Home Sweet Home
Page 26
But, it’s not like his charm only worked on older women. Jason had always had girls eating out of his hand and he knew it. There wasn’t a single girl in Harper's Crossing that wouldn’t do just about anything to get Jason’s attention.
Well, there was one girl. Katie.
“Oh yeah, you still got it, Mr. Sloan,” Katie said sarcastically, trying to buy herself even a few more seconds before she would have to face him, “If by 'it' you mean the maturity of a five year old, then yes, you definitely still have 'it.' There's no other explanation for why you would still call me by that stupid nickname.”
All of the oxygen seemed to have disappeared around her. Deliberately and methodically, she slowly breathed in through her nose and out through her mouth, trying desperately to remain as calm as possible. She HAD to be calm in hopes of staving off panic attack #2. She absolutely couldn't think about how humiliating it would be to fall to pieces in front of him, of the maddening satisfaction it would give him, or fear would take over – her heart would start to race, her breathing would quicken...and it would all be downhill from there.
“Come on Kit-Kat...you know you always loved that nickname,” Katie heard Jason say playfully, but his voice sounded as if it were coming from a long distance, across a great expanse. She felt his hand grasp her arm, and then she felt her body being turned in his direction.
As Jason’s fingers wrapped around her arm they were causing tingling sensations in places located much lower south and not nearly as innocent as the place where he was touching her. Hmm, that wasn't a very good sign. It also wasn't doing a whole helluva lot to help her in the campaign to keep her heart rate under control and slow her breathing. Nope. Not one little bit.
As she turned, her eyes alighted on a broad chest that...oh my, yes...filled out his white t-shirt quite well. Her mouth instantly filled with saliva, like one of Pavlov's dogs. Hmmm, she thought...so this is what they mean when they say something looks 'mouth-watering.' She didn't disagree! In an effort to avoid drooling, she swallowed, but to her own ears it sounded like a shockingly loud gulp.
Slowly, Katie moved her eyes up the length of the solid, strong, statue-like figure standing mere inches away from her. She paused momentarily to admire (against her will) the smooth, olive skin at the base of Jason’s neck. It just so nicely contrasted with the stark white color of the t-shirt's v-neck it was peeking out of, she couldn't help herself!
Unconsciously, she licked her lips and saw the pulse on Jason’s neck jump. Her eyes darted up to meet his chocolate brown ones, which caused the aforementioned tingling places to start pulsing.
Katie felt her heart beating so hard she thought it might beat right out of her chest. And the mantra began.
You can breathe. Just breathe. Breathe in and out slowly. You can breathe.
--- ~ ---
As Jason stood in front of Katie, who was wearing a simple grey tank top and blue jeans, he was momentarily paralyzed with shock at the effect that she had on him.
Suddenly he was back in Mrs. Garcia’s kindergarten classroom.
23 Years Ago
It was the first day of kindergarten FINALLY. Best. Day. Ever.
Putting his backpack in his cubby he felt a brush of something that tickled his arm. When he swatted his arm he felt the softest, silkiest thing he had ever touched.
When he looked up to see what it was, he couldn’t believe his eyes. There she stood, a real life angel! Rays of sunlight from the window streamed through her long blonde hair, and she was looking down at him with the biggest blue eyes Jason had ever seen in his life.
The earth stopped spinning and everything stood still. Nothing existed except this amazing creature. She slowly reached her hand to her neck and flipped her long blonde hair behind her back as she placed her backpack in her cubby.
Jason could not speak. This was a new phenomenon for Jason, as the spoken word has always been one of his greatest gifts.
Since the time Jason was able to put two words together he always knew just the right thing to say to either get out of trouble, get what he wanted, or just put a smile on the women in his life’s faces. Even before he was old enough to speak, he had exuded a natural born mojo. The first word ever used to describe Jason in the nursery was charming. All of the nurses in the infant care ward would fight over who could hold him. Even as a newborn he had a twinkle in his eye and a little smirk on his lips that the opposite sex just couldn’t get enough of. But in this moment, five year old Jason could not even remember how to say 'Hi.'
But, luck was on his side, as it usually was. YES! He was assigned to the same table as this heavenly being. Jason could barely sit still next to her. He fidgeted, and couldn't keep his eyes off of her.
She, on the other hand, sat next to him totally composed, completely ignoring him, working on their first assignment, the name paper.
Jason had tried all morning to get her attention somehow, but to no avail. When she finished her paper, she looked so proud of it as she taped it to the back of her seat.
When she sat down again beside him, he had the sudden urge to pinch her, just to see what she would do. Anything to get her attention! He was desperate to have her acknowledge him!
But, reason prevailed, and he realized that pinching her wouldn't be the best course of action. He had to keep thinking. Before another plan could take shape, however, she was out the door to recess.
Finally, genius struck! As he sat in his chair while all the other kids were at recess he decided he would ‘redecorate’ her name paper to give her a nickname. That would be a way he could start to talk to her, an ice breaker of sorts. He knew that would get her attention. And it would be special! If he gave her a special name paper decoration, she would know for SURE how special he thought she was!
He looked at her name page, which so beautifully read 'Katie' and the first thing that came to Jason’s mind was Kit Kat...the best candy bar in the whole world! He quickly changed her paper to read just that.
He had not expected any of the other kids to notice it when they came in from recess, or to think it was funny. It was supposed to be a special, inside secret between him and his blonde angel.
In fact, to be honest, he had completely forgotten that any other kids were even in their class. No one existed in the room for him but Katie.
But after the look on Katie’s face when the other kids were all gathered around her desk in giggles, Jason knew that he had made a huge mistake.
Okay, he had to fix this and quick. The only thing he knew to do was try to relieve some of the tension by stating the obvious. It was part of his charm, Jason was always being accused of saying what everyone was thinking. Instinct kicked in and he simply said “I think this is your seat Kit Kat”.
He was shocked to see a look of anger and embarrassment that suddenly appeared on Katie’s face. He didn’t know how things had gone so terribly wrong or why his charm and wit had not gotten the smile that always had appeared on the opposite sex's face whenever he spoke. But the one thing he did know was that he had never met anyone else who made him feel the way this girl sitting next to him made him feel.
And he hadn't known it yet at the time, but he never would.
Present Day
The same feeling that had paralyzed him upon seeing her for the first time in Kindergarten class washed over Jason now as he stood in front of Katie. His world stopped spinning and she was the only thing that existed.
Katie had grown into the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Standing five foot three, with a petite figure that had curves in all the right places, she still had incredible long blonde hair, and the most intoxicating blue eyes in existence.
And when he looked at her, he still saw his angel.
About the Author
Melanie Shawn is the writing team of sister duo Melanie and Shawna. Originally from Northern California, they now make their home in So Cal – but they wish they lived in Hope Falls!
You can keep up with all the la
test Melanie Shawn news, including new releases and contests, at:
http://melanieshawn.com
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Other titles by Melanie Shawn
Sweet Reunion (The Hope Falls Chronicles, #1)
Sweet Harmonies (The Hope Falls Chronicles, #2)
Sweet Victory (The Hope Falls Chronicles, #3)