She shook her head and replied, “No. You’re right, I don’t.”
He turned so that they were facing each other, her head leaned back, still staring up at him. “Trust me.”
He watched as more questions moved through her eyes, holding his breath to see what she would do. After several seconds that seemed like an eternity, she nodded slowly. With her hand firmly in his, he led her upstairs to his apartment.
13
Once inside, Jason led Rose to the sofa, and when she was settled, headed to the kitchen to get a glass of water and aspirin. She took them eagerly, swallowing the pills and drinking thirstily. Handing the glass to back to him, she sat with her hands clasped in her lap.
He wanted to sweep her into his arms and tell her not to worry about anything, but whatever was on her mind was keeping her unsettled. He sat on the coffee table, his knees on either side of her legs, and leaned forward, placing his large hands over hers.
“Talk to me,” he said, surprised when his words elicited a smile from her.
“That’s what my mom kept saying to me tonight.”
Her face lit at the memory of her mother, and his breath caught in his throat at the beauty sitting in front of him. When all he wanted to do was hold her, he forced himself to wait patiently.
“There’s really not much to say, Jason. Right now, I actually feel foolish for even bringing this up. I know that most guys don’t like clingy women, especially when there’s nothing to be clingy about. And that’s not what I’m trying to do. One-night stands or even friends-with-benefits is not something I’ve ever done before.” She brought her hands up and covered her face, moaning, “Oh, God, I’ve messed things up, haven’t I?”
His large hand gently pulled both of hers from her face, and she looked at him, his eyes radiating warmth with a hint of humor.
“Nothing’s been messed up, Rose. You got it in your mind that men don’t want to talk about where the relationship is going or if there even is a relationship. That’s not me, babe. Granted, I haven’t wanted a relationship before meeting you, so I suppose that kind of conversation would’ve made me nervous. That’s why I always made sure that the other person knew it was just for that one night. Hell, not even a night. But you? You were different the moment you stormed into my shop.”
Blinking, she asked, “You hadn’t wanted a relationship before meeting me?” Swallowing deeply, she continued, “And now?”
“You want to know where I’m coming from?” he replied, understanding her desire for clarity. When she nodded, he said, “I heard that you told the girls that we were just friends. That we were just casual.”
Visibly startled, she blinked. “Wow, that was just tonight. I guess news travels fast around here.”
Chuckling, he said, “You’ll find there are very few secrets around here.”
Shrugging, she said, “They saw you holding my hand when we came in and wanted to know what was up with us. I didn’t know what to tell them. I certainly wasn’t going to tell them that we had slept together!”
“Well, for the record, I didn’t tell anyone either. But I told them that I was interested in you, and I wanted to keep seeing you.”
Eyes wide, he watched as her mouth opened slightly, her lips forming an O, but remained silent.
“I was going to talk to you to make sure you understood that I was interested. That even though we started out the way we did, there was nothing casual about the way I want to keep seeing you.”
“You do?”
He scooted forward so that his legs completely enveloped hers and leaned so that his face was directly in front of hers. “Yeah. I do.” Giving her hands another squeeze, he continued, “I’ve done casual, and believe me, that does not involve bringing anyone back to my apartment. The first night we were together, even though it started in an unusual way, I knew there was something different about you. I hated that you weren’t here the next morning. I hated when I found out that something had gone wrong in your life. And I hated that I might not ever see you again.”
Her top teeth bit down on her bottom lip, and he lifted one hand to soothe over the soft skin with his thumb. “I was worried as fuck that when you came back to town, you wouldn’t want to have anything to do with me.”
A snort-giggle erupted from her perfect lips. “And I jumped you again,” she laughed.
He chuckled, his heart lighter, seeing the smile on her face. Sobering, he said, “Rose, I’m sorry if I ever made you feel casual.”
She shook her head sharply and said, “No! It wasn’t you, per se. It was the situation. I’ve never slept with someone when I wasn’t in a relationship, and I’ve done that now twice with you. I’m just not wired for casual, and it didn’t seem fair to pull away without an explanation.”
Standing, he gently assisted her to her feet and said, “I know you’re exhausted. Are we good for tonight? I want to make sure you understand that I consider this to be the start of us.”
“Yeah, I’m good.” She bent to pick up her purse from the sofa and said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Whoa. I’m not even sure your place has electricity tonight. Stay here with me.” Seeing her raised eyebrow, he quickly said, “Sleep here. Just sleep. You need your rest, and you can take a long, hot shower tomorrow morning before your day gets started with the electrician and plumber again.”
Once again, he found himself holding his breath as he waited for her response. Her smile was the answer he wanted, and he led her back toward the bedroom.
Rose awoke the next morning, blinking her eyes in the morning light. Once more, she found herself wrapped in the warmth of Jason’s embrace as they slept in his bed. Only this time, she reveled in knowing that his feelings were similar to hers. Shifting slightly, she stared at his face in sleep. It was perfect.
His short beard accentuated his strong jaw. His long hair flowed over his shoulder, its thick tresses slightly unruly. The only thing not perfect about what she was staring at was that with his eyes closed she could not see the pale blue gaze on her.
Slipping from his arms, she headed into the bathroom. Finishing, she opened the door and let out a startled yelp. Jason was standing in the doorway, his arms reaching to the top of the frame, and with his boxers riding low on his hips, his muscular body was exposed for her perusal.
“You scared me,” she said, eyes wide with her hand on her chest.
He smiled, slow and lazy, and said, “Opened my eyes and you weren’t there. I was about to think you were never going to be here when I woke. I’ve never been so glad to hear the water running in the bathroom.”
She lifted on her toes, slid her hands around his neck, reveling in the feel of his thick muscles underneath her fingertips. Pressing her lips to his, she kissed him and felt his growl deep in his chest. His arms banded around her, and he deepened the kiss.
He lifted her into the air and stalked back toward the bed. The night before, true to his word, he had tucked her in, and she soon fell into a deep sleep. Now, in the early morning light, she luxuriated in the feel of his hands massaging away all of her tension and worry and concerns, deciding that was the best way of all to wake up.
The electrician had left, and now the plumber was busy with the pipes for the large industrial sinks in the prep area of her shop. Leaving him to his job, she went back into the storeroom, determined to go through the boxes that had been left. Several were quite heavy, and she wanted them near the back door so that she would be able to toss them into the trash after looking at their contents.
The first box contained old ceiling tiles that were yellowed and unusable. Unable to pick up the entire box to throw it out, she had to carry handfuls of the tile and toss them into her trash bin. Once empty, she flattened the box and put it out for recycling.
Another box contained old receipts and a few ledgers from the owner of the shop before her. Perusing them, she saw nothing of value, and since the Mayor had supposedly gone through the boxes and did not want anything, she tos
sed those as well.
Another box held several pieces of copper pipes and joints, and she dragged it out to the main area to have the plumber take a look at it.
“There’s nothing here that I can use for your shop,” he said, “but you can always get something out of the old copper.”
Looking up at him, she scrunched her nose and said, “As far as I’m concerned, if you can use it and will take it, it’s yours.”
Eyes wide, he asked, “Are you sure?”
“Yes, I just want it gone.”
He said, “I’ll take it off your hands and deduct its value off your bill for the plumbing. How about that?”
Grinning, she nodded with enthusiasm before moving back into the storeroom. The last box was very heavy, and she could not even drag it to the middle of the floor. Looking inside, it appeared to be filled with floor tiles, and she recognized the color and pattern from the shop bathroom and her bathroom upstairs. Knowing that she would be having those rooms completely redone at some time, she hauled stacks of the tile out to the back and threw them in the dumpster as well.
At the very bottom of the cardboard box was a small wooden chest. Leaning over the side, she picked it up, curious as to its contents. There was a latch on the top, but it was not locked. Opening the lid, she was surprised to see that it was filled with old, yellowed envelopes.
Just then, the plumber called out that he was heading to lunch. Jason had told her that morning that he would have to work through lunch because they were backed up at the garage and he was down a mechanic.
Now hungry, she carried the box carefully up to her apartment. Grabbing one of the sandwiches that Jason had brought her the day before, she took it and a bottle of water along with the chest and sat by the large windows overlooking the street.
Eager to see the letters, she set her plate and bottle on the floor next to her and reopened the chest. Pulling the first one out, she was stunned to see the date at the top of the letter. 1891.
My dearest Millicent…
Her hands shook as she held the paper in her hands, squinting to read as the ink was faded and the script was difficult to interpret. As her eyes became used to the cursive, she was able to discern that it was a letter from a husband to his wife. It seemed that he was gone from home, either on the railroad or working for the railroad. It was not a love letter, more of a short missive about when he hoped to return. In the end, he did sign it, Your Loving Husband, Charles.
Excited about her find, she carefully placed the letter back into the envelope, eager to read the others, but wanted to eat her lunch first before the plumber came back. She ate the sandwich quicker than she should have, washing it down so that she would not choke.
Pulling out the next letter, written in the same year, she read as he described the work he did for the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad. She discerned that he was in Delaware at the time that he wrote the letter, and again, it was more of a missive about where he was. Several passages were difficult to read, and she so wished she had the wife’s letters in return, thinking that would make it easier to put the pieces of their lives together.
She heard the plumber return, but knowing he did not need her, she continued to sit by the window, looking at the old letters.
They did not appear to be in any order, but she was fascinated with a glimpse into the history of Baytown as a railroad and harbor city. In one, the husband mentioned that, ‘I will attend to the matters at the shop when I return. Until then, do not worry, my dear.”
She wondered if he was referring to a shop that was in this building or if a later resident brought in the letters from somewhere else. Leaning back against the wall, she grinned at the idea of a woman in the late 1800s running a shop in this very building while her husband was off working for the railroad.
The rumble of a truck coming down the street captured her attention, and she caught herself frowning at the interruption. Twisting around, she realized the truck was for her and quickly placed the letter back into its envelope and into the wooden chest. Running downstairs, she was excited to receive the first of her ordered equipment. Glad that the plumber was still there, she directed the men as to where to place the cabinets, countertops, and large sinks. With the plumber’s assistance, they assured her they would be able to get everything in quickly.
Looking out her front door, she saw Jason inside his garage, and without thinking, her feet simply took her across the street. He smiled widely as she appeared at the bay door. Walking over, he wiped his hands on his rag before bending and placing a kiss on her lips.
Hearing the whistles and catcalls from his crew, she laughed as he flipped them off, his eyes never leaving hers. “I know you’re busy today—”
“Not too busy for you,” he replied, lightly kissing her again. His gaze darted over her shoulder and asked, “Whatcha got coming in?”
“It’s the counters, cabinets, and sinks for the prep area,” she said. “I showed them where they go, and the plumber is there to get everything up and running. I can’t wait until it’s all in!”
“I can’t wait to see it,” he said.
Snorting, she said, “It’s okay, Jason. You don’t have to feign excitement over cabinets and a sink. I won’t be offended.”
A mock look of hurt crossed his face, and he said, “Hey, don’t sell me short. I can get excited about cabinets and a sink. Especially if it’s something that makes you happy.”
Grinning, she loved that she had someone to share with. Someone who understood how exciting it was to finally get something tangible in place to begin her business. Someone who wanted her to be happy. Staring up, her eyes devouring him, she asked, “You’ve got an American Legion meeting tonight, don’t you?”
Nodding, he said, “Not a meeting, but baseball practice for the kids. I’ll pop over and see the progress that’s being made before I leave.”
Thrilled that he would come by soon, she turned to walk across the street. Suddenly, she turned back quickly and said, “By the way, you won’t believe what I found in one of those old boxes that were left in the building!” With his rapt attention on her, she continued, “All the boxes were filled with old tiles and junk that I went through and then got rid of. But at the bottom of one box was an old wooden chest that’s filled with letters from the late 1800s!”
Brows lifted, he said, “You’re kidding!”
“I spent the last couple of hours going through them. They appear to be from a man who was working for the railroad, and he was writing to his wife that was running a shop back here. I haven’t figured out if she was actually living in that building or if they just ended up there.” Shrugging, she said, “Anyway, it was an exciting find.”
“Once you’ve taken a look at them, then you might give them to the Baytown Museum. They have all kinds of historical stuff over there.”
Nodding, she said, “I’m going to do some digging to see if I can figure out who they were first. The man signs the letters as Charles, and he’s writing to his wife, Millicent.”
Just then, the plumber came to the door of her shop and called across the street. Looking up at Jason, she said, “Looks like I’m needed. Will I see you later? After the practice?”
Bending to kiss her once again, Jason said, “Absolutely, babe.”
With a wave toward his mechanics, she turned and jogged across the street, ready to see the progress that was being made in her shop and to have another chance to dig into the letters some more.
14
Jason cheered on the kids during practice, high-fiving as they rounded third base and encouraging those who stopped on second and were afraid to keep running. He loved coaching and enjoyed the practices as much as the games.
Aiden shot him a message using an abbreviated sign language they had developed, and Jason watched carefully as Aiden’s stepdaughter, Amanda, ran to second base. She looked over at him, and using hand signals, he encouraged her to continue running to third base, which she did. As her feet touch
ed the base, he had her halt, which was hard considering she was jumping up and down for joy. He high-fived her before bending so that she could read his lips.
“Way to go, Amanda!”
She grinned and danced a little bit more on the base before he made sure she was turned toward home plate and ready to run at the next batter.
When practice was over, some of the AL members put away the equipment while the others made sure all the children had a ride home.
After Aiden assured Amanda was with Lia, he turned to the others and said, “I’m heading to the pub. Brogan called earlier to say that Ginny was having a few contractions but didn’t know if it was the real thing. Once I make sure everything at the pub is going fine, I’ll find out what’s going on and can let you guys know as soon as I do.”
Callan walked over to Jason, clapped him on the shoulder, and said, “How was Rose’s mom?” Several of the others had gathered around to hear the answer to his question, and Jason replied, “Good. She was already in bed resting when we got there, and it appears that the fall was not bad. Rose was a mess until she saw her and they had time to chat.”
“Speaking of chatting,” Zac said, “I guess you didn’t get a chance to set the pretty Rose straight last night on how you see your relationship?”
“Actually, I did."
“And?” Zac prodded.
“Why don’t you just wait for your wife to fill you in?” He sidestepped Zac’s arm as he threw it out in a mock punch and laughed, “To satisfy your girlish curiosity, it seems that while she told the girls we were casual, she was hoping for more. I assured her those were exactly my feelings, too.”
“Well, now my girlish curiosity has another question,” Zac said, his fist planted on his hips. “When is the ice cream shop going to open?”
Laughing, he said, “She’s already getting deliveries of equipment and had the electrician and plumbers in. I don’t think she has a firm date yet, but don’t worry. She’s already mentioned that she’d like to throw a soft opening for all her friends.”
Sweet Rose: Baytown Boys Page 11
