34. Jaxon
JAXON
Ihave spent every free moment I have with the woman who, I can say without question, I’m currently obsessed with. Yesterday, we officially ushered in high season with a ninety-nine percent occupancy rate for the first week, and I couldn’t have been more excited to hit that number.
Everything at the ranch is moving as it’s supposed to, and there is a certain collective breath that I can finally take now that we are underway. I’m still not at the point where I have a ton of time, but things have gone off without a hitch.
Around lunchtime, Della pops into my office in the lodge, looking every bit as delicious as she does every day, and my heart picks up its pace.
“Hey, what are you doing after work?” she asks.
Glancing at the piles on my desk, I know I should stay late, but, once again, I love a bad decision.
“You,” I say. “Or maybe we can check that box off now?” I flirt, getting up from behind my desk and pulling her into my office before closing the door.
“Tempting, but I have to get back to the barn. What do you say you pick me up and take me somewhere?”
“I love it when you ask me for things you want.” A smile tugs at my lips. “Anywhere in particular?”
“No,” she replies. “Even if we just drive, I’d be okay with it.”
That’s an odd request.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, it’s great!” she says, leaving me to read between all the lines right now. “Pick me up at my cabin later?”
“Of course. Does six sound good?”
“Perfect,” she answers, kissing me and backing out of the office.
I’m left with a confused look on my face. Something is clearly on her mind, and the rest of my day is peppered with conspiracy theories on what it could be.
After work, I run home to change and grab some blankets before heading to her place, pulling up right at six.
She’s sitting on her porch swinging, looking as beautiful as ever.
The fact she’s not running late because she’s painting has me even more concerned about what’s coming. Maybe she has an exit plan to tell me.
“Hey!” she bubbles out, not even giving me a chance to open her door, just jumping in and leaning to kiss me. Her happiness is in direct competition with the anxiety that has me almost shitting my pants in concern
“If we head to the wildflowers, do you have everything we would need?” she asks.
“Yeah, it’s in the front seat,” I reply.
“Oh shit, did I sit on it?” She lifts herself up and searches underneath her.
“Nope,” I say, waiting for her to catch up.
When she realizes I’m talking about her, her nose scrunches up in my favorite way.
“What’s on your mind, Tatroe?” I ask as I take the truck down the gravel path towards the back of the ranch, to the place she requested.
Sidestepping the question, she asks about my day and a few other things before we arrive at the wildflower spot.
Knowing she has something big on her chest, I throw a few blankets into the bed so we can sit.
I lean my back against the cab and settle her into the space in front of me, waiting for her to speak.
It doesn’t take long before she is talking.
“I saw Rose on Sunday,” she opens with.
I’m sure she sees Rose multiple times a week, so I’m not sure why that’s news.
“There aren’t many people who know my painting history, Jaxon. Like less than I can count on one hand,” she continues.
“I’m honored I do.” Taking her hand, I lift it to my mouth to kiss it.
“Painting again was never my expectation, but now that I’m doing it, I can’t stop. I’ve fallen so in love with it, I can’t describe the feeling.”
“This sounds like a good thing,” I venture.
At that, she pulls out of my arms and faces me.
“On Sunday, Rose asked me if I wanted to do an art show.”
My mouth drops open for her. “Del!” I exclaim. “That’s amazing!”
“But I don’t know if I’m going to do it,” she cuts me off from gushing.
“Why?” I ask. I can’t pretend to know anything about the art world, but I imagine this is an honor.
“So many reasons: logistics, confidence, who would buy my paintings, this is still something I consider sacred, am I ready to open myself up to people’s opinions? It feels a bit like a fool’s errand?”
“How dare you sell yourself so short?” I ask her. “Few know the backstory at play, but look at what you create, Della. Your work is enchanting, inviting, and beautiful. If I, who has no background at all, can get lost in what you’re doing, imagine how many people other people you can touch, too.”
“So you think I should?”
I can’t help bringing my hand to her to help land my point. “Why are you asking permission to fly, Della? Take this opportunity and soar. This is made for you. I’m so happy that Rose is giving you this chance.”
From my point of view, this couldn’t be more perfect. She can get some more confidence, maybe even have a reason to stay. The latter thought is a whisper in the wind, but we can’t pretend that this is going to be easy when she leaves. So maybe… just maybe… she stays for a little longer.
“What if I only have, like, thirteen paintings?”
“Then you have the best thirteen paintings the Painted Heart Gallery has ever seen, and you’ll sell the shit out of them,” I reply.
“How do you have so much faith in me, Jax?”
“You mean besides the fact that I’ve seen your work?”
She surprises me when she leaps forward to kiss me. I’m glad my back is already supported by the truck cab, because I would have fallen over.
“Do you really think I’m good enough?” she whispers on my lips as I pull her legs to straddle around me.
“You are going to rise like the sun that we love to watch, Della. And how lucky am I that I get to witness it?”
After that, things turn quickly, and before I know it, we are both checking off boxes. Her riding me when I’m sitting up, and me, among my favorite wildflowers; a spot I’ve never taken anyone before.