Episode 47
Episode 47
Get Naked
SUMMER
I spent the entire day working with my plants, going over everything that had been said between me and Jack earlier today. The journey through my thoughts was intense, going from spitting mad to realizing I’d been a complete and utter asshole.
Jack was allowed to have his own feelings about his future wife’s job. Especially in light of the fact that, in his world, the product I sold was completely illegal. Living in California, where cannabis had been legal for almost a decade, gave me a different perspective. And most of the people I communicated with were also in the business or treated cannabis the same way they did alcohol. You had to be twenty-one to buy it, use it, and sell it.
End of story.
However, there was still a huge stigma on using the product regularly, even in the states where it was perfectly legal. And I should have been considerate of that fact.
I just get so tired of people’s shitty opinions on something that doesn’t affect them. If you don’t want to use cannabis, no one is forcing you. But let the rest of the world enjoy its healing properties and make our own choices for our own bodies.
“You’ve been quiet today,” my dad noted when we piled into his beloved 1996 Ford Bronco. He’d had the vehicle since Autumn and I were born. It had a red top, a big fat white stripe horizontally down the center of the car with a red bottom. It was cool as hell, and I hoped it would run forever.
“Had a fight with Jack,” I sighed.
“Already? Shouldn’t you be in the honeymoon phase?”
I shrugged. “It’s complicated.”
“Romance and love always are. But the way that boy looked at you at dinner last night, like the sun rose and set from your eyes.” He shook his head. “Boy is gone for you, Sunny.”
“He’s a man, Dad. A twenty-eight-year-old super rich, super-hot, super judgy guy apparently. And I’m not so sure he’s all that into me, if he can hate what I’ve devoted my life to,” I huffed.
My father burst out laughing as he took the turn that would lead us down main street toward The Pink Lady.
“Speaking from experience, when it comes to you, your sister, and certainly the woman I worship from her braided hair down to her rainbow painted toes, everything about all of us is open to judgment. The world is filled with people who see us and what we grow as a horrible disservice. Some even believe what we grow is a gateway drug to hardcore illegal substance addiction.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You and I both know that isn’t true, but it will take more time for the rest of the world to catch up. And it’s our job to educate and inform as best we know how.”
“It’s draining, Dad. And it wasn’t something I expected to have to deal with in my romantic relationship.”
“Well, if you look at it from your original plan, you put yourself up for auction to the highest bidder in the hopes they would help you learn a few things in business, not to mention find a man who has his own money so he wasn’t leeching off of you. It wasn’t exactly intended to be a love story, was it? Perhaps your expectations of what you committed to have changed recently?”
I pursed my lips and thought about what he said. My expectations had changed. Because…well, Jack. He’s not only rich and successful, but he’s funny and kind, and so serious. I want to poke and prod at him until he lets go a little, laughs more. And he has. Just this morning, he had me laid out on my kitchen table about to screw me into next week when my annoying sister interrupted us. I’d been so excited to take that next step with him. The chemistry between us was off the charts.
“I like him, Dad. Really like him. And when he got mad and shocked about the farm, I don’t know, I lost it a little. Gave him an ultimatum, which is not like me at all.”
“Yikes, sounds like you have some making up to do.”
“That’s just it. If Jack truly can’t handle what I do for business, then this will never work out.”
“True. But did you even give the man the chance to mull it all over? For someone like him, coming from an entirely different market, not to mention another country, what we do might seem problematic. It hasn’t been accepted internationally. Yet. One day, I’m certain it will be as widely accepted as alcohol and cigarettes, both of which are worse than cannabis.”
“Dad, you don’t have to lecture me. I’m already a believer.”
“What I’m trying to say, Sunny, is that it had to make him pause. As it would any genuine businessman. He needs to evaluate any possible repercussions to his own business. Not that I really believe there would be any, but it’s still a factor.”
“Ugh, you sound exactly like him. Now I feel even worse. I’d already realized I was kind of being an asshole about it all, but the way he fired off didn’t help.”
My father nodded. “Just talk to him, honey. It seems like you really might have something special brewing between you two. Get it, brewing? Witches. Beer.”
“Oh my god, not the dad jokes.” I covered my eyes and chuckled.
“You know you love them.” Dad prattled on as he pulled up in front of my house where I could clearly see the rental SUV parked.
Apparently, Jack hadn’t packed up and left. Something I’d considered earlier and had sent up a silent prayer to the goddesses that he wouldn’t leave without talking to me first.
I moved to get out of the vehicle but stopped when my father cupped my shoulder.
“Give him a chance, Sunny. I wasn’t kidding about the way that man looked at you. It’s the same way I looked at your mother in the beginning and still do to this day.”
I sucked in a sharp breath. My father was gonzo for my mom. Always had been. They are ridiculously in love, and everyone around them knows it. They’re one another’s soul mates. Twin flames even as they had always been an “opposites attract” type couple. She into the earth, a practicing witch who prayed to goddesses and spoke openly to our ancestors, otherwise known as her spirit guides. My father, on the other hand, had an alphabet soup of academic degrees and was focused on the science behind all things. An unlikely pair to be certain, but somehow it worked beautifully.
“I will give him a chance, Dad. I’ll make it right. There has to be a way for us to work through this,” I said, not sure if it was more for my father’s benefit or for my own. Perhaps both.
I leaned over and kissed my dad’s cheek. “Thanks for the pep talk, Dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, Sunny. Good luck!” he said as I got out of the car.
I smiled, shut the car door, and watched as he drove away. When I turned around to take the stairs leading up to my place, I was greeted by none other than the man himself.
Jack was leaning against the railing, my cat in his arms, his eyes on me.
“Lucky cat,” I remarked as I slowly climbed the stairs.
“I’m sorry,” was the first thing he said when I got to the porch landing.
My chest squeezed and my stomach dropped. “I’m sorry too,” I said, not wanting this ugliness between us to fester.
He blinked as though stunned, his mouth falling open. “You’re…wait. But I was the one…” he stammered.
I reached for Rebecca and pulled her begrudgingly from Jack’s arms. “Girl, I know that chest is comfortable, but it’s my turn,” I grouched and put her down. Then I reached for both of his wrists and stepped into his arms, pressing my body fully to his with my arms forcing his behind my back. He got the memo and held me fully in his arms.
“We were both wrong today, Jack. You had some genuine concerns about your own company, and I should have been more considerate.”
“I shouldn’t have gone off half-cocked like I did. What you do does help people. And honestly, I truly have no problem with what you grow, Summer. It was just a surprise, and a bit shocking. I hadn’t expected it, and I didn’t handle it well.”
“No, you didn’t. I didn’t either. I got defensive and bitchy because what I do is incredibly important to me. It’s why I entered the auction in the first place. To find a man that could teach me a few things, all while sharing a bed, and a life, together.”
“I still want that, Summer.” Jack stated with conviction.
“Really?” I gulped, my nerves so shot I was afraid to hope he’d want to work things out.
He dipped his head to my neck, hiding his face while he hugged me. “One hundred percent. Maybe we could…I don’t know, start over?” he suggested.
I snorted and tightened my hold around him, breathing into the hug, allowing his warmth to permeate through my entire body. “We don’t need to start over. We just need to work through our concerns and come to a happy medium.”
He pulled back and cupped my neck. “I’d like that. Perhaps we can do so over dinner?” He smiled wickedly as he took my hand. “Come, I may have a little surprise for you.”
“Oh?” I definitely did not expect any type of surprise or gift after the way things went down this morning.
Jack led me into my home and I was instantly aware of the aroma of something savory baking in the oven. The air was rife with delicious scents of garlic, onion, as well as floral notes.
“Come…” Jack pulled me through my house and into my dining room.
I gasped as I saw my eight-seater table set up with two place settings, one at the end and the other to the right. He led me straight to the head of the table and pulled out the chair. I sat down, and he helped me scoot the chair closer to the table.
“What is all this?” I gestured at the pretty lit candles and, to my amazement, a trio of crystals paired with a vase of roses in the brightest pink and the most buttery sunshine yellow.
He pointed to the decorations. “The pink roses are supposed to represent my gratitude and admiration. Because I do admire you, Summer. You’re an incredible woman, not only because you’re gorgeous and unique, but because of how intensely you believe in the things and people you deem important. The yellow roses are supposed to represent our growing friendship.”
“Friendship?” I cocked a brow.
He chuckled. “Apparently red ones mean love and passion, and although I definitely feel intensely passionate when around you, I didn’t want to give the wrong impression.”
I pressed my smiling lips together in order not to laugh. He’d definitely thought all of this through in meticulous detail—so very Jack—though I suspected he had help.
“And the crystals?” I challenged.
“Oh! Autumn helped with those. The smoky quartz is for grounding and letting go of any negative feelings and baggage we both hold. I figured that would help with the fight we had.”
“And the clear quartz?”
He looked at the ceiling and his fingers wiggled as though he was cataloguing through cards in his memory bank.
Jack snapped his fingers suddenly. “For manifesting what we want in our lives, but more importantly for us, within our new relationship.”
I smiled wide. “That is true. And the red one?” I knew exactly what my sister was up to with this trio.
“Carnelian,” he frowned. “I can’t remember what it’s supposed to do though.”
I smirked. “Passion. Drive. Attraction. Sexual pleasure.”
His eyes seemed to bulge out of his sockets, and I watched with glee as he nervously swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing enticingly.
“Uh, I didn’t realize…”
I burst out laughing. “My sister was pulling a fast one, but it’s okay. I absolutely approve.” I rested my elbow on the table and propped my chin in my hand so I could peer up at where he stood. “And what is that delicious smell coming from the kitchen?”
“Ohh! It’s a recipe I’ve perfected. Mediterranean chicken, couscous, and vegetables.”
“Smells divine,” I said right as my stomach growled. I hadn’t eaten after breakfast because my stomach was twisted up from our fight.
Jack beamed as he reached for an already open bottle of red wine and poured a hefty measure into the empty glass at my setting and then into his own. “You sip on that, while I plate our dinner. I’ll be back in a minute. I had it all done and was keeping it warm since I didn’t know when you’d be home.”
“So how did you know when I arrived?” I asked, putting the goblet to my lips.
A shy expression stole across his face making his masculine beauty seem more boyish in the candlelight.
“I…um…” He coughed. “Just looked out the window every few minutes.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.” And I was. Completely gobsmacked that he’d go to such lengths to appease me after we fought. I’d expected him to leave, ask Madam Alana for a new bride, or something. Definitely did not expect a homemade meal complete with flowers, crystals, and wine.
“I’ll be right back,” he said and disappeared into the kitchen. I could hear some banging around for a couple minutes before he returned with two steaming plates.
My mouth watered the second he put the plate before me.
He sat down, lifted his wine, and stared into my eyes. “To righting miscommunication, learning one another’s heart, and figuring out the best way to wade through both.”
I chuckled and grinned, tapping my glass to his before taking a drink. The wine was smooth and jammy, just how I liked it.
For a few minutes we both ate with gusto. I’d gotten through over half my dinner and wine before I finally felt calmer.
“I should have been…” I said at the same time Jack said, “I didn’t mean…”
We both stared at one another and laughed.
“You go first,” I instructed through my chuckles.
Jack wiped his mouth and sat back. “I was a dick today. When I found out what your business was, I didn’t handle it well, and for that, I’m truly sorry. I’m used to putting business before anything else in my life, and when I saw the magnitude of what you do…” he sighed. “…plain and simple…” He looked straight into my eyes. “I got scared. Of what being connected to your business might mean for Johansen Brewing. It had nothing to do with you as a person, or even the product itself. I’ve spent my entire career doing what’s best for the business. I just…I lost it a little, and I’m sorry.”
I reached out and took his hand. “You had every right to be concerned. I’m so used to fighting people about the benefit of cannabis that I didn’t really take into consideration what your situation might be. You’re right. It’s not legal where you do business. I can see how that would be a possible red flag. And after thinking about it, I can also see how it might be frowned upon in certain sectors. I’m sorry too. But the bigger question is: what do we do now?”
He squeezed my hand. “First and foremost, there is no way in hell I’m not marrying you.”
My heart beat a thousand miles an hour, and my bottom lip trembled. “You still want to marry me?” I gulped.
“More than anything,” he breathed the three words as though they were ripped from his soul. “You?”
I looked into those deep brown eyes and saw a future I wanted to jump into with both feet, closed eyes, while screaming “ Wahoo! ” at the top of my lungs. “I’d marry you tomorrow, Jack.”
Jack stood up, his chair falling back with the effort. “Takk Gud!” he barked, which I was pretty sure meant Thank God! in English.
He extended his hand, and I stood. It didn’t take him long to pull me into a deep hug. “We’ll work though this, solskinn . I don’t want to lose you over something so stupid,” he murmured against my neck.
“I don’t want to lose you either.” I hummed as he placed a line of kisses down my neck, stoking a new fire.
“I’ll call my team tomorrow and explain the concern. It’s their job to handle this type of thing.”
“Sounds very big-man-in-charge of you,” I teased as I lifted the back of his shirt enough that I could run my fingers along his warm, bare skin.
“How can I make it up to you?” He nuzzled my skin where neck and shoulder met.
“I can think of a few things.”
“Oh?” He nudged his nose over to the string tie that held my dress up, and pushed it off so it hung at my bicep.
“You know what the best part of fighting is?” I whispered into his ear then nibbled on the cartilage there.
Jack groaned and gripped me tighter. “Uh, wh-what?”
“Make-up sex.”
Without another word, Jack looped his arm around my back, bent in half and caught my legs behind the knees with his other arm, lifting me into a princess hold. He bounded up the three flights, carried me to my bed and tossed me on it with a flourish.
“Get naked.”