Page 27 of Sunset

I wish I could find the words to convey to her exactly how I feel, but no matter how hard I try, nothing seems right.

“We were younger, dumber. Lin and I didn’t get to make all the mistakes you and other people make in their early twenties. We had to grow up much faster.” She says.

“And I should have been here for that. I truly am sorry. But I want you to know, it’s always been you.” I decide to lay it on thick; put it all out on the line. If it doesn’t work out, there will be no regrets that I didn’t say or do something that might have worked. That’s a lesson my dad taught me a long time ago.

“What?” She asks.

“I tried to date, and all I did was compare them to you. Because of that, I haven’t had a relationship, since you.” I admit.

Her mouth falls open, and she stares at me, like I just sprouted a second head. My eyes are drawn to her mouth, her perfect pink lips, and I remember what her lips felt like on mine all those years ago. I take the moment of stunned silence to lean in and kiss her. She doesn’t kiss me back at first, but when she does, it shocks my whole system.

I don’t remember our kisses feeling like this, electrifying and life changing. I don’t remember ever being so turned on by a kiss. I gently lean her back on to the sand and deepen the kiss, as she wraps her arms around my neck.

I slowly kiss down her neck. “God, Brynn, I’ve missed you so damn much,” I whisper against her skin.

“Jasper,” she gasps and grips my shoulders tighter, pulling me closer to her.

My kiss glides back up to her mouth, and we’re in a war for dominance, who is going to control the kiss. I let her lead, and when she nips at my bottom lip, I groan and pull away. It’s too fast, and I want to take this slow, letting her know this isn’t about sex, and this is about her and us.

The moment I pull away, it’s like reality washes over her, and she sits up, catching her breath.

I run a hand down the side of her face and lean to kiss her lightly on her lips.

This time, when I pull back, she jumps up.

“Ummm. Well… I… tomorrow…” She says, her eyes hopeful and runs off to The Inn.

I just shake my head, smiling and stay staring at the water.

I don’t notice Kade walking up, until he speaks.

“What has you grinning like a fool?” He jokes.

“Ahhh, just making progress with Brynn,” I say.

He cocks his head to the side and stares at me.

“You kissed her, huh?” He says.

My smiles grow. “Yeah.”

Kade chuckles and sits down beside me.

“Where’s Lin?” I ask.

“She kicked me out of the room, so she and my mom could video chat and talk wedding stuff. I told her she had half an hour, so I figured a walk on the beach was in order.” He says.

“So, what are your plans with the mayor?” I ask.

“I have a hunch that I can’t prove just yet, so I have a guy doing some digging. Something about this development project doesn’t seem to be on the up and up. Like I said, I can’t prove anything, but it’s a gut feeling, and I always go with my gut.” He says.

“I remember Mayor Jones, when I was growing up. His family has always been on The Island. He doesn’t get along with his dad. Rumors spread his dad was a drunk, but no one ever saw him drink, and Bert never had any marks on him. At least, that’s what my mom said.” I tell him.

I pause, trying to pull up the memories I have of Bert Jones.

“He went away to school and came back, and my mom said it’s like he was a different person. He wasn’t angry, but he disowned his father and helped his mom leave him. She’s now retired and living in some retirement resort in Florida. His dad left town, and no one has heard from him.”

“What did his parents do for work?” Kade asks.

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