“I vote iridescent, turquoise glass tiles.” Both men turn equally surprised at the sound of my voice. “This will be on the beach and the tiles will make it look like water is flowing in the background.” I finish my statement as Jason moves closer.
“Bree. What are you doing here?”
“I saw the sign and heard people talking inside.”
“Better question—why areyouin California?” I ask with my hope spiking for the first time since I’ve arrived.
“To hunt your ass down,” Jason eyebrows are knit together. “I recall telling you not to walk away from me, Bree.” He grabs my shoulders and looks me in my eyes. “You didn’t answer any of my calls or text. Did you think I was going to let that fly forever?”
Lars pats Jason on the shoulders and kisses me on the forehead. “Alright you two, I’m out of here. I have some tacos to consume and some bitches to seduce.”
I chuckle at Lars words—he’s such a dude.
“Why do you care?” I ask once I return my attention to Jason.
Jason grabs my face and leans in close. “Because people tend to want to speak to their loved ones.”
“Loved one?”
“Yes. I’m in love with you, Bree.”
I open my mouth, but Jason places his fingers over it. “I already knew I’d fallen for you before you got the job.”
“But—” I cry.
“I didn’t want to hold you back. It is a job you want, and the research is important to you. I wasn’t going to take that away. I want what’s best for you, even if that meant nursing a broken heart, until I figured out how to make it work.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “I take it you did?”
His grin is sinister. “What’s my name?”
A smile creeps across my lips. “Ollie.”
Jason treats me to one of the kisses that always makes me crave him. My breathing is labored when he releases me.
“Looks like I’ll need to reprogram you. Lucky for you, I’m almost a California resident. I’ll have plenty of time to get you on the straight and narrow.”
I laugh because everything is finally right in my world. “I love you Jason Ollie Dixon.”
“I love you, too. Pop Tart.”
Epilogue
Jason
“Don’t look at me like that, Bree,” I tell my disheveled girlfriend. “I’ve already warned you that your glasses and bun give me sexy nerd vibes. No one told you to come in here wearing a lab coat.”
“I was trying on new ones for work,” she admonishes.
Bree is nowhere near as annoyed as she’s trying to sound. I fucked her good, and she screamed my name like it was the gospel.
“Luckily, cum and other secretions wash right out. It’ll be clean and spring fresh by the time you return to work,” I advise with a straight face.
Bree turns and pokes me in the chest, once she finishes fixing her hair. “You know I don’t give a damn about the coat, or your desire to play ‘dirty scientist.’ Thetimingis the issue, you big horny bastard.”
“Um…I know my parents,” I tease because I love her pout.
Her eyes narrow behind her bright, red glasses—another item that lead to this particular fucking—and her lips form a thin line.
