Page 85 of Dandelion Sighs

A quiet bomb went off between my ears. A whooshing sound filled in. “Oh?”

“It’s been wonderful here. I mean it.” She ducked her head to look at me, like she needed me to know she wasn’t lying. I nodded so we could get this over with. “But Constance started a home cleaning service, and she needs an admin person.”

Fucking Constance. That woman got kicked down and popped right back up, but she wanted to keep trying to stomp me down. “I see.”

“I told her I wanted to give you two weeks.”

My head bobbed like it was on a spring. “Two weeks.”

“And then I’m done.”

“And then you’re done.” I was going to sprout green feathers and a beak and fly away. Life as a parrot might go better for me.

She waited, but I had no more to say. All I had was that business card on the desk, laughing at me, telling me I should’ve called already.

“Thanks.” I forced a smile. Were my eyes wide, a little panicked? “Thank you for the notice.”

She nodded, and I moved around her, going right to my office. Once inside, I didn’t want to think about sales or two-week notices. That headspace was full of despair and sadness. When I thought about dating Jasper, my mood brightened and even sales and two-week notices didn’t seem so bad. So I’d lean into the date. Hell, I’d buy a new dress on my way there.

I ignored the desk with the obnoxious business card. I would call them Monday.

How ironic. Tuesday would be the day Jasper’s aunt Linda could call them too.

When I pulled up at Jasper’s, I had to peel my hands off the steering wheel. The new lavender sundress I just bought wasn’t cheering me up. Maria’s news sucked, and the timing hadn’t helped. What I had to do Monday hung over my head. I wouldn’t let it ruin my date. Jasper would help me forget, and if this date led to a fourth date, then I’d have something to look forward to.

He strode out of the house. No cowboy hat or ball cap was on his head. With his hair combed back and his neatly trimmed scruff, he oozed ruggedness. Gone was the snug T-shirt. The black polo made him the whole tall-dark-and-handsome package.

And that grin. My whole insides lit up, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes. The stress raced away from the light.

I smiled in return. “You don’t know how I’m looking forward to tonight.”

He waggled his brows. “Third date.”

“Not just that. It’s that bed of yours.”

He barked out a laugh, his long legs eating up the distance between us.

A lump formed in my throat. “And because you always make me feel better.”

He stopped on the sidewalk in front of me. “That’s a mighty compliment, Miss Bishop.” He lifted my chin and planted a lingering kiss on my lips.

“You earned it,” I said when we broke apart.

He cocked his elbow out. “My chariot awaits.”

“I feel like we’re doing this backward. Going out for drinks and coming back for a meal.”

“It’s also apps night.” He led me to the passenger side of his pickup and opened the door. “I’m planning to destroy a plate of mozzarella sticks.”

“I like the sound of that.”

We chatted about the weather, and I told him about Maria. I didn’t tell him about my plans for calling REG. All of it was tabled for next week. Tonight was about fun—about escape. Each mile farther away we got, the more tension drained out of me.

We reached the brewery. As soon as we walked in, a chorus of voices greeted us. I recognized McCoy from last time we were here. A tall blond woman was next to him, her hands full of empty mugs. Violet and Evander were at the table, and Evander was chatting with McCoy. Lily and Eliot were next to them. A couple I hadn’t seen before sat on the other side. They were all waving and shouting greetings.

I clutched Jasper’s hand. “You know people everywhere.”

“I’m related to a lot of them. If not directly, then in a roundabout way.” He kept hold of me until we reached the table. Then he put a hand on the small of my back and gestured to a tall, blond woman. “Sheridan, this is Isla.”