Chapter 6
SIX
Meyer
I drag the rake over the grass, brushing the dead leaves into a pile.
Or pretend to.
The truth is that I’m only out here to catch a glimpse of Jade. I’ve been working in the yard since I got up this morning, hoping to see and talk to her, but there’s been no sign of her.
I can’t stop thinking about our date and our kiss last night. It was perfect. Electrifying. It was all I could think about when I got home last night.
I can’t believe she was going to ditch me.
I smile. Well, maybe I can. Jade is tough, way stronger than she looks. I love that she doesn’t take any of my shit. I miss having someone who teases me and puts me in my place when necessary. The Marines gave me that with my brothers. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I sat across from Jade last night and she made fun of me.
I need that in my life. I need her.
But I need to make sure I’m what she needs, too.
Jade is smart and funny. She could have anyone she wanted, so I know I need to up my game—or figure out how to get a game in the first place.
I toss the rake aside and roll out my shoulders.
I should knock on her door and ask her out.
A door creaks open, and my head whips up as Jade comes out, juggling her purse, work bag, and water bottle in her arms.
“Here, let me help,” I say, jogging over to her side.
“Oh, thanks.”
“No problem.”
She unlocks her car and tosses her bag and purse in the passenger seat.
“You’re up early,” she comments.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
“Your shoulder?” she asks in concern.
I hesitate. Do I tell her that a different part of me is hurting? Do I tell her how I can’t stop thinking about kissing her again and how I’ve held back from marching to her house and kissing her again?
She takes my silence as an answer. “Let me give you a massage tonight. It might help. You should take it easy, too. Take a rest day.”
“Yeah, good idea.”
“I’m running errands and then headed to work, but I should be back at five.”
“I wanted to ask if you’d let me take you out again sometime,” I blurt as she turns back to the car.
“A second date?”
“Yeah.”
“All right.”
“Tonight?”
“How about you buy me lunch right now? I need to run to the post office and the hardware store first.”
I nod. “Okay. Want me to drive?”
“No, I have to head to work after and do a few things, so I’ll have to leave after lunch.”
“I could go with you.”
“To work?”
“Yeah.”
“You want to spend your afternoon looking at trees?”
“Yeah.”
She studies me for a moment, and I hold my breath.
“All right. Let’s go.”
I smile as I head for the passenger side of her car and climb in.
“This isn’t going to work,” I mumble as I slide the seat as far back as it will go.
“What?”
“I feel like I’m in a toy car.”
“Well, you look great.”
I huff out a laugh and buckle up as she shifts into reverse. “What are we getting at the hardware store?”
“I need some supplies. I had to order a new safety harness and a pole saw.”
“For work.”
“Yeah.”
“Why become an arborist?” I ask, wanting to know everything about her.
“I love trees and plants. I bounced around for a few years and tried odd jobs. Then I worked at this plant nursery and fell in love. It was so quiet and peaceful. I loved learning how to care for all the different types of plants. It was…relaxing. Perfect.”
“Yeah, I could see that. Why not open your own plant store?”
“I thought about it, but it takes money I don’t have. When I looked for other jobs, an arborist came up, and bam! A new career.”
Jade digs around in her work bag when we pull into the post office parking lot. “I need to drop this off. I’ll be right back.”
I shift in my seat as she hurries inside, trying to get comfortable. It’s no use, though. My legs are too long for this little car.
Jade returns a minute later, and we head to the hardware store.
“What about you? What are you doing now that you’re out of the Marines?” she asks as we drive to the store.
“I don’t know yet. A few guys want me to work for them at Semper Fly.”
“What’s that?”
“A tourist helicopter business here in town.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t decided yet.”
“Well, you’ve got time.”
We reach the hardware store and head up to the counter.
Frank, the owner, smiles at Jade. “Jadey Girl!”
“Hey, Frank. I’m here to pick up my order.”
“Yep, we’ve got it ready for you right here.”
Frank heads into the back and returns with a box, setting it on the counter. “Got everything you needed.”
Jade smiles. “Thanks, Frank. You’re the best.”
“Of course. Take care now.”
She waves, and I take the box before she can protest. I follow her out to her car and set it in the trunk.
“What are you hungry for?” she asks as we get back in the car.
“Whatever you want.”
“How about Nosh’s Diner?”
“Sounds good.”
We make the short drive to the diner, and I hop out and open the driver’s door for her. We head to a booth in the back and slide across from each other. I don’t bother with a menu, and neither does she.
“Hey. What can I get you two?” Cameron asks as she stops at our table.
“Hey, Cam. How have you been?” Jade asks her friend.
“Good. Are you coming to the next girls’ night?”
“If you’ll have me.”
“Of course, you’re always welcome,” Cameron says with a smile.
“Thanks.”
“What can I get you guys to drink?” she asks, looking between Jade and me.
“Just a water for me,” I reply.
“Me, too.”
“Got it. You know what you want to eat?”
“Can I get the BLT, please?” Jade asks.
“Sure thing.”
“I’ll have the same,” I say.
“Easy enough. I’ll get that in for you two.” Cameron smiles and heads off to fill our orders.
“So, tell me about trees,” I say, focusing on my girl.
“Well, there are a lot of them. So many different kinds. Some are so old. It’s crazy to think about everything they’ve been around for.”
“Have you seen the sequoias?”
Jade smiles. “Not yet. It’s on the bucket list, though.”
“You have a tree bucket list?”
“I have a list of things I’d like to see. You don’t?”
“No. Not yet.”
“There are some crazy plants out there,” she says, leaning forward excitedly.
I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Like what?”
“Okay, did you know there are two trees found in Central America called the Chechem tree and the Chaka tree?”
Cameron returns with our glasses of water, and I watch as Jade takes a quick sip.
“The Chechem tree’s bark is so poisonous that touching it can numb your skin.”“A poisonous tree?”
“Yeah.”
“And what about the Chaka tree?”
“That’s the even crazier part. The cure for the Chechem tree poison is in the Chaka tree. And these two trees are always found next to each other in nature.”
“Really?”
Jade nods. “Yeah. According to a Mayan myth, the Chaka and Chechem trees came from two brothers who fought over the same woman. They both died in the battle, and she died of a broken heart. The kind, loving brother became the Chaka tree, while the cold, arrogant one became the poisonous Chechem.”
“Do you believe that?” I ask as our food arrives.
“I don’t know. It’s a cool story, but the cure for a poison being next to each other in nature isn’t new.”
“Yeah.”
“What about you? Do you believe the myth?”
“Crazy things happen. It could be true,” I say as I bite into my sandwich.
“There’s a fireproof tree in Hawaii,” she says, telling me all about it.
I smile as Jade shares some more plant facts as we eat. It’s obvious that this is her passion because she’s in her element. She looks so happy as she talks, like a kid at Christmas. I hang on her every word.
I pay the bill once we’re finished eating and follow her to her car.
“What are we working on today?” I ask as I buckle my seatbelt.
“I need to go to the park and check on a tree. It’s sick, so it may need to be cut down,” she says with a grimace.
“Okay, let’s go.”
No sooner do the words leave my mouth than the skies open and it starts to pour.
“Or not,” Jade says dryly.
“What now?” I ask as we watch the rain come down.
“The park will be closed, so I’ll head home to answer emails. Did you need anything from town before we go?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
She drives slowly, the windshield wipers working frantically to clear the rain.
“I could make us dinner,” I offer as she steers us down the rain-soaked road to our houses.
“You cook?”
“Yeah. Nothing fancy, but it’ll be edible.”
“I can’t turn down an offer like that.”
I laugh, and she giggles as she parks.
“Are you coming over?”
She chews on her bottom lip. “Okay.”
I help her gather her things and turn to her as I grab the door handle. “Ready to make a run for it?”
Jade nods, and we hop out of the car and run toward my place. I quickly unlock the door and usher her in ahead of me.
“Whew! It’s really coming down out there.”
We’re both soaked, so I set her things down and head into the bathroom to grab each of us a towel.
“Thanks.” She wipes her face, then towel dries her hair.
Her clothes are soaked and sticking to her curves. The sight has my mouth watering and my cock hardening in my jeans.
Get it together, I scold myself.
I dry off and toss the towels into the washing machine. Jade scans my place, and I watch her expression as she takes everything in.
She raises an eyebrow. “What should we do now?”
I bite back a groan.
I have a few ideas…