Page 71 of Simply Yours

The realization hit him square in the chest, like a well-placed punch, knocking the air from his lungs. He barely heard the conversation around him as he let the thought settle in, let it take root.

She wasn’t his yet. But dang it - if he didn’t want her to be.

A smirk tugged at his lips as he watched her elbow Becca playfully, her face alight with mischief. He wanted to know every piece of her—the past that had shaped her, the dreams she hadn’t spoken aloud, the things that made her eyes light up like that.

What had she seen while she was away? What had changed her? What corners of the world had left their mark on her soul?

The questions chased each other through his mind long after the evening wound down, long after the dishes were washed, the lights dimmed, and the house fell into the kind of silence only found in the countryside at night.

And now, lying in bed, staring at the ceiling, Jason let out a slow breath.

He could still hear the echoes of her laughter, could still see the way she had looked at him across the table—like maybe, justmaybe, she was seeing something new in him, too.

The idea of her wasn’t just a passing fancy. It was something more. Somethingreal. And heck, if he was going to sit on his hands and let it slip by.

A slow grin spread across his face as he whispered into the darkness, “And there’s no time like the present.”

Tomorrow, he was going to make darn sure Caitlin was a part of the renovations on his home, and that meant getting to know what she liked and disliked, and merging her life with his. It wasn’t just abouttalkingabout possible ideas for the house – no, it was going to be done by doing updates.

Together.

Like a couple.

“Wow… I really want to be part of a ‘couple,’” he breathed, smiling.

* * *

Jason sat at his kitchen table, the rich aroma of black coffee curling into the cool morning air. Sunlight streaked through the window, casting long golden bars across the hardwood floor. He took a slow sip, letting the heat seep into him, but it didn’t touch the restlessness under his skin.

His phone rested beside him, an unspoken promise.

With a smirk, he tapped out a message.

Hey, when is your next free day off?

Her reply came almost instantly.

According to my coworkers, I’m ‘off’ every day…

And in case you can’t tell – I’m being sarcastic.

Using Jason-mode.

His smirk widened.

I’m not sarcastic.

See? Powerful stuff right there…

Jason chuckled, shaking his head. She was ridiculous—and helikedit. More than he wanted to admit. On impulse, he snapped a quick selfie, his grin lazy, teasing. He sent it along with another message.

Wanna go shopping with me?

The response wasn’t a text.

His phone rang.

Jason stared at the screen for a split second before answering, already bracing himself.

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