Chapter 52
JADE
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I DUCK INTO the tent, arms full of paper lanterns, zip ties, tablecloths, and whatever else we need.
“Drop those over there.” Hannah nods toward the stage that the guys spent all day setting up. “I’ll set up a buffet, and after we eat, we can carry in the rest.”
“Sounds good.” I take two steps.
“No rush, if you want to stop and talk to a certain cowboy.” She winks at me, so unlike Hannah.
I’d glare at her and fold my arms if I could, so I settle for a glare.
“Are you stopping to talk to a certain lumberjack cowboy?”
Her smile quickly falters. “I talk to everyone. Equally. In neutral, non-flirty tones.”
“So, that’s a yes?” I keep a straight face, which is harder than it should be, especially for me, queen of straight faces.
“When did you turn into Josie?” She retorts.
“When did you turn into Josie?” I clap back.
After sharing confused, accusatory glares, we head in opposite directions. She proceeds to the stacks of tables carrying foil-wrapped bundles of supper for the Wildes, and I make my way to the stage, juggling the awkward boxes and bags.
I see Hart before he notices me, and an unexpected jolt hits my heart. It’s different from the familiar sting of anger and frustration I’ve grown used to whenever he’s around.
I missed him today.
The feel is foreign and wonderful at the same time.
He crouches at the far end of the stage, adjusting something. Sweat latches to the back of his neck, and dust clings to the fabric and settles on his Stetson.
I unload my supplies and then walk past him, letting my fingers graze over his shoulder as I go. His body tenses at my touch, but he doesn’t turn; his head just tilts up slightly. I don’t make eye contact. I slip behind the partition wall, already knowing he’ll follow.
The moment I’m out of sight, his hands are at my waist, pulling me into the shadows between chairs stacked high and boxes of equipment. His mouth finds mine, urgent, like he’s been waiting all day to kiss me. Like he missed me as much as I missed him. The confirmation is exhilarating.
“I hated leaving you this morning.” His voice is low, and the deepness knots my insides. “You were curled up like you’d sleep through the week.”
“I almost did.” I lean my forehead against his. “Which isn’t like me.”
“No?”
I shake my head. “I’m an early-to-rise kind of girl.”
“That’s perfect, because I’m an early-to-rise kind of guy.”
I already suspected as much. All the Wildes are.
“Yeah?” I brush my lips against his. “Your scent was still in the sheets, wrapped around me, and thinking you were beside me made it really difficult to open my eyes.”
“I’m tempted to haul you back there right now.”
I laugh.
“I wanted to watch you wake up next to me,” he admits shamelessly, like he’s no longer holding anything back.
After everything we’ve done, and having seen each other in our most vulnerable states, what could we possibly still guard?
“Creepy,” I tease.
He laughs and plants another kiss on my mouth, his tongue plunging between my lips, demanding and hungry. I match that energy because this has all my mind has been thinking about since I opened my eyes and saw the gifts he’d left me.
“Thank you for the note and the honey. It was delicious.”
His fingers dig into my skin. Not painful, just enough to tell me the idea of me drizzling honey excites him.
“Did you leave any for me?” His dark and inviting eyes make it impossible to look away.
“As much as I’d like to sneak away to your tent and show you, I’m on decorating duty with Hannah, Celi, and Daisy.”
He brushes my cheek with his thumb. “Then I’ll stay.”
“You’ve been up since five. You’ll fall asleep folding napkins.”
He grins and leans in. “Not if you’re here.”
I kiss him again, slower this time.
He sighs into it before pulling back to look at me. “I don’t know how I’ve lived this long without you."
“It’s the honeymoon phase. Don’t you worry, it’ll pass.”
He shakes his head, slowly. “I’ve wanted this for over ten years. I don’t think I’ll ever leave the honeymoon phase.”
“It’s inevitable. It’s science.”
He leans in closer, his eyes soft but serious. “I want to go through every single phase with you. The good, the bad, all of it. As long as it’s with you, I’m in.”
“We’ve already survived the worst, and now we get to go through everything else together. We could start by tackling supper. We brought food.”
“I’m starving.” He presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “This is really hitting the spot, though.” Another kiss to my chin. “Yes, this should do it.” He sprinkles kisses over my jaw, and I laugh, lightly slapping his chest where my arms are wedged.
“Let’s go eat before they come looking for us.”
“Let them look for us.”
I slip out of his arms and catch his hand. “You keep kissing me like that, and we might end up skipping set up entirely.”
He chuckles like he’d totally be okay with that.
We step out of hiding, and his brothers are already unfolding tables and hauling chairs from a stack, tossing mild insults at each other.
Celi and Daisy have joined Hannah, opening containers of cold salads and unwrapping warm cuts of meat.
We eat in a loose circle of folding chairs and collapsible tables. Paper plates sag under weight, and the plastic forks bend. Half the food is warm, the other half just warm-ish, but no one complains. How could we when my mama prepared our favorite coleslaw and his mama cooked barbecue ribs?
“So, about the bucket list?” Dean rests his elbows on the table. “Are we out of a job? You know, being the bucket list belongs to both of you.”
I glance at Hart, and his guarded look says he doesn’t want to share the list with anyone.
I don’t blame him. It is our secrets and our dreams. It is every bit of our young selves. However, the hay maze was fun yesterday, and sharing stories around the campfire was enjoyable.
“Dean’s right. It feels like it’s a couple thing now.” Hannah smirks at me. “Sentimental. Private. We wouldn’t want to intrude.”
Do I point out that her smirk and choice words mirror Josie’s? Has she turned into a little matchmaker, too? Just wait until the tables turn and the Quylt sisters have their claws into her, then we’ll see who’s smirking.
Dean leans back in his chair. “Not sure I’m ready to retire from list policing.”
Hart clears his throat. “You’re not retiring until we survive that thunderstorm dance.”
I don’t expect that from Hart, and neither does anyone else. There’s a stunned pause, everyone exchanging glances, eyes wide, eyebrows raised, looking as shocked as I am.
After being adamant that we are fulfilling the bucket list together, he turns around and turns it into a full-blown family adventure.
“You better believe it.” Dean claps his hands together. “That storm’s got nothing on us. We’re in this together. No backing out now. When’s the next storm?”
The rest of the short dinner is spent figuring out which day works for everyone when we get back home, taking into account the weather forecast.
“I’m surprised you’re sharing the list,” I say to him when we head toward the stage.
He cocks a look at me. “They’re never going to guess one—”
I hold up a finger. “Dean was close. He guessed the Ferris wheel.”
“It was obviously a Ferris wheel.”
“No. He guessed making out at the top. Orgasm. Everything.”
Hart snorts. “He would.”
“Everyone called him a pervert.”
He scoops me around the waist, drawing me close to him. I love when he lifts me to where he’s entirely in control, toes grazing the ground.
“While our siblings are entertained trying to decode the book, we’ll be busy making sure we finish the second part of each one. Secretly hiding away, disappearing long enough to have my way with you.”
“Yes, please.”
He chuckles. “Besides, it’s been kind of fun with them. I mean, it hasn’t been entirely unbearable.”
My eyes widen. “Is grumpy, growly Hart Wilde admitting to having a good time out in the hustle and bustle of life?”
“Absolutely.” His lips brush mine. “What about you? Are you okay with me inviting them? It’s your book too. Should’ve asked.”
“I don’t mind. I’ve had fun too.”
He gasps. “Is clipboard, follow the rules, stay on track, Jade Fox throwing caution to the wind, and letting her hair down—”
“No. I like my hair up.”
“Me too.” His hand slides down my ponytail. “Easier to grab.” He pulls my hair, tilting my head to kiss me.
“You kinky freak.”
“Takes one to know one.”
The guys stay behind after finishing the construction work, and the rest of the group arrives once our booths are closed for the night.
Everyone chips in to get the tent ready for tomorrow night’s appreciation barbecue and dance.
By the time the last bulb of lights blinks on, everyone’s sweaty and dusty from stomping around the grassy dirt all day.
“I can’t wait to rinse off.” Hannah wipes her face with a paper napkin as if that’s going to do anything.
“You have a little dirt here.” I swipe my chin and she mimics the action on herself, smearing it further.
“Better?”
“Got it,” I lie, tugging my messy ponytail tighter.
The thought immediately has my eyes finding Hart. The guy knows the right things to say to get my blood flowing.
He’s rolling up extension cords with his brother, sleeves pushed up, forearms smudged with dirt. And maybe I stare too long, because Hannah nudges me with her elbow. “You look about to seconds away from pouncing him.”
“It’s called eye-fucking.” Celi struts between us.
I slap her for being so vulgar, but I very well might have been eye-fucking him on repeat.
By the time we pack up the last of the extra supplies, it’s dark outside. It’s a quick drive to the campsite, and everyone scrambles for the RV’s showers.
“Wanna hit the campground bathhouse?” Hart asks.
I’d rather take a shower at the guesthouse, but we don’t have a vehicle to get there.
“Sure. I’ll grab my stuff.”
Harper and Dean tag along. Dean must be as exhausted as the rest of us, because his regular banter is lacking.
He’s more interested in listening to Harper’s day.
It’s nice, though, because it leaves me and Hart a moment to catch up.
He tells me about the delivery mess-up, and I outline the details about Faye finding a certain silk runner in the kitchen that she snipped up for our quilt.
I didn’t even argue with her. It’s pointless. We’re getting a Love Quilt.
But mostly, I love how our fingers naturally intertwine, and the connection is effortless.
The bathhouse building glows at the edge of the pines. Fluorescent light buzzes above the men’s and ladies’ doors.
“It’s busy.” Dean recoils when a kid jumps in front of him.
A couple of families herd their kids in and out, even at this late hour. Flip-flops smack against the cement floor. A toddler darts past us, wrapped in a towel like a cape.
“Separate showers it is,” Hart mutters in my ear.
My eyes snap to his.
Was there going to be another option? I can’t hide my surprise or disappointment, and he chuckles.
“Come on, Romeo.” Dean slaps Hart’s arm. “The faster we’re in, the faster we’re out.”
Hart leans down and kisses me. “See you in ten?”
I nod, even though I know ten minutes will feel like forever.
When did I become so sappy?
“It’s in their genes,” Harper says, like she read my mind. “Wild and gruff on the outside, but all heart and soul on the inside.”
“So you’re saying we’re dating teddy bears in disguise?”
Harper laughs. “I guess I am saying that. I hope these showers have hot water left.” She adjusts the strap of her bag as we head inside.
“Warm would be a blessing.” My bra is glued to my skin.
I claim a shower at the far end and turn the handle until the spray warms. Kind of. Enough to get the job done.
Somewhere beyond the thin cinderblock wall, he’s showering too and tilting his head back. Water running over his shoulders and down his taut body.
The thought makes me instantly wet.
I shake it off, scrub quickly, and get dressed before my brain gets me in trouble.
I step outside and find him leaning against the railing. His damp hair drips onto his T-shirt, untucked and looking damn sexy. He clutches his hat in his hand with his bag.
His eyes lift when he sees me, and he pushes off the railing. “You smell like coconuts.”
“I snatched whatever was available.”
“I like it. Good enough to eat.”
“Why are you always trying to eat me?” My eyes skip around the second the words are out.
“Dirty-minded.” He says it like he loves it.
What a bad influence.
He glances over his shoulder. “Looks like the other two walked back ahead of us.”
“You’re not just saying that to get me alone, are you?” I tease.
He takes my bag and slings it over his shoulder with his. “Maybe.”
My hand slips into his in that perfect way, and I fall into step beside him, our shoulders brushing.
I expect to find everyone crashed for the night. We’re usually a group that goes to bed early and rises early. But instead, they’re clustered around the fire, blankets haphazardly draped over their shoulders, mugs in hand, laughter spilling into the quiet.
“There they are!” Josie Leo’s to get feet, way too bubbly after a day like today. “Scavenger hunt. Ten minutes.”