Page 51 of Stolen Kiss

“Okay.”

Jason squeezed her hand as a thank you and once they were a couple of paces down the path and out of sight from the house, he kissed her senseless. She could get used to him being in charge and taking what he wanted. It had been a long time since she was cherished.

When she reached the kitchen again, a mug of tea was waiting on the counter. To others they would’ve thought it was rude her mother hadn’t taken both mugs into the living room but Colleen Shaw still wasn’t confident with her balance.

“Oh, I was about to get that for you,” he dad said coming into the kitchen.

“I’m not speaking to you.”

“What? Grumpy because you’ve been out-potato’d?”

“You were fine with my cooking up until now.”

“That’s true, but now things are different.”

She could never stay mad at her dad for long. She picked up her tea and followed her dad into the living room and settled in, hoping she would catch her brother coming home.

It was after ten when she finally gave up and sent a text to Freya that she was on her way home if she wanted a cuppa. It killed two birds with one stone. Grateful she still had the buggy, because it saved her thighs that had a thorough workout. Freya text back she was up. Heidi pulled up and knocked on her best friend’s door to give her the latest. She could voice her concerns to her best friend to get her sage knowledge.

Chapter Seventeen

Jason

It was mid week and the first time he’d been able to sit down with Jason and Erica to talk about anything that wasn’t to do with the wedding business. He had one arm chair while Archer and Erica were on the sofa out the back. November was approaching fast which meant the outdoor heater was on and Erica had a blanket over her legs.

“She didn’t break up with me,” Jason said.

“What?” Erica said putting her coffee cup down with a clatter on the coffee table. She sat bolt upright staring wide at Jason.

“Back up, we haven’t seen you for a few days,” Archer said, leaning forward like he was bracing for details he needed to understand and then sort through.

“I took Heidi for a horseback ride along the beach on Sunday, and then we had a picnic.” He left out the sexy parts and scooted right along. “Keith told her I wasn’t hanging around. While I told you two I couldn’t stay if she didn’t want me, I never told anyone else. Keith is causing shit and I don’t know why. Theconversation came around to why things ended and she thought I’d ended it.”

“And you didn’t?” Erica said like she wasn’t keeping commentary.

“It turns out neither did she.”

“What?” Archer said. “She tell you that?”

“Yeah. We’re both clueless why Keith lied to both of us and I am so angry that fucked up our happiness. Keith has gone, don’t know where. He didn’t show for Sunday lunch with his family which is a no-no for the Shaws. If you’re on the island, you show up. Heidi’s dad made that crystal clear this afternoon when he was negotiating my potato supply.”

Archer and Erica smiled at the meaning of what Heidi’s dad was telling Jason. He understood Harold Shaw’s message and Jason hoped things went well enough it would be a lifelong invitation.

Erica broke into his thoughts. “Keith told you, right? He said she didn’t want to get involved long term with a Turner.”

“Correct,” Jason replied. He’d sat back, coffee mug resting on his stomach as he processed the possibilities of what went down.

“Wow, that’s a harsh message to get. Your father and grandfather were alive at the time, right?” Erica said.

“Yeah. I know what it’s like being a Turner, ruled by Turners, so I accepted what she was saying. We had an intense three months but I guess she wasn’t in it for the long term.”

“But you were because you bought a ring,” Erica pointed out.

Jason nodded and took a long sip of his coffee. “I had planned the whole thing. Get married at Gretna Green. It wouldn’t be far for us all to get off the rig. We were three weeks on and three off at the time so Heidi and I could get married, celebrate with family and then we could fit in a honeymoon before I went back for my next shift.”

“That sounds so romantic,” Erica said softly.

“I was so shocked when Keith told me I believed him.”

---