Page 24 of Easy On Me

They were important to him, and I wanted to ask if he thought they’d like me, like he had about Mama Nancy. But that seemed needy. I could handle being messy in front of him. Needy was another thing altogether.

The restaurant’s parking lot was kinda crowded when we arrived. Jase found a spot on the far side of the lot and backed in. My stomach flipped with a completely different type of awareness. Something about his hand on my headrest, that arm behind me, and him looking over his shoulder instead of using the backup camera . . .

Somehow, he was the hottest man I’d ever been with.

I used the moments it took him to come around and open my door to get my libido under control. Seducing him in the front seat of his truck in the Country Crossings parking lot, with his grandparents somewhere out there, probably wasn’t the best idea.

A few rows up from us, closer to the restaurant, an older couple climbed out of a pale blue Lincoln, the tall elderly man holding her door. Although she was spry and obviously didn’t need the hand he extended, she let him help her out. They were so cute and it tickled me, what with Jase always wanting to open doors like that.

He squeezed my hand as we neared the couple. “Hey, you two.”

The old man squinted under the brim of his hat, eyeing me. His wife turned, eyes widening as she took me in.

Recognition slammed into me. Oh, no. Oh, no. Not her.

“Grandma. Grandaddy.” He dropped my hand to engulf them in quick hugs. I looked around at the potholes in the asphalt, hoping one big enough to swallow me up would open. “This is–”

“Tyler.” Surprise still bloomed on her elegant face, her polished voice rising on my name.

Jase looked between us, confused. “You know each other?”

I absolutely wanted to die.

Chapter Six

Jase

A wave of red flushed Tyler’s neck, creeping up to her face. That blush wasn’t the pretty one that spread from her breasts to her cheeks when I made her come apart, either. No, this fiery conflagration screamed hot and uncomfortable.

Her gaze darted away from Grandma, and she stared across the Lowes parking lot before her throat moved in a swallow. Shoulders straight, jaw rigid, she turned her head to fix her deliberate smile on Grandma. “Hello, Mrs. Hatcher.”

Grandma studied her face, then reached for her hands. Tyler’s flinch, so infinitesimal anyone else would miss it, had me moving to check Grandma. Boundaries were one of Tyler’s things, and I’d guard them.

But she was letting Grandma touch her, clasping both of Tyler’s hands while her gaze roved Tyler’s tense features.

“Oh, honey, you need to call me Louella. Mrs. Louella if you need to. But none of this Mrs. Hatcher business. We know one another too well for that.” Grandma winked. “Oh, Tyler, I’m so glad to see you.”

The last few minutes felt like stepping on clay and finding it still wet and slippery, throwing me a little off balance.

“Feel like I’m missing something.” Grandaddy adjusted the brim of his hat.

“Lewis, this is Tyler.” Still holding her hands, Grandma tugged Tyler to her side. “Honey, this is my husband Lewis. He’s a bit of a grouch, but don’t let that put you off.”

I bit back a grin. There was a story here. Wasn’t she just full of surprises?

Grandma turned to me, her eyes wide and pleased. “Tyler is your new girlfriend.”

First time anyone had used that term for her, but I liked it.

“Yes, ma’am.” I slanted a quick smile and a wink at Tyler, who was now pale, her eyes a little blank. I laid my hand at the small of her back and flexed my fingers in reassurance. “If she’ll have me.”

Her gaze darted to mine, eyes big and dark with . . . something, an emotion I didn’t recognize. Almost like she’d cry but whatever the memories sparked were too deep for tears.

Off-center, for sure, when I was accustomed to her brash assurance. Protectiveness rose, a heavy weight dead center of my chest. With my palm, I nudged her closer to me.

“We better get a table. The dinner rush is starting.”

That was all Grandaddy needed to hear. As he hustled Grandma toward the entrance, I hung back a few steps, keeping Tyler anchored to my side.