“I love you too.” She lifted to her toes and kissed him, a long, deep kiss that almost made her forget everything that had come before it. “Take me home.”
CHAPTER 36
The Tea House was actually busy. People-everywhere, almost-every-booth-taken kind of busy…and it was just a normal Tuesday. She couldn’t take her eyes off the windows as they pulled into the parking lot.
They’d done it. They’d actually kept Mrs. Gerald in business.
It was official—the smile couldnotbe wiped off her face.
Jesse parked and turned to her. “I love it when you do that.”
“Do what?”
“Smile.”
Somehow, her smile widened. “Do you see how many people are in there? Heck, do you see how many cars are in this parking lot?”
“I do.”
“Wehelped Mrs. Gerald do that.”
“Youhelped Mrs. Gerald do that.”
Her grin softened. “She kind of feels like family, and this town really feels like home.”
“Because itisyour home.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
He squeezed her thigh before they both climbed out and walked toward the shop. Just as they were about to step in, her phone rang, her mother’s name flashing on the screen.
She stopped. She hadn’t spoken to her mother since their conversation the day after the Dylan mess. Her mother hadn’t tried to call her at all.
A couple weeks had passed since Bea was arrested. She assumed her mother had returned to Misty Peak, but she had no confirmation.
“You don’t need to answer that if you don’t want to,” Jesse said from over her shoulder.
She nibbled her lip. She knew she didn’t…so why was she considering it? “I think I want to hear what she has to say.”
Jesse inched closer. “Want me to stay with you?”
“Is it okay if I meet you inside?”
Concern flashed in his eyes, but he nodded. Then he bent and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead before heading inside The Tea House.
She sucked in a breath before putting the phone to her ear. “Hi, Mom.”
“Aspen. You answered.”
“You thought I wouldn’t?”
“I thought you wouldn’t.” There was a short pause before her mother added, “I’m home in Misty Peak.”
“Good.”
Another pause. “How have you been?”
“Okay. We found Dylan’s accomplice. It was someone from the station. She’s been arrested.”
