3. Jasmyn
Chapter Three
JASMYN
“Would you relax?” My best friend Lindsay loops her arm through mine. “It’s going to be fine.”
I bite my lip. “But I wasn’t invited. Won’t it be awkward?”
Lindsay rolls her eyes. “It’s a bonfire, girl. Everyone is invited. That’s the whole point.”
It’s Saturday night, the night of the annual Clayton Ranch bonfire. And even though I wasn’t technically invited, since Lindsay is the marketing coordinator for the ranch, she insisted I come this year.
As we walk up the dirt path toward the sprawling main house, the scent of woodsmoke and sagebrush fills the air. Crowds start to gather around the enormous pile of wooden pallets. String lights are draped between the towering pines, and country music blasts from speakers.
“See? It’s super casual. No one will even notice we’re here.” Lindsay grins at me reassuringly.
I nod, trying to absorb some of her carefree confidence. She’s right. I need to relax and just enjoy myself tonight. Stop overthinking everything.
Lindsay’s phone chimes with a text. She glances at the screen. “Ooh, it’s Jace. He needs me to meet him over by the barn.” She waggles her eyebrows suggestively. “You good on your own for a bit?”
“Of course.” I wave her off with a smile. “Go have fun with your boyfriend. I’ll grab a drink and snack from inside.”
Lindsay glares at me. “For the last time, Jace is not my boyfriend.”
I wink at her knowingly. “Whatever you say.”
Jace Clayton is the youngest of the three Clayton brothers who own this sprawling ranch. Lindsay insists that she and Jace are “just friends.” But I know there’s something more between them. And it’s just a matter of time before the two of them realize it, too.
I walk up the wooden porch steps to the farmhouse and push open the heavy front door. Inside, the house is warm and inviting, with rustic wood beams and floors. I make my way toward the kitchen at the back, following the sound of clinking glasses and laughter.
The enormous kitchen is packed with people milling about, filling plates with barbecue and sipping drinks. The marble counters are loaded with an impressive spread - smoked brisket, pulled pork, potato salad, cornbread. My stomach rumbles at the sight. I grab a red plastic cup and ladle some spiked lemonade from a large glass dispenser.
Squeezing between the crowds, I start filling a plate with food. As I reach for a roll, someone bumps into me from behind. I stumble forward, my cup slipping from my grasp. I yelp, bracing for impact with the hard tile...but it doesn’t come.
Instead, a strong hand grasps my waist, catching me mid-fall.
“Careful, baby,” a deep voice murmurs in my ear. I’m pulled back against a solid wall of muscle. “Wouldn’t want to ruin that pretty outfit of yours.”
I freeze. That voice. I’d know it anywhere.
Slowly, I turn around and find myself face to face with Luke. And, as usual, he looks devastatingly handsome.
He’s wearing a faded pair of Levi’s that hug his muscular thighs and a blue button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, revealing his tanned forearms. The top few buttons are undone, giving me a tantalizing peek at his chiseled chest.
I swallow hard. “Sorry. Guess I’m a little clumsy tonight.”
The corners of Luke’s mouth quirk up in a half-smile. “It’s alright, sweetheart. No harm done.” His eyes drift over me appreciatively. “You look beautiful tonight, by the way.”
I blink in surprise at the compliment. Who is this man, and what happened to Maisey’s grumpy dad?
“Actually, I’m glad I ran into you,” Luke continues. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. What could Luke possibly want to say to me? We’ve barely spoken since our tense encounter at the dance studio.
I feel another wave of nervous energy course through me. “What is it?” I ask.
Luke glances around the crowded kitchen. “Not here.” He takes my hand, his palm warm against my skin. “Come with me.”
Before I can protest, Luke is leading me out of the kitchen and down a quiet hallway. We pass by a series of closed doors before he stops in front of one at the very end. He pushes it open, revealing a small alcove tucked away from the main part of the house.
Once inside, Luke closes the door behind us, muffling the sounds of the party. Then he turns to face me, his expression serious. “Jasmyn, I owe you an apology.”
I blink in surprise. “An apology?”
He runs a hand through his dark hair. “For the way I treated you at the dance studio. I was rude and dismissive, and you didn’t deserve that.”
“It’s okay,” I manage to say. “I shouldn’t have?—”
But he cuts me off.
“No. It isn’t okay,” he insists. “You were just trying to do the right thing for Maisey. And I was a jerk. I want to make it up to you.”
My heart skips a beat at his words. “What did you have in mind?”
Luke takes a step closer and brushes his finger across my cheek. “How about a tour of the ranch before the bonfire starts?”
“Um, yeah. A tour sounds nice.”
He gives me a sexy grin and I feel my knees go weak. “Well, let’s go then.”
Luke takes my hand in his again, and this time he threads his fingers through mine. His palm is warm and callused against my skin, and I can’t help but marvel at how perfectly our hands fit together.
As he leads me out the back door of the kitchen, I feel a thrill of excitement run through me. The cool evening air hits my face, and I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart.
Luke glances down at me as we walk. “Maisey’s going to be thrilled to see you tonight. She’s been talking about you nonstop since your last class.”
“Aww, really?” My heart swells. “I’ve missed her. Honestly, I’ve missed all my students. Teaching those kids, seeing their progress and their joy... it means everything to me.”
“Have you decided what you’ll do next now that the studio is shutting down?”
I sigh. “Not exactly. I’ve been looking into dance jobs nearby, but pickings are slim. I might have to expand my search. Maybe even consider heading back to Chicago.”
“Chicago?” His hand tightens around mine. “Is that where you’re from?”
“Yep. Born and raised. My dad still lives there, too.”
He nods, his jaw working as if he’s chewing on his thoughts. I wait, sensing he wants to say more, but instead, he changes the subject.
“This is the west barn,” Luke says as we approach the sprawling wooden structure. “It’s where we keep the horses overnight and store all the tack.”
He slides open the heavy barn door and ushers me inside. The earthy scent of hay and leather envelops me as my eyes adjust to the dim interior. Rows of stalls line either side of the barn, and I can hear the soft nickering of horses echoing in the rafters.
“Wow,” I breathe, taking it all in. “This is incredible.”
Luke leads me to a stall near the back. A beautiful chestnut mare pokes her head over the gate.
“This is Whisper.” Luke strokes the horse’s velvety nose with a gentleness that makes my heart squeeze. “She’s a real sweetheart, isn’t she?”
I extend my hand tentatively, letting Whisper snuffle at my palm. When she nuzzles into my touch, I can’t help but laugh, the sound echoing in the quiet barn.
“She’s gorgeous. I’ve never actually ridden before.”
“Never?” He looks genuinely surprised.
I wink at him. “I’m from Chicago, remember?”
Luke grins “Guess I’ll have to take you out on the trails sometime. Show you what you’ve been missing.”
For a moment, I let myself imagine it—long rides across the open range, Luke’s strong arms around me.
I’ve never had a boyfriend before, but something tells me that Luke would be the protective type, the kind of man who would always keep me safe. I let my mind wander, imagining what it would be like to really kiss Luke, to feel his hands sliding over my skin.
A loud whooping cheer from outside the barn jolts me back to reality.
Luke chuckles. “Guess it’s time for the bonfire to start.” He reaches for my hand, his fingers lacing through mine. “Come on, let’s head down there before all the good spots are taken.”
As we approach the bonfire, the crackling of the flames and the lively chatter of the guests grow louder. The air is thick with the scent of wood smoke and roasting marshmallows.
“Daddy! Ms. Jasmyn!”
I turn just in time to see a blur of curls hurtling towards us. Maisey throws her arms around my waist, nearly knocking me off balance with the force of her hug.
“Hey there, sweetpea.” I smooth her wild hair. “I’ve missed you!”
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Luke watching us, a soft, unreadable expression on his face. My cheeks warm under his gaze and I stand, brushing off my jeans.
Suddenly, I hear a deep voice from behind me. “Well, if it isn’t the lady of the hour.”
I look up and see a tall, broad-shouldered man striding towards us with a friendly grin. And walking beside him, a smug smile on her face, is Lindsay. She catches my eye and winks. I realize this must be Jace, the youngest Clayton brother that she’s always talking about.
The one who is decidedly “not her boyfriend.”
Lindsay has always been the type to keep her friend groups separate, not wanting to mix her work life with her personal life. So I’m excited to finally meet the mysterious Jace Clayton in person. Lindsay talks about him constantly, even if she won’t admit her real feelings for him.
“You must be Jasmyn,” the man says warmly. He extends his hand to shake mine. “I’m Jace Clayton. It’s great to finally meet you.” Then he looks over at Luke and smirks. “Hope my brother isn’t giving you too much trouble. He tends to be a little gruff around pretty women he likes.”
Luke scowls at him. “Very funny.” He turns to me, his expression softening. “Ignore him. He thinks he’s a comedian.”
Maisey tugs at my hand, drawing my attention back to her. “Ms. Jasmyn, will you come sit with us at the bonfire? Pleeeease?” She turns her big, pleading eyes on Luke. “She can, right daddy?”
“Yeah, baby.” Luke looks over at me and grins. “She can sit with us.”