“Goodness, that feels like a lifetime ago.” She paused, remembering. “My dad’s a game warden, so I grew up in the great outdoors—hunting, fishing, hiking, boating.”
“What were your favorite activities out of those?”
“Oh, boating for sure, with catch-and-release fishing a close second. I love the water and it’s the reason I bought a house a stone’s throw from the marina. Walking around the lake is my main form of exercise. It’s four miles, round-trip.” She described her daily walks, how the activity got her out of her head and into her body.
Roan listened intently as she told him about her excursions on Lake Twilight and the Brazos River. She spoke of how, as a kid, she loved rising before dawn with her dad to hit the best fishing spots before other anglers showed up. She lit up as she detailed the joys of sitting in the johnboat with herdad, watching the red bobber floating atop the water for signs of a fish strike, and eating the PB&J sandwiches they’d packed. She heard her voice take on a dreamy quality as she accessed those memories and shared them with him.
While the sleet fell outside, they talked about the things that meant the most to them, letting down their guards, being open with each other in a way they hadn’t been before. She talked about what it was like spending her life in and out of hospitals until she was eight years old. He spoke of watching Trinity’s birth and how becoming a father had changed him forever.
The conversation kept going. He shared the things he loved about cutting horses. She discussed being a pediatric nurse and the sense of fulfillment her job brought to her life. They delved into TV shows they liked, books they enjoyed, and places they’d traveled. They avoided nothing except the finer details about Roan’s relationship with Claire and Jazzy’s with Danny. Neither one of them wanted to erect stumbling blocks in their escalating emotional intimacy. They could delve into that later if need be.
It delighted Jazzy to discover, that despite their ten-year age difference, they had a lot in common. Turned out they both loved Skittles and Starburst, particularly the strawberry and cherry. They agreed that the lost art of square dancing deserved a revival, and that Saturday morning was the happiest time of the week, and there was nothing more soothing than spending time in nature. They laughed to learn neither one of them could whistle, snap theirfingers, nor roll their tongues. They both preferred beer to wine, cake to pies, and sweet potatoes to russets. Morning people by nature, they had trouble staying awake past ten thirty at night. They both spoke rudimentary Spanish and shared the same favorite color, blue. Although Roan preferred the darker tones while the lighter blue-green hues attracted Jazzy most. Their musical tastes dovetailed, both into country music, especially songs and artists with a bluegrass tinge.
When it came to their dislikes, they found their least favorite things complemented each other. He hated ironing. She loved it because it gave her a chance to zone out and she enjoyed the smell of spray starch. Jazzy didn’t care for yardwork, but Roan loved the sense of accomplishment a well-manicured lawn gave him. He didn’t like corner brownies, they were too crunchy, whereas she wanted only corner pieces, enjoying the crunch. She found balancing her checkbook tedious. He looked forward to Sunday afternoon when he did his finances. She hated doing dishes but didn’t mind dusting. He was the opposite.
Finally, they fell silent, and just enjoyed sitting with each other in the quiet. The fire was dying down and required more wood to keep it roaring, but she was reluctant to break the magic of their getting-to-know-you gab session.
“How’s the arm?” Roan asked after a bit.
It was only then Jazzy realized she’d been gingerly fingering the gauze bandage. “It aches a little, but not bad enough to take a painkiller.”
“You sure?”
“You’re all the medicine I need, Roan Sullivan.” She leaned forward to plant a soft kiss on his lips.
“Jazzy.” He breathed her name on a sigh.
“I’m so glad Danny asked Andi to marry him.”
“What?” Roan pulled back, looking as dazed as if she’d yanked him from a deep sleep filled with sexy dreams.
“If Andi hadn’t come into the Recovery Room that night flashing her engagement ring and bragging about how she was going to win the cookie challenge I would never have considered entering the contest.”
“You wouldn’t have gotten burned either,” Roan pointed out.
“Totally worth it,” she said, standing up. “It brought me here... to now...” She leveled a steady gaze at him and held out her hand. “Toyou.”
Chapter 20
Roan stared at her extended palm. Every pulse point in his body ticked a desperate message.Take her to bed, take her to bed, take her to bed.
Biology was a ravenous bear, awakened from winter slumber, hungry to meet physical needs. But unlike a bear, he had a conscience. His mind warred with his body. His flesh wanted her, right here, right now, with a lust so strong it blunted the part of his brain screaming at him not to take advantage of the situation. Jazzy was vulnerable. If they made love now it would bind them in a way he wasn’t sure either one of them was ready for. He was supposed to be the rebound guy. Not her forever lover.
But Lord, how he wanted her!
She loomed. Waiting.
He took her hand.
Jazzy tugged him to his feet.
He looked down at her.
They were both breathing heavily, a thin sheen of perspiration pearled on the little indention between her upper lip and her nose. Beer can tab,his father called that spot. Jazzy would know the medical name. He thought about asking her, anything to break the magnetic spell leading them to just one place.
The bedroom.
“Maybe I should go lie down,” she said, her gaze hooked on his. “I feel a little dizzy.”