Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (8 page)

“It’s perfect.” Brenna’s entire insides acknowledged how happy she was on the outside. When she got off that plane in Phoenix, she had no idea life like this existed. And especially had no experience with a cowboy…a real one. She still didn’t, but maybe that was all changing right this minute. The way she smiled when she looked out the side window, it
was
about to happen. She had to rephrase that thought. It had already happened. She was happy. Mainly, because of him.
Oh, boy
…

Jase slowed down when he got into town and found a parking spot in front of the ice cream shop. “Come on.”

There were two customers inside and he nodded to them. “Hey, Holly. You home for summer break? I thought you worked at the Coffee Shoppe.”

“Yeah, I am, Mr. Carlson. Nice to see you in town. I work
here
sometimes, too. Tell your little niece I might come out to ride. What can I get ya?”

Jase turned to Brenna and she chose chocolate the same as him. Jase brought out his wallet, but this time Brenna beat him to it.

“I insist or I won’t have anything.” She gave him her best evil eye.

He lifted his hands in front of him. “If you insist.” He took a minute and introduced Brenna to Holly. After they ordered, he asked her, “What happened with you and Davy? You guys all done with each other?”

Holly fixed the first ice cream cone, handed it to Brenna, and made Jase’s. “Yeah, I thought college might change things. I mean, I met someone else. He still work for your brother?”

“He works for me sometimes too.” Jase took his cone. “You have a great night, now.” He took Brenna’s hand and shoved the door. “I brought my kids here a lot. They love ice cream. My little boy could almost eat more than me. My daughter wore more than she ate.” Jase smiled, but it ended just like that.

“That’s so sweet. What’s their favorite?” Brenna licked her cone. “Tell me about them.” She peered at him as he looked off down the street. He didn’t say anything. Did he picture them in his mind? Was it too painful to talk about them?

He pointed back toward the store. “Holly had it bad for my brother, she did.”

Brenna admired the narrow sidewalk with lamp posts and the old-fashioned look of the town. “Really? How old is he?” Apparently, he wasn’t going to talk about his kids at the moment.

“A year younger than I am, thirty-four.”

“Whew, she likes older men.” The shops they passed had cute window displays with dim lighting instead of bright fluorescent and neon like in the city. “I can’t believe we spent so much time in the restaurant. Here it is already twilight.”

“Are you afraid of the dark?” He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist.

Brenna faced him. “Sometimes. The demons come out in the dark.” She made a bold move and slid her hand around his waist, too. It was tremendous to hold him. His body was warm and he smelled better than he had earlier. Did his body really shudder under her touch… or just in her imagination? She lapped at her ice cream dripping down the side of the cone, and tilted her head to get it all. When she looked back up, he was staring at her, a slight quirk to his lips. “Are you about to laugh at me?”

“Nope, making sure none of that good ice cream goes to waste.” He held out his cone. “Wanna lick mine?”

His remark tickled her insides. She licked the top off her ice cream, wiping her mouth when it was a bigger bite than she expected. She stopped and reached for his cone. “It’s too good to waste.”

Right in the middle of the sidewalk, Jase wrapped his other arm around her and stepped closer. He brought her against him and she held both ice cream cones out to the side. Lifting his hands higher, he asked, “Now what will you do with both of those in your hands? You realize yours are full and mine are free.”

At that moment he slid his right hand over her hips and around, lingering against her behind. Slowly he eased his left hand over her back and behind her nape. He narrowed his eyes. “Seems like you’re in a predicament.”

The warmth of his skin against her backside penetrated the denim and he splayed his fingers over one cheek. Heat surged over her body. “Well, I could drop yours to the ground and I’d have one free hand to stop your hand from caressing my ass.”

“Are you sure you want to?” His chest swelled with a deep sigh, and his warm breath caressed her cheek.

Brenna laughed. “Both of these are dripping all over my hands. I might make you lick it off if you
don’t
let me get napkins out of my pocket.”

Jase pulled her even closer and wrapped both arms around her waist, moving his face lower to hers. “Don’t say a thing like that to a cowboy who’s been alone…as long as I have been. I’ve as much as given up on women, so…I have no idea why I’m doing this.”

He was in big trouble either way and lucky she didn’t wipe her hands all over him. “You’re asking for it. My hands are covered with chocolate ice cream now.”

Jase chuckled, his hands tightening against her back. “What are you gonna do? Better start lickin’.”

She didn’t want to do it. He gave her no choice. She took both hands and slapped his back.

His body jerked and he arched right against her belly. “You. Did. Not. Do that!”

Brenna laughed hysterically and dropped her forehead against his chest, her wet, sticky hands, cone and all, smashed against his back. “No, I didn’t do anything.” She couldn’t stop laughing.

He gripped her arms. Brenna dropped the cones and wiped her hands over his back, broke out of his hold and took off running backwards. “I didn’t do anything. That’s not melted ice cream all over your back.” She peeked behind her. “Now what are you going to do?”
If he rips his shirt off I’ll never be able to control myself.
But he began slowly unbuttoning. “I bet that’s cold.”

Jase took two steps toward her and she did a couple hops back. “You know I can catch you. My legs are twice as long as yours.”

“Not even close. I took track in school.”

“Yeah?” He ripped his shirt off and dangled it in front of him, shaking the soggy cone off, and tucked the top of the shirt inside his waistband. He wore a t-shirt underneath. “I jog.”

“I can imagine what it feels like, Jase. Wet? Sticky? Eww.” She no sooner got the
eww
out and he took off. She ran down the street, laughing so hard she could barely keep running, but he caught up, grabbed her waist, and spun her around.

“So, maybe you’ll get dizzy, eh, girl? You’re so funny smearing two—yeah—two ice cream cones all over my back.
Not
funny, Brenna.”

“You left me no choice,” she squealed. Brenna kicked her legs out as Jase slowly spun around. Two people came around the corner and had to separate and walk one on each side of them. He stopped and leaned against a store wall, still holding her by the waist, her feet off the ground. “Put me down you animal.”

He lowered her and she turned to face him, but he grabbed her up into his arms again. She wrapped her legs around him and they both stopped, and stared at each other.

He lowered her to the ground. “Animal? You called me an animal? Think again.” He pulled his shirt out of the waistband and wiped the wet part into her face. “Now call me an animal.”

Brenna laughed again, and she didn’t care that her face was all sticky now. “Lick it off my face, bad boy.”

His gaze did a slow survey over the front of her. “I told you not to say that. Do you really want me licking you?”

Brenna did a silent gasp. How delightful did that sound? She wanted to slap herself. The whole of her insides quivered. Searching for any kind of composure, she took a step back. The exciting look on his face was fun. “Jase, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mess up your shirts. Want help taking the other one off?” She ran her hands over his muscular arms, but had to calm down. She didn’t do stuff like this.

“You realize what this means, don’t you?”

“You won’t take me for ice cream anymore?” She wanted to snicker, but maybe it wasn’t appropriate right now. She’d get more sticky ice cream in her face. “What?” She caught their reflection in the window. The tall one, and her, standing close. A look she admired, and a smile snuck out.

“Tomorrow you’re cleaning the inside of my truck because whatever is on my back will be on my upholstery. You still wanna smile about it?”

Brenna didn’t recognize herself, her actions. This was too much fun. She forgot how to do this and liked the way her sensuality and laughter came back. “I’m not smiling about that. Come get me tomorrow and I’ll help you clean it up. Want me to do your laundry too?”

“Hell yeah. If I can get someone to do my laundry, sure.” He laughed.

“I’m teasing. I’m sure a big, strong guy like you, who prides himself on setting a GPS, can push a button on a washer and dryer.” Boldness like she used to have kept pushing its way past that sad demeanor she’d harbored for two years.

“Woman, I’m never feeding you ice cream again if it makes you this crazy.”

Brenna placed one palm against his chest. “I think you make me that way.” She diverted her eyes. “You make me happy. If you only knew the importance. Be proud, okay?” This whole episode with him did make her forget for a while. Ever since she met him, he got her excited, either with the frustration that turned out to be fun, and now, the laugher and joy.

“Look at me. I blew off the whole day. My horses need to be fed.” He took her hands. “I have responsibilities. Not to mention a sticky back.”

“I understand. Now where shall we wash your truck tomorrow?”

“Not to worry, there’s a car wash right out of town toward Gold Canyon. I’ll show you that place, too. Be ready at 2:30.” He lifted her chin. “Don’t be late when I come to pick you up.”

“I’m an on-time kind of person. If I wasn’t, the kids would be running the classroom.” She brushed the side of his face with her fingertips. “I’ll be ready.” An awful thought came mind. A car wash. They had hoses at a car wash.
Oh, I’m in trouble
…

Jase took her hand and they walked back down the street. He stopped in front of the ice cream shop, twisted his mouth in a lopsided grin, and shook his head. “Too bad we didn’t bring your car because you have hand sanitizer.” He snickered. “You’re always prepared.”

He had a point. Her hands were sticky and his back wet. Her hand almost stuck to his and he didn’t seem to mind, only releasing it when they got to his truck. He unlocked the passenger side door, reached into his center console, and brought out a box of wet cloths. “I have to be prepared, too. I’d say it’s a great trait, wouldn’t you?” He removed a cloth, took one of her hands and proceeded to clean it off. “I want it to be clean when I lick it.”

This was a man to be reckoned with. Brenna liked the idea a lot.

After he wiped her hands, he gave her another cloth and she finished the job. Jase handed her two more, turned his back to her and pulled his shirt over his head. “You don’t mind, do you?”

Good God!
A tattoo spread across the center of his muscled back between his shoulder blades. “Nice tat.” She held her finger an inch away from his skin.
Touch him
, she willed herself. Brenna flexed her fingers, separating them from the stickiness left between her thumb and forefinger. He wore a silver chain around his neck. She traced with her index finger the outline of the turquoise-colored half-moon, and continued over the lines signifying the rays or beams shooting out from it. Two tiny red stars were harbored within the teal, purple, and yellow colored moonbeams. “I like this. Does it mean something?”

Jase nodded. She took the wet cloth and pressed it against his skin. His shoulders jerked. Brenna ran it over his sticky back, letting her fingers touch his tight, warm skin. Maybe she’d do this all night to make sure no chocolate lingered in his pores. He placed his hands on the top of his truck, head lowered. The fact that groans slipped out from his throat, meant nothing…
Liar
. When finished, she laid her palms over his back and pressed her fingers against his skin. Damp. Hot. Strong.
Ooh…
She was on fire.

“Thanks, Brenna. Too bad I have to put the dirty thing back on.”

She agreed.
Too bad.

“Consider yourself lucky.” Jase picked up his t-shirt from the seat. “Not everyone gets to see my tattoo. It’s only for special people to see.” He pulled his t-shirt over his head and turned to face her. “I appreciate you getting that stickiness off my back.” He stuck his hat back on his head. “Are you ready?” He moved out of the way and gave her a hand up.

She caught the door. “I’d like to hear the story behind the tattoo…when you want to tell me.” With a deep audible sigh, she said, “I’m ready.” He got in and they drove toward her townhouse. She had acted very bold tonight and still couldn’t explain to herself why.

When they were almost there, Jase said in a low voice, “The two red stars in the tattoo are for my kids. My two shining stars, and I miss them very much. So much that I can barely stand it sometimes.” He pulled up to the front door at the hotel. “Do you want me to walk in with you?”

Brenna choked up, saddened by his words. She had to swallow and take a breath before speaking. “I can manage, but thanks.” She clenched his hand resting on the console. “Good night. It was a wonderful evening. I’m glad we met up at the grocery store. See you tomorrow afternoon.” She opened the door and stepped down, turned and peered at him one last time before closing the door.

Jase rolled the window down. “Hey, Brenna,” he called when she got a few steps away.

She looked back, lifting her chin to acknowledge him.

“It might suck to be you tomorrow at the carwash.” The window went back up and he drove off.

Brenna held it in all the way to her room. Once inside, she leaned against the door and gave one big smile. He was something else. A tremble rattled her shoulders. She bet if she looked in the mirror she’d be starry-eyed like a lovesick fool. He was playful. Fun. Serious. Everything about him gave her a thrill. No matter how long it lasted, she’d enjoy the ride with the cowboy.

She washed her hands and face, cracking up at the thought of him rubbing his shirt into her face. And what got into her?