Love at Last (Finding Love Book 6) Page 8

  He held out his left hand. When she took it, he drew her down to sit beside him. The warmth of his touch set off a chain of tumultuous sensations inside her. She felt the pulse in her wrist throbbing underneath the light pressure of his fingers. To distract herself, she tried to remember the last time she held hands with a man. It definitely wasn’t Randall; he’d laughingly told her it was childish. This was another facet of his character that should have set off the ‘he’s a loser’ bell in her head. There was nothing childish about the feelings coursing through her. Neither was the way Jase was looking at her. She shifted her gaze away from his face.

  “That’s a long line of stitches on your head.”

  “I hit the ladder on the way down.”

  “I can’t believe they sent you home yesterday.”

  “I think the fact that Quinn is a doctor had something to do with that. Speaking of my awesome brother, I heard he stood in for me. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to change your tire.”

  “Why are you apologizing? I’m the one who ran over the screw.”

  “It was a missed opportunity.”

  He ran his thumb slowly back and forth across her knuckles. Her eyes were drawn to the movement as if by a magnet. With each stroke, her breath hitched and her pulse quickened. How could something so simple produce such a violent reaction? Maybe it had less to do with the fact that she was being touched and more to do with who was touching her.

  “For what?” she asked after a silence that went on too long.

  “To see you again.”

  As Sage, Rosemary received her share of compliments, but none of them made her feel hot and cold at the same time or caused her heart to bang around in her chest like a Mexican jumping bean. “You’re seeing me now.”

  “True, but it would have been nice to see you yesterday, too.”

  She touched the sling holding his right arm. “How long do you have to wear this thing?”

  “At least two weeks, maybe more. I’ve been trying to figure out how I’m going to work on my book with only one hand.”

  “You could use one of those voice-recognition apps where you dictate and the program transcribes it into a document.”

  “I’m not sure I’m organized enough for that. I’m all over the place when I’m writing.”

  Her glance went to the computer desk sitting in front of the window. “Is that where the magic happens?”

  “Most of the time, yes. I have to be in a place with few distractions.”

  “I’m the same way when I’m working on a…on a project.” She almost said ‘on a song’.

  “Was the painter able to finish your house?”

  Guilt added to the touch of color already in her cheeks. “Yes, and it looks great. How was trick-or-treating with Winnie?”

  “It was a lot of fun. I went as Clark Kent, and she was Supergirl. It would have been more fun if you’d been there.”

  “How do you know?”

  “The same way I know that today is better because you’re here.”

  Rosemary tried to look away from him and couldn’t. How was she supposed to remain cool and detached when he said things like that? “You’re picking up right where you left off.”

  “I can’t help it. You’re more beautiful every time I see you.” He laughed suddenly. “The same can’t be said for me.”

  She tilted her head to the side. “I don’t know about that. The bruises on your face and the sling give off a bad boy vibe that’s kind of appealing.”

  Jase made a face. “Some bad boy I am. I got spooked by a bird.”

  “It could have happened to anyone. By the way, I took your advice about the paneling. I had the hardware store tint the primer, and it only took one coat.”

  “So what’s up next on your renovation agenda?”

  “The bathroom. I’m going to wallpaper the area above the wainscoting.”

  “You should look at Nelson Interiors. That’s where Ellen found the wallpaper she wants to use in the nursery. It’s hard to tell right now, but she’s pregnant.”

  “I know. She told me the baby is due in April.”

  “Quinn’s been walking on air ever since he found out. I’m really happy for him. He’s gone through so much in the last three years. He was badly injured while doing humanitarian work in South Africa. They didn’t think he was going to survive. When he finally made it home, his fiancé cancelled their wedding.

  “Seeing him deal with his physical issues as well as losing the woman he loved made me realize how quickly life can change and how important it is to take hold of happiness when you have the chance. I also saw firsthand how love can transform and heal the most broken of hearts. If I achieve even half the happiness Quinn has with Ellen, I’ll count myself a lucky man.”

  Rosemary blinked away the sudden tears in her eyes. “Hearing that story makes my own problems seem very trivial.”

  “There’s nothing trivial about having your heart broken. The key is being willing to let someone help you pick up the pieces and put it back together.”

  “That’s easier said than done.”

  * * * * *

  Rosemary’s remark told Jase more than she realized. He glanced down at the hand linked with his. The ring he’d seen on the CD label was still on her finger, but he didn’t need to see it to know that Rosemary was Sage. Listening to her music had removed the last of his doubts. Her voice, like everything else about her, possessed a hypnotic quality that stayed with him long after the song ended. Just as an author’s works are a reflection of the person who wrote them, a composer’s music is an echo of the songwriter’s soul. Jase was completely enchanted by the woman revealed in those songs.

  His natural inclination was to admit that he knew who she was, but something his mother said held him back. She was right when she said that not everyone was as direct and open as he was. In Rosemary’s case, she had the added complication of being famous. In the wrong hands, that information could be used against her. On a more personal level, Randall’s actions had hurt her both personally and professionally. For those reasons, it was important that Jase let her decide when or if she wanted to tell him.

  “Nothing about trusting someone is easy,” he said finally. “It’s a leap of faith that doesn’t always get a soft landing.”

  “You have a writer’s way with words. I tried to find your books, but there’s nothing at the bookstore written by Jase Phillips.”

  She’d taken the time to look for his books. For a moment, he couldn’t speak for the lump in his throat. “There are two reasons for that. First of all, I publish my work independently so my books are only available online. Secondly, I write under a pen name. It’s the initials of my first and middle name combined with my mother’s maiden name.”

  “Very clever.”

  “I thought so.” He heard the sound of the front door closing and sighed inwardly. Terry was going to pay for that. His hope that Rosemary hadn’t heard it wasn’t granted. She glanced over her shoulder and then back at him.

  “I should probably get going. You need to rest.”

  “I appreciate you coming. It made my day.”

  “I wanted to come. I was worried about you.”

  Jase ran his thumb over her hand again, not able to resist touching her soft skin. “Can you come again tomorrow?”

  She hesitated so long that he was sure she was going to refuse. “If you want me to.”

  He gently shook the hand he held. “Of course I want you to. There’s no doubt about that.”

  Her lips curved into a small smile. “You’re even more charming when you’re not feeling well.” She pulled her hand away and rose to her feet. “I’ll come a little earlier and bring lunch. Do you like calzones?”

  “I like everything except sushi, oysters and spinach.”

  “Not a problem. I don’t like any of those things either. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He only got a few seconds to savor Rosemary’s visit before Terry came strolling through his bedroom
door.

  She affected a dramatic pose worthy of a Shakespearean play. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

  Jase picked up a pillow with his good arm and threw it in her direction. She caught it before it hit the ground. “This from the girl who cried every night for weeks every time Lucas left to go back to college.”

  “I was only seventeen at the time.”

  “Let me see your phone.”

  “Why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing.

  “I want to see how many times you’ve called and texted Lucas today.”

  “I’m not giving you my phone.”

  Jase laughed. “I didn’t think so.”

  Terry tossed the pillow back on the bed. “All joking aside, it’s nice to see that you’ve added a few more quality controls to your dating template. Rosemary is a definite upgrade from your nice-to-look-at, but short-on-everything-else-that-matters type girlfriends.”

  “She’s not my girlfriend.”

  “How can that be? I thought one look was enough to have a woman swooning at your feet.”

  “Don’t feel like you have to stick around, Terry. I’ve taken up enough of your day off. I’m sure you’ve got a gourmet meal to prepare for Lucas.”

  “I’m not staying. Mom just got here. She’s grilling Quinn for not telling her what happened.”

  “I’m the one who told him not to call her. She was eight hours away visiting her sister. There was no point in getting her upset.”

  “It’s not me you have to convince. Enjoy your solitude while you can.”

  Terry was replaced fifteen minutes later by his mother. Cindy Phillips swept into the room, her face a thundercloud. It was clear that Quinn hadn’t been able to calm her down.

  “Hi, Mom. How was your trip?”

  She ignored this. “Do you realize that you could have been paralyzed? That cranky old man across the street has more money than all of us put together. He can pay someone to take down his satellite dish.”

  Jase patted the spot on the bed where Rosemary had so recently sat. “Come sit down. I’m getting a crick in my neck looking up at you, and that’s not helping my headache.”

  She did as he said, her anger turning into concern. “I’m your mother, Jase. It’s my privilege to worry about you. When you have your own children, you’ll understand.”

  “I’m sure I will. Where’s Dad?”

  “He went to pick up Freya from the kennel.”

  “You came to see me instead of Freya? Mom, I’m really touched.”

  She flicked him on the cheek like she used to do when he was little. “Don’t get sassy. Terry said that Rosemary came to see you.”

  “She’s coming tomorrow, too.”

  His mother’s smile widened. “I’m not surprised. There’s something irresistible about a man in pajamas.”

  Jase groaned. “So you’re saying that she’s only coming because she feels sorry for me. This is going from bad to worse. Let’s talk about something else.”

  “Have you figured out what you’re getting your grandfather for his birthday? It’s only three weeks away.”

  “I already took care of it. I ordered him a t-shirt that says, “World’s Best Great Grandparent.”

  “He’ll love it.”

  “Who will love what?” Quinn asked, walking into the room.

  “I told mom about the shirt I got for Gramps.”

  “You’re right. He will love it. Ellen and I are getting ready to fix dinner. Do you want grilled chicken or something lighter like soup?”

  “I’d really like a few peanut butter and honey sandwiches.”

  “I think we can manage that. Mom, are you coming? I think Jase has had enough excitement for one afternoon.”

  She leaned forward and kissed Jase’s cheek. “I’ll check in with you tomorrow.”

  Once he had the cottage to himself again, Jase got out of bed and walked over to the chest of drawers. Hidden underneath his socks was Frank’s CD. His fall off the ladder had prevented him from returning it. As long as he still had it, he might as well listen to it. What Quinn didn’t know wouldn’t hurt him.

  Chapter Six

  As Rosemary stood in line at Dom’s waiting for her lunch order, her thoughts went back to where they’d been since yesterday. Somewhere in between Jase holding her hand and telling her that ‘today is better because you’re here’, her emotions had taken over, ignoring every attempt by her head to resist or at least remain neutral. From there, her actions defied logic, common sense and everything else that mattered. Not only had she given in to her attraction to Jase, but she’d also made it impossible to abandon ship by agreeing to spend more time with him. It was as if she was being carried along by forces outside her control.

  Even now she couldn’t explain why she’d reversed her decision and potentially put her trip to St. Marys in jeopardy. She probably should have been more upset about it, but her self-preservation had disappeared as fast as her judgment. What hadn’t completely deserted her was her conscience, and it was speaking loudly. If she was going to deviate from the blueprint, she wasn’t going to do it on a foundation of lies. Jase deserved to know who she was.

  The chemistry between them couldn’t be denied, but neither could the fact that this had all the hallmarks of a holiday romance minus the exotic location: two people thrown together for a short period of time. She’d read somewhere that only about seven percent of such connections last. With those kinds of odds, it was almost guaranteed that this harmless infatuation would fade. Based on the condition of her heart, she didn’t think it would be a problem. Rosemary had learned a painful lesson about love and wasn’t in a hurry to put herself through it again.

  There were no vehicles on the driveway when she parked in the space adjacent to Jase’s cottage. As she was getting out of the car, she heard his voice behind her.

  “Need any help?”

  “No, thanks. How did you get out here so fast?”

  “I was watching for you.”

  She closed the door and swung around to face him. Jase looked only marginally better than he had the day before. “Did you get any sleep last night?”

  “I dozed off and on.”

  She followed him inside and sat the bag from Dom’s on the gleaming kitchen counter. There wasn’t a single item out of place anywhere. “I wasn’t sure if you should have caffeine, so I brought some Sprite.” When he didn’t say anything, she looked over her shoulder. Jase was standing motionless a few feet away, a faint smile sitting on his lips. The warmth of his gaze had her lungs scrambling for air and her heart thumping as if she’d just run up ten flights of stairs.

  He laughed softly as he walked over to the cabinet to get two glasses. “When I was eleven, I didn’t understand why I was so drawn to you. There’s certainly no mystery about it now.”

  No, there wasn’t. The air between them was practically sizzling. “Is it because I come bearing calzones?”

  “Not exactly. It’s the age-old boy-meets-girl, boy-can’t-stop-thinking-about-girl, boy-wants-to-kiss-girl sort of thing. I’m sure you’ve dealt with it before.”

  The thought of him kissing her made her heart skip a beat. With hands that trembled slightly, she arranged the food on the plates he gave her and then joined him at the table. “I might have dealt with it, but I’ve never had it explained so well.”

  “Don’t you find that things work better when everyone’s on the same page? If I state my intentions up front, it gives you time to decide whether or not you’re on board.”

  Her lips twitched. “And if I’m not?”

  “You can choose a suitable countermeasure.”

  Again Rosemary had trouble keeping a straight face. “I see. What would you suggest?”

  “A simple shake of the head will usually work. Stepping on my foot is also very effective, especially when I’m not wearing shoes, like today.”

  “What happened to the shy little boy I met all those years ago?”

  “Oh, he’s still around. I let h
im out every now and then.”

  She glanced around the room. “Do you actually live here? This place is spotless.”

  “I find cleaning to be very relaxing. It’s a mindless activity. I’ve come up with some great book ideas while doing it.”

  “I don’t mind housework, but my efforts aren’t up to your standards.”

  “I wasn’t always this way. It started when I went to college. Walking around the piles of junk and dirty clothes created by me and three other guys gave some credence to my mother’s ‘everything has a place’ motto. The day I couldn’t find my laptop, I finally gave in.”

  “Where did you go to college?”

  “The University of Georgia.”

  “I thought about going there, but I ended up at Kennesaw State.”

  “I played in an intramural soccer tournament there during my freshman year. I obviously didn’t see you on campus because I would’ve remembered it.”

  Rosemary laughed. “You’re a born flirt, aren’t you?”

  “Maybe, but I’m a truthful flirt.”

  “You look more like a tired flirt today. Go relax on the couch while I return your kitchen to its previous condition.”

  * * * * *

  Jase walked over to the living room and sat down. As he watched Rosemary moving around in the kitchen, a small smile played around his mouth. This was better than any pain medication Quinn could provide. “Winnie came to see me yesterday evening. She brought me some chocolate chip cookies and one of her favorite movies. I hadn’t seen Toy Story in years.”

  Rosemary looked up from wiping off the table. “When I was her age, my dad and I went to the theater on Sunday afternoons. Since my mother wasn’t there to stop us, we got popcorn loaded with butter and a gigantic box of Milk Duds.”

  “I always got the Raisinets. No one else in my family liked them so I never had to share.”

  “The trips to the theater stopped after my dad died. My mom didn’t like going, and my stepfather thought it was a waste of money.” She walked back over to the sink. “Now I’m too busy. I can’t even tell you the last movie I saw.”

  None of what she was saying surprised him. Being famous made going to the movies a major ordeal. It was no wonder she didn’t bother with it. “What do you do for fun?”