“Maybe.” Casey let out a happy squeal as she held on to a bar sliding along a low zip line across the middle of the specially designed playground.
“That was Jake’s idea. He dreamed up a lot of that playground, even built the components for several things.”
“Yeah. He’s good at what he does.” He’s good at a lot of things. Her mind drifted back to last night. And again this morning.
“You like him.”
She could feel Hannah looking at her. “Of course I like him.”
She might have doubts about hearts and flowers and a lifelong romance, but she believed in Jake and the man he was.
They’d had another night alone last night after dinner at his parents’ house. Matt and Abby had insisted on taking Casey and a few others to their house to repay Stephen and Hannah. It was good for her, and like Abby had pointed out, it might help with the kindergarten transition. It seemed to have worked. She’d gone on and on this morning about the twins’ uniforms and school supplies.
A van pulled up to the barn and Hannah turned. “Sorry. That’s my next rider.”
“No problem. Thank you so much for everything.” Paige wrapped Hannah in a tight hug. “This really was a dream come true for Casey. And for me. I never could have given her this.”
“You’re welcome. We’ll talk soon.”
Hannah was treating this like more than a quick visit to a camp. In fact, all of Jake’s family seemed to think this was the beginning of a lasting relationship, that they would see her and Casey again. Casey definitely seemed to think so. She had big plans with Cole, who’d lost a tooth last night. The blood had taken Cole to elite status in Casey’s mind.
Jake stepped up behind her and slid his arms around her waist. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She angled her head back to meet his eyes. “Everything good at home?”
“Yes. Better than good.” He kissed her neck as they watched Casey burn off a last bit of energy before they headed to the airport.
She sighed and leaned back into his hold, loving how it felt to be surrounded by Jake. She’d woken several times in the night and each time she was in his arms. She’d turned to him, silently asking for more, which he gave. “Did you ever ride here?”
“No. My brother met Hannah after I’d moved.”
“That’s right.”
They watched another minute, then Jake turned her in his arms and cupped her face. He took her mouth in a long, deep, toe-curling kiss that stole her breath. “What was that for?”
“No reason. I just wanted to.”
“Really?” Smiling, she rose up on her toes and pressed her lips to his. “I just wanted to, too.”
Chapter 26
A week later, the magic of Freedom Farm had almost vanished under the reality of work and school. She’d barely seen Jake. He’d been busy with his work, and when he was free, it never failed that she wasn’t. He hadn’t pushed her for time, but she still felt guilty, on top of missing him. No matter how hard she tried, there were only so many hours in a day. Hours at work, hours in class, hours studying. Casey needed her and she had to sleep at some point. Would he get tired of being put off again and again?
She walked into the back to hang up her purse next to Jenny’s and smiled at her cousin. “Hey, girl. Where were you last night?”
A smile spread across Jenny’s face, and then it grew until she thought her cousin’s cheeks might crack. She was always happy but…“Jenny?”
“I was with Simon!”
Jenny shrieked his name and followed it with a squeal of unrestrained joy. Paige struggled to close her mouth that now hung open. “You were…”
“Yes! He came into the diner and we were talking and then he waited for me to get off and…” She paused for a happy wiggle. “He took me out to dinner, not out actually, to his mom’s! Can you believe it? He took me to his mother’s! And then when he asked if he should bring me back for my car, I said no!”
“Wow.” Paige managed to smile, but on the inside she was thinking, Oh, Jenny. She wanted to preach to her cousin about not getting her hopes up, not losing her heart, but she really had no room to talk.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Jenny went on. “I really haven’t been with as many men as I make it seem like sometimes, but it doesn’t matter. This is it. There won’t be any others. Isn’t it great? We’re both finding men at the same time.”
Paige’s heart skipped. “I’m not finding a man, Jenny. Not like you mean.”
“What? Why? I thought things were good.”
“They are, I mean he is. Very good.”
“Then what? Because you’re afraid?”
Because I’m terrified. She pressed a hand over her aching heart.