Page 120 of Finding Hope

“Uh oh.”

“I got you something.”

Sexy convulsions leave me, and instead, my stomach flip-flops. “Huh?”

He nods toward the glove compartment. “In there. A gift.”

“Why? It’s not my birthday.”

He shrugs and releases my hand. “I saw it in the window. Made me think of you.” He turns and flashes a nervous smile. “Surprise…”

My hands shake. “I don’t know, Jack.” I don’t dare reach toward theglove compartment. “You don’t have to buy me things. I’m not that kind of girl. You never have to buy me things.”

“It’s cool, Bambie. Just open the glove compartment. And relax,” he chuckles. “I canfeelyour anxiety in the air. It’s not a big deal.”

It is a big deal.

It’s a huge deal.

Leaning forward and shakily opening the latch, I watch it slowly lower until the interior light illuminates a small white gift box. Pandora glints along the soft packaging, and despite expecting my heart to slow, it speeds with exhilaration and nerves.

Taking the box from the compartment, I close the door and sit the package on my knee.

“Open it.” He brings his hand to my neck and massages the tension. “It won’t bite you, I promise. This isn’t something to be scared about.”

I’m not sure why I’m freaking out so damn much. I intend to take this guy to meet my family tomorrow, and I spent most of today withhisfamily while we built a semi-permanent structure that takes up a good portion of their street.

Taking a deep breath and forcing a smile to help lessen the anxiety I put in his heart, I flick open the lid and sigh at the beautiful silver bracelet and dangling charm.

“Did you know Pandora has a Disney range?” His words slide through the shadowed car. “Like the jeweler just knew I’d be walking by, he put a little Bambie in the window. I couldn’t walk away without it.” He strokes the back of my neck. “It’s cute, just like you.”

Pulling up in our parking spot on top of the hill, Jack’s hand leaves my neck to work the gears and pull on the handbrake. Switching off the engine, but leaving the radio on low, he unfastens his seatbelt and turns to take the bracelet from the packaging.

His large hands appear so much larger in comparison to the delicate jewelry, but his thumbs and forefingers work the latch, undoing it, then secure it around my left wrist.

Studying his handiwork, his dimple pops with approval. “Perfect.”

I smile and try to tamp down the flutters in my stomach. “Thank you, Jack.”

Leaning forward, he presses a gentle kiss to my lips. “You’re so welcome. It looks good on you.”

Smiling, I fuss with the charm and try not to freak out about what I want to ask him. I don’t know where Jack and I stand, but I know I likehim, and he likes me. There’s no reason to be nervous. No reason to freak the hell out over commitment and meeting the folks.

It’ll be okay.

My brothers won’t murder him.

Oh my g–

“I can hear you thinking.” He presses a kiss to my jaw. “I can literally feel the bad juju you’re pushing out through your pores. Spit it out. Share the load.”

“I want you to meet my brothers.”

Freezing, he pulls back and fractures my heart. “I already met them. I met them before I met you.”

His serious words imply diversion, but his popping dimple says otherwise. “I want you to meet them…officially. Dinner. My house. Minimal guns. An escape plan.”

Chuckling, he leans in and presses a kiss to my neglected jaw. “I can do that. Anytime.”

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