Total pages in book: 26
Estimated words: 24631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24631 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 123(@200wpm)___ 99(@250wpm)___ 82(@300wpm)
“Do you need a ride to the airport?” I offer.
“Are you sure you have time for this? If not, I can leave my car at the airport or grab an Uber.” She finds a lock of her hair, twirls it around her finger. I’m unsure if she’s nervous or shy but I want that to be my hand in her hair.
“Yeah, when are you leaving?”
“My flight leaves in three hours. I just need to grab my luggage from my car. I’ll leave it at the shop in case your mom needs something.” Stubborn woman that my mom is, she’s driving a car that’s close to twenty years old. I offered for her to take my truck when I’m on the rig or to buy her one. Instead, she insists on driving her car. Which is in the shop more times than not.
“Alright, come on. We’ll drive to the shop, then I’ll take you to the airport. I’m only home for two weeks, but if you need something, you call me, okay?” I take her hand this time, bringing it up to my lips, kissing the pulse point. I’m staking my claim on Aspen. She knows it, I know it, the whole fucking town knows it by now.
“Okay.” She’s breathless. I watch as her nipples pucker under her thin dress. I give her wrist a lingering kiss, tasting her, and wishing like hell my lips were on hers right now. The timing’s not right, but I know as soon as she’s back home, Aspen will be mine, and there’s nothing that will stand in my way.
I help her into my truck, watching her ass the entire way, already hating that I don’t know when she’ll be back, and who knows if I’ll be back at work by then.
“Thank you, Jasper. I know you’re probably ready to be home and in your own bed.” She turns in her seat. Fuck, but this truck was made for her and me right now. I step between her legs, wanting my hands on her.
“Anything for you. This shit is happening when you get home. You hear me, wildflower?” I’m thinking about how I’ve already wasted damn near two months of not being around her. And it’s my own fucking fault. I put the thought in my head that she’s better than me, deserves more than this roughneck life. But I’m done with that shit. I need Aspen in my life more than anything.
“I hear you.” Her hands slide from mine that are gripping her legs, until they meet my upper arms. I love the feel of her touching me.
“Alright, I’m not starting something we can’t finish.” I squeeze her legs before taking a step back and hating it all the same. Right now, though, she has a plane to catch, and I’d never do anything that would stop her from seeing her mom.
Aspen nods, sliding her legs inside the truck. I shut her door, and we make our way to her car and then to the airport. I’m exhausted, still stained with oil from the rig. That doesn’t stop me from being there for a woman I know will one day carry my last name.
One
Aspen
Present
Ruthie, Jasper’s mom, is a Godsend. Not only did she man Vintage Threads, she also picked me up at the airport. The shitty part of the situation is that Jasper is gone for two more weeks. Though he called and I texted for the most part, I soaked in the time with my family. If my mom has it her way, she won’t even let me know if she gets worse, especially since this was the third time I hightailed it back home when Dad called.
“I owe you and Jasper so much, seriously. Anytime you need anything, let me know.” I place my bag on the counter of the shop. It’s leather, has tassels, and is probably one of my favorite vintage finds. I’ve always had a flair for fashion, just not your typical style. No, I love lace, leather, bell bottoms, chunky heels, clothes that have flair. The more jewelry, the better. Well, that’s in my case, at least.
“You owe us no such thing. It does stink that Jasper wasn’t home to pick you up instead of old me. Plus, Aspen, you pay me, handsomely at that. If it weren’t for this job, I’d be sitting on my ass eating bon-bons and watching soap operas all day.” Ruthie is so full of shit. She knows it and I know it. That woman can run circles around me.
“It does stink, but he’s been texting and calling when he can. He warned me about how this works. Honestly, I get it. It’s his job, and he’s as passionate about it as I am about the shop. Plus, it means more girl time for us. I do believe a new shipment is coming in today,” I tell her with a wink. I’m not fibbing in the least. When Jasper dropped me off at the airport, we exchanged numbers. The only thing he asked is that I text him when I landed. Once I did that, it opened the floodgates. I woke up every morning to a good-morning text, and every night, even if I was fast asleep from taking a shift with Mom either at the house or the hospital, I had a good-night text too. For someone who’s so rough around the edges, works his body to the bone, and I know is dead-to-the-bone tired when his shift is over, Jasper made sure he made time for me, and on rare occurrences, he’d call or even FaceTime.