She sighed again as I listened to her heartbeat slow, and then the most peaceful, gentle snoring begin.
I hadn’t been able to react to any of her words. My mind and heart raced at the beauty of her dream and the story she’d told of her family’s struggle during her childhood.
Jovie had once again surprised me, though I guess it hadn’t surprised me as much as it had reaffirmed what I already knew. She wasn’t like any woman I’d ever met in Houston. Hell, she wasn’t like any woman I’d met anywhere.
I’d been quick to judge and slow to admit; her heart was gold and she had me wrapped around her finger from the moment I met her.
Chapter 34: Jovie
It was the beginning of my fourth month on Ashwood Farm. Now that I was on my own, the days felt longer and lonelier than I had anticipated.
Although the Cameron boys were back full-time working on their father’s ranch, they still dropped by for dinner each night, enjoying Gloria’s cooking and our easy banter.
Weekends were spent by the pool, grilling out as the cooler days approached, along with the anticipation of the upcoming holidays. Thanksgiving loomed around the corner, and despite my desire to visit my mom and sister back in Houston, leaving the ranch just wasn't feasible. This was the reason grandpa had missed holidays with us for years after my mom stopped our annual visits.
In the past month since Nash and I had talked, things had shifted. Nash had become more tender, gentle, and loving, extending beyond the physical aspect of our relationship. We’d spend our evenings watching movies, and each night, he’d join me in bed, his eyes never leaving mine as he eased in and out of me. I sensed he felt something more, despite his words, but I didn’t dare bring up our conversation again.
Nash had been right; our time together had an expiration date. Unfortunately, that end was approaching faster than I would have preferred.
On Wednesday evening, I found myself in my grandfather’s office, working on accounts payable and sorting through past due bills. The boys were set to visit later for a pre-Thanksgiving meal, prepared by Gloria, before the grand feast I planned for the following day when Gloria would be off work.
As the clock struck 4, I heard an unexpected knock on the front door. As I walked to open the door, I caught a glimpse of long blonde curls blowing in the wind.
“Stevie?” I asked, surprised.
My sister squealed, embracing me tightly. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, kissing my cheek. “I couldn’t stand the thought of a lonely Thanksgiving without you.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were staying in Houston for Thanksgiving with mom?”
She waved her hands, “Mom’s having thanksgiving with our neighbor’s family, and it sounded so lonely and boring without you. I figured I’d come down here and see what’s kept you occupied for the past three months. Wow…” her voice trailed off as she strolled through grandpa’s old home. “It’s just like old times.”
She smiled a sad smile as she looked back at me, “I hope you don’t mind me crashing. I just missed you so much. Houston and our apartment are lonely without you.”
I grinned crossing to the kitchen to grab a bottle of wine and pour us both a glass. “I'm thrilled you're here, Stevie. But Daniel isn’t keeping you company anymore?” I asked teasingly. Daniel was one of our neighbors in our apartment complex, and someone Stevie had casually hooked up with on and off for the past two years. It was mostly a relationship of convenience.
She wrinkled her nose, “Ew, no.”
“Well, this makes my Thanksgiving weekend so much better, but I must warn you, I still need to work tomorrow and Friday. You don’t really get days off on a ranch.”
She waved her hands, “that’s fine. I’ll hang out by the pool or watch Netflix while you’re working. Still beats sitting alone in our apartment.”
She plopped down on one of the chairs at the island as she savored the glass of wine. “Mmm that was a long, boring drive. So, what do you have planned for tonight?” she asked.
I opened my mouth to explain the Cameron brothers’ situation but before I could, Wylie, Nash and Clay burst through the front door.
“I’m hungrryyyyyy Jovie.” Wylie’s deep booming voice called as he entered the kitchen, he froze in spot, his eyes locked on Stevie.
You know those moments where two people meet, and you can instantly tell there’s a mutual attraction beyond anything you could see?
That was the meeting between Wylie and Stevie.
It felt as if the air crackled around them, and time itself might have paused. The sensation was akin to intruding on a private moment exclusively meant for them. For perhaps the first time in his life, Wylie found himself at a loss for words. Thankfully, Clay stepped in to alleviate the tension.
“Hi, you must be Jovie’s sister, Stevie,” Clay greeted, approaching Stevie, and embracing her while planting a kiss on her cheek. “I told Jovie I was the most handsome of the Cameron brothers, but for some reason, she still fell for Nash.” He rolled his eyes playfully with a grin. “I, however, am still single.”
Stevie smiled in response. “I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, shooting me a look.
It was evident that I owed her an update on the Nash situation, and now she was realizing I was in much deeper than I had admitted via text regarding my feelings for him.