Chapter 49
CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
GABE
Ipulled up to the Hayes residence and parked next to Jasmine’s car, swiping the bundle off the passenger seat. Drawing in a deep breath, I let it out slowly before hopping out of my truck and climbing the steps to the front porch. My hand shook as I lifted it to knock on the door.
As promised, I was about to take Jasmine on our first real date.
Between her races and my schedule with Rory, it had taken a few weeks to finally do this properly.
We were going to the fanciest restaurant in town and then watching a movie in the park.
She didn’t know it yet, but I had a surprise planned for her.
The door swung open, and Elwood’s scowling face greeted me.
I swallowed hard as his scrutinizing gaze took me in.
We’d made peace and were slowly patching things up but were still on rocky footing.
I wasn’t sure we’d ever be as close as we once were, but I was trying for Jasmine’s sake.
I’d even agreed to come back and work for him.
I was hesitant at first but eventually accepted his offer because it meant I got to be closer to Jasmine.
“Gabe,” Elwood greeted, his voice thick and raspy like he had to force the word out.
“Woody,” I said with a tip of my hat. His lips twitched at my use of the familiar nickname, and he stepped aside to let me in.
RaeAnne’s welcome was warmer but was still a far cry from the kiss on the cheek and clasping of hands that usually accompanied her sunny greeting.
A heavy silence fell over us as we stood awkwardly in the foyer.
Long seconds passed until RaeAnne’s gaze fell to my hands.
She released a tiny gasp and reached over to grip Elwood’s forearm, her opposite hand pressed to her chest. “He brought flowers,” she said, her eyes turning dreamy.
The sound that rumbled out of Woody’s throat was either a grunt of acknowledgment or a snort of derision; I couldn’t tell.
“Would you like to have a seat while you w—” RaeAnne began, but the sound of a door closing upstairs cut her off.
Footsteps sounded across the hardwood floor above us, and Jasmine came into view at the top of the stairs.
The breath stalled in my lungs at the sight of her.
She wore the same dress from Rose’s birthday dinner, but instead of boots, she wore lace up wedge sandals that tied in a bow at her ankles.
Something about them was inexplicably sexy, and paired with my memories from the last time she wore that dress…
I gulped and shoved those thoughts away.
Getting a boner in front of her parents was definitely not on the agenda for tonight.
She descended the stairs slowly, and I drank her in, my heart in my throat as the woman of my dreams drew closer. I wanted to pull her into my arms and kiss her senseless but thought better of it. There was no need to test the tentative peace I had with her father.
“You’re breathtaking,” I said as I reached for her hand to help her down the last couple steps. A blush spread over her cheeks and her lips curved into a grin.
“Thank you.”
“These are for you,” I said, presenting her with a bouquet of pale pink, purple, and peach colored flowers. According to the florist who’d hand selected them upon my request, they all represented romantic love. The way Jasmine’s face lit up told me we’d chosen correctly.
“Do you want me to put those in water for you?” RaeAnne asked.
“Please,” Jasmine replied, handing the flowers to her mom.
“You kids go have fun,” RaeAnne said with a wink. Something that sounded like a grunt came from Woody, and she not-so-discreetly elbowed him in the side. A hint of a smile curved his lips, but it was gone in a flash.
“What time should I expect you home?” Woody asked just as Jasmine began to turn away. She stopped and glanced back at him, her head tilted as she considered her answer. I hadn’t exactly planned on bringing her home, but I wasn’t brave enough to say that to him.
“Probably around eleven or so,” Jasmine answered finally, and her dad visibly relaxed. Then that smirk I adored appeared, and her eyes danced with mischief. “Tomorrow morning,” she added, then turned on her heel. Elwood ground out a low curse, and RaeAnne snorted a laugh as I trailed after her.
“You’re going to get me killed,” I hissed, leaning down to speak close to her ear as we stepped onto the porch.
“Nah,” she replied flippantly, grabbing my hand and tugging me along.
We were down the porch steps and crossing the gravel drive in an instant.
“I’ve already called his bluff once. He knows I don’t play when it comes to you.
” We rounded my hood, and she stopped at the passenger side door.
“He won’t touch a single hair on that pretty head of yours,” she declared then shoved me against the truck, crushing her lips to mine.
My pulse beat double time, and I moaned into her kiss.
I loved this confident, take charge side of her.
It made my blood heat and my cock stir to life in my jeans.
Just as quickly as it began, the kiss was over and she released me. “Come on, cowboy, let’s go on our date,” she said, taking a step back.
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, opening her door.
I barely made it through dinner without embarrassing myself.
A few times, I had to stop looking at her so my hard-on would go down.
She was stunning and so damn sexy she had heads turning the moment we walked through the door until we were seated at our table.
Or it could’ve been because this was our first outing in public together.
The folks of Poplar Ridge were getting their first look at us as a couple.
We’d kept our relationship low key until now.
Only her closest friends and family knew.
And Celeste. Apparently she’d known for quite some time that there was something going on between us. She was just waiting for me to finally admit it. Thankfully, she had no objections to me dating a much younger woman and bringing her around our daughter.
“As long as she makes you happy and is good to Rory, that’s all that matters to me.” That was all she had to say on the matter.
“Ready to go?” Jasmine asked, pulling me from the memory.
“Yes,” I replied as I stood and grabbed her hand to lead her out of the restaurant, ignoring the sidelong glances from the townspeople and the whispers that followed us out into the night.
It was a short drive to the park since Poplar Ridge was the smallest of towns. I grabbed the two bags of supplies I’d packed from the back seat and led Jasmine onto the lawn.
“What is all that stuff?” she asked curiously.
“You’ll see,” I replied with a conspiratorial smile.
We were one of the first to arrive, so we had our pick of locations to set up.
Most folks brought blankets or lawn chairs for seating, but I had something far better in mind.
Pulling the portable air compressor from my bag, I placed it on the ground and retrieved the inflatable kiddie pool.
Once they were connected and the pool began to blow up, I tossed a couple pillows and a blanket inside.
“Genuis,” Jasmine commended, and I looked up to find her watching me with a pleased grin.
Once the pool was fully inflated, we climbed inside and Jasmine snuggled into me. I reached into the bag and grabbed a couple bottles of water and a large plastic container that was separated into smaller compartments.
“You made a snacklebox?” Jasmine asked as I passed it to her. Her voice and eyes were full of surprise and wonder.
“I did,” I confirmed, giving myself a mental pat on the back.
As the sun set in the distance, the movie came on and a different sun began to rise over a line of trees on the screen and the sound of birds chirping filled the air.
Jasmine gasped, and her wide eyes took in the opening scene.
The second the title faded from the screen, she shifted her gaze to me and there was so much love and appreciation shining in them, my entire body warmed and my chest tightened.
“H-how? How did you make this happen?”
I shrugged like it was no big deal. “They play movies in the park every weekend. It just so happens this is the night they chose to show Pride & Prejudice.” In truth, I’d tracked down the community events coordinator and asked her to show this movie.
I heard through the grapevine she had a colt that was almost ready to start training, so I offered my services in exchange for this one little favor.
Jasmine eyed me skeptically like she could tell I had something to do with it, but she didn’t call me on it. Instead, she dropped her head on my shoulder and whispered, “Thank you,” so low I almost didn’t hear it.
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head and rested my cheek there. “Anything for you,” I promised, meaning every word.
By the time the movie was over, I was more than ready to get Jasmine home.
Having her in my arms with her warm body pressed to mine and breathing in her sweet scent for the last two hours was pure torture.
I avoided kissing her for fear I wouldn’t be able to stop there, and I wasn’t trying to catch a public indecency charge.
I packed my things up in record time, not even bothering to deflate the pool.
Tossing it in the back of my truck, I threw my bags inside to keep it from flying out as I raced toward my house.
The moment we were inside, I slammed my door shut and picked Jasmine up, pressing her against it.
She welcomed my rough hands on her bare thighs and my punishing kiss against her lips.
I flexed my hips forward, showing her just how desperate I was for her.
Her soft hands framed my face, and she held me to her as she matched my fervor with demanding kisses of her own.