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Jenna disappeared down a hallway into a bedroom.
“Need any help?”
“No. I’m just going to pack a few things for Brittany. She’s shorter and normally a size smaller than I am, but some of my things will fit her until I can get her things from her apartment, or we can go shopping for new clothes.”
The living room was furnished with an off-white sofa and two side chairs in a light teal. The furniture didn’t look new but was well cared for.
“Do you own or rent this house?” Cliff asked.
“Own,” she answered from the bedroom. “Or rather, the bank owns it until I pay it off. I have it on a fifteen-year loan, but I hope to pay it off earlier. What about you? Are you a homeowner?”
He laughed. “No. I was never in one place long enough. It didn’t make sense to buy a house I wasn’t going to live in.” But he’d saved his money, knowing that when he left the Navy, he’d buy a house and put down roots.
Jenna emerged from her bedroom, wheeling a suitcase behind her. “Now that you’re not in the Navy, are you going to buy a house?”
He shrugged. “Probably.”
She stopped in front of him and glanced around the living room. “Just don’t go small. I thought this cottage was all I needed.” She shook her head. “With Brittany and Baby Blakely moving in…I might have to find a bigger place. One with two bathrooms. I don’t know how long we’ll last with three females fighting over one bathroom.” She grinned. “But I’m willing to try. I have a niece.” Jenna’s eyes narrowed as she met his gaze. “And we will bring her home.”
He reached out and brushed his thumb along her chin. “Yes, we will.” Then, as natural as it was to breathe, he pressed a kiss to her lips.
Jenna touched her fingers to her lips. “Why did you do that?”
“I don’t know,” he said. “It just felt right.”
She frowned.
“Sorry. But not really sorry.” He stepped back and held up his hands. “I won’t do it again if it makes you uncomfortable.”
She stared at him a moment longer, then dropped her hand to the suitcase handle. “We’d better get going. I want to make one more stop before we head back to the hospital.”
Cliff followed her out and waited on the porch as she patted Brutus once more and then locked the door.
He fought the urge to smile. He’d given her the opportunity to tell him to knock it off with the kissing.
She hadn’t told him to stop.
Kissing her had felt good and right. He wondered how much better it would feel if she kissed him back.
They stopped at a ladies’ undergarment store on the way back. Cliff remained in the truck while Jenna went in. Less than ten minutes later, she came out carrying a relatively small pink bag with pink tissues poking out of the top.
“You didn’t buy much,” he noted as he shifted into drive and pulled out of the parking lot onto the road.
“Though expensive, ladies’ panties don’t take up much space, unlike men’s boxer shorts or briefs.”
“True.” He headed for the hospital. “Any more stops?”
She shook her head. “No. Though I hate to see my sister leave, I’m ready to get on with this investigation. I’m glad she’ll be with Hank and Sadie in a safe environment while we chase any leads we can find.”
At the hospital, they left the bags in the truck, checked in with the front desk and made their way up to the third floor.
When they entered Brittany’s room, the new mother was seated in a wheelchair, wearing a baggy maternity dress and tennis shoes. Her hair was neatly combed and pulled back in a braid, and she held a sheath of papers in her lap.
“Finally. I’ve received my discharge papers, and I’m ready to go,” she said and frowned. “You didn’t bring my things?”
Jenna’s lips twisted. “No…and yes.”
Brittany tilted her head. “I don’t understand.”
