While going through a very short time of feeling sorry for herself, she had watched a lot of television and got hooked on shows about flipping houses. Buying beautiful properties that needed loving care, fixing them up then reselling them sounded perfect. At this point, she didn’t know what she wanted to do after flipping it, but as her eyes scanned over her backyard, she knew this was her forever home in all its peeling paint and rotting roof glory. She felt it the moment she pulled into the driveway the first time. It was her place to do what she wanted.
So what if she had to do it alone. She could do this without the help of a man, well except a roofer who was due there any minute. She was done with men in so many ways. Her dad was the only male she would ever trust.
Running her tongue along her lips, her stomach tightened as her mind drifted to the kiss she shared with Jax. No man had ever kissed her that way and what upset her most was no man probably would. He was one of the main reasons she got addicted to all the home improvement shows because she never left the house after that kiss. She just stayed in and watched television eating Grater’s Double Chocolate Chip Ice Cream out of the container with the biggest spoon she could find. It would totally be his fault if she had made the biggest mistake in her life buying the rundown farmhouse and not being able to fit in her clothes, the ass. It felt damn good blaming him, which she did just in spite. Not one phone call, text or anything from him since the kiss. She had even stopped going to see Lana hoping to get a peek at him. It didn’t take her long to get the hint, so she turned her fascination with the Warrior into anger, ice cream and home improvement.
“Screw him,” she whispered to herself, and then smiled, realizing the power of those words. “Screw him!” she said louder, with more force.
“What in the hell are you doing up there?” A familiar voice called from the ground. “And who the fuck do you want to screw?”
Caroline jumped, her phone flying out of her hand. She scrambled to catch it, but it hit the roof and plunged toward the ground. Sliding on her butt as quick as she could, she was too late. It went over the edge and into the hand of a man who wasn’t the roofer.
She sighed in relief that her phone wasn’t smashed on the ground, but frowned at the man who saved it. “What are you doing here?”
“I asked you first.” His frown was fierce as he glared up at her. “You’re going to break your damn neck.”
“I have a roofer coming and wanted to see how bad it was before he got here,” she replied, wondering why she replied at all. “Not that it’s any of your business. How did you even know where I was?”
“Lana. Now stay there and don’t move,” Jax ordered, pointing at her with her phone.
“Kill sister...check, and don’t order me around.” Caroline stood, putting her hands on her hips. Realizing she could never win a staring contest with Jax Wheeler, she turned away to walk to the front side of the roof where the ladder was.
“Caroline.” The warning in his voice was clear, but she totally ignored him.
Not liking his tone of voice, she stomped her way up the roof without thinking. How dare he talk to her like that after ignoring her. “He can kiss my as...” She had been mumbling to herself before the roof gave way under her feet.
******
Jax shook his head as he watched her stomping on what he was sure was a rotten roof. She was saying something, but he wasn’t paying attention. The sound of cracking filled his ears. In two strides, he was jumping onto the roof and reached her just as the roof opened up beneath her. Her scream cut short when he grabbed her, cleared the house and landed in her front yard.
“Are you hurt?” He set her down, going instantly to his knees knowing one of her legs went through the roof.
“No.” Her answer was breathless.
“What the hell happened?” Blaze followed by Hunter came rushing up to them.
“She decided to stomp around on a rotten roof.” Jax knew his tone was harsh, but the thought of her falling through the roof scared the shit out of him.
“Not a very smart thing to do.” Hunter glanced at the roof then back to her. “The whole place looks like it needs to be burned to the ground.”
“Excuse me.” Caroline gave him her best teacher stare. “And who are you?”
He gave her a sexy smile. “The name’s Hunter Fos—”
His smile didn’t move her in the least. “I didn’t ask for your opinion, kid.” Then she looked at Blaze who was trying to wipe the grin off his face. “And you?”
“Blaze.” He cleared his throat.
She nodded to him. “Since he’s too rude to introduce us, I’m Caroline, and it’s nice to meet you...” She glanced at Hunter with a frown. “I think. And that’s my home you’re talking about burning down.”
All three men glanced behind her to the shack she just called home. Jax frowned. “Your what?”
“My home.” She smiled, looking at it as if seeing a palace instead of a falling-down, paint-peeling, termite-infested mess.
“I hope you can get your money back.” Hunter winced when he heard a loud noise of boards falling from inside the house.