Page 45 of Sunset

We were so excited to have Jasper and Travis with us, and I remember being mesmerized. How the fireflies would all light at the same time and seemed to do a dance. We learned they flash for mating, and I turned to Jasper and said, “It’s the most beautiful way to say I love you.” I had tears in my eyes.

“It is, isn’t it?” He said, wiping the tears. He kissed me right there in the middle of the dancing fireflies. Our first kiss. And the nickname, has followed me ever since.

Our first kiss wasn’t like a normal first kiss. I swear, our entire future ahead of us was in that kiss. I didn’t see this rocky path, but one thing Mom and Dad always said, is that in any relationship there’s good and bad, and you have to stick around and work through it to get to the good.

“I want no one but you, Firefly. From that first kiss, it’s always been you.” He whispers the same thoughts I was just having.

He moves ever so slowly, until his lips dance across mine, like he’s too scared to push me. So instead, I pull him to me, as I wrap my arms around his neck and deepen the kiss. The moment I do his entire body relaxes, and his hands move up and down my back, to my hair, and down to my waist, like he can’t decide where to hold me.

“Don’t block me out, Brynn. Let me in, and let me show you how great we can be together.” He says, kissing that sensitive area on my neck.

I couldn’t form a complete sentence if I tried. All I can do is feel. Feel his warm breath on my neck. Feel his hands on me. Feel how hard he is for me.

That last one has me turning and straddling his lap. He pulls back just enough to look up at me, as hope fills his eyes. I take his face in my hands and kiss him, showing him with my actions what he means to me.

I’m desperate to get back the feeling we had this morning, the connection, and the peace. But as soon as I grind down on him, he stops me.

“Not here, Firefly, and not where anyone can see you.” He says.

“Let’s go back to my room,” I suggest.

He looks at me, studying my face, and for what, I’m not sure.

“Tell me you’re mine, and that you will give us a chance. Tell me you know I’m yours, and we can go to your room and get the relief you need.” He says.

I want him, but I need time to process it, too.

I sigh. “Make you a deal. We leave the day after tomorrow to go to the state capital and present our case on the Main Street issue. Come with us, and let’s take some time to be us, outside of this town. Then, when we get back, we can really talk, okay?”

“Yes, I’ll be there. But Brynn?” He raises one hand to the side of my face, and I can’t help but lean into him.

“Yeah?”

“You can take all the time you need. I want you to be sure, because I’m not going anywhere. Not ever again, okay?”

All I can do is nod. What do you say to that? Thank you seems woefully inadequate, so I just lean down and softly kiss him.

Chapter 20

Jasper

One thing about having an ex Hollywood movie star for a friend is that he likes to spoil us. Kade wanted the girls to relax on the drive into Raleigh. It’s a two to three hour drive, depending on traffic, so Kade rented a car with a driver for the trip. We’re also staying in a two-bedroom suite at one of the hotels near where the meeting is.

When I tried to pay him for mine and Brynn’s half, he refused. He just made me promise to take this time to win her over. So, that’s what I plan to do.

Right now, the girls are discussing their plans for the meeting and going over their talking points for later this afternoon. Brynn is sitting next to me, and she’s curled into my side the way Lin is curled into Kade’s side.

She’s letting me in, and I’m not going to take it for granted. We’re sharing a room in the suite, and I can’t wait to hold Brynn in my arms all night.

The time seems to fly, and before we know it, we’re checking into our hotel. The moment we walk into the suite, the girls burst into giggles and have to check out everything in the small kitchen, the living area, and both bedrooms. They are talking business, what ideas they could steal, and what’s the practicality of this or that, but the whole time their faces are lit up.

“Thanks again for this,” I tell Kade, as we stand by the door, watching them.

“I’d do anything to put that smile on Lin’s face.” He says.

“Yeah, I’d do the same for Brynn,” I tell him.

He looks over at me. “Good. Make it happen more often, because the more Brynn smiles, the more Lin smiles.”

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