Page 50 of Sunset

Chapter 22

Jasper

I still can’t believe Brynn agreed to give me another chance. I’ve been floating all day, and I think I’m freaking out the kitchen staff with how much I’ve been smiling. It’s been a slow day in the kitchen, so I head out to decide on dinner for Brynn and me.

I’ve spent a good part of the afternoon planning it. She’s wrapping up her second Sunset event of the season, when I meet up with her in the lobby. I’m no longer wearing my kitchen clothes, as I have changed into my good pants and a button-up shirt. Brynn dressed up for the event at my request and is in a tan, lace dress with a brown, leather belt around her waist and matching brown, cowboy boots.

She left her hair down, and I wonder if she did that, because she remembered how much I love her hair that way. I want to think she did.

I hold out my hand for her, and she walks right to me, taking it without hesitation. I pull her hand up and twirl her around.

“You look stunning,” I tell her.

“You look pretty handsome there yourself. Big plans?” She asks.

“Yep, got me a hot date,” I say and tuck her hand into the crook of her arm.

“Oh, really?” She raises an eyebrow at me, and I just smile at her.

“Yep.” I say, as I lead us to her room.

“You have a plan to get laid?” She cocks her head to the side.

“No, that’s not proper first date manners. Just open the door.” I tell her.

I had Lin’s help here. Her porch is lit up with as many candles as I could fit. They surround the table, which has our dinner on it covered and waiting for us.

“Jasper!” She gasps. “What did you do?”

“Well, I knew the chance of getting you away from The Inn for an evening during the season was slim to none, so this is the second best option. Will you have dinner with me?” I ask her.

“Of course.” She says, and then shocks me, when she leans up and kisses my cheek, before taking a seat at the table.

I recover just in time to help pull out her chair, before sitting across from her.

“So, what’s for dinner?” She asks.

I smile. “Open up and see,” I tell her.

“Mac and cheese?” She asks, when she takes the lid off.

“Not any mac and cheese.” I smile, as she digs in.

“Oh my, gosh, lobster mac and cheese. You remembered?” She asks shocked.

On our first date, I took her to my family restaurant. She had been talking about this lobster mac and cheese she saw on some food TV show. So, my dad and I worked on a few recipes, using my mom as a taste tester, until we found the perfect one, and that’s what we had on our first date.

“Of course, I remember. There isn’t a minute of our time together that I’ve forgotten. There may be a few I wanted to forget, but I remember them all.” I say, as I hold her gaze.

She stares for a moment, before clearing her throat and digging into her dinner.

After the first bite, she groans. “This is even better than the last time I had it.” She says.

“Well, I have picked up a few new tricks since then.” I wink at her.

Dinner flows great. We talk about our time apart, and the happy stuff we did. Funny gossip about the people in town, and suggestions she has gotten on The Sunset event.

Once she finishes eating, I pull out my phone and put on some music. I stand and hold my hand out to her.

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