Isabelle & Jason (Palmers of Copper Creek #5)

Chapter 1

Five Years Ago

Jason Klein

Live country music filled the rafters of the barn-turned-country-dance hall. Boots and Hay was one of those places for the locals to let loose, and tonight was no exception. Jason took a bite of his buffalo wings and surveyed the crowd.

This was going to be one of his last nights out for a while. The restaurant was doing well—too well. The stress over the last couple of years was getting to him. He still loved being in the kitchen, but there was a part of him that wanted… more? He couldn’t put his finger on it.

It wasn’t the job, not really. And he’d been carving out time in his schedule to go on dates. His best friend, Mark, had successfully dragged him out to dance tonight, hadn’t he? So, what was his problem?

A nudge in his side had him cutting a glance in his friend’s direction. “What do you think? A decent place to meet chicks, right?”

Jason rolled his eyes. “And what does Tracy have to say about it?”

Mark scrunched up his nose. “Tracy? The girl I’ve only been on one date with?”

Jason cocked a brow at his friend. Those two were destined for each other. Mark just couldn’t see it yet.

“She’s moving to some small town in a few months. Don’t think the two of us are going to do the long-distance thing.”

“Where to?” Jason said, his attention shifting to the people dancing to the live band.

“Some creek town. I don’t know, man.” Mark leaned with his back against the bar, resting his elbows. His dark hair was longer these days, and it fell into his eyes until he puffed at it or swiped it with his hand.

Jason couldn’t stand his hair getting in his way. Came with being a chef. For now, his longer locks were pulled back into a tight knot. He scrubbed a hand over his clean-shaven jaw. “How’s the new job?”

Mark groaned and let his head fall back. “Do you think Penny would hate me if I quit?”

Jason snorted. “My sister? Nah. She’d just blacklist you from ever getting another job in Colorado Springs. But what do you expect when she pulled so many strings to get you that job? She’s got way too many connections here.”

Another groan. “I thought I’d like working at the shelter, but I don’t know. It’s so… sad.”

This time Jason bit back a smile. “Yeah. Doesn’t feel good seeing all those animals without a home, does it?” He ordered another appetizer from the waitress. Just as he was about to take another bite of his food, his focus landed on the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

He nearly dropped the food he was eating, and whatever Mark was saying sounded more like an annoying buzz in the background.

She looked like Latina royalty. Her bronzed skin shone even in the dim lighting on the dance floor. Her long, dark locks had a gentle wave to them, and they brushed the small of her back as she danced.

A princess. That was the only way to describe her.

Her hips swayed to the music, and she lifted her hands in the air. The smile that shone on her face could have brought the strongest men to their knees.

Jason pushed Mark to the side. His friend stumbled and cut a disgruntled look Jason’s way.

“What’s your problem, man—”

“Be right back,” Jason interrupted. His eyes remained glued to the ethereal beauty before him.

She was clad in a pair of jean shorts and some cowboy boots.

The white blouse she wore came just above her stomach, showing off a sliver of smooth skin.

The sleeves were puffed and draped around her shoulders.

Everything about her called to him like a dancing flame calls to a moth.

She turned when he was just a few feet away, and her eyes speared right through him. They were the strangest shade of deep violet. Or maybe that was the lighting. Dark blue? Whatever they were, he would have happily drowned in their depths.

Her hands dropped to her sides, and she cocked her head like a curious animal might. No fear flickered in her expression. She was wild, untamed, and he wanted nothing more than to scoop her up and claim her as his.

Before tonight, if someone had asked him if he believed in love at first sight, he would have laughed in their face. Love at first sight? That was for fairytales.

Seeing this beauty made him realize one thing.

Fairytales existed.

And he’d walked right into one.

“Hey,” he called out as the music died down and a new song—slower this time—started. “Dance with me?”

Her lips curled into a teasing grin, and then her eyes darted to the side, searching. “I’m here with someone else.”

Jason glanced around and shrugged. “I don’t see anyone.”

A barely perceptible blush dusted her cheeks. “Just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it’s not real.”

“Before tonight, I would have never believed someone like you could exist.”

For a moment the girl froze. Then she tossed back her head with a laugh. “That’s a good one.”

“Good enough to agree to a dance?”

She shook her head, her lower lip between her teeth. “Sorry.”

“Can’t fault a guy for trying.” He folded his arms and widened his stance. “But if you change your mind, I’ll be over there.” He jerked his chin in Mark’s direction.

She leaned to the side to get a look at his friend. “Good to know.”

Walking away from this woman would be one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do, but Jason managed. By the time he got back to Mark, his best friend couldn’t help himself.

“I could have told you that you’d strike out if you’d asked. That girl is way out of your league.”

Jason’s eyes remained locked on the girl, and sure enough, seconds later her date joined her. He slipped his hands around her waist and pulled her roughly against his body. She winced, but her smile soon returned.

Frowning, Jason continued to observe. For the next hour and a half, he watched the couple, much to Mark’s irritation. Eventually, Mark opted to scope out some company of the female variety.

When he returned to Jason’s side, he was flanked by two girls. “Come on, man. She’s taken. But you know who isn’t?”

Jason’s eyes never left the princess, who was now huddled in a booth with her date.

The guy was about the same height as Jason, but maybe a little more built.

He was clean-shaven with his hair shorn close to his head.

There was nothing about him that stood out to Jason.

Nothing to give him any indication that the unease sluicing through his veins had any merit.

And yet, Jason couldn’t shake the feeling that something bad was impending.

Her date left and returned with a couple of drinks. The girl continued smiling, chatting with her date, and enjoying herself.

“I’m out, man.”

Jason vaguely heard the statement.

“Dude.” Mark nudged him, drawing his attention. “I’m heading home. While it’s been fun watching you obsess over that chick, I’ve got better things to do. Like watching paint dry.” He chuckled at his own joke, but Jason waved him off.

“Talk to you tomorrow.”

Mark rolled his eyes. “‘Night.”

Not even fifteen more minutes passed before his princess started acting different. Jason couldn’t say exactly what was off from the distance where he observed her, but there was definitely something happening.

Her date nudged her, laughed and draped an arm around her shoulders. Her head lolled to the side and her lashes fluttered more slowly. Was she drunk? He didn’t think she’d drank that much but maybe she did?

Jason straightened in his seat when the guy got to his feet and pulled the girl with him. She smiled at him and waved a hand as if to tell him she was fine, but when she practically collapsed, her date’s hold on her tightened.

The expectation was for the guy to take her out to get a cab.

But when he moved toward the back exit, alarm bells rang in Jason’s head.

He shot to his feet and moved after them.

Nothing about this felt right. Every instinct in his body told him there would be a fight, and he wasn’t the one who’d walk away bloody.

People swarmed him as he attempted to move through the dancing bodies. Twice he lost sight of the couple, the second time being when he rounded the corner where a wall had been built out from the restrooms. There was an exit to the back as well.

Bathroom or exit?

Jason surged toward the latter and burst from the building.

Her soft whimpers and slurred speech had his heart racing. The alleyway behind the structure was lit by only one light. Two bodies were pressed against each other a few yards away.

“Come on, Bella. You know you want this.”

She made an attempt to push him away. “NO!” she said, followed by more slurred speech.

That “No,” along with her muffled words, was all it took for Jason to see red. He stormed toward them. “Hey!”

Her date’s head whipped up and he sneered. “This is none of your business. Get lost.”

Jason didn’t bother talking. Words wouldn’t express how he felt at that moment.

But his fists would do the trick. He yanked Bella from the monster’s arms with one hand and swung with the other.

His fist collided hard enough to send the guy stumbling.

“If I take her to the hospital right now, what do you think they’ll test in her system? ”

The guy rubbed his jaw. “She’s a lightweight. What do you expect? She can’t hold her liquor.”

Fury burned in Jason’s chest to the point that he wasn’t sure he was breathing anymore. “Let’s see what the cops have to say about it.” He reached for his phone, but the guy scuttled away, nearly tripping over himself.

Jason adjusted his hold on Bella, glancing down at her with worry.

Her skin was stained pink from the jerk’s handling of her.

In the light overhead, he could see the faint bruises starting to appear on her arms. He wouldn’t be surprised if there were some on her waist and hips.

The top two buttons of her blouse had been ripped out.

His fury intensified. He pulled out his phone and dialed the only person he could think of who would be able to help him.

Bella moaned, but she was still out of it. Her forehead rested against his shoulder as he once again adjusted her so she was held against his side.

The phone rang through to his voicemail, so Jason tried again. He attempted the call twice more before his brother finally answered.

“Jason? This better be good. I have a shift—”

“I need your help.”

His brother went silent for a moment, and then the sound of chatter in the background faded. “Please tell me you haven’t been shot by some mob boss or something.”

Jason smiled despite himself. “I have a feeling that stitching me up is on your bucket list.”

“Meh, could be. Get on a mobster’s bad side and we’ll find out.” He was quiet for a beat, then he murmured. “What’s up?”

Swallowing hard, Jason glanced down at the girl of his dreams. “You at work?”

“That’s what I said—”

“Meet me out front in twenty minutes. And bring a wheelchair.”

“What did you do?” Mathew snapped. “I can’t simply—”

“Just do it.” Jason ended the call and awkwardly returned his phone to his pocket. “Come on, Bella, let’s get you to the hospital.”