Page 2 of Wishes on Wildflowers
“I just told her Hamelin’s joining the team.” Basil slung his arm over the back of the vacant chair next to him. “She seems to be hung up on ancient history.”
A fierce spurt of red shot through Jasmine’s vision, and she clenched her fists against her thighs. If only she could smack that smugness off her brother’s face, but she wouldn’t give Nathan the satisfaction of seeing how much effect he still had over her. She breathed in and out to a count of five — twice, for good measure — and willed down the impulse. “Thanks, Basil. You’re the best brother a girl could ever want.” Too bad sarcasm leaked out with every word.
Basil tipped his head in acknowledgment, his smirk widening.
Did her brother seriously live to tick her off? Was that his primary goal in life? And why hadn’t she run for the door already?
Strained silence surroundedNathan Hamelin as he stood in the doorway of his friends’ house. Jasmine. She looked amazing, her long dark hair pulled into a low ponytail. She’d always looked great, no matter what she wore, but faded jeans and a plaid flannel shirt open over a black fitted T-shirt reminded him she’d never cared what others thought and looked fabulous anyway. She was all Jasmine.
Man, he’d been an idiot to hurtle out of her life back then. They’d been an item for a few years, but her talk of weddings and babies terrified him. No way had he been ready to settle down. Not by a long shot. But instead of explaining his feelings to her and trying to slow the relationship, he’d run.
Hadn’t helped comparing the thick-as-thieves Santoro clan to the sparse and dysfunctional Hamelins. How did someone get any privacy with practically all their family living within a few blocks of each other and in each other’s business every day? And Marietta, Jasmine’s grandmother, ruled the neighborhood. He’d been terrified of the outspoken Italian woman.
Now he was only terrified of Jasmine, but somehow his gaze had tangled up with hers. He took a step backward, his hand groping for the doorknob. “I, uh, I don’t need to be here.”
Peter and Basil exchanged a glance. “I think you probably do,” said Basil.
Peter plucked a ring of keys off the kitchen counter. “I can show you the basement suite now.”
“Pardon me?” Jasmine stepped closer, fists settling on her hips. “What did you say?”
Peter chewed on his lip. “Uh, Nathan might lease the lower level from us, but he needs to see it first.”
“Of course.” Jasmine shot a fiery glance at Nathan. “Renting from you makes perfect sense, since he’ll be working for you and all.”
“Yeah, that’s what we thought.” Peter’s shoulders relaxed.
Premature, Santoro. Didn’t you hear the tone?
“And you two didn’t think to run this past me?” She pinned her cousin then her brother with her gaze. “I suppose Alex knew, but no one thought I should get a chance to voice my opinion? Which is a bit unfair, don’t you think? None of the rest of youdatedhim.”
Nathan winced. She was certainly voicing her viewpoint now. Not that he didn’t deserve her wrath, but he’d hoped time would have helped her see how wrong they’d been for each other.
“I-I’m sorry?” Peter’s gaze ricocheted between them. “You were on that essential oil retreat at Green Acres Farm when Basil brought up hiring Nathan. He said your relationship was water under the bridge.”
Basil spread his hands. “It’s been years. I thought it would be.”
Nathan had thought so, too. Oh, he couldn’t deny the mixed feelings that had stampeded through him when he’d seen the Santoro surname on her Facebook profile. Searching Jasmine out had only been idle curiosity. Heraboutpage had been sparse, with her updates and photos locked down to friends-only, so he couldn’t find out more. She’d have moved on long ago. He had, after all. There’d been Kendra and Pauline and then Rae, whom he’d thought might actually be The One before he’d discovered her addiction to gambling in hopes of covering her mounting credit card debt.
“Iamover Nathan.” She spat out the words.
Basil snickered.
“I just didn’t think this was how we were going to run our business. I know I’m not slated to come on board full-time for another two years, but now I’m not sure I want to. Ever.” She started for the door. “Excuse me, please.”
Nathan shifted out of her way, but Peter stepped into it. “You’re quitting because Basil hired Nathan? Look, we should have kept you and Alex in the loop, but we didn’t. I’m sorry. Really. Can we talk about this?”
Alex. Jasmine’s younger brother was a CPA working for a big firm in downtown Spokane, at least according to Facebook. Nathan remembered him as a scrawny teen who’d hero-worshiped his sister’s boyfriend. Nathan had kind of liked that. Which meant Alex would be just as happy as Jasmine to see him back in Bridgeview. Having Alex as his landlord might not be such a good idea, after all.
“No, doofus. I’m not quitting because ofhim.” She shot Nathan a scowl. “I’m out because we were supposed to be a team, and teams don’t make decisions without discussion.” This time Basil received the brunt of her glare. “And because my big brother thinks it’s hilarious to hide things from me and mock me. I can’t trust him as a business partner.”
Basil rolled his eyes. “Oh, give over, Jas. I screwed up. Sorry. It won’t happen again.” The sardonic grin lessened marginally.
Jasmine shook her head, her ponytail swinging from side to side. “I’m leaving now. I’ll talk to you guys later. Some of you, anyway.” She sidestepped Peter and pinned Nathan with a glare, jerking her thumb sideways. “Excuse me, please.”
He shifted out of her way as she strode past, the whiff of something sweet yet woodsy wafting over him. She smelled so... Jasmine. A minute later the porch door all but slammed shut. Then silence.
“Man, that didn’t go over well.” Peter grimaced. “I should have trusted my instincts and found time to consult with her about this. It’s just been so busy since I got back from Seattle.”
