Chapter Nineteen Ashley #2
“Stay, Rosie,” Jake’s deep voice commands and as I make it into my bedroom, I hear the front door close and the loud click of the lock engaging, making sure he keeps Rosie out, which has me smiling.
I watch Jake striding into my room and stop in front of me. His dark eyes are raking over me and his heated stare is giving me goosebumps.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispers, taking my face in his big hands and his dimple appears at the side of the smile of pure relief on his face.
“Look for the North Star. You’ll always find home in our love that’s written in the stars . . . oh and my tea leaves.” I step into his arms and we finally just let ourselves become one.
And as crazy as it sounds, he knows I’m right.
“Just don’t tell Tiff I said that,” I mumble into his shirt and we both dissolve into laughter.
“Tiff is the last thing on my mind right now.” He growls in the way that sends my body into a wet mess, knowing what’s coming, as he pulls back and rips the shirt I’m wearing open in one go, sending buttons flying.
“Time to saddle up, cowgirl. I’m about to give you the ride of your life.”
There’s no sleep happening in this house tonight, but we’re about to rock the universe back into its peaceful place.
“You talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?” I’m taunting him with my words as I’m taking a step backward, closer to my bed.
“Watch me,” he replies with that sexual rasp in his voice that tells me he’s on the edge. He pulls his shirt over his head and is kicking his boots off. They land with a thud on the floor at the end of my bed.
“Welcome home, Jake.” I’m pulling him on top of me as we both fall onto the bed.
And the world around us slips away as he makes love to me, with not one inch of fear between us, finally.
Showing me the kind of love I’ve always longed for.
“Hurry up. I am not explaining to your gran that we are late because you were fucking me stupid in the shower, again,” I yell down the hallway at Jake, who’s just drying himself off.
“Did she say why she needed to see us so urgently this morning? Is she about to lecture us? I mean, I can’t believe she really kicked you out of the barn to sleep outside when you tried to go home last night without me.” I’m giggling to myself.
Walking into my bedroom, Jake just rolls his eyes at me.
“I can’t believe you’ve known Gran all these years and haven’t worked out that you don’t cross her.
That woman is as sweet as apple pie, until she’s not.
You have been warned,” he says, picking his jeans up off the floor from where they landed last night.
He quickly throws them on along with his shirt and boots.
Jake’s reaching down and kissing me on the cheek. “You okay to walk across to Heatherbrae?” And his asshole smirk appears on his face.
“Barely, and I blame you, Jake Davis.” I smack him in the middle of the chest as we head out the door.
We are walking hand in hand past the newly renovated barn at Heatherbrae when Betty comes bustling out the front door of the house.
“About time, otherwise lunch will be late. Come on, come on.”
We both look at each other confused, because it’s only ten thirty in the morning.
Betty ushers us into the kitchen where she has all these random ingredients lined up on the counter and starts pushing aprons into both of our free hands.
“Time to learn the art of making love meatballs, since I fixed your relationship finally.” Patting us both on the cheeks, she starts going about showing us what to do, and I feel every bit of the welcome to the family she’s trying to give me.
As we step back from plating the love meatballs and get ready to call Chase and Declan inside, Betty takes both our hands in hers.
“You are now part of the secret society and must never reveal this recipe. Because people think there is some secret ingredient in the sauce, and they aren’t entirely wrong, but it’s not what they think.
It’s that the dish is made with love for the person you want to feel that love.
That’s what makes them so special. They fix everything and I have a feeling you two might need the extra help along the way.
” Gran stands and lifts her head up for us to lean forward and kiss her cheeks.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Gran,.” Jake chuckles.
“Oh it’s not like that. I see so much of Gramps in you that I know there will be many a time you will need to apologize. These will help.”
I love this woman. Betty is the heart and soul of this family that I’m blessed to be a part of now.
Jake
As Gran and Ash sit on the porch swing, enjoying the fresh air of the afternoon after what was a beautiful lunch, Declan, Chase, and I stand on the site of where the winery and cellar are about to be built.
I roll out the plans on the ground and we all crouch down in wonder at what we are about to create.
“Today feels like the start of new beginnings. Who feels like marking this out and breaking ground?” I glance up at them both.
Declan has been doing all the research and wants to be the one to take on the task of trying to make our first Heatherbrae original vintage, so I see his eyes light up.
“I’ll go grab the string line and stakes.” Chase jumps up and is back from the shed in minutes.
It doesn’t take long before the foundations are marked out, as we all stand back and take it in. “Who wants to break ground on the winery first?” I look at both Declan and Chase.
“Since it’s going to be Declan’s baby, I think he should be the one to take the first step into our next adventure,” Chase replies.
“I agree. Okay, Declan, pick up the shovel and push it in nice and deep. Let’s see what trouble you can dig up, because let’s be honest, if the last few months are any indication, nothing this year is going to be smooth sailing.
” I pat him on the back and he strides forward to sink the shovel into the soil.
“Great, now you’ve jinxed us.” Declan laughs when he hits a rock only halfway in. “Awesome, just what we need. Great start.”
Looking over at Ash with my heart overflowing, I know nothing is ever simple at Heatherbrae. But complicated doesn’t mean it’s not going to work out exactly how it’s meant to be.
And we wouldn’t have it any other way.