Page 28 of Worth the Trouble

It was the strangest sensation, the heat beneath her skin spreading under his palms. Cece closed her eyes and shook her head, but he still didn’t release her. “I didn’t even want to go.”

Frowning, he studied her a little longer before he released her as she stepped back.

“My dad suggested I spend some time with a guy who works at City Hall.”

This was getting dangerously close to a topic he would rather avoid.

“Anyway, he invited me and I just—” She blew out a breath then laughed, frustrated, and lifted the hand that held her phone before dropping it to her side. “Turns out there are people even here in Rocky Ridge who remind me a lot of the people back home.” She peeked at him and grimaced. “People that I never really got along with.”

He continued to listen. This was the best way to get to know Cece. She never had problems with sharing. He wouldn’t be surprised if it would get to a point where he knew everything about her while he ended up being more of a stranger. Jason would have to work on that.

“I know. I shouldn’t have been surprised. Honestly, there are people everywhere who have different views. It doesn’t matter where people stand politically, religiously, or any of that. No matter what state, what city or town you visit, you’ll always find someone who has different values. It’s what makes this country the dream, right? We get the freedom to live our lives the way we want.”

Jason nodded in agreement.

She breathed out another sigh. “So, I left. I think I’m beginning to realize that there are just some places that I wish I could preserve in a little bubble so they don’t get touched by people who want to hit the fast-forward button.”

One side of his mouth quirked upward. “So, what you’re saying is that you want to turn back time?”

Cece laughed. “Now, I wouldn’t go that far. I definitely like certain conveniences. And I certainly wouldn’t want to return to a time where I wouldn’t be able to run my own company.”

His brows rose. “You want to run your own company?”

Her smile was blinding. They were still standing on the side of the road with only his headlights on them, but for all he knew they were in their own little world far away from everything and the only things that mattered were each other. “Yeah. I went to college to get a degree because my father wanted me to. He paid for my tuition with the understanding that I’d come to work for him until I was ready to strike out on my own. And when I’m ready, that’s what I’m going to do.”

That threw him off guard. “When you’re ready?”

She lifted a shoulder. “Yeah. When I know that I’ll be successful.”

“You don’t think you’d be successful?” Confusion was hitting him hard now. He didn’t know Cece’s work well, but he’d done a little snooping. She was good at what she did. Her name had been mentioned in a couple of articles he’d found online. If anyone was ready to start a PR firm, it was her.

“My dad has been running his business for decades. I trust him to tell me when he thinks I’d be ready to strike out on my own.”

He fought the urge to shake his head. That didn’t sound quite right. A parent shouldn’t be sheltering his child like that, right? Well, not in some cases. This one was one of those situations where it would be better to push her out of the nest. Especially because she had plenty of successful experience. “So, that’s the only thing holding you back? Your father?”

“Well, that, and⁠—”

He ducked his head when she looked away so when she glanced back in his direction he could snag her attention. “And what?”

She blushed. “This is embarrassing.”

“I doubt that,” he murmured.

Cece drew in a deep breath then she smiled at him, small and almost unsure. As if she didn’t want to admit to whatever it was. Then she exhaled. “I have a trust. It’s being held for me until a time my father deems appropriate. In normal cases, parents usually release it after an individual gets married. In my case, it’s when I’m ready to start my business. It’s enough to get my plans off the ground so I’ve got a safety net. I won’t have clients right off the bat, but I’ll need some income. You know, stuff like that.”

He did know. That reason was one of the big ones as to why he hadn’t started his own business. Besides leaving his twin on his own, financial stability couldn’t be taken lightly. It was probably one of the big reasons most people didn’t start businesses these days.

Jason nodded. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’re ready.”

She snickered and gave him a playful push. “And what do you know about my job?”

He shrugged, not prepared to admit how much he knew about her work. Unfortunately, he didn’t exactly have to say anything. Because how she looked up at him through narrowed eyes told him that she could read him better than he was prepared for.

When had that happened?

Cece stepped closer to him, a small smile teasing at her lips. “You’re really sweet, you know that?”

He couldn’t help it. When she was this close to him, when she looked at him that way, when she said things like that, all he wanted to do was take her face into his hands and kiss her.