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“True. I hope he learned his lesson.” Isabel blew out a breath. “But I know he didn’t. He’s so damn curious all the time. I mean, he’s a great dog, but his inquisitive nature will be the death of him.”
“My mom used to say that about me.”
Isabel glanced at him as they passed through the gates. “I remember, but here you are, thirty-one years later and still inquiring.”
“Yup.”
She pulled the jeep to a stop in his cottage’s small driveway. “You want some help with those balloons.”
He swiveled to see blue balloons bobbing around in the rear of the vehicle. “Yeah, you’d better handle those tricky bastards.” He angled his hands at himself. “I’ve got enough to handle with getting myself to the front door.”
Isabel chuckled and the light, airy sound of it fluttered around between his ears, temporarily relieving the headache that was sure to be real rager soon.
Allowing her to get out of the jeep first so she wouldn’t witness him potentially get bamboozled by the seatbelt or something, Jackson waited until she opened the back and started collecting balloons. Slowly, he swung the passenger side door open and lifted one leg out to rest his foot on the running board.
That’s it. One step at a time. No need to stumble out like a true drunk.
Besides, he wasn’t that drunk. But he had asked Isabel on a date, hadn’t he? A totally sober, completely in control Jackson would not have done that.
He didn’t regret that he had though.
Reaching for the handhold near the windshield, Jackson hoisted himself up then managed to get his other leg out to the ground first, which twisted him around a bit and his other foot—the one still on the running board—didn’t get the message to step down to the ground as well.
Jackson had a moment to feel a bit of a free fall until a small body holding a bunch of balloons appeared under his arm to support him.
“Maybe if we tie these balloons to you,” Isabel said, “the helium will keep you upright.”
“Funny. I’m surprised you don’t float away with those balloons. You’re barely heavy enough to stay grounded.”
“All the birthday cake I ate today is weighing me down.” She slowly turned him to face the cottage. “C’mon.” When her arm came around his waist as she guided him toward the front door, Jackson wanted that front door to be farther away than it actually was. He liked having Isabel this close.
Liked it too damn much.
Keys jingled as Isabel located the one for the cottage. In a few seconds, she had the door open and helped him to the couch. She released the balloons and they hit the ceiling then floated away from each other, their coiled ribbons springing about.
“Well, these make your cottage festive.” She plucked one of the ribbons then set his keys on the coffee table in front of the couch. She slid his phone next to the keys and Jackson was glad she’d grabbed it from the jeep for him.
“Do you want to sit?” he asked, not sure what the appropriate next steps were. He sure as hell wanted her to stay.
He wanted more than for her to stay, but she was right. He was drunk and he definitely wanted to remember every minute he spent with Isabel. If the universe was somehow giving him a second chance with her—even if he wasn’t sure where any of this could go—he didn’t want to fuck it up.
Not like he fucked it up with Isabel last time.
“I should go find Grandpa and Blaze,” she said. “I didn’t have my phone on me to check in with them.”
Jackson pointed at himself. “My fault.”
“Like you said earlier today, I didn’t have to get into the jeep, did I?”
He shook his head then clamped his eyes closed at the wave of dizziness that caused.
“Thanks for the party fun. I’ll see you around, Jackson.” Isabel hesitated for a moment and Jackson’s brain became filled with the phrase kiss me.
Kiss me. Kiss me. Kiss me.
Instead, Isabel gave him a smile and made her way to the door.
“Isabel?” He turned, draping his arm over the back of the couch to see her.
