Chapter 29
Jason
Jason knew he liked working for Mateo Palmer.
And today was no exception. Was today going to be stressful and busy?
Absolutely. But it would be so worth it.
Nikki had allowed him to hire two other individuals to work with him on regular days, but with the fundraiser going on, he needed additional hands.
That was why Mark had just walked through the door.
They grinned at each other, and Jason pulled Mark into a bro-hug. They clapped each other on the back and pulled away. It had been a couple months and everything had finally settled. Last week they’d had a heart-to-heart, and their friendship had been salvaged.
Mark glanced around the café. “This place is nice.”
“Yeah. I’m surprised you haven’t shown up before today.”
His friend shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Figured I’d give you some space. This is your happy place. Wouldn’t want to change that.”
Jason chuckled. “Well, I’m glad you’re here today.
We’re opening in an hour, and I need all the help I can get.
” He moved toward a door to the backroom where he prepped and baked the food.
Then he returned with an apron. “Here, wear this. You won’t have to cook anything, but you’ll need to fix sandwiches.
I’ll have a girl on the till and another guy helping with the food.
I’m expecting we’ll be quite a bit busier than usual, and that’s saying something because we’ve been busy since the first day we opened. ”
“That’s good, right? Nikki said this place is doing really well.”
Jason nodded, heading back to the prep room, and Mark followed. “It’s really good. Means they’ll be able to keep this place open long-term.”
“And you want to work here long term?” Mark’s voice held a degree of hesitation and curiosity. “You decide for sure if you want to settle down in Copper Creek for good?”
Jason stilled. He’d been grabbing the supplies for the cannolis, but Mark’s question was weighed down with several unknowns. When Mark added to his question, Jason knew he couldn’t brush it off.
“Even if she doesn’t become yours?”
She. Isabelle.
Jason didn’t meet Mark’s eyes. “Even if she isn’t mine, I want to stay,” he said.
He might be a glutton for punishment, but that was the honest truth.
He’d fallen in love with this town, and if he were completely honest, he’d admit to the fact that he still held out hope that something would work out with Isabelle.
Eventually.
Mark whistled, long and low. “That’s brave.”
Not really. But Jason knew what Mark was getting at.
“I’d rather take each day one at a time. I’d also like to believe that our story isn’t over yet. There are no absolutes.”
“True. And maybe it’s been long enough.”
He froze his progress of filling the cannolis.
“Check in, you know? I’m sure she’d love to catch up.”
“Yeah, maybe.” He’d never admit to the fact that he’d considered doing just that after the lunch with his siblings.
Something held him back. Fear. Nerves. Something, but Jason couldn’t think about that right now.
Today, he’d be focusing on the fundraiser.
Then he could consider his friend’s suggestion.
Jason tossed Mark a smile. With that, their conversation shifted to the ranch and the upcoming wedding.
“So, tell me about the wedding. Are you ready?” Jason mused.
“Yeah. We’re going with a fall wedding. Tracy likes the colors that come with the season.”
“Finally,” Jason joked.
“Careful, you might be put in my position one day.” Mark had been more than patient in waiting, and he’d made an excellent point. One day Jason hoped to be planning his own wedding with Isabelle, and he’d hate to have to wait so long for everything to finally align.
Soon the shop opened, and the chaos that ensued was exactly as Jason had expected.
A revolving door of people came and went from the café.
The tables were constantly full, and guests had moved to some of the tables out in front of the shop.
At lunchtime, Nikki had stopped in with her family and was thrilled with how everything was going.
By noon, several of the desserts Jason had made had sold out. They had plenty of items he could pull from the freezer, which meant he’d have to spend Sunday replenishing them.
He barely had time to focus on anything but restocking the glass cases. He made sure to bring Nikki and Mateo their meal in person, allowing himself a reprieve.
The door opened as he placed the food on the table, and he glanced over to welcome the new customer, but then his heart stalled in his chest.
Isabelle locked eyes with him and everything around him faded into nothingness. She was more beautiful than he’d remembered. He’d made it a point to steer clear of the places she liked to go in town because he knew deep down that he wouldn’t be capable of keeping his distance if he saw her.
“Jason,” Nikki said. Her voice sounded far away, like she was speaking to him through a long tunnel. Then a light touch landed on his wrist. “Jason.”
He glanced down at his boss. “Yeah? Sorry.”
Her focus shifted from him to Isabelle and back. “I think you could use a break. You’ve been going since the café opened.”
“No, I’m good—”
She tilted her head toward Isabelle, who remained at the door. “Take a break. I can cover for you.”
“Your lunch—”
“It’s not going anywhere,” she assured him. Then quieter, she whispered. “Go to her.”
Jason could feel Mateo’s eyes on him, but he didn’t argue.
Swallowing hard, Jason nodded. “Okay. Yeah. Thanks.” He squeezed the back of his neck, then turned toward the love of his life.
By the way his pulse skyrocketed, he wasn’t sure he’d survive speaking to her right now, especially if she’d come to tell him never to reach out to her again.
But then why would she go out of her way to say that?
Because anyone who’s scorned would want to have the last word. That was why.
Isabelle didn’t seem the type to be so petty. So why was she here?
His feet felt like they’d been encased in blocks of cement. Jason wondered if he looked as ridiculous as he felt as he shuffled toward her. But then she smiled at him, and his whole world lit up.
“Hey,” he said, his eyes sweeping over her face when he reached her. It had been far too long since he’d seen her, and if this was the last time for a while, he would drink her in.
“Hey,” she parroted. Then she laughed as she glanced past him toward her brother. “Do you think you could take a short walk? I know you’re working,” Isabelle whispered with a grimace, “but I don’t want to lose my nerve now that I’m here.”
One side of his mouth ticked upward. “I think my boss would be okay with me taking a break.” He leaned forward.
“In fact, Nikki practically shoved me your way.” His heart was hammering in his chest harder than it should be.
Maybe he should call Mathew and get a physical done.
The last thing he needed was to drop dead from a heart attack.
She bit down on her lower lip and nodded. “Okay, yeah.” He brushed past her and held open the door. Isabelle exited, and he tossed a glance over his shoulder, catching Mark’s scrutiny. The second their eyes locked, Mark nodded and gave a thumbs up.
Jason chuckled, shaking his head. This walk was a good sign. It had to be.
The first couple of minutes went by in excruciating silence, but then Isabelle stopped. No one was close enough to overhear them, and he figured that was her reason for stopping in this particular space.
She wrung her hands in front of her, then tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I’m seeing a therapist.”
He had to remind himself to look surprised. “That’s great.”
Isabelle nodded and smiled softly. “It really is, and I wouldn’t have done it if it weren’t for you.
” She dropped her eyes to her hands. “I filed a report about Dillan, too. I’m not sure if anything will come of it, but I figured something is better than nothing.
Told Ash, too, and he’s been fired.” Her voice was shaking now.
“I don’t know if I would have been brave enough if—”
“Hey,” he said, gently tilting her chin upward so he could look into her eyes. “You’re braver than you give yourself credit for. Don’t ever put yourself down. At least not in front of me.”
She blinked several times and emotion filled her eyes. Then she swallowed hard. “I’m so sorry, Jason,” she whispered weakly. “For the way everything went. I never meant to…” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
He knew better than to tell her not to apologize.
She needed this. So he framed her face with both of his hands and stared deep into her eyes.
“Isabelle, I know you were going through some heavy stuff. I only care that you’re getting better.
Nothing you could have done would ever be enough to push me away. ”
Isabelle’s lower lip wobbled, and she let out a sad laugh.
“I can’t believe I let you slip through my fingers.
I don’t think I even realized I loved you until I lost you.
” She shut her eyes tight, and more tears tumbled down her cheeks.
“You were honestly the best thing that ever happened to me. I just wanted to…” She stepped back, forcing him to drop his hands as he tried to come to terms with what she’d just said.
“I wanted you to know.” She gave him a watery smile.
“And thank you for everything.” Then with that, she spun on her heel and took off.
Just like that.
What the…
Jason stared after her. Did she just confess to loving him and run? Geez, the girl must not know the power her words had on him.
He darted after her, having no intention of letting her escape him. Not now. Not ever.
“Isabelle!”
She slowed, her shoulders stiffening. But then she stopped short when he darted in front of her. Her cheeks were still stained with tears, and she sniffled when she looked up at him. With a brisk motion, she brushed the tears free and forced a smile.
Jason shook his head. “You can’t do that.”
“Do what?”
He laughed, and it probably sounded manic. “You can’t just drop a love bomb and expect it not to completely level my world.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Isabelle,” he breathed, reaching for her face again.
He pressed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes as he willed his heart to slow.
“I’ve never stopped loving you. I don’t think I ever could.
But it was too hard to see you sabotage your happiness and health.
I had to let you figure things out or risk ending us both. ”
She sucked in a sharp breath, and he pulled back to search her eyes.
“I love you, Isabelle. And I will love you until my last breath. I love your strength. Your courage. Everything about you, Isabelle.”
Fresh tears escaped down her cheeks, and she let out a surprised laugh. “Really?”
“Really,” he whispered. “I might have even started loving you five years ago when I first saw you.”
She gave him a disbelieving look.
“You remember that night now, right?”
Slowly, she nodded. “I remember.”
“Do you remember what I said to you?”
Her brows scrunched into the most adorable furrow. “No.”
He laughed, proud of the fact that he remembered exactly what he’d said, not because he said it to anyone else, but because she’d been impressed by his pickup line. “Before that night, I would have never believed someone like you existed.”
Recognition flared in her eyes.
“It was true then. And it remains true today.” He held both her hands in his as he stared into her eyes.
“And it’ll be true forever. Nothing would make me happier than to give this another try.
What do you say?” He waited with bated breath.
Just because she came to tell him she’d loved him didn’t mean she wanted to try again. Regret didn’t equate to second chances.
Isabelle placed her palm to his cheek. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Jason tightened his hold on her and let out a whoop. He spun them both in a circle, then placed her on her feet so he could seal their future with a kiss.
His mouth captured hers, and for the next several moments, he allowed himself to revel in all the joy he could steal for the both of them. Perfection didn’t exist, but they could get as close to it as possible together.