He cleared his throat into his hand. “I wondered if we could do this again sometime.”
The butterflies intensified. She’d enjoyed herself today, more than she anticipated. She and Jasper had gotten their digs in, but they’d also fallen into an easy camaraderie.When he’d suggested playing a board game, she jumped at the chance. She loved playing games of all kinds, but the opportunities to do so were few and far between as of late.
While they played, she’d seen things about him she’d never noticed before. Like how his hands, although wrinkled, arthritic, and with one crooked pinky finger, were still strong enough to open a jar of peanuts with little effort. He’d worked construction for forty-five years, and she remembered he had been one of the workers who had erected the building that housed Knots and Tangles. When she brought it up, he’d told her several entertaining stories about his work and even mentioned his parents, who had moved from Mississippi to Maple Falls when he was ten. He’d outlived most of his family and friends. That had saddened her and made her even more grateful for the BBs.
He was old and crochety, and his eyebrows still needed trimming. He was also funny, a good conversationalist, and when he truly, genuinely smiled...yowza.
Yowza? About Jasper?
“Never mind.” He turned his back to her.
She was never at a loss for words, and she didn’t understand why she was now. She also didn’t understand the butterflies. “Jasper, I—”
“You can see yourself out.” He didn’t turn around.
She took her purse off one of the kitchen chairs and walked through his small living room—he really did have a worn recliner right across from a console TV—and left the house. She got in her car, sped out of the driveway, and fought to get her bearings.
By the time she reached home, she wanted to kick herself.Why hadn’t she given him an answer? She’d wanted to tell him yes. Not because she felt sorry for him or because they were from the same generation. She wanted to be around him, to see his incredible smile. To feel those butterflies again.
And that terrified her. He was a long-standing bachelor, and she was a committed bachelorette. She hadn’t been interested in a romantic relationship since Gus, and she had never seen Jasper as relationship material. Other than a fleeting, enticing look she thought she’d seen in his eyes, she didn’t even know what his intentions were. Most likely he simply intended to beat her at Parcheesi again.
Erma turned off the car and rested her head against the steering wheel. One thing she was sure of—she’d hurt his feelings, and she had to make amends. Which she would do at dance lessons tomorrow. After he accepted her apology—because she was sure he would—they could get back to their normal squabbling.
Because anything else between her and Jasper didn’t make sense. And Erma Jean McAllister was a sensible woman... most of the time.
Chapter17
“Guess we should have checked the weather report this morning.” Kingston set down two cups of coffee on the table near a huge window overlooking the Breezeway Golf Course. Sheets of rain battered down, and as he sat down, a flash of lightning lit up the clubhouse.
Dad shook a packet of artificial sweetener and shrugged. “According to my weather app, this should pass quickly. If it doesn’t, we’ll find something else to do. It’s such a rare occasion both of us have the same day off during the week.” He grinned and stirred his coffee. “Thanks for suggesting we get together.”
Kingston nodded and took a sip of his coffee, barely flinching at the hugeboomof thunder rattling the window. He’d called his father early this morning and asked if he wanted to play golf sometime this week. Dad was off today, and he never refused an opportunity to hit the links. Other than the staff, they were the only ones in the dining area of the club. Everyone else had either done the smart thing and checked the weather or given up and gone home.
“Looks like the Razorbacks might have a decent season this year,” Dad said. “The coach recruited a fine quarterback. He’s young but has huge potential. Hope springs eternal, anyway.”
“That’s good.” Kingston stared at the heavy downpour.
“Something’s on your mind, son. Your sabbatical going okay?”
“Yeah. Perfect.”
“From what I’ve heard, you’re enjoying your time off. You went from one dance lesson to being an instructor, and you’re also seeing someone.” His father grinned.
“I see you’ve been talking to Mom,” Kingston mumbled.
“More like she’s talking to me. She’s been over the moon since Saturday night.”
Kingston stared at his coffee. At least his mother was happy. She wouldn’t be for long, once she discovered that her matchmaking had lasted exactly twenty-four hours. He wasn’t looking forward to her reaction tonight at the dance studio. He wasn’t looking forward to dancing at all.
“Olivia’s a lovely girl,” his father continued. “Smart too. She’ll give you a run for your money in that department.”
The rain hammered down even harder, the sky turning dark as the storm continued.
“Kingston.”
He looked at his father. “Yeah?”
“What’s eating at you?”
