Shrugging, I took this as the chance to really look around his room. Standing, I made my way over to the dresser and looked at the few pictures stuck between the mirror and frame. My eyes immediately zeroed in on the blonde in a lot of the pictures. She was gorgeous.
“Who’s this beautiful blonde?”
Jase walked over and pulled one of the photos down. It was of him and a blonde who was on his shoulders. “That’s, Ava.”
Swallowing hard, I wasn’t sure why the tinge of jealousy rippled through my body. “She’s very pretty.”
Jase glanced at me and looked again. “Yeah, I guess she’s cute.”
Cute? She was a knock out.
Chewing on my lip, I looked at the next picture. It was of Jase and Ava again, but this time there were two other people in the photo. Ava was looking at Jase laughing when the picture was taken.
“You two must have been really close if you’ve got pictures of her in your room.”
The words came out of my mouth before I could take them back.
Jase reached over and pulled the other photos down, opened the desk drawer and tossed them in there. He pointed to another photo of him and Liza. Then another with Walker on what looked like a racehorse. “They were just good memories, Tay, that’s all.” He took the rest of them down and put them in the drawer as well.
I felt like a fool for feeling jealous. “I didn’t mean anything by it and I certainly don’t want you to think I’m being jealous, even though I was being jealous, but I know I have no reason to be so—”
His lips captured mine, bringing my rambling to a halt. “Stop,” he softly spoke against my lips. “I’d be upset if you had pictures of some guy in your room no matter how close you were to him. I really haven’t touched this room since high school. I sleep in here and that’s about all.”
I glanced down to the floor, feeling like a twelve-year-old. “Still, I shouldn’t have acted like that. I’m sorry.”
His finger lifted my chin as he captured my eyes. “There is nothing to say sorry for. Now let me grab my toothbrush so I don’t have to use my finger again.”
Giggling, I nodded and walked back over to his bed. The view from the window caught my eye as I leaned forward.
“Wow . . . the view from your room is amazing.”
All I could hear was banging in the bathroom before Jase rounded the corner. “You should see it at sunset. When I was little I would run up here to watch the sun go down. My mother would get so mad at me. I would have my phone set and even if we were at dinner, I would jump up and come here. I was obsessed with it. Even now I love to watch the sun set.”
I found myself breathless as I listened to Jase talk. “That’s not something you would normally hear a guy saying.”
“Well, I was eight so . . . I guess I had an excuse.”
Jase turned and started rummaging through his closet. Cocking my head to the side, I asked, “What in the world are you looking for?”
“Found it!” he called out as he held a blanket in his hands. What in the world did he need a blanket for? “Are you ready?”
Smiling slightly, I asked, “Ready for what?”
“The plans I have for you today . . . and tonight.”
I was positive my face was beaming with happiness. “I’m more than ready.”
“Good, let’s get going.”
He grabbed the duffle bag and threw it over his shoulder and took my hand in his. There went my silly stomach. I swear every time he touched me, my body reacted in some way.
As we made our way back downstairs, I prayed this day would never end. The thought of going back to a somewhat normal life and not spending every moment with Jase made me feel sad.
“Are you heading out?” Whitley asked.
“Yep. We’re gonna stop at the store and pick up some food for Taylor and then head back to her new place.”
With an upturned face, Whitley’s eyes danced. “Taylor, are you excited about living in your own place? I know it’s a bit different from an apartment in the city.”
“I am. I’m excited about so many things, truth be told. The new job, learning something new. I’ve been around horses my whole life, but nothing this deep. It’s a bit strange to think I’ll be in a cabin in the middle of nowhere all alone, but in a way I think it will be good for me also.” Peeking up at Jase, I couldn’t help but grin bigger. “And I know I’m not that far from Jase, which is the most exciting.”
“That is a very good thing,” Whitley said as she walked up and hugged me. Pushing me back at arm’s length, she took me in with loving eyes. It was as if she was also trying to make sure this wasn’t a dream. “See you both tonight.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you, Whitley.”
Jase leaned over and kissed his mother on the cheek. “See ya later, Mom.”
As we made our way out to his truck, I glanced over my shoulder back at the house. It was so beautiful. I didn’t want to do it because I would never want to jinx what Jase and I had, but I let myself dare dream of how beautiful a wedding would be here.
“What are you thinking about?” Jase asked while helping me up into the truck.
With a bubbly voice, I replied, “Our day today.”
His face lit up like Christmas morning. “Then let’s get it started, shall we?”