A Matter of Trust (6 page)

Hope blossomed anew in Trish’s eyes.
“Really? I mean, you’re not just saying this, are you, because I’m
your friend? And the other guys really have stuff they don’t
want?”

“
Cross my heart.” And his
fingers behind his back. He was perfectly happy with the furniture
in his place, but hell, this was for a good cause. He couldn’t
stand to see her disappointed like that.

“
I’ll buy it from
y’all.”

“
Trish, I don’t want
anything for it. Like I said, ...” He saw her chin stiffen and knew
he’d made a mistake.

“
I pay my own way, Jake.
Other than from my parents – and I simply didn’t have a choice when
I moved back here – I’m not taking charity from anybody, including
you.”

“
Okay, okay. I figured
since we were friends, it wouldn’t matter, but if you feel that
strongly about it, pay me whatever you think it’s worth, as long as
you take into consideration that it’s used. You’re not paying me
full price, and that’s final.”

Trish looked at him and smiled slowly.
“Okay, that’s fair. I’ll talk to the other guys tonight at the
barbecue. I don’t mind if it’s used. I don’t even care if it
matches. Eventually, I’ll replace it with new stuff, but for the
time being it’ll do just fine. I can shop garage sales for anything
I still need. I think I can make this work. Thank you again,
Jake.”

Doing a mental ‘phew’, wiping his
forehead and shaking off the imaginary sweat, he let out a deep
breath. Man, she was touchy about her independence. He respected
her for it, but he couldn’t help but wonder what had happened in
her past to make her that way. He also wondered how her finances
had gotten into such bad shape. Trish seemed pretty frugal. She
didn’t strike him as someone who would live beyond her means, go
into debt, and end up in financial ruin.

Now he just had to find the right time
and place to break it to her that the house she just agreed to move
into belonged to him without her thinking of it like charity. He
figured he’d better save that for another day, preferably after she
moved in. He liked the idea of her living in his house, not because
it gave him any control over her, but it was pretty close to his
own house – the one he lived in – and wouldn’t that be a definite
plus, especially if his plan succeeded, and he could move a step
closer to starting a relationship with her.

Jake had been thinking about getting
together with Trish almost since the time she came back into his
life. He hadn’t seen her much since she and Callie went to school
together, but what he saw now, he liked. Not only was she
beautiful, she was smart, successful, and had a heart of gold. She
was also a great mother, and someone he could picture pursuing a
future with. He loved her kids already.

He knew a lot of guys would think him
crazy to be interested in someone who came as a package deal, but
that didn’t bother him at all. He’d lost his parents as a teenager,
and his grandparents had raised him without a thought to the
hardship and sacrifices to be made. He had no problem with that
scenario applying to him.

He’d wanted to settle down for awhile
now. He was the oldest in the family, and his brother and sister
had settled already. Josh and Eva might not be officially married
yet, but in their hearts they were totally committed to each other.
He wanted what they had. He felt ready for a family and wanted to
settle down. He had a pretty good idea that Trish was the one he
wanted to settle with. Now, he just had to convince her of that, or
at the very least to give it a try.

They left the rental, and went back to
her parents’ house, so she could throw together a salad to take to
the barbecue. Jake helped her chop some of the veggies, and they
decided they might as well ride together.

When they arrived at the ranch, they
walked right in the front door, through the kitchen and out onto
the back patio where everyone congregated. Hello’s were exchanged,
and Josh handed Jake a beer.

“
What’ll you have, Trish?”
Josh stood over an ice chest as he asked her the
question.

“
I think I’ll stick to
water tonight, thanks.” Trish smiled ruefully.

“
That’s funny, Eva and
Callie said the same thing. This wouldn’t have anything to do with
girls’ night out last night, would it?” Josh smiled along with the
other men.

“
It could. I think I’ve
had my share of margaritas for the next year. We did have fun,
though, didn’t we ladies?” Trish held up the water bottle Josh had
given her and toasted her friends.

Eva smiled as Josh put his arm around
her. “We sure did. Callie and I were a little worried about you.
Cade and Josh waited up for us to make sure we made it to bed
alright. We knew you were home alone last night with everyone on
vacation. I guess you made it okay, though.”

Trish could feel the heat rise to
color her cheeks. “Oh sure. Jake took me home. And left. I mean, he
made sure I got home safely and made it to bed. Alone. Right,
Jake?”

All eyes were on Jake. “I was a
gentleman the whole time, so stop looking at me like
that.”

“
Well, of course you were,
Jake. Nobody thought differently.” Cade covered a smile as he
commented. “Say, why don’t the three of us guys head over to the
barn for a minute and look over the petting zoo. Your granddad’s
thinking about expanding, and we wanted your opinion. He’s out
there now feeding the animals.”

“
Sure.” The three men
headed toward the barn, and the ladies stayed behind.

“
So… what have you two
been doing all day?” Callie looked eagerly at Trish for her
answer.

“
Jake took me to look at a
rental property that I’m going to move into as soon as I can get it
furnished. By the way, he said y’all had some furniture you wanted
to part with. I’d like to look at it and possibly buy it from you,
if you still have it and want to move it.”

“
As a matter of fact, Josh
and I were just talking about replacing some of his furniture. It’s
kind of bland, but it’s in good shape. You can just have it.” Eva
took another gulp of cold water.

“
No, I’ll buy it from
you.” Trish set her shoulders as she replied.

“
I really don’t know what
to charge you, Trish. Why don’t you come and look at it and tell me
if you even want it, then we can talk price.” Trish nodded at Eva’s
response.

“
Cade and I have a dining
room set we don’t want anymore, and possibly a bedroom set. We’re
also getting new lamps. His are ugly, but you’re welcome to
them.”

“
I’ll come by and see them
sometime next week, and I’ll buy those too, if they’re what I
need.” Trish smiled at both her friends.

“
Whatever floats your
boat, but I swear, I’d likely pay someone to take it all off my
hands. You want the neon Coors Lite sign, too?” Callie
laughed.

“
I think I’ll pass on
that, but thanks anyway. Something about beer signs and kids just
doesn’t mix for me. Call me strange.” Trish smiled again as she
sipped more water.

“
Well, if you’re sure. It
goes nicely with the moving waterfall clock advertising Bud Lite.
Or was it Michelob? Either one, you’re welcome to them.”

“
Very generous of you, but
no thanks.” Trish smiled as she shook her head.

“
Well, if you’re sure.
Eva, don’t you have some things you’d like to dump, I mean donate,
to the cause?” Callie looked over at Eva, and so did
Trish.

“
Nothing quite up to par
with those
lovely
items. Men and their idea of décor. You’ve got to wonder.
Josh has pictures of hockey players framed and hanging in the guest
room. When I took them down, he insisted that they were collectors’
items, autographed no less. Can you imagine? What about Jake’s
place, Trish? Give us some examples of his taste.”

“
I have no idea. I’ve
never been to Jake’s place. We’re just friends.” Trish nodded with
determination as she made the statement.

Eva and Callie exchanged all knowing
looks again.

“
What? We are just
friends.”
We are just friends. Just
friends, just friends
.

“
No offense, Trish, but
you weren’t exactly acting like just a friend when you gave that
woman a dirty look as you pulled Jake over to our table last night.
Callie and I both noticed that you appeared to be kind of
possessive.” Eva raised an inquisitive eyebrow at Trish.

“
Oh, honestly. I was just
helping him out of a distasteful situation. He’s such a nice guy,
he probably didn’t know how to let her down easy. He appeared to be
not interested.”

“
And why do you think that
is, girlfriend?” Callie trapped Trish with her stubborn
gaze.

“
I don’t know, Callie, but
I have a feeling you’re about to tell me.” Trish took a deep breath
and prepared to stand firm.

“
You and Jake have been
drifting closer and closer over the last few months. Both Eva and I
have noticed. I think Granddad has, too. He’s hinting at a
matchmaking plot.”

“
Oh, good grief. Jake and
I are friends. I think he’s a great guy, but I told you, I’m not
interested in getting into another relationship any time soon if
ever. In fact, never again is highly likely. Been there, done that,
girls. Don’t want to go there again. Once was more than enough for
me, thank you very much.” Trish refused to give an inch.

“
Why?” Eva dropped the one
word question, and it hung in the air.

“
What do you mean, why,
Eva? I’ve already been married, I have two kids to raise, and I
plan on raising them on my own. I don’t need a man in my life for
anything. I can take care of me and mine without anybody else’s
help.” Trish huffed out a breath and dared her friends to argue the
point with her expression.

Eva looked at Trish steadily. “Of
course you can take care of things on your own, but wouldn’t it be
nice to have someone to share responsibilities with, both good and
bad? Wouldn’t it be nice to come home to someone and spill your bad
day and get some sympathy? I never thought I would ever marry
again, either, but Josh has changed my mind about a lot of things.
My first marriage was a nightmare, but my second marriage is going
to be great. This time I’m marrying the right guy. It makes a huge
difference.”

“
I’m very happy for you,
Eva, truly. Have you set a date yet?” Trish smiled at her friend
with genuine happiness and well wishes.

“
Not yet, but we’re
talking about it. We want something small. Sometimes I can’t
believe I’m taking the plunge again. I told Josh not too long ago
that I’d move in with him, but I didn’t want to consider marriage
for awhile. He’s been so great about it. He’s let me set the pace
from the beginning, and he worked hard to earn my trust. I thought
I was ruined, but it turned out that everything was repairable. He
fixed me.”

Trish raised her water bottle in
salute. “That’s great, Eva, but I don’t need to be fixed. I’m doing
fine on my own, and I like it that way.”

“
I respect that, Trish,
but I can’t help but think you’re still living some kind of
nightmare, and that’s why you refuse to consider getting together
with Jake. You don’t have to tell me if that’s the case, but if you
ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me.” Eva reached
over and patted Trish’s arm.

“
Thanks, Eva. You’re a
good friend.”

****

As soon as the men got clear of the
main house, Cade and Josh started in on Jake.

“
So, you and Trish, huh,
bro?” Josh smiled smugly.

“
Don’t start that shit
with me, Josh.” Definitely on the grouchy side of things, he wasn’t
ready to talk about this with anyone.

Cade looked from Josh to Jake and
smiled broadly. “I told you, Josh. If there was nothing going on,
Jake wouldn’t be all up in your face after a simple question.
Callie and Eva were right. There’s definitely something going
on.”

“
Fuck you, Cade.” Both men
had a good laugh at Jake’s expense.

“
So, how serious is it?”
Josh leaned his forearms across the corral fence and waited for his
brother to reply.

“
It’s not. Yet, anyway,”
Jake scowled.

“
Yet being the key word,
bro?” Cade crossed his arms across his chest.

Jake finally let down his guard and
faced the two men who were his brothers. “I’m hoping so. But she’s
so damn stubborn, I’m having a hard time talking her into just
considering the possibility of being more than friends. Hell, the
only time she’s even been open to the idea was last night when she
was drunk off her ass.”

Josh looked at him with some
compassion. “I know about that. It took me a long time to even get
Eva to stop flinching when I touched her, much less allow for
anything else. You think maybe someone abused Trish,
too?”

Jake thought a minute and said, “Hell,
I don’t know. Maybe. Something sure happened in her marriage to
turn her off of men. She’s never been skittish like Eva in the
beginning, but Pete burned her in some way for sure.”