Chapter 7
Jade
“It’s when you think you know someone, that they surprise you.”
~ Nora O’Sullivan
“The numbers are up?” I repeated.
“Yep. By ten percent, which means that people are sharing the first episode and telling their friends about it.”
I couldn’t believe what Vanessa was telling me as I reached up and wrapped my fingers around the wooden fencing. I grunted as I climbed over the barrier at the edge of my parents’ land and had to catch the earbud that slipped out as I hopped down onto their field.
“Jade? Are you okay?” I heard as soon as I slipped it back in place.
“Yeah, just lost you for a minute.” There was a gate on the other side of the property but the straightest shot from my house was across the field and over the fence. “I’m headed to my folks for dinner.”
I was running late because of a last minute call from a potential client. I’d texted my mom to let her know that she should start without me. I crossed the field just as the sun was setting behind our farmhouse. The sky was a brilliant shade of purple, orange, and yellow. I’d always loved sunsets and sunrises but there was something special about watching them from my childhood home. It held an extra layer of nostalgia.
“I won’t keep you, I just wanted to let you know that listeners are loving your segments and, not only that, we’ve had a bunch of guys submitting themselves as potential dates. There was even one marriage proposal.”
“But they don’t even know what I look like.” I realized how shallow I sounded as soon as the statement left my mouth.
“Maybe not, but they like what they hear. They think you’re funny and real and they’re up for the challenge of holding your door open and slapping your ass.”
I hadn’t meant to say that on air. It had just slipped out. I’d never had much of a filter, or any filter at all, and that trait was coming back to bite me, or I guess in this case slap me in the ass.
“Do you want me to pass along the messages?”
“No, that’s okay.” I had no plans on taking any of the men up on their offer. Unless it was Hot Tie-Guy, because holy moly was he hotness personified. He was also a missed opportunity. Something I didn’t plan on repeating if I got another chance at someone like that.
“And the listeners aren’t the only ones that are happy. Brent, who owns Crackle suggested that we make you a permanent addition. I know that our agreement was only for six weeks, but it would be great if we could make it a regular thing. Maybe not every week, but maybe once a month like in college.”
“Umm…” I hesitated. As much as I loved doing the podcast, I didn’t really want to make it a permanent thing.
I had thought that meeting new people might help me stop thinking about Hayden so much, but the opposite was true. It seemed like all I was doing was thinking about him.
He was everything I’d ever wanted in a man. He was a man’s man that was good with his hands (in more ways than one!). He could fix anything. Build anything. He wasn’t afraid to get down and dirty but he cleaned up nice, too. He was sensitive and caring, but still all-Alpha. He kept me on my toes and unlike every other guy I’d dated, he didn’t let me have my way all the time. Being able to schmooze people was great for my career but in my personal life I didn’t want to be with someone that I could bulldoze or manipulate. Even when I’d tried not to, it was just too easy.
And he could kiss. His kisses were the kind that people wrote songs about. They made time stand still. They could make me forget any problem, any sadness, any pain. When Hayden kissed me, nothing else existed except the sensation of his lips and the salty-sweet taste of his tongue. I was convinced that it was the closest thing to heaven there was on earth.
That was the bar that had been set and no man had ever come close to reaching it. I was beginning to think that no one ever would and I was scared if I continued doing the podcast my worst fear would come true and I’d realize that no one would ever live up to Hayden. Maybe I just needed to take some time to myself. “I’m not sure…”
“Just think about it.”
“I will and thanks. I’m glad that the numbers are up.”
“Of course. And I suspect that they will continue to rise. Is this speed dating week?”
“Nope, that’s next week. This week is the Fishing for Love app. And from what I’ve heard it’s filled with douchebags, so I’m sure that I’ll have plenty of material for next week’s show.”
Vanessa chuckled but then grew serious. “I know that you’re just doing this for the advertising but I have to admit that I’m kind of hoping you find someone, Jade. You’ve made it clear that you’ve never wanted the traditional white picket fence, husband, kids, and a dog. But that doesn’t mean that you have to go through this life alone. Relationships don’t have to be traditional to be fulfilling.”
“Thanks Dr. Cupid,” I teased.
Ever since she’d earned her doctorate in Psychology I loved to call her that. She didn’t love it as much as I did.
“I’m serious. You’re beautiful inside and out. You’re funny, creative, intelligent, hard-working, tenacious—”
“Okay, you’re laying it on a little thick.” I cut her off.
“No, I’m not. You’re all those things and more. The list goes on and on and I feel like the right partner could not only appreciate you and enhance your life but maybe even challenge you a little bit. You are so open minded but when it comes to relationships it’s like you’re jaded. Get it? Jaded.”
I chuckled and figured that turnabout was fair play. “You know it’s funny, Dr. Cupid I’ve been thinking the exact same thing about you, Nessa. You’re stunning, intelligent, and witty. When’s the last time you were in a relationship?”
My question was met with silence and then a sigh. “See you Saturday.”
“See ya.” I had to grin as the line went dead. Defeat was not easy for my overachieving college roomie to admit, which made it that much sweeter when she did.
The back screen door squeaked as I opened it and walked into the mudroom. I heard voices that weren’t my parents coming from the dining room. I immediately recognized them. Sheriff and Mrs. Reed had lived next door to my parents for twenty-five years. They were the first people that we met in Wishing Well and my mom always credited them with making the transition from Ireland to America a seamless one.
She hadn’t mentioned that they’d be joining us for dinner when she’d called earlier, but that wasn’t uncommon. Most folks in Wishing Well had an open door policy when it came to supper. If you stopped by around dinner time, you stayed for a meal.
I rounded the corner with a smile on my face. “Sorry I’m late—”
My smile dropped and my words caught in my throat. Hayden was seated next to the only empty chair at my parents’ table.
My mother rose and hugged me. “Nonsense, you’re just in time, honey. I made you a plate.”
Sure enough, there was a plate filled with roast, potatoes, and corn sitting in front of the empty seat. That was next to Hayden.
“Great!” I hoped my voice didn’t give away the tension I was feeling as I greeted everyone.
My mother explained that I was late because I’d had a last minute consultation with a potential new client. I tried to avoid Hayden’s gaze by turning my attention to Ranger who lay beside Hayden’s chair.
“Did you plan this?” I whispered to Hayden through clenched teeth.
“Nope.”
Hayden was a lot of things, but a liar wasn’t one of them. If he said that he had nothing to do with this, then I believed him.
I started to relax when he continued, “But I would’ve if I’d thought of it.”
Irritation flooded me. Of course, he couldn’t just leave well enough alone.
At least that’s what I was blaming for the frustration rushing through me. But If I was being honest, I was also pretty damn frustrated with how good he looked. It should be illegal to look as good as he did in a plain, white T-shirt. His shoulders, chest, and biceps could fill out cotton like no other man I’d ever seen.
“So tell us more about Hero Rescue, Hayden,” my mom prompted before looking at me. “Before you got here we were talking about Hayden buying the old tire warehouse for his nonprofit.”
He bought the old tire warehouse? That was news to me. And what was Hero Rescue?
My mother must’ve noticed the confused look on my face because she answered a few of the questions that were running through my head. “Hayden is going to rescue dogs from shelters and train them to be service animals for veterans who need them. Just like he did with Ranger. When he was going through the process of getting Ranger certified he met some people that are going to run the rescue since he’s still working full time.”
“You are?” I turned to Hayden, who nodded.
It was the first time I’d looked at him, really looked at him, in years. I tried to see him as a friend. As someone that loved him.
Had he suffered from PTSD?
Was that why he’d gotten Ranger?
Was his own experience what had inspired him to start Hero Rescue?
I didn’t know. I didn’t know anything about his time in the Army, other than his rank and all the commendations that he’d been awarded, which Mrs. Reed had gushed about.
“Jade!” My mother called out and I jumped in my chair. “I have a great idea! You should help him! You should plan his grand opening and help him with his website and things. Isn’t that why you started 50/50? To help people who were doing great things get a platform where people knew about them?”
I treaded lightly as I started, “I’m sure that Hayden has everything under cont—”
“I don’t actually. I would appreciate any help you’d be willing to give.” Hayden’s deep voice rumbled beside me and I wanted to punch him.
Instead I shrugged my shoulders in an apologetic gesture. “I don’t know if I’ll have the time to—”
“Nonsense.” My mother waved her hands in the air. “Of course you have time! It’s Hayden!”
My father piggybacked that sentiment by adding, “And what better cause than helping the brave men and women that served this amazing country?”
My parents were very patriotic. They still loved Ireland and went back to visit at least once a year, but America was their home. They’d lived the ultimate American dream. They’d come over as immigrants, started a small business, bought a home, and put both of their children through college.
I was also a huge fan of the country that I’d called home since I was three. And I loved animals more than I liked people. If anyone else was starting this business I’d be jumping at the chance to work with them. But it wasn’t anyone else. It was Hayden.
Forcing my lips up into a smile I didn’t feel, I agreed to work with the enemy. “I’m sure I can work something out.”
“Great! Then it’s settled!”
How did that just happen?
How was it that not thirty minutes ago I’d walked the one and a half miles to my parents’ house to avoid even the slightest possibility that I’d run into Hayden out front and now I’d just agreed to work with him?
The conversation moved on to Sheriff Reed’s re-election and my father’s retirement and out of the corner of my eye I could see that Hayden was wearing a satisfied grin.
And I knew that just like the dinner, he may not have planned this turn of events, but if he’d thought of it, he sure would’ve. That should piss me off, so why did it secretly make me happy? Why was my heart beating at just the thought of spending one-on-one time with him? And how in the world did I have any chance of putting my past behind me when the idea of spending time with him had my pulse racing and excitement brewing in my belly?
I was so screwed.