Page 1 of Wishes on Wildflowers
1
“What,Jas —you’regoing to be in charge of marketing instead? In case you’ve forgotten, you hate people.”
Jasmine Santoro narrowed her eyes as she stared her brother down.
Basil snapped his fingers and leaned back in his chair. “I almost forgot. You also hate computers. So, I’d love to hear your marketing plans.” He gave her a wide, fake grin and drummed the battered wooden table. “Go ahead.”
She surged to her feet and paced across the kitchen of the fixer upper the guys had moved into recently. Thank goodness for the massive backyard, perfect for the garden that would launch their new business in growing and selling vegetables, or her other brother would never have snapped it up. “Okay, maybe not me. But someone else.”
“Jas, seriously. What’s wrong with bringing Nathan on board? He’s back in Bridgeview, and he’s got the creds.”
She clenched her jaw. “You’ve got to be kidding. He’llbail out at the first sign of greener pastures elsewhere. The guy doesn’t have an ounce of staying power.” A fact she’d learned the hard way eight years back.
Basil rolled his eyes. “Give it up, Jas. He transferred to UCLA. That was a proactive move for his education. He wasn’t abandoning Gonzaga U.”
“So it’s justmehe was abandoning?” The words spilled from her lips before she could choke them back.
“Oh, come on. You guys were kids. You expected him to give up a brilliant future and have babies with you straight out of high school?”
“We were in college already.” Jasmine raised her chin. “Other people have married their high school sweethearts and had a great marriage.”
“Like who? And don’t say our parents. Someone our age.”
“Marco.” She named their older brother.
“He was twenty-two. Still awfully young, in my opinion, but out of college.” Basil shook his head. “Millennials don’t get hitched until their late twenties. I don’t blame Nathan for heading to California. The guy needed some air from you.”
She stiffened. Why was she planning to go into business with the least favorite of her four brothers again? At least Bridgeview Backyards was their cousin Peter’s brainchild. Peter she could trust to make level-headed decisions. Only, why wasn’t he here shooting down Basil’s dumb idea to hire her former boyfriend? “There has to be someone else who can do a better job. Someone who’s up-to-date on the Spokane vibe.” Someone who wasn’t Nathan Hamelin. Anyone.
“Get over it, Jas.”
Voices outside grew louder. Boots stomped on the backsteps leading from the carport. The porch door creaked open.
No. She should’ve been gone before now. She couldn’t be caught here if that happened to be Nathan arriving with Peter… who obviously wasn’t so sensible, after all. She shot a glance around the living area, but the recliner Basil had inherited from Dad blocked the front door with unpacked boxes stacked around it. Besides, her boots and coat were in the entry.
Basil leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, chuckling. It had to be Nathan in the porch, kicking off his boots, clanging the hangers.
Jasmine pointed at her big brother. “I don’t evenlikeyou,” she growled.
He shrugged, and the door opened. Two men entered. Peter... and Nathan.
Her heart stuttered. This Nathan had matured, at least in looks. He’d filled out some — but not too much — looking self-assured in jeans and a light gray Henley. His blond hair was shorter than it used to be, and a bit of neat scruff softened his square jaw. His blue eyes collided with hers. Wariness seeped out.
She straightened to her full height even though that was considerably shorter than his six feet, and managed to keep her arms from crossing protectively over her chest. “Nathan. What a surprise.”
“Jasmine.” His gaze ran the length of her before meeting her eyes once again. “You look good.”
Right. In her old jeans and a plaid shirt. If she’d known she’d be seeing him, she’d have dabbed on some makeup and worn that new — no. She’d have smeared dirt on her face and worn baggy sweats. That’s what. His opinion of her didn’t matter... though it might be fun to see regret on his face.
That would never happen. He’d had a new girlfriend in L.A. within a week of leaving eastern Washington. There hadn’t even been a backward glance to what he’d left behind.
Peter shifted from one foot to the other, his gaze flicking between them. “Hey, Jasmine. Didn’t expect to see you here.”
Really? She forced a smile to her face. “That seems obvious. I popped by to drop off a new supply of fireweed tea, but don’t worry. I was just leaving.”
“No need to rush away.” Peter took a step closer. “Let me put on a pot of coffee, and we can talk.”
“I’m not sure there’s anything to discuss.” Jasmine eyed the path to the door, but she’d have to brush past Nathan to get there. So not happening.
