"Jared, I got a job for you," Cade said as soon as Jared answered his mobile.
"Oh? What kind of job?"
"Redecorating a small apartment."
"Doing what exactly?"
"Changing a few plastic boards, putting up some new wallpaper and paint a couple of rooms."
"Sounds easy enough. I'll send someone over to give you a price."
"No need. I'll pay whatever it costs."
"You will?" Jared said a little thoughtful. "Okay, so what's the catch?"
"The catch? There is none."
"Oh course there is. I know you well enough to recognise that tone. You're up to something, aren't you?"
"Not at all. My only demand is that you do the job yourself – you can't send any of your men on this one."
"Why not? I have plenty of staff that is both professional and discreet if that's what's needed."
"Well, this matter is slightly more delicate."
A wild idea occurred to Jared. It couldn't be...
"Does this have something to do with Ann?"
"What if it does?"
"Then you should reconsider my offer to send some of my men. Your sister and I are not at the best of terms at the moment."
"All the more reason to correct the misunderstandings between you two."
"I'm not sure that is possible."
"Look, Jared. I know that you care for her and she needs your help after the accident..."
"What accident?" Jared almost screamed into the phone.
"You didn't know? Ann fell down a ladder."
"Is she all right?"
"A twisted ankle, that's all, but she's finally agreed to accept some help to finish the redecoration before she manages to kill herself. I thought you would be the perfect choice."
"How on earth did you manage to persuade her to accept any help at all?"
"I threatened to give her a hand myself."
Jared laughed out right. "Yes, that would do the trick. But, do you think she'll see me?"
"Look, Jared. Maybe you should tell me what really happened between you two. You're both so terrified of stepping on each other toes that it's really annoying."
"Do you have any suggestions since you've become such an expert on the subject?" Jared asked ironically.
"Yes, it's all very easy. If you really care for her you have to give her another chance."
"What if she hates me? She might get a restraining order on me for trespassing?"
"You're both too stubborn to see your own good, that's what's wrong with you two," Cade was sounding a litlle annoyed.
"Ah, so that's why you're helping us along and providing this little push?"
"Why not? What is there to lose?"
Jared thought about it for a moment. Nothing except his pride and self-confidence.
"Nothing," he smiled into the phone. "As long as you're paying me no matter the outcome."
"I don't have to pay you anything if you can't even get passed the entrance," Cade laughed.
***
A few hours later, Jared found himself outside Ann's door, ringing the doorbell and listening as she told him to wait. A few seconds later she opened the door and gasped while her grip tightened on her crutches.
"What are
you
doing here?"
"Good afternoon, Miss Mason," Jared stated in his best business tone. "I'm here to fix your house."
"You're joking, right?"
"Not at all," Jared answered smoothly. "Your brother hired Anderson Construction to do some light redecoration." He went inside and set down the paint and tool box he was carrying. "So, where would you like me to start?"
"Will you just stop that!," Ann started to sound a little annoyed. "You know very well who I am and I know who you are so there's no need to act like a stranger."
"Sorry about that. I just thought you would feel more comfortable if I treated you as a client," Jared smiled at her. He almost laughed as she gave a grimace.
"If you wanted me to feel comfortable you should have sent someone else in your stead. So, what are you doing here?"
"Cade sent me."
"I knew it!" Ann snarled at him. "He tricked me into receiving help. What's your excuse for getting involved in this?"
"I need the money," Jared lied easily.
Ann just snorted. "You must be joking."
"No, it's true."
She stared at him for a long time. Finally she seemed to accept his lie.
"Oh for gods sake," she muttered and leaned on her crutches as she limped into what seemed to be her living room.
Jared felt a sense of relief as he closed the front door and followed her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked as he nodded toward her injured ankle.
"Bored and annoyed. But thanks for asking."
"Is there anything I can get you?"
"No, I need the exercise. These things are just damned inconvenient," Ann murmured as she gave her crutches an angry stare.
"You just let me know if you want something." Her answering look made him wonder if perhaps she thought the same if he: that she could request his presence in her bed. But she stayed silent. Jared decided not to push his luck any further for the time being. "So, where would you like me to start?"
Ann smiled at him, before starting to explain all the things that she planned to do with the apartment. Her demeanour changed completely as she talked and explained her way from room to room. Jared interrupted with small questions, getting as much details as he needed to complete the tasks.
***
Jared returned the next day as they had agreed and started to work on some plastering. Ann followed him with her eyes, noticing the ease in which he worked. He would complete the job in just a few hours while she would probably have spent several weeks. Maybe she should have considered hiring help much earlier. It would have cost her, but it was sure worth it the way the work seemed to progress. She looked out of the window.
There was only one catch: she had to be in close company with Jared again and the last couple of weeks hadn't been enough to make her forget the warmth of his naked skin or the manly scent that surrounded him and made her stomach flutter. After he had left her at the cabin, his scent seemed to be engulfed into every part of her, hanging in her nostrils and in all her clothes – surrounding her with dreams of what could have been but would never happen.
She had wanted to take a bath to rid herself of the scent, but at the same time she wanted to keep him close to her for as long as possible. In the end she pulled herself together and took a bath before heading back home the same day. No way if she wanted to spend another night at the cabin and surround herself with the self-pity and lust that seemed to pervade the place.
Instead she had returned to her old life and flung herself headfirst into creating the perfect apartment.
And now he was here in her home, showing off his broad back and making her follow his every move as she recollected how his strong hands had held her as he slowly made love to her. At least she had thought it was love at the time, but now she knew better. It had just been a frantic meeting between body parts if Jared was to be believed.
If so, she wondered how much stronger the real thing would be. It still hurt looking at him, so a real love affair would probably leave her completely broken. She hoped she would never experience that. This affair had been quite enough. Still, the weeks that had passed should have made the wound less severe. No matter what, she had to keep a strong facade in front of Jared. It wouldn't take him more than a week to finish up if everything went according to plan and she should be able to endure that week.
"Would you like some coffee, Jared?" she asked as casually as she could in order to interrupt her wayward thoughts.
***
As they shared a cup of coffee by the kitchen sink, Jared gave Ann a look-over. She looked thinner than he remembered her. He wondered whether it was the redecoration that was to blame or if she actually had taken some wounds by their affair. He hoped the last theory was the correct one. If only he hadn't been the only one that wanted something more from their week together.
"How have you been?" she suddenly asked him.
Jared was surprised by her question. Did she really care or was she just trying to make conversation?
"I'm fine," he responded after a while. "I have been working a lot. It has been busy lately."
"Why don't you hire some more men?"
"I'm considering it."
The silence amounted again between them. Each of them seemed totally at lost for what else they could talk about. Finally, Ann seemed to take a deep breath before continuing their conversation.
"By the way, Jared,..." Ann started asking before pausing slightly as if she wasn't sure she wanted to ask the question or not.
"Yes?," Jared tried to encourage her.
"How's your hunting these days?"
"It's quite good, actually."
"So, the hunting season hasn't all been a complete waste of time then?"
"I wouldn't say so." He gave her a wink before continuing. "In fact, I've started to hunt for bigger prey."
"Oh?" Ann seemed confused. She was probably wondering whether there was a mixed message behind his words. If only she knew. "So the birds couldn't fill the dinner plate?"
"It wasn't enough, no."
"Oh well. I'm glad that you've improved your target practicing since last we spoke."
"I wouldn't say it was my aim that was to blame."
"No?"
"It was more a lack of determination."
"Sounds bizarre. So now you spend every waken hour chasing after birds to shoot at?"
"Something like that."
"I've never understood what is so great about hunting."
"Maybe it's because you're a woman."
"I'm glad you would point that out. Maybe I'm part of supreme beings that take their pleasures elsewhere?"
"Or perhaps you enjoy being a vegetarian?"
She laughed suddenly. "You got me there. I suppose I prefer buying my food from the supermarket and not wanting to admit where it came from."
"That's just part of the modern society."
"I guess so. 1-0 to you for scoring that hit, by the way."
