on the jar. “We’ll do this every night before bed.”
“You don’t have to do it every night,” she said.
“We know we don’t have to, but we want to,” Dillon said. “Besides, we could see the difference in your skin the moment we applied that stuff. There’s no reason for you to be uncomfortable when we can make it better. You want us to put your pajamas back on?”
“Yes, please,” she said. Once she was back in a sleep tee and shorts she felt sleep coming on fast. Cole and Dillon recognized the signs so they got her vitamins and water, then moved her to the center of the bed.
“Did you lock up?” Cole asked Dillon.
“Yep, all done.”
“Good,” Cole said, climbing in beside Jenna. Dillon got in on the other side and turned off the lamp, then they each placed a palm on Jenna’s stomach, the feel of their children relaxing them so much they sometimes wondered what they’d do once the babies were born.
“Guys,” Jenna said in a sleepy voice, surprising them. They thought she’d fallen asleep already.
“Yes, angel?”
“Would you do me a favor?”
“Anything,” Cole replied.
“Call Doc tomorrow,” she said. “Tell him I said to give me a fricken’ break already.”
“What do you mean?” Dillon asked, confused.
“No walking, no working, no lifting, no standing, no stairs, I’m okay with. It’s not easy, but I’m doing it. But no sex? Jeez, I’m pregnant with twins, sleeping between twins. Between the hormones and the pheromones I’m about to lose my mind here. I’m only human, you know.”
Dillon felt his mouth fall open in surprise, then he smiled. “You make an excellent point, angel. We’ll call Doc first thing and tell him.”
“Thanks,” she mumbled without opening her eyes.
Chapter 15
Jenna set her pencil down and leaned back on the couch. The drawing she’d begun a couple of days before her vitamins had been contaminated with rat poison was finally finished. Between Susie’s arrival and decorating the nursery it had taken a little longer than usual, but she didn’t mind. The more time she could kill while zoned out on a drawing, the better.
After studying it carefully for several minutes she decided she was satisfied. She looked up just as Cole entered the living room and smiled when he stopped before approaching her. Dillon was right behind him and stopped too. They’d both promised her that they wouldn’t peek at the drawing until she was finished, and she was both pleased and amused by how careful they were to keep their promise.
“Put your drawing aside, baby,” Cole said. “We got something we need to talk to you about.”
“Okay, but I want you to see it first.”
“It’s finished?” Dillon asked.
“Yes, it’s finished,” she said, raising the drawing board that the drawing was clipped to and holding it out.
Cole hurried forward to take it, then turned it so he and Dillon could both see it. “This is astounding, angel,” Dillon said as he stared down at the drawing. “It looks like a photograph, but at the same time…more. We’re in Flo’s, right?”
“Yeah,” she said. “That’s the first time I saw you. My first day in Sparx, when you entered Flo’s.”
“Really?” Dillon asked in what appeared to be a little bit of awe. She nodded shyly. “That’s incredible.”
"We look shell shocked," Cole said, smiling as he set the drawing board on the coffee table. "Which is pretty much how we felt.”
“It’s amazing that you can remember a single moment in time from so long ago,” Dillon said. “I wish we could do the same thing with our memory of seeing you the first time.”
“Time and memory are true artists; they remould reality nearer to the heart's desire,” Jenna said with that soft expression she always had when remembering something her father had often said.
“Who’s that from, honey?” Cole asked.
“John Dewey.”
“Philosopher, right?” Dillon asked. She nodded.
“I thought he was a psychologist,” Cole said.
“He was,” Jenna said. “He was several things, actually, all brilliant.”
“I love the drawing,” Dillon said. “We’re gonna have it framed and then you can decide where to hang it.”
“Jenna,” Cole said. She looked up at him. “Why’d you give up drawing when you obviously love it so much?”
Jenna took a long, deep breath, then smiled sadly. “Because my heart got broken.”
“Your heart?” Dillon asked, struggling to hide the sudden fear crashing through him. Had she loved someone else after all?
“Come, sit down,” she said. “I’ll try to tell you guys a story I’ve never been able to tell anyone before. I know you’ve heard the bald facts of it, but I’d like you to know it from my perspective.” Dillon was both pleased and afraid, but he and Cole did as she asked and sat close to her.
“When I was in my senior year of high school, just about three months before graduation, my father died of a stroke. He was an orphan himself, so once he was gone, I was alone.
“Since I was only a few months from being eighteen no one fussed about me being a minor. Daddy was a planner, so he had a will and a life insurance policy. It wasn’t a fortune, but it would‘ve helped me out a lot, only the insurance company decided not to pay me. They
said since I was a minor they didn’t have to, which was bull and I knew it. I ended up having to sue them for it, which meant giving an attorney a share of it if they ever paid.
“In the meantime I finished high school, then headed off to college, which was about a half hour drive from home. My dad had saved all my life for college, I earned a few scholarships, and I had part time jobs all the way through high school so I could add to the college fund, too. But even with all of that I still needed two part time jobs to get through it, plus I worked full-time during summer breaks. I didn’t have time for dating or boyfriends or parties and since those things didn’t interest me as much as getting my degree and making ends meet, I didn’t really care.
“About a month before I graduated from college the insurance company finally gave in and paid me. A bit late, but better than never. After I paid the attorney I still had enough to open my dream shop with a bit extra, so I was happy with it. Then I gave into a friend’s urging to go to a party and have a little fun for a change.
“My drink was spiked with one of those date-rape drugs. Since I only took a few sips of the drink I was aware of what was happening, and who was doing it, though I couldn’t move enough to talk, let alone fight the guy off. His name was Edward and although I didn’t know him, I knew who he was. He knew I was aware, and he didn’t care. He was an arrogant jerk, but he was also rich, and the mayor’s son. I lived in that town my whole life, so I knew that filing charges against him would only make me a target. The mayor’s family had already destroyed too many lives for me to have any doubts about that. So I did the only thing I could do, and let it go.
“I found out I was pregnant a few weeks later. I know it probably sounds strange but, after the initial shock wore off, I was happy. I’d been alone for about four years by then, and I was looking forward to having a child to love. I wouldn’t have done it on purpose just to ease my loneliness, but the child existed, and I couldn’t not love it. I hated Edward of course, what little I even knew of him. But he wasn’t in my life, I sure as hell wasn’t going to ask him for anything, or even tell him, so what difference did it make?
“I set the idea of opening a shop on the back burner until after the baby was born. I had enough money from the insurance to have my baby and not have to worry about working for at least a year afterward and still be able to open my shop if I was real careful. You know how that ended.”
Jenna cleared her throat. “Edward died that day, which as far as I’m concerned was too good for him, but that wasn’t my call to make. What broke my heart was the loss of my child. Jacob. On top of the grief, I felt so guilty for not protecting him better. For not realizing how dangerous Edward was. For not asking around about him. For not moving far away before anyone had a chance to learn I was pregnant to begin with.
“I felt like I didn’t deserve to have any joy, any happiness, any kind of life at all since my baby didn’t get a chance to live. I couldn’t bring myself to pick up a pencil, or even think about drawing. I felt like I’d be betraying Jacob somehow if I did something I enjoyed that much. So I boxed up all my art supplies and, as soon as I could drive again, I went into Medford and donated all but the few things that were in that box. I didn’t draw another line until the day you two gave me that organizer full of drawing supplies.
“I was alone, heartbroken, in constant pain, and I was really depressed. I know now that my reaction was irrational, but I didn’t have anyone to tell me that because everyone…people I’d known my entire life…blamed me for Edward’s death. How I could be responsible for him driving into a tree when I was busy bleeding out at the local park I never did figure out. It was a little like trying to understand how everyone could call me a slut when they all knew damn good and well that I’d been raped.
“It still hurts to think of my poor little Jacob, but not as much as it used to. I’ll never forget him, but now I have new babies to think about.” She took a deep breath. “So that’s the story of my life.”
“No, angel,” Dillon said. “That’s the story of your heartbreak. We’re so sorry you had to go through so much, and that you had to do it all alone. But you’re not alone any more. We’re here for you, and so are a lot of other people. Meg, Hank, Jack, Peter, Flo, Luke, and so many others love you and care about you. And we’re not going anywhere.”
Jenna nodded. “Yeah, I’m starting to get that.” She cleared the lump from her throat. “So what is it you wanted to talk about?”
Dillon exchanged looks with Cole. “What’s up?” Jenna asked, missing nothing.
“After what you just told us, we’re kind of worried about upsetting you further.”
“I’m not upset,” she said. “It’s kind of strange, really. I’ve never been able to tell anyone that story before, not even Meg, and I tried. I tried really hard. But I didn’t have any trouble telling you two at all. I’m not sure why, but I’m real glad I did it. So, let’s move on to what you wanted to talk about please.”
“All right,” Dillon said. “Do you know who Jag Teegan is?”
Jenna didn’t know what she’d expected him to say, but it wasn’t that. “Um, the SUV guy, right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Cole said, smiling. “The SUV guy.”
“Actually, he’s a security expert and private investigator,” Dillon said. “He’s also an old friend. We called him about the new vehicle because we wanted the best and the safest, and Jag knows what the best is, and the best people to get it from.”
“I see,” Jenna said. “Well, I’ve seen him around, but I’ve never met him. What about him?”
“We’ve hired him to investigate this matter of someone trying to harm you,” Dillon said, not wanting to say kill. “He wants to ask you some questions, if you’re up for it.”
“Will you stay with me? Or do I have to talk to him alone?”
“We’ll be right here, honey,” Cole said. “No way are we leaving you alone, so don’t you worry about that.”
“All right then,” Jenna said, relieved. “I’m all for finding out who’s doing this. When?”
“He’s waiting outside right now, with Peter,” Dillon said.
“They’re waiting outside while I sat here blathering at you?” Jenna asked, mortified.
“It’s all right,” Dillon said, smiling. “They were both in the Navy so the two of them are chatting it up the way they usually do whenever they get together. And don’t worry. Peter’ll stay outside.”
“No, I think Peter should know this stuff too,” she said. “Meg, Hank and Jack know, and Peter’s family too, right?”
“Yes, he’s family.”
“Okay then, if he wants to know, bring him in too.”
“You sure, angel?”
“Do you think it’s a mistake?”
“Not in the least. Just the opposite, in fact. I just want you to be sure this is what you want.”
“I used to be afraid that people would think less of me if they knew my past. But no one has so far, and I’m beginning to understand that no one who cares about me will. Peter cares about me. So yes, I’m sure.”
“You don’t know how happy it makes me to hear that,” Dillon said after pressing his lips to her forehead for a long moment before standing up. “I’ll go get ‘em.”
Jenna glanced down at her oversize sleep tee and flannel pajama bottoms, then to Cole. “Do I look all right, Cole?”
“Sure, honey, you look fine.”
“No, I mean, am I decent?”
“Course you are,” Cole said, smiling gently. “We know how modest you are, baby, and we’d never let you be embarrassed if we can help it.” Jenna just nodded because she couldn’t quite make herself speak for a few moments as she thought about just how kind and thoughtful they were all the time. She smiled to herself. How much things had changed.
They heard the front door, then a moment later Dillon entered with Peter and a man even bigger than Dillon and Cole. Peter walked straight toward her, then paused when he spotted the drawi
ng on the coffee table.
“This is wonderful,” he said. “Is this in Flo’s?”
“It is,” Dillon said. “That’s the first time Jenna ever saw us, on her first day in Sparx.”
“You two look poleaxed,” Peter said with a chuckle. Then he bent down to kiss Jenna on the top of her head. “How you doing, darlin’?”
“I’m good, Peter,” she said, giving him a nervous smile before her eyes jumped back to the newcomer. Jag Teegan was tall and lean, with piercing dark blue eyes and a bald head. He stood in the middle of the living room, a clipboard in one hand, his eyes fixed on her.
“Jenna, this here is Jag Teegan,” Dillon said.
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Teegan,” she said politely, refusing to let herself look away from his steady gaze.
“Jag, please, Ms. James,” he replied in a deep, rumbling bass. “I just wish it could be under better circumstances.”
“Jenna, and so do I.”
Dillon gestured to the sofa opposite the one where she and Cole sat, then sat down on her other side. Peter took a seat on the opposite end of the sofa from Jag. Jenna sat with one hand gripping the other, her knuckles white, but she continued to meet Jag’s gaze evenly.
“Cole and Dillon told me you’ve had to deal with some unpleasant events in your past,” he began. “They didn’t say what those events were, but they’re concerned they could have something to do with the attempts being made on your life now. I’m sorry, Jenna, but I need to hear the story before I can investigate it. I promise to keep whatever you tell me between us, and those of my men necessary to the investigation. Believe me, none of them will talk out of turn.”
Jenna nodded. The man was right, of course. He couldn’t very well investigate something he knew nothing about. She looked at Peter, then Cole, and then Dillon. She thought for a moment, making sure what she was about to do felt right before making her decision.
“I’ll answer your questions, Jag,” she said. “But before I do, there’s something I’d like you to look at.”
Jenna's Cowboys Page 36
