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Sitting across the table from her, our eyes caught. Not wanting to ruin the mood because I could tell earlier that the reason for startingHopeful Jurneemight be a sensitive subject, but really feeling the need to understand, I asked the question once again anyway. “So, want to tell me whyHopeful Jurnee?”
The look in her expressive gaze spoke volumes and I’d known my suspicions were right. I didn’t know a lot about Jurnee from when we were younger, except that she was adopted. Other than that, Alley kept her friend’s personal life to herself. Now it would be up to Jurnee to share whatever information she wanted to.
I wasn’t sure she was going to give me anything, but she started talking. “The kids mean a lot to me and any hope I can give them, maybe through providing a safe, fun place to go and being there for them, is important because of how I grew up.Hopeful Jurnee, also volunteering at the hospital with the kids in the cancer wing is what I am passionate about. But if it’s okay with you, maybe we could enjoy our lunch and I will tell you more about it when we have more time together. Would that be okay?”
I was glad she wasn’t blowing me off and eventually may let me in, so yeah, I could wait. It was obvious there were personal reasons why those things were so dear to her. “Of course, let's eat and you can tell me more when you're ready.”
“I did say I would explain about Embry though. Her parents were and are both very much into drugs and didn’t think about her much at all. They had dealers and fellow addicts flowing in and out of the house while she was there. I said were, because her mom died of an overdose, and her dad has refused to get clean, even though his daughter was taken away. Embry is in a foster home right now and the courts are trying to terminate her father’s rights. He is pissed about it but hasn’t done what’s asked of him to get her back. He just acts like it’s his kid and nobody else should have her. He treats her like property, not his daughter and a human being, or someone that should be his whole world.”
Jurnee’s words pierced my heart and had my blood boiling. Not only for that sweet little girl that clearly this beautiful woman sitting across from me cared so much for, but also for Jurnee herself. It was easy to hear the pain in her voice. I knew right then that when she finally told me more about her childhood, I’d want to find the person who’d hurt her and lay into them.
“I want her!” Jurnee basically shouted out and then kept talking. “I can’t believe I just told you that. I haven’t told many people that, except my best friends. All the kids at the center hold a special place in my heart, and it may sound awful to say, but Embry holds an extra chunk.”
“You mean you want to adopt her?” That was a big step, but the passion and love that sparkled in her eyes and shined through in her words told me it was meant to be. “Can you do that?”
“Honestly, I doubt they would let me. If I thought I had a chance I would try. Maybe when I explain more it will be easier to understand why I feel this way. I was that little girl once, not having a home or family and I still remember every day what that was like.”
I wasn’t exactly sure what happened to Jurnee before she was adopted, but I could clearly hear the hurt and the compassion both in her voice. It was another layer that just made me want to protect her and also made her even more beautiful to me.
“I think that’s amazing, Jurnee, and maybe there is a way. We can talk more about it or whatever else you want to.” It was a nice day. The breeze in the air had her hair flipping around a little, the wind had pinkened her cheeks. I could look at and listen to the breathtaking woman by me for hours. Anything she wanted to say was fine with me.
Sitting together comfortably, we’d finished eating and continued chatting. Not about heavy stuff, but about things we liked and also how her shoulder was healing. I’d told her about Kace showing up, and how she’d get a kick out of his sense of humor. We had talked about what foods we enjoyed, although from the way the girl had put away her tacos, they were obviously her favorite. I’d have clearly seen that even if she hadn’t already told me. We’d also spoken about music and movies, her surprising me with her choices. Not that she didn’t like girly movies, but she was also a fan of theTransformermovies,Die Hard,and anything that had the Rock in it. Because,duhwho wouldn’t love all those, she’d said. She told me that she cried when Bumblebee had gotten hurt in the first movie, which got a chuckle out of me. Then she’d shocked me when she kicked my leg under the table for laughing at her.
“Not funny, that amazing yellow machine with a heart of gold should be everyone’s favorite and if he gets hurt you can’t help but be sad.”
I swear I’d seen tears starting to gather a little bit in her eyes, but they were shimmering with laughter too.I am falling hard for this girl.
“You do know he isn’t real, right?”
“What? I’m appalled. How could you say such a thing,” she said with dramatic flair and a dimpled smile.
Wow, this girl just got better and better. She was funny, sweet, beautiful, and had the cutest dimple in her chin that was one of my favorite features of hers and when her mouth tipped up into that adorable smile I could barely breathe. All this had my body coming to life in a way that may scare her if she were to look under the table and see the rock-hard bulge in my pants. On top of all that, her big brown eyes that I was fairly sure saw most everything, could bring a man to his knees. There were so many things about Jurnee that would touch a man’s heart, while her body and beauty could light it on fire. Lord knows I was about to go up into flames.
“Okay, okay, Bumblebee is the best, are you happy now?”
“You're just saying that so I don’t kick you again.”
“How about instead of kicking me, we exchange numbers and talk this week to make plans for the weekend? You did agree to let me take you out, remember?”
“Yeah, sure, we can do that.” Pulling her phone out of her pocket, she got quiet on me. I wasn’t sure what had changed. We’d been having fun and a great conversation.
“What just happened Jurnee? You just clammed up on me.”
Her shoulders had gotten tense and she hesitated, looking a bit confused. One minute things had been going great and the next there was a complete flip in her behavior.
“I just don’t know why you want to spend time with me or what’s going on. You're an amazing guy, you have always been so nice and full of life, but you're also my best friend's big brother. If this is because you feel bad about what happened at the bar, then don’t worry about it. I don’t blame you and I’m doing okay. I am on my way to a full recovery.”
“Jurnee, I hate everything about that night, except for seeing you again. I do feel like I should have gotten the situation under control so you didn’t get hurt. But the second I saw you walk in that night, something inside me changed. I was drawn to you with an intensity I can’t fully explain. I just want to get to know you.”
She looked at me, biting her bottom lip, which I had to say was damn sweet and sexy all at the same time. A little shyly, she nodded. So just to break the ice I said, “Let me guess, you have to pee?”
Just then I received another kick under the table and I couldn’t be happier she found her spunk again. After that, we headed back to her workplace and as we approached, I could feel her steps slowing a little the closer we got.
“I just want to say thank you for lunch, but I also want to thank you for the time you stayed in the hospital with me. It means a lot. If you still want to do something this weekend, I’d like that.”
“How’s Saturday evening?”
“Sounds great, Braxton.”
