31
After searching for two months now, I’ve not found a decent building anywhere in town to start a new restaurant. Location is key, and The Oasis has the best spot in town. I’ll bide my time until I find the perfect place. In the meantime, I keep busy working as the Junior chef under Chef Thomas. I can’t believe how much I’ve learned from him already. I practice all the new dishes he teaches me on Blaire.
I park my car a few doors down from Blaire’s. Sliding out, I lock it and glance toward her place. Today is the day she and Preston are introducing me to Britney.
I have a stuffed polar bear for her as a gift to help her warmup to me. I walk toward her house and take the few steps up to the porch.
I knock on the door this morning. Normally, I’d just let myself in, but today is a little different.
“Hey,” Blaire says with a smile when she opens the door. She takes my hand in hers and leads me inside.
“C’mon, Preston and Britney are in the playroom.”
My bicep muscles twitch and my stomach feels like it”s filled with butterflies. My pulse races as we get closer to the playroom.
“Dada, please…” Britney say as we enter the room. Her eyes dart to mine and she clings to her dad. She smiles with her index finger in her mouth. She reminds me of a mini-Blaire. Golden blonde hair and blue eyes.
Preston picks his daughter up, sitting her on his hip. He kisses her cheek and says, “Britney, Mommie has someone she wants you to meet.” He leans Britney toward Blaire, and she takes her in her arms.
“Honey, this is Jaden. Mommie’s friend.” She tilts her head and looks at Britney.
“Can you say hi to Jaden?”
I smile and wait for Britney to feel at ease with me. Then I remember the stuffed animal and hold it out for her.
“Oh, here, Britney. This is for you.”
Her eyes light up and she smiles wide. Her finger is still in her mouth as she says, “Hi.”
Blaire tries to get Britney to say my name.
“Britney. Can you say hi, Jaden?” She caresses her daughter’s cheek, then kisses it.
Britney shies away for a moment, then I open my hand and lay the polar bear in it for her to take. She stretches her arm and I hand her the toy.
Blaire coaxes her, “Say thank you to Jaden, honey.”
Britney smiles shyly, then whispers, “Tank you… Jaddy.”
Blaire’s eyes widen as she looks at Preston, then at me. I shrug.
“Awe, that’s my sweet princess,” Preston chimes in. He looks at me and says, “I hope you like your new name,” He nudges me with his elbow and we all chuckle.
“She can call me whatever she’s comfortable with. I don’t mind at all.” I smile and hold out my palm, hoping she’ll tap it.
Her sweet blue eyes meet mine, then she pats my hand with hers. Instantly, my heart thumps faster and erupts with love for Britney. I want to hug her, but I know I need to wait for when she’s more comfortable with me being around.
Britney reaches for Preston, and he takes her from Blaire. I slip my arm around Blaire’s waist and pinch her hip. She tilts her head up to me and smiles wide.
“Well, we hate to run, but…” Preston bends over and snags two bags from the floor. He looks at me and says, “She’s got more stuff than I do.” He rolls his eyes and jiggles Britney on his hip.
“Don’t ya?” He touches his daughter’s forehead with his. She giggles.
“You know she can walk,” Blaire says.
“I know, but she’s going to be grown and too big to carry too soon.” Preston slides the bags on his shoulder and situates his daughter on the opposite hip.
“Time to go,” he says and walks toward the front door.
“Mama,” Britney calls out and holds her arms to Blaire. She takes her from Preston and hugs her tight, kissing her over and over.
“Be a good girl for Daddy this week. I love you.”
“Dada,” Britney says and reaches for Preston. He takes her and we all walk out onto the front porch.
“See you next week, Blaire. Good seeing you again, Jaden. Take good care of her.” He nods Blaire’s direction.
“Always,” I say and wave toward Britney. She smiles, then buries her face in Preston’s shoulder.
My heart tightens a tiny bit when Blaire hugs Preston, and then he kisses her cheek. I’m not really the jealous type, and I know they have a forever bond with their daughter. I need to get used to seeing them exchange pleasantries like this. When he and Britney have driven off, I turn to Blaire.
“I think that went okay.” I nod.
“Yes, it went fantastic, baby.”
I yank her into my arms. Before she can utter another word, I cover her mouth with mine, dipping my tongue between her soft lips.
Her hands lock around my neck, and she kisses me back, moaning as her tongue tangles with mine and our kiss goes on and on.
I lean against the railing, keeping her in my arms. Our eyes meet, and I swear I’d do whatever this incredible woman asks of me. I’m putty in her hands.
“Jaden.” Blaire drags her hands from around my neck and cups my face with them.
“Kitten.” I’m hard as ever and want to take her right to her bedroom, but I need to talk with her about moving our relationship to the next level. I may be young, but I know I want to be with her forever. Releasing my embrace, I take her hands in mine.
“Let’s go inside. I have something to ask you.”
“Okay.” She steps back, taking my hand in hers. Opening the front door, she leads me into the living room, and we sit on the sofa. She turns to me, her eyes sparkling, her lips curving upward.
“What is it, J?”
I take her hands in mine, lifting them to my lips and kiss her knuckles tenderly.
“I have some news to share with you.” I smile and rub my thumbs over the back of her hands.
“Did you get the funding you need for your restaurant in New York City?” She tries to smile, but her smile fades quickly as she drops her eyes from mine, and her shoulders slump.
“It’s better news than that, kitten.” I tug on her hands to make her look at me again.
“What could be better than you making your dream come true?” She sighs and blinks slowly.
“I’ve got the funding I need, but it’s not for a place in New York?—”
“Wait, why not?” she interrupts me.
“Because…I’m buying The Oasis.” I pinch her hands gently and tug her closer to me.
She tilts her head to the side and twists her mouth. “I didn’t know it was for sale.”
“Well, I’d talked with Chef Thomas right after graduation, but he wasn’t sure he wanted to retire just yet. Then his sister unexpectedly lost her husband last week. He’s moving back to Idaho to be with her and help her.” I pause and study her face.
“After my shift on Wednesday, he came up to me and asked if I was still interested in buying The Oasis. Of course I was, so I said yes. Then on Thursday, I talked with Mr. Coble and Paul Pierson via a conference call to be sure they were still with me as investors. We close on the sale in the next few weeks.” I lift her hands to my lips and kiss her knuckles.
“So, Blaire. What do you think?”
Her jaw falls open, her eyes are wide. She starts to speak, “But what…” She shakes her head and yanks her hands free.
“What about your dream of being the best chef in New York City, J? That was what you always talked about.” She slaps her hand to her mouth and knits her brow.
“Jaden, baby. Please don’t do this for me. Please don’t give up your dream for me. I can’t let you…”
“Blaire. I am not giving up my dreams at all. Owning my own place is my dream and staying here makes it all the sweeter. Yeah, sure, I said all that stuff about moving to the city and being the best ever, but I realized I can do that right here. With you by my side, I have the best of both worlds.” I grip her hips and turn her to face me.
“I swear I’m doing this because this is what I want. The Oasis is familiar and established. It’s a no-brainer to buy it with my investors.”
“Jaden, I… don’t… know.” She tries to move from my grasp, but I don’t let her.
“I promise you, this is for me and for us. I want you to quit the university and be part of my team at The Oasis. Whatever you want to do. It’s yours.” I cup her face with my hands, caressing her cheeks with my thumbs. I lean in and kiss her soft lips.
Our eyes meet after the kiss breaks. A single tear slides down her cheek and I rub it away.
“This is a happy moment, kitten. We can have it all. What do you say? Please say yes to it all.”
Her hands cover mine and she nods.
“Oh my, god. You’re amazing, Jaden. Are you really sure?—”
Knowing how goddamn stubborn Blaire is, I have it all under control. I slide from the sofa and onto my knee.
“Jaden!” she screams as I pull a red velvet box from my pocket.
“Blaire Turner. Will you marry me? Will you be my life partner and my business partner? Will you be my everything, kitten?” Lifting the lid of the velvet box, I raise it to her.
Blaire’s hands cover her mouth as tears begin trailing down her face. She takes short, quick breaths as her head nods. She drags her hands across her damp cheeks, then cups my face with them. Her blue eyes shine as she leans down and kisses my lips.
“Well, will you make me the happiest man alive?” I take her left hand in mine and begin to slide the two-carat round diamond solitaire on her finger.
“Yes, baby. I’ll be your everything forever.”