Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (3 page)

“I’ll get a hotel in Canyon Junction.”

“Are you sure about that?” Jase tipped the gas can higher. “We don’t have a hotel in this town. Maybe it’s
Gold
Canyon?”

Brenna opened her door and reached across the seat. “Um, no this says Canyon Junction.
Canyon
,” she said, reiterating and emphasizing the word, even holding up the print-out. Why did the three of them look back and forth at one another?

“How long ago did you make these reservations?” asked Mrs. Carlson.

“Well, I didn’t exactly make them.”
Now, I sound like an idiot
.

“Didn’t make reservations?” asked Jase, standing, and setting the can on the ground. “Of course you didn’t. If you did you’d have known that hotel is no longer open.”

“Oh, one more thing to go wrong on this trip.” Brenna raised her hands in frustration and peered at Jase. “So, am I gassed up now?”

He nodded and shoved the hat back on his head. “Yes, ma’am. You can get in your car and go anytime.”

“Okay! I need to get out of here and find a place to stay. Thank you all so much for your help.” She reached into the car for her purse, stood outside and rummaged through it, bringing out a wallet. She opened it and looked up when Jase wrapped his hand around hers. “If you’re aiming to pay, forget it.” She stared at his hand wrapped tight. Warm, a working mans’ hand, and strong.

“Oh, no, I can’t forget it. This is a very kind thing to do and I’m appreciative of the help.” She pulled her hand away from Jase and looked over at his mother. “Honest, I am. Please, let me pay you something.”

Mr. Banes went to the car and Mrs. Carlson came to stand closer beside her. She tossed a look over to her son and back to Brenna. “Dear, if you’ll be living in this town, teaching here, why not call me Judy? More than likely we’ll run into each other around town or,” she pointed to the building, “here at school.”

“Thank you, Judy, I’d be pleased.” Brenna continued looking through her wallet. “What’d I do with that cash?” she mumbled.

Jase laughed. “You lost your cash? Good luck with that.”

She abruptly looked up at him. “I didn’t lose it. I misplaced it.” She dug into her front jeans pocket, ignoring the way Jase’s gaze did a survey from her waist to her feet and back to her face.
Humph. Damn cowboy.

“Listen,” said Judy, placing her hand on Brenna’s. “If you insist on paying for my son’s help, let him lead you into Gold Canyon, and while you’re at it, buy him a cup of coffee.”

“What?” She turned her head faster than a spinning top. Buy him coffee? Why?
She wanted to be rid of the smartass.

Jase opened her car door. “Mom, I have this under control.” He nodded to Brenna. “Give me your map, I’ll point it out for ya. You best call a hotel.”

She spoke low. “I didn’t think a small town like this would be filled up. That’s the reason I didn’t make reservations.” It had sounded logical to her.

“Well, lesson learned. Where’s your map? Should I just program your GPS?” He gave a devious sounding laugh.

“I
know
how to program it.” Okay, so she hadn’t used it until she left Phoenix. He didn’t have to know.

“Well, good for you, ma’am. I can see why this mountain distracted you.”

Judy laid her hand over her son’s arm. “Would you mind putting the gas can back in my car? Make sure it don’t drip cause me and Martyn don’t want to smell that all the way home.”

“I’ll stick it in the back of my truck and drop it off at your house.”

When he grabbed the can and left, Judy said to Brenna, “I must apologize for his behavior. He’s been in a bad way lately with lots on his mind. He isn’t usually like this.”

She sighed. “Neither am I.” Brenna used the heel of her hand to dab at the sweat beading on her forehead. Glancing toward the mountain, it now took on a spookier tone standing in the dark like a Dracula statue. “Well, he didn’t have to stop. I appreciate the help.”

“Yes, he did. All three of my boys were raised that way.”

Brenna looked after him as he fiddled with something inside his truck. With his hat off and under the interior light, she saw more of his handsome face. Dark hair was long and looking kind of shaggy. She liked it, unfortunately. The scruff on his face fit him, too.
Dammit.

When he got back out, he removed his outer shirt and tossed it in the back of his truck, walked over and stood beside his mom. “That’s taken care of, but I spilled gasoline on my shirt.”

Brenna stood with her mouth gaping, jaw close to the ground. The muscles in his arms bulged in his cut-off sleeved shirt. They were so huge she wanted to reach out and touch them to see if they were real. When he cleared his throat, she became aware of her stare. So had he.

“Hey, I could use a cup of coffee after all. Let me show you where that hotel is?” He directed his attention to his mom, but flashed back to Brenna. “How long will you be staying in a hotel? That might determine the best spot for you.”

She relaxed her shoulders and let go of her on-guard attitude. He seemed to have mellowed out some. “Well, I’ll be moving into a townhouse or apartment as soon as I can find one.”

“Wait. What?” asked Judy. She turned to Jase. “Hey, I have an idea. Nora needs to sublet her townhouse.”

“Yeah, Ma, we’ll have to talk to her about that.”

Brenna covered her mouth in a yawn. “I really need to get to a hotel.” Turning to Jase, she placed her hand on his forearm, her eyes following.
Hallelujah, that’s a strong arm.
“I can use a cup of coffee too. Whatever you think is best. You know the area. I need to get settled. Tomorrow I’ll visit a dealer and get this GPS checked out so I can find my way around.”

“Heck, ma’am, it’s not so bad once you get to know it. Get on the 60, it about takes you where you need to go.”

“Yes, that’s what I thought until I couldn’t find U.S 60. But, at least I found where I’ll work.” She shook her head with a subtle laugh, and shrugged. “Then again, I have no idea how I even got here.” She hoped that didn’t make her sound irresponsible.

“We’ll get you taken care of.” Jase took his mom’s arm, guiding her to her 4x4. Judy pulled away and came back.

“Nice to have met you, Brenna… Brenna? What’s your last name, dear?”

“Um, Page. Brenna Page.”

“Bet the kids have fun with that,” teased Jase. “A teacher named Page.” He snickered and his mom swatted his arm.

“You know,” said Brenna, “I teach little kids and they haven’t thought of that yet.”

He chuckled again and nudged his mother’s arm. “You haven’t met my niece, Destiny. She’s a sharp one. If any first grader figures it out, it’ll be that one.”

“Well, maybe if no one encourages her, she won’t pick up on it.” Brenna found a chuckle and it made Jase give a quick grin as he scoped out her face. Their gaze connected and held a moment. Brenna lowered her eyes in a quick glance to his lips. He had a kissable mouth. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about in her school parking lot. She turned toward his mother and with that subtle smile on her face, Judy must’ve seen her checking out her son.

“Hmm, not reminding my niece that her teacher’s name is Page. That’s debatable,” he said, low but loud enough for her to hear.

“Maybe I should plan a list of rebuts to toss back at my little darlings.” Dropping her shoulders, she asked again, “Can I get the directions to a hotel, so I can quit for the day?”

“No coffee?” asked Jase.

“Okay, yes, you direct me to a hotel, and hopefully we can find coffee somewhere…and food. I’m starved.”

Jase lifted his chin, nodding toward her Mustang. “Sure. Go ahead and make sure your car starts.”

Brenna got inside and turned the key. Jase came to the side and knelt. It was then, she got a whiff of gasoline, yet his cologne overpowered it, and she took in a big inhale as inconspicuously as she could. She loved the scent of whatever he wore. It smelled masculine and spicy. Mmm, it was the right cologne for a man who looked like him. Right now she needed to turn on her air conditioning to cool off. Coffee with him? Maybe she’d ignore his on-again-off-again attitude like he displayed earlier. She gave a rev to the engine.

“Hey, nice. I always loved that Mustang sound.” He sniffed his hands “I smell like gasoline. Sorry.”

“Well, Jase, I’m heading on home, son. I’ll have to be there for Des tonight.”

“Okay, Mom, I’ll drop your gas can off later.” He stood when she got into her vehicle, nodded when they passed by. “Well, Brenna, are you ready? Think you can trust me now?” He gave a subtle wink.

“Was that your mom’s boyfriend or…?”

He shrugged. “It’s her boyfriend, I guess.”

She leaned over and took a bottle of hand sanitizer out of the glove box. “For your gasoline smelling hands. I’m always prepared.”

“Yeah, real good that you’re always prepared. Thanks.” Holding out his hands, she squirted a big dab into his palms. He glanced around the area as he rubbed it in. “I’m still the same fearsome cowboy who stopped forty minutes ago.”

She twisted around in the seat and sat sideways, her feet on the ground, and lifted her eyes way up. “Yes, but I have to start somewhere. I’m afraid I’ve made a bad impression with the first person I’ve met in Canyon Junction.” She stuck out her hand. “Maybe I need to start over.”

Jase remained staring, his hands in his back pockets, hat low on his head.

Brenna looked up at him when she got out of the car, her hand reaching out again. He took a step closer and grabbed hold of her hand. “Nice to meet you, again, Miss Brenna Page.” He held her gaze and gave a firm shake. “Now, if you’d like to follow me down the road, we’ll turn right on 60 and head into a town called A.J., well, Apache Junction. We’ll find you a hotel there. There’s also a place to get some food…and a coffee.”

Brenna left her hand in his. “Thank you very much, Jase Carlson, aka, real cowboy.” A smile wanted to sneak out, but she held back as long as she could. She might have been able to longer, if he hadn’t first. Those cute dimples winning her over
. Great!

Getting back into his truck, Jase started the engine, sat there a moment, shaking the fog from his brain. “Dammit all to hell, that woman’s strikingly beautiful.” He pulled around her car and drove to the exit in the parking lot. He glanced into his rear view mirror. “Gorgeous.” He'd never met anyone the likes of her around this town.

Her light color of blonde was something else, and looked natural. Cute, bouncy hair hanging over her shoulders the way he liked. She probably hadn’t realized
he
noticed her blue cat-eyes when they sparkled. They about knocked his boots off with those long lashes shading them when she looked down.

Her feisty little attitude made those sizzling eyes devious. Coffee with her wouldn’t be a problem.
I’ve been too long without a woman, and now she comes along.
She was hotter than hell, and he bet she didn’t even know it.
Yeah, too long
. A twitch in his groin was more than a faint reminder.

On the 60, he lost her and pulled over and waited. Then she drove past him in that nice looking hot rod, the red color fitting her red-hot personality. He pulled out and caught her, flashed his lights and passed, shaking his head when he pulled back in front of her.

“No wonder she gets lost.”
Jase clicked his blinker on, giving her plenty of time to pay attention to where they were turning. He drove into a parking spot at the hotel and she pulled up front by the entrance door.

“Hey,” he called to her when she stepped out. He made his way over. “Need any help getting things inside?”

“I need to make sure they have a room first.” She bent over and grabbed for her purse, closed the door, and clicked the lock. He blew out a big breath after watching her lean down. Almost more than his neglected body could take. He sauntered in with her, catching the door when she reached for it.
Cute little ass on that one.

Brenna stopped right inside. Tilting her head, she asked, “Why are you following me?” She took a look toward the desk.

“Do you wanna eat? We can get to the hotel restaurant from here, otherwise we drive around to the other side.” He removed his hat and slid his fingers through his unruly hair, trying to smooth out the crease in the back from wearing his hat so long.

“Well, if you direct me, I can meet you there after getting my things inside.” She took a quick glance around the lobby again.

He made her nervous. “We’re right here,” he said, stuffing his hands into his front pockets. An untrusting woman for sure. It made him feel bad not to be trusted when all his life he strived to be trustworthy.

“Well, okay, I’ll get on up there to the desk.”

Jase followed but changed his mind. “I’ll wait right here.” He’d not make her any more uncomfortable than she already was. Looking at it from her point of view, it made sense. Watching her walk away in those snug fitting jeans didn’t hurt either.
Looking good, sweetie pie.
None of his teachers looked like her. He’d probably never see her again but decided he’d have to look into that. Maybe it
was
time to get a life.

It took a while for her to get signed in, but Jase was right there in the lobby, sitting on one of the overstuffed sofas in plain view. When she walked toward him, he was glad because he wasn’t sure if she’d rather leave without him. It was kind of nice the way her breasts did that subtle bounce in that pretty green top.

“Well, I was lucky to get a suite. It’ll be more comfortable while I search for a place to live. Shall we hit that restaurant?”

Jase stood and slipped his hand to her shoulder as they headed toward the door, but he removed it as fast as he placed it there. “You want help unloading your things?” He pointed back toward the exit.

“Um, I better…do it…okay, it’ll go faster with your help.”

“Come on, I’ll grab a luggage cart.”

She twirled a strand of hair around her finger. “I don’t have much. Wish I could’ve fit more.” Brenna flipped open her trunk when they got outside.