Chapter Four #3
Perhaps that was why he was so drawn to her. She was different than any of the women he’d dated, which hadn’t been many, and none more than two or three dates at the most.
Obviously, she was beautiful, but in the little time he’d spent with her, he knew it wasn’t just skin deep. Lainey had a kind heart and a caring nature, even though he got the idea she could be tough when she needed to be.
Since he’d met her, he’d spent a few nights when he couldn’t sleep searching online for her name. Most of what he found were interviews on podcasts about her books and a few photos of her in press releases.
The photos didn’t do justice to her beauty or catch the warmth of the light in her eyes.
The server returned with their drinks, a bowl of salad, and a basket of warm bread, promising it wouldn’t take long for their entrees to be ready before rushing away.
Jason was pleased when Lainey bowed her head. He tipped his head down and offered a silent word of thanks for the meal, for making it through another day, and for the unexpected gift of time with Lainey.
When he raised his head and looked across the table, Lainey smiled. They both started to speak at the same time, so Jason motioned for her to go ahead.
“I was just going to ask about the horses you rode today. Celia said you change horses frequently because they have such a hard job. How many horses do you bring with you to a rodeo?”
“Usually between four and seven for each of us, depending on how many days the rodeo runs, how big the rodeo is, and even the weather. If we’re trying to do our jobs in a downpour, we want to rest the horses more.”
“That makes sense,” Lainey said, helping herself to a serving of the green salad.
“I will admit I know next to nothing about what you do. From what I’ve read, observed, and learned from Celia, you and Shaun ride up on either side of a bucking horse, help the rider dismount, release the flank strap, and escort the horses and bulls to the gate. ”
Jason took a piece of warm bread from the basket and held it out to her. “That’s it in a nutshell.”
“The horses seem … special. Different from just any old horse someone might ride for pleasure.”
He dipped his breadstick in a little ceramic dish of marinara sauce.
“They are different. It’s a physically demanding job that can be mentally taxing for them.
They have to be able to run full-out for short distances, then stop on a dime, and handle a bronc kicking at them.
We often throw a loop over a horse or bull’s neck and wrap it around the saddle horn, so they have to be able to deal with that pull and pressure and keep doing their job until we get the animal out of the arena.
Once in a while, they have to deal with a bronc that bites or a bull that tries to horn them.
It’s tough, and only horses with special training, great stamina, and amazing mental acuity are able to handle the work. ”
“Wow! And you have seven horses like that?” Lainey asked, then broke a piece of bread in half and dipped it in the sauce.
“Actually, between us, Shaun and I have fourteen. Three of them are getting close to retirement age, though. I’ve been keeping my eye out for replacements to train.
Shaun and I have a few colts we’ve started, but we don’t get as much time to train them as we’d like.
My brother and son-in-law work with them whenever they have a chance. ”
“If Shaun is any indication, you’ve got a great family, Jason. You should be proud of them,” Lainey said as the server arrived with their entrees.
The meal was incredible, and the company even better.
Nothing felt awkward to him, as it usually did on a date.
Lainey was so easy to talk to and be with, he felt relaxed as they spoke about his work, people she’d met that day, and her photography.
When he ventured into personal questions, she offered vague answers and quickly turned the conversation back to him or topics that he assumed felt safe to her.
He had no idea what had happened in her past. No notion of why she didn’t want to speak about her family, but he figured if she wanted to share more with him at some point in the future, she would.
For now, he would simply savor the pleasure of her company without pressuring her into a conversation she clearly didn’t want to have.
“Tell me more about the book you’re working on,” he said as they shared a slice of cheesecake topped with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Jason had zero willpower when it came to strawberry desserts.
“You don’t want to hear me talk more about my photos,” Lainey said and took a bite of the dessert. A tiny dollop of whipped cream clung to her upper lip, and when she licked it away, Jason almost dropped his fork.
Man, he needed to get his head on straight. Maybe the guys were right, and he should start dating more. Considering the fact that he couldn’t recall the last time he’d gone out, they wouldn’t exactly be wrong.
Only, Jason didn’t want to date just for the sake of dating. The blue moons that came along when the loneliness couldn’t be kept at bay were the only reason he’d dated anyone at all in the past two decades.
Not once had he felt a connection to any of the women he’d dated. Never felt a need to get to know any of them better. Never wanted to sit for hours just listening to them talk.
Until Lainey.
Jason managed to fork a bite of the cheesecake and swallow it without choking on it as he tried to reel in his runaway thoughts.
Lainey gave him an odd look, and he realized he’d never replied to her last comment about her photographs.
“I would love to hear you talk more about your photos, your books, anything you want to share. Of all the people you’ve interviewed and the photos you’ve taken, do you have a favorite?”
Lainey appeared thoughtful before she shook her head.
“I can’t pick one favorite, but I have several that have been special to me.
I loved spending time with Liz Charles. She made me feel like part of her family, and that isn’t always the case.
There was a teacher I interviewed who had survived cancer twice.
On top of that, her husband left her for his secretary—such a stupid middle-aged crisis cliché—but she still had such a love for her students and teaching.
Amber was so inspiring. At least two or three people from every book I’ve done have grabbed onto my heart and refused to let go.
I feel incredibly grateful for all the people I’ve met and connected with, but especially those who have become friends. ”
“That’s amazing, Lainey. I’m so impressed with you and your work.”
She blushed slightly and took one more bite before she set down her fork and glanced at her watch. “I should turn in if I’m going to get on the road early in the morning.”
“Do you have to leave tomorrow?” Jason wished she’d stick around all weekend, but he knew she had obligations and responsibilities.
“I don’t have to leave, but I should probably head toward Oregon. I thought I might take a few days to leisurely explore the coast.”
“If you stay one more day and have dinner with me tomorrow, I’ll give you a list of all the must-see things on the coast.”
Lainey cocked an eyebrow. “Are you trying to bribe me, sir?”
Jason grinned. “Is it working?”
“Only if you bring me back here so we can try the lemon torte tomorrow.”
Jason held out a hand to shake on it. The moment Lainey’s palm touched his, he felt warmth mingle with an electrical tingle that zinged up his arm and zapped his brain.
“It’s a deal,” he said when he regained the ability to speak, then reluctantly released her hand.
When she began digging in her purse for her wallet, he pulled out his credit card and handed it to their server as she passed by their table.
“Hey, I was going to pay for dinner, since you bought lunch.” Lainey offered him a look that was half exasperation and half pout. Together, the combination threatened to short-circuit what few brain cells remained functioning.
Jason cleared his throat as he tried to gather his splintered thoughts together. “I’m an old-fashioned guy, Lainey. I asked you out for dinner, so I’m buying.”
She leaned back and lifted her nearly-empty glass of lemonade. “I suppose you also insist on holding open doors, walking on the street side of the sidewalk, and pulling out chairs.”
Jason fiddled with his knife. “I do. That a problem?”
“Nope.” She drained the lemonade, then set the glass on the table. “In fact, it’s refreshing to meet someone with old-fashioned values. Too many people these days have forgotten about manners, courtesy, and kindness.”
“No argument from me. Don’t get me started on how things were done in the good old days, or we’ll be here all night.”
Lainey grinned. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
The server returned with a receipt for Jason to sign, then he and Lainey rose to leave.
Jason glanced at the clock on the wall as they walked through the lobby and was shocked to see they’d been at the restaurant nearly three hours.
Time had zoomed by while he’d been lost in conversation with Lainey.
That had never happened before. Not since the early years, when he’d been dating his wife, and they’d spent hours talking and getting to know one another.
Jason gave himself a mental shake.
The last thing he needed was a wife. Not when he was on the road ten months out of the year and had created a life that made him happy and fulfilled after losing Judy, at least most of the time.
Yet, there were moments that reminded him of how much he’d lost, how lonely he felt, how he longed to be loved again. Moments when the ache inside him was almost more than he could bear.
“Would that be okay?” Lainey asked, pulling him from his thoughts.
“I apologize, Lainey. I didn’t catch what you said.”