AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Jesska smiled. “No almond. I promise.”
She wondered what it would be like to live without almonds. She loved almost everything almondy.
Kaspar took a bite and grimaced as he chewed. She watched him swallow and grab for the bottle of water Austri handed to him.
“Not your thing?” she teased.
“We’ll go with that,” he said. “A little overwhelming on the palate.”
Jesska laughed. “Suit yourself.” She bit into her treat, humming in pleasure as she chewed.
Jóvin arrived with the car, and Austri set the box in the trunk before holding the back door open for them.
“We’re close enough to walk,” Jesska said. “Let’s enjoy the little sliver of sunshine there is.”
Austri shook his head.
“Seriously?” she complained.
“Let’s just do as he asks, elskan. We’ll enjoy the sunshine at the market.”
“Fine.” Jesska slid in first, difficult to do while holding her doughnut, but Kaspar helped her with her seatbelt and she finished off her breakfast, full of more sugar than she typically consumed in the morning.
They drove the half mile to where Jóvin could drop them off and Jesska followed Kaspar out of the car, Austri behind them.
Kaspar took his thumb and brushed the corner of her mouth, slipping his thumb into his mouth. “Chocolate.”
“Hey.” Jesska frowned. “I was saving that for later.”
He chuckled and linked his fingers with hers. “Where do we begin?”
Jesska led Kaspar through the booths and vendor stores, stopping at a few of her favorites, including Lacework Jewelry, where they always had unique, filigree jewelry. She made him try the garlic fries and after he deemed them delicious, he bought his own paper basket full. They were standing in front of the main stage waiting to see who would be playing when the heavens opened up and the inevitable downpour began.
Kaspar pulled her through the small crowd to shelter, but by the time they were away from the rain, Jesska’s fries were drenched and so was she.
Kaspar handed her a handkerchief. “We can always buy more, baby.”
“If I keep eating like this, I’ll gain a thousand pounds.” She dumped the fries in the closest trash can and then blotted her face dry. “It’s fine. It was a nice treat.”
“Shall we head back to the hotel and get dry?”
Jesska raised an eyebrow. “But we’re not done.”
“Baby, it’s pouring.”
“And it will probably stop in the next twenty minutes.” She smiled. “We Pacific Northwesterners are used to this. This is nothing.”
Kaspar chuckled, pulling her close and kissing her as the rain continued around them. “If it’s not over in twenty minutes, I’m taking you back to the hotel.”
“Okay, fine.” She gave his waist a gentle squeeze. “For now, give me another kiss.”
Kaspar complied and they waited for the rain to stop. When it didn’t, Kaspar insisted they head back to the hotel and “continue their day off.” Jesska wasn’t surprised to discover that translated into movies, wine, and a lot of making out.
The next morning, Cameron was scheduled to arrive to pick Jesska up for church, and she was late. She’d wanted to blow him off again, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer, so she was stuck. She pulled on jeans and a black turtleneck, finishing off the ensemble with knee-high black boots. As she slid her watch on, a knock came at her door.
“You’re early,” she said as she pulled open the door.
“Am I?” Kaspar asked.
