Fighting tears, she blurted out, “I’m not allowed to be in the sun, I’m not allowed to drink, I’m not allowed to eat sweets or spicy foods.” She gestured to the empty quesadilla and rice pan. “I’m told what I can and can’t wear, where I can and can’t go, and I’m not allowed to do anything remotely dangerous like riding a horse. So my online study of equine therapy has been a complete waste of time.”
“What?” he asked, an incredulous tone in his deep voice. “You’ve got to be kidding.”
“No, I’m not.” She slid off the barstool, shook her head, and said, “I’ve told you things I’ve not told anyone. I need to leave before being here causesyoutrouble.”
Chase stood and pulled her into his embrace. His chest was hard, and his arms muscular. He felt so good. She rested her head against his broad shoulder. His chin came down on the top of her head as he held her.
“You need to stay and enjoy thesweetbirthday cake Teresa made for you,” Chase said. He loosened his grip and looked down at her. Chase, Chloe, Cash, and the others—Rachel, Bob, and surely Teresa—were all too wonderful to be true. “Sorry I don’t have any candles.”
“Who told Teresa? You?”
“Can’t have a jubilee birthday without a cake. I gave her a call when you left with Cash to get your boots.”
“Chase,” she whispered with a choke in her voice.
When she smiled up at him, a tear slipped down her cheek. Chase lowered his head, and her eyes closed as his mouth met hers for the first time. His lips were supple and firm. He smelled like the outdoors, and his body felt so right pressed to hers. This man was flawlessly handsome from head to toe, and just as importantly, he had an irresistible personality to match. A low groan sounded in his throat as his muscular embrace tightened.
Shocking new emotions erupted in Jade as wild tingles spun from her center, swirling north…and south. Somehow, even alone with Chase, whom she barely knew, she felt safe. Jade wanted more of this from him and only him. Raising on tiptoes, she was about to twine her arms around his neck when his phone signaled a text. He released her way too soon, checked his phone, and ran a hand through his thick, dark brown hair.
“That was Teresa,” Chase added that she was on her way with the cake. “You’ll like Teresa,” he assured her as he walked out of the kitchen into an enclosed back porch and opened the door.
* * *
A moment later,a female voice said, “Black Forest cake, just like our Black Forest community named for our magnificent ponderosa pines.”
Teresa, maybe fifty years old, bustled into the kitchen carrying a plastic cake holder. Jade immediately thought of the word spirited for the woman with light brown hair, hazel eyes, and a big smile. Dressed in a blouse, jeans, and boots, Teresa set the cake holder on the countertop.
“Thank you, Teresa,” Chase said. “This is the birthday girl, Jade Taylor. Jade, this is Teresa Ellis, Bob’s wife.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Teresa. Your quesadillas and rice were the best I’ve ever eaten,” Jade said, still spinning from Chase’s unexpected and thrilling kiss and the exhilaration of being wrapped in his arms. “Thank you so much for the birthday cake.”
“My pleasure. Bob told me you were absolutely beautiful, and he wasn’t exaggerating,” Teresa said with a glance from Jade to Chase, who grinned. “Lookie here.” Standing beside the granite island, Teresa leaned in a little closer to Jade. “I just got my eyebrows tattooed last week. The technician said it would feel like rubber band stings. I told her only if the rubber bands were on fire! What do you think, Jade?”
“I think…” Jade laughed as Teresa wagged her eyebrows up and down. “I think your eyebrows are fabulous.”
“Bob isn’t sure I’ll get into heaven with them, but he says he doesn’t want to go there without me,” Teresa said matter-of-factly and splayed her arms wide. “Guess he’ll have to get a tattoo so we can spend eternity somewhere together.”
“I’m sure Saint Peter will swing the pearly gates wide open,” Chase said.
“Hope so,” Teresa said. They all laughed, and any tension Jade had felt before Teresa’s arrival evaporated. “Anyway, nice to meet you, and happy birthday, Jade.”
“Thank you again, Teresa,” Jade said.
“You’re welcome.” With a wave of her hand, Teresa turned and headed for the door. Over her shoulder, she said, “You be good to her, Chase Cooper.” With that, she was gone.
“You’re right,” Jade said, smiling. “I like Teresa.”
“She and Bob are the best, period. Let’s try the cake.”
Jade placed her hands on her tummy. “But I’m stuffed.”
“Teresa will want to know how you liked it.”
Chase set the empty quesadilla and rice pan in a deep, farm-style sink. As he added their dinner plates to the sink, Jade found two smaller plates in a cabinet. Setting them next to the cake, she remembered where the silverware drawer was and retrieved two dessert forks and a serrated knife. He seemed surprised and told her she didn’t have to help.
“Just tell me how much you want, cowboy.”
“As much as you’ll give me, buttercup.” Chase’s grin was wickedly suggestive before he said, “A big slice, and then I’ll take you back to Chloe’s.”
