“Love to.” The warmth of his hand on her knee traveled up her thigh and settled in a sensitive spot he’d visited several times the night before. “Can’t pass up a chance to taste that famous stew. Will Lucy and Millie be there?”
“Yep. And Kate.” CJ gave her knee a squeeze and moved his hand. “We’ll ask Henri, too, but she may be partied out by then.”
“Because of the shower?”
“No, it’s the doings after the shower. This Thursday is the Babes’ monthly sleepover. The shower fits nicely into their plans because they were already scheduled to be at Henri’s.”
“I’ve heard about this event. Lucy went to her first one last month. She said it was like a high-school slumber party on steroids.” With the sleepover taking place later, the shower likely wouldn’t run late. More time with CJ.
“Those ladies are a kick,” Jake said. “Generous and kind, too. They gave Millie and me a set of dishes as a housewarming present. Once the cabin is in shape, we’ll have them over for a meal.”
“Isn’t your cabin close to this site?”
“Walking distance.”
“Then why can’t I see it from here?”
“Look to your left, through the grove of aspens.”
She peered in that direction. “Nothing but trees over there.”
“Look closer. It has a forest green tin roof.”
“Oh! There it is. I thought it would be like the guest cabins, built with horizontal logs. I’ve never seen one where the logs are vertical.”
“The style is called palisade. Since the logs are upright, they look a little more like trees. And they’re aspen so they really blend in.”
“Neat idea. Henri said you guys were watching construction videos. Are you and Millie doing all the work yourselves?”
“We are.”
CJ grinned. “Tell the lady how that’s going, bro.”
“It’s going…well.”
“Millie calls it a team-building exercise,” CJ said. “It’s been our entertainment for the past six weeks.”
“Glad to oblige.” Jake rolled his eyes.
“What’s the story?”
“Sadly, Isabel, I’m a control freak. I want to do everything myself. I promised Millie the cabin would be a shared project. If I start taking over, she calls me on it.” He sighed and gestured toward CJ. “And these guys back her up. They’re relentless.”
“That’s…wow. Sounds like tough duty. And you say it’s going well?
“Relatively speaking.” He leaned forward to consult with CJ. “How many fights have Millie and I had about the cabin, bro? I’m losing count.”
“I’d have to look at the scoreboard to be sure, but if you add the little spats and the major battles, maybe fifteen or sixteen.”
Isabel gasped. “The Brotherhood keeps a scoreboard? That’s funny and awful at the same time. Wouldn’t it be easier to hire a contractor and reduce the stress on both of you?”
“Easier, sure, but building this cabin with Millie is making me a better man. By the time it’s finished, I might be in good enough shape to marry that wonderful woman.”
“But all that fighting….”
“And all that making up.” Jake smiled. “That’s the fun part. Now when we fight, I don’t worry so much because we always make up.”
“That’s lovely, Jake.” She touched his arm, impressed by his openness. “Thank you for sharing something so personal. Especially since you’ve only known me a short time.”
“That’s true on paper, but you come highly recommended by Lucy and you’re having a baby with CJ. You’re one of us, now.” He met her gaze. “Whether you wanna be or not.”
Her throat tightened. “I wanna be.”
“Good.” Breaking eye contact, he glanced at the angle of the sun. “I guess we’d better check out my pathway.” He chuckled. “And it is mine, damn it. I have complete control.”
She helped pack up the remains of the lunch and CJ put the cooler in the truck.
Reaching in his back pocket, Jake pulled out two crude maps and gave them each one. “It would help me more if you do this one at a time, so you don’t influence each other’s opinion.” He glanced at CJ. “You first, bro. Check out the area, in case…well, just check it out.”
Isabel picked up on the look that passed between the two men. “For snakes?”
CJ shrugged. “We have ’em. It’d be good for me to take a look-see. Do they make you nervous?”
“A little, but I’ll bet I make them nervous, too. I won’t run screaming if I see one. I’ll just avoid it.”
Respect gleamed in his eyes. “Want to go first, then?”
She laughed. “I can do without the adrenalin rush, thanks. I’m happy to let you go first.”
“Glad to.” He glanced at Jake. “What exactly do you want to know?”
“Whether the route makes sense to you,” Jake said. “Do you like the order of the birds, do you think the amount of cover is adequate in the areas where I plan to put the enclosures, stuff like that.”
Isabel stayed by the truck with Jake while CJ headed off, following Jake’s map.
Ah, CJ. Everything about him turned her on—his loose-hipped stride, his wear-softened jeans that hugged his tight buns, his broad shoulders that stretched the plaid fabric of his shirt.
“He’s nuts about you.”
She looked over at Jake. “I really like him, too.”
“Seems like it judging from your expression just now.” He took a breath. “He’s determined to be a full-time dad, and when CJ sets his mind on something….”
“He told me his mom let him do whatever he wanted.”
“He’s a lot better about accepting disappointment these days, especially with small things. But I don’t see him accepting all those miles between him and his baby. Or the distance between you two, for that matter. He really cares for you.”
“I know he does.” Her muscles tensed. “But he wouldn’t adapt to Seattle. He wants what you and Millie have, what Matt and Lucy have, a log cabin in the woods, preferably on Buckskin land.”
“He also wants you and the baby.” Jake’s voice was kind but firm. “If you refuse to let him move there, you’ll break his heart.”
“If I let him
