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I have stayed away, but that was before I knew what it felt like to be kissed and held by him. Now I don't think I can go back.
"Jenna, you okay, Hun?" Austin comes up behind me.
"Yeah, why?" I ask, trying to focus on my job.
"You have been standing there staring into space and Mr. Jones has been trying to flag you down for a few minutes now," she says.
"Shoot," I say, looking his way and smiling.
"Go help him, then come back, and we can chat," she says.
Austin is the diner owner's niece and only a few years older than me. When the last diner owner went full on stalker to my friend Sarah, he found himself in a jail cell. Not too long after, Austin moved to town to take over for her aunt. Austin's sister, Natalie, followed, but she didn't work here long once she met her husband Royce. Now that her baby was born, she's been a ranch wife and loving it.
I get Mr. Jones his refill, and his check before finding Austin in the back.
"What do you think about me dating a guy who is fifteen years older than me?" I come right out with it.
"Anyone I know?" She asks like my brothers did.
I shake my head. "No, just someone I met recently. He's incredibly sweet and we have a real connection, but the age difference is just..." I trail off, unsure of how to finish that sentence.
"Well, I don't think age should play much a part of it as long as both people are over eighteen. It should be about how he treats you and how he makes you feel. And how you feel when you are around him. He should help you be a better version of yourself. Personally, I think an older man would be able to do that much better than a younger one," she says.
"I couldn't agree more."
Austin smiles at me and pats my arm. "Then go for it, girl. Don't let the age difference hold you back from something that could be great."
I nod, feeling a renewed sense of determination. Maybe it was time for me to take that leap and make my move with Josh. After all, what did I have to lose? Things might be awkward for a bit with my parents, but I know we eventually my dad will come around.
I'm going to go for it. If I don't, I will always regret it and will wonder what if. I don't want to live with that.
Chapter 7
Josh
Iloveworkingonthis land and with the animals that live on it. It's hard but rewarding work. What I hate is after a long hard day having to come inside and cook something for myself.
Janet has been great at stuffing my freezer with casseroles I can just pop in the oven. She was horrified to find most days I was living on frozen dinners from the store. Usually, Janet and Jenna will make several meals and send them home with me on Sundays. But now I'm starting to wonder if Jenna had more to do with it than I realized.
Sadly, I ate the last of the casseroles yesterday and haven't had a chance to run to the store, so I don't even have a frozen dinner waiting for me. I'm covered in dirt, need a shower and a quick glance at my fridge reveals nothing. I guess it’s going to have to be peanut butter and Jelly sandwiches for dinner.
But first I need a shower. Once I make it to my room upstairs, I strip out of my clothes. I'll pick them up later, but right now I am looking forward to the hot water.
When I step into the shower, the hot water cascades over my body, washing away the dirt and grime of the day. My muscles relax as the tension of the day is fades away.
The moment I close my eyes, I see Jenna on the dock again. I can feel her against my body, and the peace I was feeling a moment ago is long gone. I quickly shower, dry off, and get dressed. After picking up my dirty clothes, I go down to the kitchen to wolf down my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
No sooner do I start the load of laundry than there is a knock on my door. Since I'm not expecting anyone, I hesitantly make my way to the door. I'm shocked to find Jenna standing there with a few shopping bags in her hands.
"Jenna, everything okay?" I ask like an idiot because I have no idea why she is here.
"Yep. Mom and Dad have been out with friends every night this week. My brothers never eat at home anymore and I'm tired of eating by myself. So I picked up stuff to make lasagna and decided we should have dinner together.”
I hesitate for a moment, still feeling a bit unsettled by the memory of Jenna on the dock. Though I don't want to turn her away, the lasagna sounds better than peanut butter and jelly. I should send her home and get rid of the temptation to take this further, but ultimately I can't say no to a home-cooked meal and the company of someone I care about.
"Sure, that sounds great," I say, stepping aside to let Jenna into my home. As she heads to the kitchen, I’m noticing how good she looks. Her long, dark brown hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and she's wearing a pair of denim shorts and a red tank top that show off her toned body.
"What can I do to help?" I ask, following her into the kitchen.
