“Oh.” She smiles sweetly, seemingly reassured. “I was afraid I was going to get a talking to.”
“Now that you mention it, I do need to tell you something.” I was planning to do this later, but with Callie here, my plans have been thwarted. “I had a date the other night.” I intentionally keep my tone flat. Her eyes spring wide, and I try not to laugh until I see the hurt. “With Mother Nature,” I reassure her.
Does she really think I’d ever do that to her?Especially after having had it done to me?
“It was a quiet night under the stars. Except for the fact you weren’t here with me, it was a perfect evening. It gave me time to really consider things. Why I’d been avoiding relationships since my breakup with Corinne. I realized it wasn’t a lifelong commitment I was resisting. It was the risk of spending the rest of my life with the wrong woman.” I step a little closer, taking her hands in mine. “I want to do this right this time, short stuff.”
Lifting her chin, I look into her big, beautiful blue-gray eyes. “I love you. I don’t want to live without you anymore. But it’s a lot to ask. For you to move in with me. I haven’t sworn off marriage, but I need to make sure we’re both on the same page first.”
Her expression is more hopeful, but she still hasn’t spoken a word. Honestly, I mistakenly thought she would’ve jumped at the chance. Her hesitation is surprising. “I know you don’t want to rush things after all you’ve been through.” Quinn’s voice is barely more than a whisper. “Thisisa big deal. So, I understand if you want to live together for a few years first.”
“A few years?” I tug her into my arms as if I’m rescuing her from a house fire. How do I make her see she’s got this all wrong? “Babe, I’m all in. I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life.” I extend my arms, taking a step back to look into her sweet but overly cautious face. “Quinn, I’ve got almost ten years on you. You’re making huge sacrifices, leaving your family and taking your business on the road. I need you to be sure before I buy a ring. I’m afraid I couldn’t live through that kind of rejection from you.”
I can’t help but look away. The very thought of it makes my chest ache. “Last time was different. I was humiliated and angry. But if you…” I scrub my hand down my face. “Well, I’m not certain my heart would recover if you said yes, only to walk away later.” My voice cracks as I push out the words.
Get your shit together, Jase.
“Make no mistake, Quinn Patterson, you are important to me. I’d transfer back to Magnolia Point to make this work.” Cupping her face in my hands, I bend down to her eye level, dropping a kiss on her nose.
“Jase, I don’t need to think about it. You’re all I’ve ever wanted.” My sweet girl blinks up at me, her big gray eyes full of adoration. “No other man has ever held a candle to you.”
I can’t fight the grin that takes over my face. Wrapping my arms around her, I lift her off of the floor and spin her around. “You sure about this, short stuff?” The magnitude of this moment seizes me, my expression becoming much more serious. “Because I’m willing to do whatever it takes to chase my Mrs. December.”
