Page 16 of Thinking It Over

As I swallowed, I glanced at his lips before returning my attention to his eyes. “I’d really like to kiss you goodbye. That okay?”

He was nodding before I finished and tipping his chin a little as I stepped into his space, so he was looking up at me. I reached out and cupped his cheek, lightly brushing my thumb over his lip. His eyes flared at the gesture, and my heart galloped wildly. Easing toward him, I leaned down and pressed my lips against his.

Opening my mouth just slightly, I moved my lips. Slow and gentle, soft, and the barest of caresses, rightness settled in me. A moment later, I pulled away, missing the touch of him against my mouth. It would be so easy to take this further, push to a heat that would have me sweet-talking him into not leaving, but there was no rush.

Jasper’s eyes remained closed for a beat before he opened them. The dreamy expression on his face had me reconsidering going so slow, but the gentle smile that lifted his pink lips was the perfect image to get me through to Thursday.

“I’ll see you Thursday for more of that,” he said. For a moment, I was sure he was about to start the kiss anew, but instead, I swallowed my desire and disappointment when he pulled away completely and opened his car door.

I also smiled, liking the sound of the direction our date would go. “I look forward to it.” Pushing the door closed once he was inside, I tapped the top before stepping away, glancing behind me to check Penny remained on the porch. She sat there obediently, maybe looking a little forlorn at Jasper leaving.

“I get it, girl,” I mumbled as I focused on Jasper starting the engine and pressing the horn before pulling away. “I really, really get it.”

With Jasper gone and it only being early, I headed back to the house, considering what to do with my time. I didn’t have it in me to focus on work, nor did I have it in me to head out for a drink. Instead, I picked up my phone to call my dad.

It had been a couple of weeks since I’d spoken to him. And while I wasn’t going to be in the running for a son of the year award, I loved the old fool enough to want to check in.

It rang a few times before he picked up, the crackling line making me roll my eyes. “Hello,” he answered.

“Hey, Dad, it’s Austin. Can you talk?” Two of my siblings lived close by and both had kids, so I never knew if he had a houseful or not. The quiet should have given it away, but then there was that static that made it hard.

“Austin, my boy, yeah, all good. Debbie and Keith just left. Just picking up after Georgie. That kid sure does know how to cause a mess.” A chuckle followed. “I told Debbie today that I think she’s got her hands full, as you were exactly the same.” The chuckle turned into a full-on belly laugh.

I snorted and shook my head. “Thanks a lot, Dad. I think you’ll find it was Frankie who was the pain in the ass, though, not me.”

“That he was, still is in fact.”

And didn’t we all know it.

Frankie was the youngest of us all, with me being the oldest. Ten years separated us, so while we hadn’t always been close, me having left for college when he was just eight, I got along with him well enough. When he was in the country long enough for us to touch base. “You heard from Frankie recently?” The last I’d heard he was in the UK recovering from a ski season in Italy.

“Not since we last spoke, no.” Concern laced his words, making me frown.

“It’s not that unusual. Why are you worried?”

I could visualize his shrug before he said, “He didn’t seem himself last time I did speak to him.”

My brows drew together. “You didn’t mention anything.”

“There was no point.” He sighed. “You know what your brother is like. The free spirit he is.”

It was something I admired about Frankie. Even though I rarely knew what he was getting up to or even what continent he was on, which admittedly made me worry a little too often, I loved that he had the guts to go off and explore, be his own person. He’d gone to college, surprising us all, and had been successful in gaining his degree. We all knew he’d done it because Mom had been ill, and he’d been keeping the peace, trying to make her happy. She’d died of breast cancer when he’d been in his final year, devastating us all. But rather than quitting, which I’d expected, he’d seen it through. The ink had barely dried on his degree before he’d packed his rucksack, bought a one-way ticket to Australia, and left. In the past eight years, I’d seen him in person once when I took a trip to Japan, where he’d done a season, and once when he’d ventured home for Debbie’s wedding.

“I’ll reach out to him and make sure he’s okay.”

“Thanks. I can never get through. And this phone’s acting up again.”

“Dad,” I said, sighing heavily. “We all bought you that cell phone to use. We even pay the monthly fee. Use it, please.” Dad was only sixty-five, so he was far from ancient, but was beyond stubborn.

“It’s in the car. I keep it charged and in there in case I need it when I’m out. It’s the only reason I didn’t return it to the store.”

I laughed, knowing he spoke the truth. “I suppose that’s something,” I begrudgingly admitted.

“And how are things with you? Rupert finally stopped being a weasel and left you to it?”

It was no surprise that Dad, Debbie, and my youngest sister, Robin, didn’t like Rupert. Robin, the brat, had cheered when I’d told her we’d split. “Yes. He’s leaving town in a few days.” My grin spread wide, and a lightness that I hadn’t experienced in a long time settled on my chest. Roll on Thursday. My heart tumbled over itself when I thought of Jasper and our date. “I can’t wait till he’s long gone,” I admitted.

“That’s good to hear, son. He was never good enough for you, always looking out for himself.”

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