Love at Last (Finding Love Book 6) Read online

  Rosemary filled up the bowl from a bag sitting on the counter. “He knows it’s dinner time.”

  “What’s going to happen to him when you leave?”

  “I haven’t figured that out yet. My next door neighbor is allergic to cats.”

  “He could stay with me.”

  Her lips parted in what he imagined was astonishment. “I’ll be gone for months at a time. Why would you take that on?”

  “Before I answer that, let’s go sit on the porch steps. That’s where we used to do most of our talking.”

  “And arguing,” she added as she went through the door he held open.

  “No good friendship is complete without a few arguments. It keeps things interesting.”

  * * * * *

  Rosemary sat down on the steps and waited for Jase to do the same. She loved this time of day when the last rays of the setting sun bathed the backyard in a mellow glow and the crickets in the bushes began their nightly roll call. “Last time we did this, my legs were longer than yours.” His chuckle brought her glance to his face.

  “I bet mine are longer now.” To prove his point, he proceeded to stretch out his leg next to hers. “By at least three inches.”

  Her legs might be almost as long, but they looked like a child’s in comparison. His thighs were thick with muscles and easily double the width of hers. When she realized she was staring, she rushed into speech. “This is something of a novelty for me. I’m taller than most of the people I work with.”

  His grin told her that he’d noticed her perusal of his legs. She waited to see if, like most men, he would make a comment about it, but he didn’t.

  “I spent the majority of my teenage years worried that I’d never grow. Every few months, my dad would give me a pep talk about growth plates and being a late bloomer. He’d remind me that Quinn had been the same way. I wanted to tell him that all of that was fine and good, but I needed those extra inches right then, not five years down the road.”

  Rosemary leaned against the balustrade and tilted her face toward the darkening sky. “My biggest hang-up was wearing glasses. By the time I was fourteen, my lenses were as thick as the bottom of a glass soda bottle. My mother finally let me get contacts, but by then my eyes were so bad I still had to wear glasses to read or drive. After I left home, I saved enough money to have laser surgery. That took care of the problem.”

  “I’ve compared high school to a refined sort of torture. At a time when you’re the most insecure about your appearance is when you look your worst. I remember the horror of waking up in the morning to see a huge pimple on the end of my nose, but that wasn’t nearly as bad as the time I was standing at my locker right after P.E. and realized I’d forgotten to put on deodorant. Before I could make my escape, the girl who had the locker next to me showed up. I had a major crush on her at the time, so it was even more mortifying when she kept asking me what the smell was. I wanted to crawl into a hole.”

  At least his embarrassing moments were confined to high school. Rosemary had tripped over her own feet while walking around on stage during a concert. “Did you ever get together with her?”

  “Sadly, I did not. I really thought that being given lockers next to each other was the universe’s way of telling me to go for it. My ability to quote the periodic table backwards and forwards wasn’t nearly as impressive to her as the muscles on the man-among-boys who had the locker on the other side of her.”

  Rosemary sent him a quick sideways glance. “You don’t appear to be doing too badly in that area now.”

  He shrugged. “I sold out to the myth that a guy with a six-pack can get any woman he wants.”

  A smile tugged at her lips. “So women are the reason you spend your days in the gym staring at yourself in those floor-to-ceiling mirrors.”

  “That was my motivation at first. Now I do it because writing is sedentary. I need the exercise. But I don’t stare at myself in the mirror. I use it to see if there are any pretty girls working out that I might like to talk to.”

  “So you use the mirror to check out girls? That’s even worse.” She reached over and pinched one of the legs she’d been admiring. The shocked look on his face was priceless.

  “What was that for?”

  “I don’t know. I just felt like doing it.”

  One eyebrow went up. “Does that rule apply to me, too? There might be something I want to do some time.”

  It wasn’t so much his words as the gleam in his eyes that made her heart skip a beat. “I took a self-defense class. Proceed at your own risk.”

  He laughed. “Thanks for the warning.”

  Rosemary heard Ambrose pawing at the door. Before she could move, Jase reached behind them and let the cat outside. Ambrose surveyed the situation and made his move, placing himself in the six inches of space between her and Jase.

  “Ambrose is giving me the same look I used to get from the fathers of the high school girls I dated.”

  She stroked the cat’s head. “He’s a little protective of me. Are you going to tell me why you’re willing to take care of him?”

  “Is the other subject getting too hot for you?”

  “Do you want another pinch on the leg?”

  “Sure, but could you switch to the other leg? I bruise easily. As for Ambrose, why wouldn’t I want to help you? That’s what friends do for each other.”

  “I haven’t been too lucky with my friends lately.”

  “You have to get back on the friendship horse and try again. I’m a good place to start. You have some history with me.”

  “Why do you care?”

  He smiled, and Rosemary’s breath lodged in her throat and refused to budge.

  “Isn’t it obvious? I like you.”

  She liked him, too. Much more than seemed possible after only a few hours together and definitely more than was wise considering she couldn’t see him again.

  “Is something wrong, Rosemary?”

  “Wrong? Not at all.” She rose to her feet with a quickness that belied her words. It was the rabbit bolting into the nearest hole all over again. “I’m in the mood for some pudding. How about you?”

  “I’m game.”

  By the time they were eating their dessert in the living room, the momentary panic that had seized her on the porch had faded. She was making too much of too little.

  Jase pointed to the dark wood paneling on the walls. “Have you thought about just painting over it?”

  “Can I do that?”

  “I don’t see why not. If you get the primer tinted to match the paint, you’d probably only have to use one coat.”

  “So you know about painting, too?”

  “I know a little about a lot of things; you know, a jack of all trades, master of none.” He sat up and reached for his wallet. “Do you have a pen I could borrow?”

  “Sure. Let me get one out of my purse.”

  After she handed it to him, he wrote something on a business card. “If you decide you want to go with Winnie and me on Wednesday evening, you can reach me at this number.” He laid the card on the coffee table and rose to his feet. “I should get going. I have an errand to run for Quinn before I go home.”

  “Thanks again for fixing the sink. I really appreciate it.”

  “It was my pleasure. Goodnight, Rosemary.”

  “Goodnight, Jase.”

  Only after he pulled out of the driveway did she return to the living room and pick up the card he left her. The front of it had a picture of a bouquet of flowers along with the contact information for a florist shop called Violets are Blue. On the back, along with his name and number, he’d written, “We don’t lose friends; we just learn who our real ones are.”

  His words touched her and at the same time made her feel guilty. Why did he have to be so thoughtful and funny and nice and sweet and charming? It made closing the book on her reunion with him that much more difficult.

  Chapter Four

  Jase spent the drive to his parents’ house t
rying to decipher the look on Rosemary’s face when he told her he liked her. How could something so innocent make someone look so conflicted? And uncomfortable?

  His mother answered the door. “I didn’t expect you this early. Weren’t you on a date?”

  “It was a prequel; I’m not sure it’s going to lead to an actual date.”

  She led the way into the family room. “Why is that?”

  A small, white dog was stretched out on the beige leather couch. Jase had no trouble interpreting the warning in Freya’s deceptively mild eyes. Not feeling up to the task of dealing with his mother’s temperamental (and very spoiled) pet, he dropped down in one of the wing-backed chairs close to the fireplace. “I don’t know. I thought things were going well, but then something happened and it was as if someone let out all the air in the atmosphere.”

  “Who is she?”

  “I met her long time ago when Grandma Phillips took me to see one of her friends. The other day I ran into her at the park. She recently bought her grandmother’s house. I was over there tonight fixing the bathroom sink.”

  “What did you do? Try to kiss her?”

  Jase threw up his hands. “Why does everyone assume that I kiss every girl I meet?”

  Her mother laughed. “Are you serious? That’s been your mode of operation for years. Your reputation precedes you, darling. It’s a little late in the day to be protesting now.”

  It was hard to argue with any of that. “Yes, well, there are exceptions to every rule. I’m not saying I wouldn’t like to kiss Rosemary, but this wasn’t the right time to do it. You don’t get a second chance to do a first kiss. I want it to be something we’ll both remember.”

  “So what did happen?”

  “I told her I liked her, and she changed the subject.”

  “Not everyone wears their heart on their sleeve like you do. Did you ask to see her again?”

  “Yes, and I gave her my number. We’ll see what happens.”

  At that point, his father joined them. “I thought I heard voices. How’s your book coming?”

  Jase hid a smile. This wasn’t the moment to confess that he hadn’t written anything worth reading in days. His father still wasn’t convinced that he could make a living as an author. It didn’t matter that Jase had enough money in the bank to live comfortably for the next five years. If by the time his funds ran out he hadn’t achieved his goals, then he could go back to a boring eight-to-five job.

  Having an aptitude for science and math didn’t mean that doing it made him happy. For years, he listened to his father instead of his heart. Things reached the tipping point when he told Quinn of his acceptance to medical school. The message he received from his brother changed everything. Stop trying to fulfill someone else’s vision for your life and start living your own.

  “I’m about sixty percent done.”

  “Glad to hear it.” His father sat down in the recliner and turned on the television. “Let’s see how the Cowboys are doing tonight.”

  “They’re on a decent win streak. Maybe this is their year.”

  “That’s what they say every year.”

  Jase pretended an interest in the game, but the action on the field didn’t hold his attention. His mind was replaying the two hours he spent with Rosemary. At halftime, his mother put down the crossword puzzle she’d been working.

  “Let’s go get those maternity clothes for Ellen and put them in your car before we both forget why you came over.”

  “Good idea.”

  After everything was loaded in the backseat, he got ready to leave. His mother walked with him to the front door.

  “Don’t forget Gramp’s birthday is coming up next month.”

  “Are we doing the party at his place this year?”

  “It’s too small. We’ll have dinner here. Maybe if things work out, you can bring Rosemary.”

  He chuckled. “I wish I had your optimism.”

  “You usually do. It’s not like you to be so uncertain.”

  No, it wasn’t. His mom was on a roll tonight. “I guess it’s because it matters more this time.”

  She nodded her head. “That’s what I thought. Drive home safe, and please don’t leave those clothes in your car.”

  “I won’t.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek. “Goodnight, Mom.”

  After returning Quinn’s tools to the garage, Jase grabbed the bags out of his car and went next door to give them to Ellen. He found her, Quinn, and Winnie sitting in the middle of the living room floor playing Clue. Since it was one of his favorite games, he was easily persuaded to join them.

  “How was your evening, Professor Plum?” Ellen asked.

  “I found someone who can make pot roast as good as Quinn.”

  His brother rolled the dice and moved his game piece. “There’s your sign, Jase. You can advance full speed ahead. Maybe Rosemary will be the one to overcome the odds and avoid the one month dating cliff.”

  Jase arranged the cards in his hand. “I’m becoming too predictable. That’s the first step on the road to boring. I’ll have to switch things up.”

  “Mr. Jase, what are you going to be for Halloween?”

  “Since you’re going to be Supergirl, I was thinking of being Clark Kent. I’ve got a pair of black-rimmed glasses, and Colonel Mustard over there has plenty of boring dark suits and unimaginative ties for me to choose from.”

  “Be careful, little brother. Ellen picks out my ties. You don’t want a pregnant woman mad at you.”

  “Ellen and I understand each other,” Jase said as he scooped up the dice. After he moved his game piece, he turned to Winnie. “What did you do while I was gone tonight?”

  “Dr. Phillips carved my pumpkin. It’s on the front porch. It has white and orange lights inside.”

  “Sounds awesome. What design did you decide to use?”

  “The spider web. We pinned a big black spider in the middle. It scared Miss Ellen when she saw it. She thought it was real.”

  “I’m glad you told me. I’m scared of spiders, too.” He turned to Ellen. “Your new wardrobe is in the kitchen.”

  “Thanks for picking it up for me.” She patted her small baby bump. “It won’t be long now before I’m going to need them.”

  After a few more rounds, Quinn correctly guessed who did it, where they did it, and what weapon they used.

  “Do you want to see my pumpkin, Mr. Jase?”

  “I do. Lead the way, Supergirl.”

  She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the front door. “Dr. Phillips said we could leave it lit up until you got home.”

  “I’m glad you did.” They walked over to where the glowing pumpkin sat proudly on the railing. “Very nice. I think we should send a picture to your mom.”

  “Do you think she’ll like it?”

  “Of course she’ll like it.” Jase got out his phone and sent Isobel a picture. A few seconds later, his phone chimed.

  “What did she say, Mr. Jase?” Winnie asked, jumping up and down beside him.

  He held the phone so she could see it. “I’ll let you read it.”

  “She says it’s the coolest pumpkin she’s ever seen.”

  “I agree with her. We’ll unplug it now and turn it on again tomorrow night.”

  Once Ellen had taken Winnie upstairs to get ready for bed, Jase turned to his brother. “Nice carving job on the pumpkin, Quinn. Did you use a Dremel tool?”

  “Sure did. Good thing I worked on it in the backyard. Pumpkin spray went everywhere.”

  Not long after, Jase returned to his cottage. The evening with Rosemary might not have given him any reassurance where she was concerned, but it did jolt him out of the writing funk he’d been in. Before he went to bed, he completed another chapter of his book.

  * * * * *

  Rosemary was emptying the dishwasher when the words of the song Jase had been singing earlier in the evening ran through her mind. Once she finished, she went back to the living room to get her laptop. A search of
song lyrics produced the information she needed: “A Groovy Kind of Love” by Phil Collins. It appeared the very masculine Jase had a romantic side.

  Her best friend Collette called as she was getting ready for bed. The two had grown up in the same neighborhood and been friends since they were in kindergarten. When Collette was in seventh grade, her mother went to pick up milk and never came back. Her father eventually filled that void with a string of live-in girlfriends who had no interest in a teenage girl. By the time Collette was in high school, she was spending most of her time with Rosemary’s family.

  After graduation, she earned a scholarship to a prestigious art college in New York City. There she met the man who would change her life; a professor in his mid-thirties who not only inspired her creatively, but whose unwavering devotion eventually stole her heart. Rosemary had been a bridesmaid in their wedding last year. The couple lived in a high-rise apartment a few blocks from Times Square.

  In spite of the different paths their lives had taken and the miles between them, the two women remained very close. Collette and her husband always came to Rosemary’s concerts whenever she was performing within driving distance of New York.

  “How’s normal life treating you these days?” Collette asked.

  “The house is coming along great.”

  “I’m not talking about the house. How are you doing?”

  “Pretty good. I’m getting reacquainted with Rosemary Murphy. She and I sort of drifted apart.”

  “You’re in the perfect place to do that.”

  “I think so, too. Away from all the competing voices, I just might find the girl who used to sit up all night plucking away on her guitar and scribbling lyrics in a journal.”

  “I’m a little surprised no one’s recognized you.”

  “Haven’t you heard about hiding in plain sight? No one expects me to be here so they’re not looking for me. A floppy hat, sunglasses, and no makeup helps, too.”

  “What happens if you meet a man on this side trip from reality?”

  “After what I went through with Randall, I’m not about to get involved with anyone else.” This sounded good even if it wasn’t completely accurate. She’d already met someone, but the less she talked about Jase, the easier it would be to forget him.