Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 66642 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 333(@200wpm)___ 267(@250wpm)___ 222(@300wpm)
Chapter Thirty-Four
Checking to see if Sophie had fallen asleep, Jody ran a finger down her cheek. When she didn’t move, he waved at Moses, who was carefully camouflaged behind a tree. He watched his crouching brother palming the earth from afar, directing the ground to send electrical waves to repair Sophie’s muscles. Like Jacob had done for her in the hot tub.
He reached for his cell phone, careful not to wake her.
Is Leah all right? he texted Silas.
Yes, she was slightly burned. Alex’s gift is appearing much sooner than Matthew’s. He will have to be watched closely until he can learn control. Did Sophie see anything?
No.
You need to tell her. With her living here, it is only a matter of time before she finds out.
I will. I just need to get her to the place where I can tell her.
When will that be?
After I know she loves me.
Ending the text, he gazed up at the sky. It was getting dark.
Gently, he called her name, then saw her eyes open behind her glasses.
“Did I sleep long?”
“About thirty minutes. I don’t like being this close to the creek at night. There are several wild animals in the woods, and I don’t want to take a chance staying any longer out here with you.”
After they put their shoes back on, Jody helped Sophie to her feet.
They had only walked a couple of minutes before Sophie started walking faster.
“I must have needed that nap. I’m not as stiff as I was before.”
Sliding his hand from her lower back to her ass, he shot her an intimate glance. “I’m glad.”
Smacking his hand away, she started to put distance between them. Jody grabbed her hand and pulled her back to his side.
“I’m afraid you’ll fall in the dark.”
“Then keep your hand away from my butt.”
“Yes, ma’am. I promise to keep my hand away from your ass when we’re out in public, unless I have your permission.”
“I wouldn’t exactly call this public.”
“Does that mean I can touch your ass anytime I want to?”
“No, it does not.”
When they reached where they needed to veer off onto the trail leading to his trailer, he glanced up at the darkened sky. His heart lurched in his chest at what he saw.
As he hurried Sophie toward his trailer, he tried not to make it obvious he was rushing her, but fear was pounding in his chest.
Relief filled him when the trailer came into sight.
At the trailer door, he waited for Sophie to open it then turn the light on. When she turned back to him standing outside the door, he could tell she didn’t want him to stay. Saved from having to make an excuse, he pressed a quick kiss to her lips.
“Good night. Make sure you lock the door.”
If he weren’t so worried, he would have laughed at the consternation on her face. He had burst her bubble of shooting him down. Jody would be back once he talked to Silas about what he had seen in the stars.
He came out of the trail to meet a waiting Moses, and they started walking toward Silas’. He glanced up at the stars and grew more concerned.
When he passed Matthew’s large truck, he saw his other brothers were already outside, looking at the sky. Their expressions mirrored his fear.
Matthew noticed his arrival and moved closer to Isaac, leaving him a space empty next to Silas.
“Does Fynn know who it is?” he asked Silas.
Grimly, Silas shook his head.
“Why are we allowed to see the death star covered in blood and not know which star it will destroy?”
“Dad always said our gifts are a double-edge sword,” Silas murmured. “Dustin called and said Logan won’t be in to work tomorrow. He warned us to stay close to the mountain.”
“You tell Ginny she won’t be going to the diner tomorrow?”
“She said if you can keep Sophie home, she will, too.”
Jody already knew how that suggestion would go.
“Sophie won’t stay home.”
“Figures.” Silas turned a troubled expression toward him.
“Why is nothing ever easy?”
“I wish I knew,” he said somberly. “I guess it will be just as useless for me to ask you to stay here tomorrow?”
“I can’t let her go alone.”
“She won’t be alone—Reaper will be there. Greer will be on the alert, and I’ll help if needed—”
Jody turned to him sharply. “You stay on the mountain. I don’t want you to jeopardize your happiness for us anymore. We’re all grown men, and we have to fight our own battles away from the mountain. You’ve done more than your fair share.”
“When you have children, you’re going to discover parents can’t be happy until their children are.”
Jody had to hold his emotions back at Silas’ words. From his brothers’ expressions, the meaning had hit them the same way.
“We love you, too.”
All of them resumed staring up at the sky.
Moving to where Fynn stood by himself, Jody studied his profile in the light the porch gave off.