Page 31 of Sunset

“It’s okay, but you’ll owe us!” Kade calls back.

I smile and collapse on the couch.

“What happened?” Lin says.

“Jasper kissed me,” I tell her, starting from the top, because we haven’t had time to talk.

“What, again?” She says.

“What do you mean again?” I say.

“Kade told me he kissed you on the beach last week.” She says.

“How did Kade know?” I ask.

“Jasper told him.” She shrugs.

“He’s a bigger gossip than you and me. Okay, no, not again, but I did just see him naked.” I say just as Kade walks out.

“Do I need to leave for this, cause if it’s sex talk, I’m leaving,” Kade says.

“No sex talk,” I tell him.

“Okay explain, and then start from the top.” She says.

So, I tell her about the canceled reservation, finding someone in the room, about busting in and finding Jasper in the shower, our talk, him dropping the towel, me bolting, and him coming after me.

Lin tries to hold back a smile, but Kade full on laughs so hard that I throw a couch pillow at him, which makes him laugh harder.

“It’s a guy’s natural reaction to the girl we like, walking in on us naked. We want to show off. Of course, he’s going to flirt, and why not? Plus, it’s not like you haven’t seen it before.” Kade shrugs.

“That was years ago. He’s changed a lot and gotten some ink.” I say, remembering the tattoo, I didn’t have time to focus on before.

“Well, I guess the next question is, are you going to give him another chance or not?” Lin says bluntly.

“What?”

She sighs, “Brynn, why do you think he sabotages all the chef interviews? Why is he still here? Why did he kiss you? Why did he flirt, when you saw him naked? Why is he busting his ass to help with my wedding? Why was he protective of you with the mayor? Hell, why do you think he volunteered himself for the job in the first place?”

Honestly, I hadn’t wanted to let my head go there just in case I was wrong.

“Do you think?” I ask her.

“We know,” Kade says.

I think back to the last few weeks, and it felt right having him in the kitchen. Despite everything, I trusted him there, and if he said we needed to do something, I did it. It felt like he belonged, and it was comforting. That’s probably why I didn’t fight him too hard on the interviews.

“I can try to be a bit nicer, but I make no promises. Well, I can make you one. Next time, it will be a softer fruit I launch at his head. Because this is Jasper, and you know there will be a next time without a shadow of a doubt.” I tell them.

Lin nods, “I can live with that.”

I groan. “Stupid me agreed to let him use my office, and I’m pretty sure my porch door is locked. No way I can sneak back to my room.”

“Oh, I have your porch door key.” Lin jumps up and rummages through her nightstand.

“Here.” She says, handing me a key. “Just make sure I get it back, because I see many more nights like this in your future.”

We hug, and then, I head out from her back door onto the beach. The dark night and the moon reflecting on the water should be calming to most people, and it used to be to me. Now, it just gives me the creeps. So, I run straight to my room, thankful to see the blinds in my office closed, but the light is on, so I know he’s there.

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