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Chapter 24
Tyler
Iwalk Jasmine to her door.The look on her face as she stared at that can will haunt me, but after such a perfect evening, I don’t want to talk about what happened at the party.It can wait until another day.
And when I bring it up, I’ll tell her everything.If she trusts me enough to let me open her drink, then I have to believe that she’ll see that my intentions were good when I didn’t mention anything earlier.The look on her face when that bartender mentioned the liquid on the can overshadows all my reasons for not saying anything.
“Thanks for teaching me to dance.”She trails a finger down the front of my shirt, then tugs that bottom lip between her teeth.
I do what I did earlier and kiss her in that spot.
Her arms circle my neck, then slide back down to my chest.“I should let you go.You’ll probably be up before the sun.”
Sleep isn’t high on my priority list right now.“Have breakfast with me.I can be here as soon as I finish a few tasks first thing.”
Our fingers are intertwined, and I don’t even remember reaching for her.
She leans in and kisses me again.“I’d like that.I’ll be ready.”
The curtains are moving next door, and I need to mosey on home.But lately, Jasmine embodies that feeling even more than the ranch.
I brush hairs out of her face, convincing myself to back down the stairs and get into my truck.“I really enjoyed myself tonight.”
“Me too.”She tugs her hand free, then points.“Now go.I want you to get some sleep before I see you again.”
“Yes, ma’am.”I tip my hat and stride back to my truck.
All the way home, my thoughts tumble over each other as I try to plan what I’ll say.I have a lot I want to tell her.Figuring out the order is the hard part.
My phone buzzes as I step into my cabin, and I swipe to answer Kent’s call.“What’s up?”
“Mason has lost avery special rockand can’t go to sleep until we find it.”Kent sounds exhausted.“Since he rode in your truck the other day when you were out tossing hay, I wondered if we could see if it was there.”
“Sure.It’s not locked.Need my help?”
“Only he knows what it looks like.”He sighs.“Thank you.”
When a door slams, I step out onto the porch.Kent waves, then turns on a flashlight.While he holds it, Mason searches the seats and floorboards.
After several minutes and lots of mumbling, Mason shouts, “Found it!Isn’t it the coolest?”
Kent nods.“That’s a super special rock.”
“It looks like a heart.And it’s big.”Mason yawns.“I’m sleepy, Daddy.”
Acting the part of the perfect dad, Kent picks up the kid.“If you fall asleep in the truck, I’ll carry you to bed.”He waves after loading Mason into his seat and mouths, “Thank you.”
I crawl into bed, rehearsing what I’m going to say to Jasmine.
It’s still earlywhen I pull up in front of Jasmine’s.The diner should be open.Most places like that are open around the clock.
I’m nervous.I want to believe she’ll understand and that we’ll laugh at the coincidence of meeting twice.But Kent’s comment about it blowing up in my face, something he said ages ago, is now playing on repeat in my head.
Jasmine walks out, pulling the door closed behind her, then runs across the yard into my arms.“Good morning.”
“It is now.”I open her door and help her in.
Before I step away, she grabs my shirt.“I need to tell you something.A couple of things actually but just one right now.”
