“Hey.”
“You doing okay?”
I nod. “I was prepared for the questions. The stares and whispers were a bit of a surprise, but nothing I can’t handle.”
His gaze on me gets more intense, and everything else disappears. It’s just Jenson and me sitting in his truck, and for this moment at least, nothing else matters. I catch my breath at the same time he does, and he lets out a ragged exhale.
“Olive.” He cups my face with both of his large hands. “Shit, I’ve missed you.”
I stare into his eyes, trying to read them. “Are you…your mom said something about a new woman…” Cindy called her a potential stepmother to her two grandsons.
“I’m single.” The words tumble out fast like he couldn’t wait to tell me. “I went on a few casual dates to pass the time. Waiting to hear…”
He cuts off.
“Waiting to hear…” I prompt him.
“Isn’t it obvious?” His hand on my cheek drifts to my neck, and my eyes nearly close from the sensation. “Waiting to hear about you.”
“If we’d ever be in the same place at the same time.”
“Exactly.” His green eyes flare with emotion. “It’s been a long fucking time since I’ve kissed you, Olive. I’ve pictured it.”
“How often?”
His hand goes to my shoulder where he lightly fingers the thin strap of my dress. “All the time. Plenty of times when I shouldn’t have. I’ve got a lot of fantasies built up in my head.”
A bolt of lust shoots through me, and I let out a soft moan.
Screech!
The sound is followed by the annoying honking of a truck as it weaves into the parking lot toward us.
I jerk back from Jenson, who glances over at the intruders.
“Kids,” he says in a tone clearly meant to reassure. “No reporters. Or family.”
But the moment is broken.
“I should get back to the banquet hall,” I say. “I’m not going back to the party. But I need my car.”
“Sure.” He puts his hands on the steering wheel. “I’ll take you.”
We drive the short return trip to the hall in silence.
I glance out the window at the small crowd of people just leaving the banquet hall. A cameraman and reporter from the paper, plus Jenson’s mom, Kyle, and Connor, are all making their way through the parking lot.
“Where’s Dee?” I say.
“He’ll be on his way. My mom’s probably just trying to get a good word in about the mayoral campaign to the reporter.”
Jenson’s mom has worked for my dad for years now, and she’s deeply invested in making sure he gets re-elected next year for another term.
Jenson pulls up next to my parked car.
“I should go,” I murmur even though I don’t move.
“We’re going to sort this out, Olive.” A wicked gleam flashes through his eyes. “In all kinds of ways.”
