Probably. Jake shifted gears and followed the enormous circular driveway toward the wrought-iron gate on the Lockhart property. He glanced in the rearview mirror, saw Bree’s willowy body disappearing through the front door, and decided not to question his high-handed tactics.
A week between the sheets with Bree was exactly what he needed. The distraction he craved.
And God, he hoped she’d see the light, because he simply couldn’t bring himself to focus on his goatfuck of a life right now. He had too many decisions to make, and the damn nightmares still came every damn night, making it impossible to think clearly. Did he want to stay in Paradise and work with Owen? Take the job in Colorado Springs? Buy a house? Rent?
A job. House. Fuck, he’d never thought he’d lead anything other than a military life, and the mere notion of settling down in a mundane routine made him feel itchy and uncomfortable.
Letting out an unsteady breath, Jake turned onto the dirt road a few miles from the Lockhart place and headed toward the isolated cabin his older brother called home. Small-town life had always suited Nate, and Owen, and their mom, but it wasn’t enough for him.
Shit. What the hell would he do now that he was a civilian again?
Bree, a little voice said.
The corners of his mouth lifted. Yeah. He was totally up for doing Bree. And he knew the feeling was mutual. In fact, he’d wager his favorite rifle that he’d be seeing her tomorrow night. Call him a cocky bastard, but he was well aware of the power he had over the woman. She’d never been able to resist him, and at the moment, he prayed he wouldn’t be proven wrong
“I’m heading out,” Jake said the next afternoon. As he rounded the bar counter, he glanced at his little brother, who was stacking beer glasses on the shelf over the sink. “I’ll see you at Mom’s for breakfast tomorrow, right?”
Austin gave a noncommittal shrug, his moss-green eyes veiled.
Immediately, Jake’s hackles raised. “Right?” he repeated in a stern tone.
“Yeah, maybe.” Abandoning the glasses, Austin averted his eyes and made a show of wiping down the counter, which was already squeaky-clean.
Stifling a sigh, Jake studied his younger brother, wishing like hell he could figure Austin out. The guy had been moody and insufferable for months, which was a huge change from Austin’s normally laidback demeanor. Unlike his brooding older brothers, who kept their emotions reined in, Austin had always been quick to laugh, unafraid to speak his mind or voice his emotions. The kid could charm anyone who crossed his path, had no shortage of available chicks eager to screw him, and was talented as hell, to boot. Austin was an award-winning photographer, would probably win a damn Pulitzer one day, yet these past eight months, he’d become a prickly bastard. Tight-lipped, irritable. A total pain in the ass.
Exhaling the breath he’d been holding, Jake crossed his arms over his chest and frowned at his brother. “All right. Enough is enough. Are you gonna tell me what’s been needling at you or do I have to beat it outta you?”
Rather than cower under the threat, Austin met his gaze head on. “You gonna tell me why you’re in Paradise instead of overseas with your unit?”
Pain slashed Jake’s chest. Figured that Austin would be the one person to call him on that. He should’ve known he wasn’t fooling anyone when he’d claimed to be on extended leave.
When Jake stayed silent, Austin raised one eyebrow, looking smug. “That’s what I thought, big bro.” He tossed the dishrag in the sink and made his way to the swinging door leading to the back room. Over his shoulder, he added, “Why don’t we save this bullshit secret-spilling for when we’re both ready to talk about it?”
The door swung back and forth after Austin strode through it. Jake reached up to rub the three days worth of growth on his chin, frustrated as hell. Far as he could deduce, whatever was troubling Austin had to do with their mom, but Della wasn’t talking either. She was as stubborn as her son, and no amount of cajoling could get her to divulge what had gone down between them.
Fuck. Whatever. He was a hypocrite anyway, giving Austin beef about keeping mum when he wasn’t ready to talk about shit either.
He left the pub, striding toward the pickup truck he’d parked out front. It was a cold day, a chill hanging in the November air, and in the distance, a shroud of mist surrounded the snow-covered peaks dominating the horizon. Paradise was damn pretty in the winter. Nestled at the base of the mountains, the town belonged in a postcard for Colorado’s wilderness, or maybe some pamphlet featuring idyllic small towns. But beautiful as it was, Jake had always longed for something more. He’d wanted to experience the world, see exotic places, meet new people. He’d figured joining the army would help him to do that, but he hadn’t seen much beauty throughout his military career. Just death and destruction and the kind of gruesome images reserved for nightmares rather than real life.