Chapter Four #4
She gave him a concerned glance as they waited to cross the street. “I was just asking if it would be okay if I take some photos of you and Shaun tomorrow. Maybe some of the other Rockin’ K crew.”
“I don’t mind, and I’m sure the rest of them won’t care. Ask Kash for sure, though. Or Celia.”
“Celia was the one who suggested that, if I’m interested in capturing the faces of rodeo, I start with the Rockin’ K family, which is exactly how she worded it.”
Jason smiled. “Because we are like a big family, warts and all.”
Lainey laughed. He cupped her elbow as they crossed the street and made their way to the rodeo parking lot. He escorted her over to a nice travel van. “Do you have somewhere to park tonight?”
“Not really. I figured I’d find a grocery store parking lot. The truck stop I was at last night was nice, but there was a creep who freaked me out a little bit, so I’m not eager to return in case he shows up again.”
Jason scowled. “Are you okay?”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“Stay here.” Jason motioned to the area where the contestants and staff parked. There were plenty of open hookups for trailers and RVs. “It’s safe, and no one will care if you use one of the hookups.”
“Are you certain?” Lainey asked, sounding hopeful.
“Positive.” He pointed to a brick building on the inside of the fence that separated the general parking from the secured area for contestants. “There are bathrooms and showers there.”
“Great!” Lainey walked around to the driver’s side door of the van and unlocked it.
Jason stepped back as she got into the van, then walked over and opened the gate, closing it behind her after she drove through. He guided her to a space for her van where she could hook up to electricity and water.
Once she was set for the evening, he took her hand in his and gently squeezed it. “I had the best time with you today, Lainey. Thank you for being willing to hang out with me.”
“Are you kidding? I loved every minute of it,” she said, then looked slightly appalled that her spontaneous, enthusiastic response had slipped out before she could temper it. “I mean, it was a fun day, considering I spent a good part of it with an old dude like you.”
Jason laughed, knowing she was teasing him. In their dinner conversation, they’d discovered she was eight years younger than he was. “I’m ancient compared to a young thing like you.”
Lainey made a noise somewhere between a snort and a laugh, then covered her mouth as her cheeks bloomed with color in the light of the lamppost she’d parked beneath. “You keep saying things like that, Mr. Price, and it will go straight to my head.”
“Good,” he said, taking a step closer to her. The need to kiss her, to taste the lips that had intrigued him all evening, was too great to ignore.
He cupped her cheek, acutely aware of how silky and soft her skin felt against the rough, calloused skin of his hand. “Lainey, I—”
“Isn’t it hours past your bedtime?” Cooper James asked as he walked around the end of the van and thumped Jason on the shoulder with a teasing smirk. “If you stay up any later, you’re going to be pushing into the danger zone of turning into a rotten pumpkin.”
Jason glowered at the man who had a knack for popping up at the most inconvenient time. He took a step back from Lainey and dropped his hand. “Night, Lainey. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He started toward his trailer but couldn’t keep from glancing back to see Lainey standing there, watching him.
Two days later, dawn had yet to lighten the sky when Jason tapped on the entry door of Lainey’s van. He knew she planned to leave by six that morning, and he didn’t want to miss her.
He figured a few minutes of sharing coffee and doughnuts were better than not ever seeing her again. She’d promised to keep in touch, and so had he, but life got busy, and he was acutely aware of how hard long-distance relationships were to maintain.
Despite all that, he just wanted to have more time with Lainey.
Yesterday had been amazing, spending a good portion of the day with her.
He’d introduced her to the Rockin’ K crew and several people he knew.
She took photos of some of them, but mostly seemed interested in being with him.
After the rodeo, they’d walked hand in hand to the Italian restaurant and lingered for hours over a meal eaten slowly while Jason felt like he was in a freefall that he had no way to stop, even if he’d wanted to.
Something was happening to him. Something unexpected and a little frightening that felt a whole lot like love.
It had been so many years since he’d fallen for Judy, he barely remembered the sensations, the feelings, or the fears it had created.
Last night, when he’d walked Lainey back to her van, he’d hoped to find a quiet, private moment to steal a kiss, but people were milling around, and he felt many eyes watching them as he tipped his head to her and bid her a quiet good night before heading to his trailer.
Which was why he was determined that, before Lainey left today, he would get a taste of the lips that had taunted his dreams last night to the point he’d barely slept.
He reached up to tap on the door again, but the black cloth that covered the window lifted, and Lainey peered out.
She smiled and unlocked the door, then pushed it open.
“Hey, stranger. I didn’t expect to see you this morning,” she said as Jason stepped inside, looking around the compact but tidy space. A sofa he was sure folded into a bed was already neatly stowed. It appeared Lainey had been making final preparations to hit the road.
“I thought you might enjoy coffee and a cinnamon twist,” he said, holding up a box of doughnuts and a cardboard holder with two cups of coffee.
Lainey had mentioned she loved anything with cinnamon, so he’d rushed to a nearby convenience store to get the coffee and doughnuts, hoping he’d have a few minutes with Lainey before she left.
“You are officially my favorite human today,” she said, reaching for the coffee but pausing before she grabbed one. “Are they the same?”
“Yep. Both black and hot.”
“Exactly how I like it,” she said, lifting a cup from the cardboard tray and taking a tentative sip. “Mmm. Perfect.”
She took the doughnuts from Jason and set them on her small counter, then got out a paper plate and warmed them in the microwave just enough that they tasted fresh instead of a day old.
After Jason offered a brief word of thanks for their meal and time together, they sat on her sofa and ate the doughnuts, neither saying anything, lost in thoughts of goodbyes.
“I didn’t mean to intrude on your day, Lainey, but I just couldn’t let you leave without seeing you one more time,” Jason admitted quietly.
“I’m glad you came. I never turn down hot coffee and doughnuts,” she said with a smile, then took another bite of her cinnamon twist. “I’m really glad I decided to stop by the rodeo on my way to Oregon.”
“Me too.” Jason didn’t think he could express how pleased he was that he’d bumped into her again. The past two days had been some of the best he’d had in years, all because of Lainey.
“Will you leave tonight or wait until the morning?” Lainey asked, knowing today was the final performance of the rodeo.
“We’ll probably pull out tonight as soon as it ends. If things go smoothly, we can be back at the Rockin’ K around midnight or so.”
“Oh, then it makes sense to leave. Do you and Shaun stay in Twin Falls with the rest of the crew or drive to Baker City?”
“We have a room at the bunkhouse where we stay if we don’t have much time between rodeos, but if time permits, we go home for a few days. We head out again on Tuesday for the next rodeo.”
“Your job involves a lot of travel.”
Jason waved a hand around her van. “Says the woman who travels all over the country. At least we stick to the western states.”
Lainey grinned and took another bite of her second cinnamon twist. “True. I’ll be in Oregon for a couple of weeks, and then I’m not sure where I want to go from there. I still haven’t decided on my next book project, so I might just see which string adventure tugs on and go that direction.”
Jason shook his head. “You are a tumblin’ tumbleweed, Miss Collins.”
“I hope I’m not quite that prickly,” she said, giving him a look that heated him far more than the coffee he’d been drinking.
The conversation turned teasing and light as they finished their breakfast, then Jason glanced at the clock and saw it was already past six. He stood and gathered the doughnut box and empty coffee cups, holding them in one hand as he paused at her door.
“I need to let you go, Lainey. What can I do to help you get ready?”
“I’m all set, but I’m glad you came over, Jason.
It’s been an incredible, wonderful experience meeting you.
” Her hand reached up and caressed his cheek.
He wished he’d taken time to shave off the stubble that had grown in since he’d shaved last night before they went to dinner. “You really are something.”
He offered her a soft smile. “So are you, Lainey Collins. I’m so glad we met.”
“Me, too.” She bracketed his face with her hands and pulled his head down to give him a chaste, light kiss on his mouth.
Jason had no idea when he dropped the doughnut box and cups, wrapped his arms around Lainey, and lost himself in a kiss that tasted like coffee and sugar mingled with hope.
Time became irrelevant as they kissed. All Jason knew was that Lainey felt so right in his arms, and he never wanted to let her go. His heart pounded so loud it thudded in his head and echoed in the van.
Then he realized the pounding was on the door.
“Miss Collins? Lainey?” he heard Shaun call before he pounded on the door again.
Jason briefly touched his forehead to Lainey’s, committing to memory the feel, taste, and scent of her before he opened the door and glared daggers at his son.
“Oh … uh …” Shaun’s face turned red, and he rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
“Sorry. I didn’t hear you leave earlier, and had no idea where you’d gone, Dad.
I just thought Lainey might have heard from you and …
” Shaun took a big step back and waved a hand toward them as his blush deepened and his expression turned sheepish. “Carry on.”
“I’m just leaving, Shaun.” Lainey stepped out of the van and gave him a hug. “It was great to meet you. I hope to meet the rest of your family someday.”
“We’d love that, Lainey. Stop by our ranch anytime, even if Dad and I aren’t there.”
“I might just do that,” she said, then picked up the doughnut box and handed it to Shaun. “Your dad brought coffee and doughnuts this morning. It was a nice way to say goodbye.”
Jason wanted to shout that it wasn’t meant as a goodbye, but an “until later” sendoff.
Shaun took the doughnut box, tipped his head to Lainey, and hustled off.
Jason sighed and raked a hand through his hair. “Sorry about that. That kid sometimes forgets I’m all grown up and capable of taking care of myself.”
Lainey patted his cheek. “He loves you and admires you, Jason. Anyone can see that. You raised a good son. Don’t ever take that for granted.”
The pain in her eyes made Jason want to ask a hundred questions, but instead, he gave her a tight hug and kissed her temple instead of ravishing her mouth again, since people were up and milling around, watching them with interest. “Will you at least text me and let me know you made it safely to the beach?”
“I will. Have a great day, Jason, and be safe.”
“You as well, Lainey. Bye.” Jason grabbed the empty coffee cups and left before he did something crazy like haul the woman into his arms, drive into Nevada, and find someone to marry them.
That would sure set his kids on their ears.
And completely upend his world.
Jason dumped the coffee cups in the trash and walked back to his trailer, envisioning what it would look like to have his world flipped upside down in what might turn out to be the very best way possible.