Page 56 of More Than a Pretty Face

Chapter 21

Jasmine

Ithrow my bag on the floor inside the door, then run back to my car.After hearing that the weather forecast now predicts hail, I raced to buy hail netting as soon as class ended.

Clouds swirl overhead as I tear open the packaging.Because I’m in a hurry, I’m forgetting things.I hurry back to my car to get the stakes.Something has to hold up the netting.

With a large rock, I pound the stakes as deep as possible every two feet along one side of the raised bed and then do the same on the other side.Two taller stakes on the center line will help create a tent shape.

Now the fun part.I spread out the netting, and after a rough measurement, I cut a piece large enough to drape over the first bed.Please let the rain hold off long enough for me to finish.

This job would be easier with a second person, but the Grindles’ car isn’t in the driveway, and no lights are on.

Once the first net is in place and the corners held down with rocks I’ve scavenged from the back of the yard, I move on to the next bed.Rain drops splatter on the side boards and pelt me in the back of the head as I pound in more stakes.This was just supposed to be rain.But I’m determined to save my plants.Hail will destroy these tiny transplants.

I cut a second piece, then drag it toward the bed.

“Jasmine!”Tyler holds his hat as the wind gusts.

It’s not just relief that explodes in my chest.It’s more the sense of coming home, which is silly because I’m at my house.But seeing him striding toward me in the rain is fantasy-level stuff.I want to kiss the man, but there’s a job to be done.“Grab the other end of that.It needs to be draped over the stakes.”

He springs into action, and two minutes later, the netting is in place.I hand him stakes, then move to the next bed.And he follows my lead.As I work on one edge, he stabs stakes into the dirt on the other side.

Rain is coming down in sheets now, and talking is useless because unless we are next to each other or hollering, our voices are drowned out by the noise.

Once the last bed is covered, Tyler clasps my hand.“Let’s get inside.”

Rather than following his good advice, I launch toward him.My intentions of kissing him are derailed as my foot slips on mud.I’m halfway to doing the splits when he manages to get his arms around me.

“Sorry.I was trying to do this.”I wrap my arms around his neck, kiss him.It’s the best way I know to convey how much it means that he’s here.

Wrapped up in each other, our lips dance, and not even rain can fit between us.A clap of thunder jolts us apart, and a cat lets loose a terrified shriek.

Tyler tugs me toward the house.“We can do more of that inside.Let’s go.”

“The cat.Did you hear it?The Grindles’ cat must be outside.He hates storms.”

Tyler outpaces me as we run to the fence.With little effort, he climbs over.“Here, cat.Jasmine, tell me what I’m looking for.”

“He’s black and skinny.”I run around to the gate and join Tyler’s search.“Where is he?”

“I don’t know.How am I supposed to find a black cat at night?In the rain?When he’s hiding?”After checking along the fence, the sweet man gets down on his belly and looks under the porch, then stands and scans the trees.“What’s his name?Maybe he’ll come if I’m not calling him cat.”

“His name is Perry.”

He furrows his brow as rain dribbles off his hat.“Are we hunting a cat or a platypus?”

Thunder rumbles, and Perry gives away his location with a whine.

“Over there, behind that planter.”I slosh through the wet grass, hurrying toward the porch.

“Wish me luck.You have bandages, right?”He wipes the rain off his face, then approaches the wet and scared cat.After being swatted more than once, Tyler wrangles Perry and hugs that cat to his chest.

Seemingly convinced that it’s safer with Tyler than behind the planter, the cat gives up fighting and nestles close.And as Tyler carries it across the yard, the cat burrows inside Tyler’s shirt.

When Tyler makes it back to my yard, he’s holding a lump inside his muddy, soggy shirt.“Any other creatures we need to drag inside?”

“That’s all.Come on.”Inside, I kick off my shoes near the door.“I assume you don’t want the cat to stay where it is.”

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