Honey

He wanted to turn the conversation to about me. I wasn’t yet done diving into his past.

“Before I talk about me, I have one more question,” I said.

Jake looked resigned again, as if he could read my mind.

“Do you still love her?”

I was glad he didn’t blurt out his answer.

“I’ve known her most of my life. I wouldn’t want anything bad to happen to her.”

He hadn’t exactly said no, but would pressuring him to answer make me sound desperate?

“You have nothing to worry about,” he added. “Now, tell me about you. Any old boyfriends I need to kill?”

He made me laugh, lightening the mood.

“No. I dated on and off, but never anyone serious.”

I didn’t add serious about me. I’d been foolish on more than one occasion to assume there was more and then felt like an ass when I found out the guy didn’t think any promises had been made. I’d been the one to jump to conclusions, or so I’d been told.

It had taken me a long time to figure out that I’d been treated like a girlfriend so I could be a bed warmer. But when it came down to putting a ring on my finger or even just meeting parents, I’d be cast aside. That was something I wasn’t ready to share. Even hearing it in my head made me sound too needy. But I knew I wasn’t that girl. I’d never pressured a man into anything.

“Sounds like their loss and my gain,” he said, a sexy smirk on his face.

It was on the tip of my lips to ask him if he was really serious. My insecure thoughts were like roaches, hard to kill and were breeders, multiplying the worry in my head. I closed my eyes and breathed. Just because Jake could’ve been an actor or model didn’t make me unworthy of him.

“You are worthy.”

Shit. Had I said that aloud?

He shifted and crushed his lips to mine. His touch gentle, he slid his hand down my arm to cover my palm.

When he pulled back, he said, “I thank my lucky stars you showed up on my door. I’ve been thinking of you every day since that day you drove me home.”

A spine-tingling shiver raced over me.

“Dinner was great,” I admitted. “But I’m ready for dessert.”

We gathered up the remains of the picnic. Though I hadn’t accepted his invitation the previous night, I did sleep in his bed that night, and a few after.

When Saturday arrived, I was super excited to see Ashley. I was waiting when she parked out front. We squealed so much, some of the hands checked to see what was up.

She was gorgeous, slim, sunshine-blonde hair. Her hazel eyes glowed in the light and I could hear the murmurs.

“I’ve missed you,” I said.

“Me too.”

I may have clung on for a long time.

When Jamie came over, I let go, realizing Ashley was so much more than a friend. She was family, and not seeing her for so long had left a hole in my heart.

I turned around and found Jamie patiently waiting. I held out a hand and she came over to lean against my leg.

“This is Jamie. Jamie, this is my best friend, Ashley.”

Jamie paused, and I was grateful Ashley was as patient as I was. She waited without glancing around at the awkward pause.

“Nice to m–meet you,” Jamie said.

She held out a hand, but Ashley crouched. “That’s not how we greet people.” She pulled Jamie in for a quick hug.

“Very nice to meet you too.” She stood. “Now, are you ladies ready?”

Jamie giggled.

A voice cleared and Ashley sucked in a breath. This was the magic moment. Any “boyfriends” I’d had in the past would show their true colors when they met her.

“Ashley, this is Jake. Jake, this is my best friend.”

His eyes didn’t bug out, nor did they sweep down her long, toned body.

“Nice to meet you.” He took my hand and I felt money being casually tucked into my palm. “That’s for Jamie. Whatever she wants. And there’s enough for you guys to have lunch, on me.”

I didn’t look in my hand. I’d heard that the ranch was facing some hard times. Ford had let that slip during recent conversations. I nodded my thanks. Jake would know what he could and couldn’t do, so I wouldn’t question it.

We drove off, Jake waving behind us.

“Well,” Ashley said. But she stopped as I pointed low enough that only she could see it, reminding her we had tiny ears in the back seat.

“I’m getting my hair cut. How about you?” I asked Ashley.

“Me too. What do you say, Jamie?” she asked.

Jamie’s smile was wide as she bobbed her head. I’d made appointments for all of us. Even if Jamie didn’t want a cut, I thought getting her hair styled would make the trip feel special.

At the salon, we were given the full spa-like treatment. The layers the stylist added to Jamie’s short bob made it clear that she was a girl—and I could see in Jamie’s eyes that she liked it too.

“Now, time for shopping!” Ashley declared after we paid.

I didn’t have much money for clothes, so this part of the trip was for my girl. She picked out several dresses, which surprised me.

“Dresses, huh?”

She shrugged. “I … have … lots … of … pants.”

She took her time on each word. Her sessions with the speech therapist were slowly working.

“Smart of you.”

She grinned and we headed for a dressing room.

Ashley and I made a show of oohing and aahing as Jamie tried on the dresses. But we had one final stop to make before we headed back. I hoped Jake wouldn’t kill me. He’d said anything Jamie wanted. I kept my fingers crossed that he’d meant it.

When we finally got home, we hugged Ashley goodbye. She had a date with her guy and couldn’t stay for dinner. But it was the other car in the driveway that gave me pause.

Ford came out and stared openly at Jamie.

“Is that my beautiful granddaughter?”

I watched as Jamie beamed at him. She was so cute, her hair freshly cut and a dress fit for a princess.

“Wow, the guys won’t recognize you. Let’s go find Ed and play a trick on him.”

They started to walk off, but I really wanted to see Jake’s face when he saw his daughter for the first time. I was rewarded when Jake came out of the house, grim-faced, until he saw Jamie. His expression changed to shock. The sparkling earrings could’ve been a part of that.

“Is that my daughter?”

Jamie nodded and they met each other halfway. He swung her up and spun her around. He’d given me a small smile before he’d seen her, and I would hang on to that. I couldn’t blame him for being awed. She looked a lot different than she had when we left.

However, it was the woman who stepped out the door and came over to me who stole my joy.

She held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Tara, Jamie’s mother.”