Free Sweetwater: The Kihn (The Sweet Series) by Rivi Jacks Page B

door. “Well, it’s about time. We were getting ready to come lookin’ for you.”
    “How’s Jake?” I ask as I take off my coat.
    “He’s good. Everyone’s back in the kitchen,” he answers.
    I head right to Jake, sitting with his leg propped on a pillow across another chair. Diane stands behind him. Emma Rae is sitting at the table beside Sam, and Taylor’s leaning against the kitchen counter.
    “How are you doing?” I ask Jake as I hughim. He hugs back with a firmness I think is a good sign. I stare into his hazel eyes, and they look clear and free from pain.
    “I’m good, Sofe. Diane’s a good nurse.”
    I glance at her and smile. “I know she is.” I give her a quick hug. Walking around the table, I lean down and give Emma Rae a hug.
    “You want a cup of coffee, hon?” she asks.
    “I would love a cup.” She moves to get up. “I’ll get it; you sit.” I know she’s worked all day. I ask Nick, “How about a cup of coffee—or a beer?”
    “No, thanks, I’m fine.”
    Taylor hands me a mug.
    “Thanks, Taylor.”
    “Any time,” he replies with a smile.
    Have I said Taylor has a killer smile? Lethal. I’m already addicted to Jake’s coffeemaker. It makes a perfect cup of coffee, fresh brewed, any time of day. I place one of the little plastic, prefilled cups in the holder. Emma Rae gets out the cream while my cup fills. I sit in the chair Sam vacates, giving him a quick hug in exchange.
    Nick and Taylor are by the back door talking in low voices.
    “Did y’all run into trouble?” Sawyer asks. “Taylor thought you should have been here an hour ago.”
    I study him while he leans against the kitchen doorframe. He will probably love all of this, knowing him. “No, our trip just required some time.”
    I give him a cryptic look. He raises his eyebrows. What ,he mouths . I shake my head and see Jake watching me. His expression alerts me to something, but I’m not sure what. I give him a questioning look, but he only smiles, which puzzles me more. I guess I’m just tired. I have yet to get a good eight hours of sleep, which reminds me of something.
    “Diane, maybe we should postpone our shopping trip.” I glance at the clock above the refrigerator. It’s a little past eleven, and it looks as if we’ll be up a while longer.
    At the same time, she and Jake announce, “No!” I turn toward them, surprised.
    “Maybe you could leave a little later in the morning?” Emma Rae suggests.
    “Yes! We can do that.” Diane smiles at her.
    “I’m not sure.” I frown, glancing from Diane to Jake. Something is going on. “We’ve got the poker game here tomorrow night.”
    “We’ve been talking about that,” Jake informs me. “We kinda decided to use the Shotgun Shack.” I glance at Sam; he shrugs. Okay, why do I feel a conspiracy going on here?
    “Sofie, with everything that’s happening and things likely to get worse, you girls need to go and have some fun,” Jake says.
    I open my mouth and close it. I know what I saw on his face earlier. He’s aware of—everything. I narrow my eyes at him.
    Nick takes that moment to speak. “Before it gets any later, Taylor and I have some things to tell you.” He scans the room. “I ask that you hear us out before you ask questions. Also—anything we speak of here tonight cannot leave this room.”
    He then relates what he told me in Estella and Lucian’s kitchen. I glance around the room. The varying expressions on the faces of some of the most important people in my life lay testament to the incredible tale placed before them.
    If I had any doubt about Jake’s knowledge of it all, that doubt vanishes. No look of surprise or alarm shows on his face. Diane, on the other hand… I scoot my chair next to Jake’s, breaking into Nick’s conversation as the chair legs screech across the floor. Itouch Diane’s arm and slide to the far side of the chair, patting the empty spot between Jake and me. She smiles gratefully as Jake pulls her close and