Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) (22 page)

Brenna turned back. Those two sounded like she and Jase not that long ago, bickering back and forth. She caught the look on her sister’s face, kind of nondescript, as if weighing her predicament. Chloe looked out her side window. Brenna half smiled at Davy. “At least Jase won’t get lost.”

Jase sniggered. “Yeah, why don’t you pay attention? Should I set the GPS, darlin’?”

Chloe cleared her throat and coughed. Brenna figured by now, Chloe was already rolling her eyes over the fact Jase hugged her. Him calling her ‘darlin’’ might send her into a real spin. She wondered what was up with Davy. He sure was a cutie.

Maybe he was enough to make her little sister change her mind about cowboys. But, she’d need to find out how old he was. At the moment Chloe seemed to be politely ignoring him.

“You ladies want to stop for food?” asked Jase when they got out of Phoenix. “You know me, I can eat anytime. Hard to believe you had anything decent on the plane.”

Brenna turned back to Chloe. “Are you hungry, hon?”

“Yeah, I could eat. Do they have
regular
food around here?”

Brenna watched Jase as he peered into his rear-view mirror. He wanted to laugh, she could tell by the grin on his face.

“What do you call regular? McDonald’s? Yeah, we have that around here. We’re still in the United States, you know.” Jase pulled into a parking lot off the highway to a pizza place. “I assume everybody likes pizza?” He purposefully turned back toward Chloe’s side of the truck.

“We all do. We had a lot last night,” said Brenna.

“Oh.” He backed up and headed back onto the highway. “We’ll find something else.”

“I didn’t mean we couldn’t eat it again. Making a statement that we liked pizza is all.”

Pizza last night brought up the wine, which in turn brought her headache to the forefront. Searching through her purse, she found the small bottle of pain relievers. “Do you have any water left, Chloe? I finished mine before we got off the plane.”

Jase handed her his opened bottle of water. “No problem. We have other options for places to eat. Right, Davy?” He checked the rear-view mirror again.

“Thanks for the water.” She popped the pills into her mouth and took a big drink. Not knowing what they’d be sleeping on, she wished for her body to be supine about now. Brenna turned back. “Maybe I’ll get a room for tonight. Neither of us hardly slept so a good night’s rest will help. Sound good?”

“I don’t care,” said Chloe. “I’m tired and want to sleep somewhere. It doesn’t matter.”

Jase tapped Brenna’s hand. “Nora left the sofa for you. If you don’t want it, she’ll dispose of it later, but she figured you’d have more than a chair until your furniture gets delivered.”

“If I remember right, the chair is a recliner.” She rubbed her temples. “You can have the couch, Chloe, and I’ll take the chair.” At least they’d have something soft and off the floor. “Her generosity is appreciated, Jase. Please thank her for us.”

Jase pulled into another parking lot at a restaurant and brewery. “This has something for everybody.” He shifted out of gear and sat sideways. “But, Bren, I have an idea. I have a horse trailer with a queen bed you’re welcome to borrow until your stuff comes. What do you say?”

“For freaking crying out loud!” said Chloe. “A horse trailer? What do you think we are?”

Davy laughed. “You haven’t seen his trailer, lady. It ain’t what you’re thinkin’.” He opened his door and got out at the same time Jase did.

Brenna opened the door partway, saying to Chloe, “Come on, sis. We’re here. Let’s go get something to eat and figure out what we’ll do. My head’s killing me and I want to lie down as bad as you.” Brenna and Chloe got out and the four of them went inside.

“Come on, Bren, a horse trailer. You drug me out here to sleep in a damn horse trailer?”

“I don’t know. Come with me to his ranch and let’s take a look, okay? He’s kind enough to offer.” Now she began to question her own sanity. Chloe was right. And, no, she didn’t come all the way out here to sleep in a horse trailer.

Once seated, they all looked over the menu. Chloe did her best to keep distance between she and Davy while Brenna held Jase’s hand beneath the table. Davy and Jase ordered double cheeseburgers, Chloe had an apple-pecan salad, and Brenna had a club sandwich.

“I’ll have a beer, too,” Davy said. The waitress laughed and walked away. He half shrugged. “Hey, you can’t blame a guy for trying.”

Jase said, “Get on over here and let me punch you upside your head. You’re not old enough to drink and you’re especially not doing it with me.”

“Your brother lets me when I work for him.” Davy gave a smirk.

“Like
hell
he does. He hardly lets me drink.”

This opened it up for Brenna. “How old are you, Davy?”

“Nineteen…barely. I almost went away to college but decided to hang around. Trying to get a full-time job with one of these Carlson’s and go to a local college.” Davy faced Chloe. “How old are you?”

Brenna decided to stop this right now. “She’s only sixteen.”

“I’ll be seventeen in a week.” She narrowed her eyes at her sister. “So, you might as well say I’m seventeen.”

“Oh, you’re a senior?” Davy asked.

“Junior.”

“So, Jase,” interrupted Brenna. “Would it be a problem if Chloe and I both came out to your place…check out the horse trailer?” She began to figure Davy’s agenda. He probably had no idea her sister was only sixteen.

“Well, of course. I’ll be glad to have you, but the place is a mess.” Jase took a drink of his soda, placed it back on the table, and brushed his hand through his hair. “Hey, I have another idea—”

“You’re full of ideas, aren’t you,” Chloe blurted out.

Brenna shot her the evil eye. “What’s on your mind, Jase?”

“You two can have my room, I’ll sleep in the trailer. Just let me pick up my dirty laundry in my room first.”

“Yes, please do,” said Chloe, rolling her eyes. “Bren, I say we do the couch and chair at
our
house.”

Brenna didn’t take any time to think it over. “I agree. It’s our first night so we should stay at home.” She smiled. “But, I’m very grateful that you offered, Jase.”

He wrapped his arm around her shoulder. “If it doesn’t work out, you know how to get a hold of me.”

“Yes, and you know I will.” Their order came and Brenna waited until everyone was served. Her head pounded and she needed something more than a glass of water. “Could I have a cup of coffee when you come back this way, please?”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the waitress. “I’ll bring it right over.”

“Hey,” Jase said, “if you’d like, I’ll take y’all home and we’ll get your ‘stang back to you tomorrow. You look a little peaked.”

“I’m tired. I’ll need my car to get coffee, something for breakfast and lunch, so we don’t have to rush out tomorrow morning. Sheets for our couch and chair would be nice.”

“Nora left you all that stuff, hon,” said Jase.

Chloe picked out the pecans in her salad and popped them into her mouth. “Well, you can take
me
there. I don’t need to go to no horse ranch.”

Brenna took a bite of her sandwich and glared at her sister. That was it. “You’ll be spending time on a horse ranch. I’m signing you up for lessons.” This wasn’t the way she wanted to tell her, but maybe she’d quit with the sneers. Give her something to think about.

“You don’t know how to ride? I’ll be happy to teach ya. I been riding since I was born.” Davy didn’t make it any better.

“I’ve been seventeen years without getting on a horse. I’m not about to start,” said Chloe.

“You’ll love it. I dare ya to get on one,” Davy said.

Brenna gulped.
Uh oh. Daring my sister?

Chloe faced him, finished chewing the pecans, and said, “Excuse me? You
dare
me? You’ve been riding since you were born, which looks like it might’ve been yesterday…but you dare me?” Chloe took a drink of her soda, blew out a big breath. “You’re on,
cowkid
.”

Jase almost choked. Davy snickered, saying, “Where’s your cowboy boots, and hat? Ya ain’t riding no horse looking like that, little girl. Why those sandals will be filled with so much sand, you’ll weigh the horse down.” Davy brushed his hand through his hair and gave Jase a sideways glance.

“Okay, kids, that’s enough,” said Jase. “Chloe will get the hang of it.” He turned to Brenna. “And so will Brenna.”

“I see a conspiracy here,” said Chloe.

“Stop! Chloe, give it a try. Davy, don’t tease my sister. Jase, I
will
get the hang of it.” There! She set them all straight. How long would it last though? Brenna figured one more
little girl
from Davy and Chloe might let him have it where it counted and he’d be gasping for air. Too bad he didn’t know she was one test away from a black belt in martial arts.

Jase brought her hand to his lips. “I have no doubts darlin’. I’ll teach you everything you need to know and you
will
get the hang of it.”

Oh, hallelujah! She knew exactly what he meant, and that sexy wink after his words was enough to seal it. Anticipation like she had never known rattled her insides so bad, everyone in the restaurant knew. Chloe and Davy stared at her from across the table. It must’ve been written on her forehead, too.

Chloe pointed to Davy, her eyes narrowed. “Don’t
ever
call
me
darlin’.”

Davy choked on his bite of burger and when he stopped coughing, he said, “Have no fear, little girl.”

Brenna talked Chloe into going to the ranch with them. When they pulled onto the road, Judy was just leaving.
Oh, boy. What a shock this is going to be.
“Does your mother know you…um, that we…darn it. You know what I mean.”

“Nope. Ah, I should say, yeah, because her window is going down. Wanna duck?”

“No, Jase Carlson, stop it! You’re increasing my headache.” Her fingers went to her temples.

“Headache? What’s wrong? You okay?” he asked.

“No, I’m tired and have a hangover from last night.”

Jase hit the brakes when his mom stopped in the road leading to the ranch. “Hey, Mom. You need something?” He glanced back to Brenna. “Hangover?”

She lowered her voice. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

Judy stretched her neck as far as possible, looking around Jase and spotted Brenna. She had a look of question and glee at the same time. “Is that Brenna Page?”

“Well, I sure hope so, or you blew it for me big time.” Jase laughed. “Yep. I just picked her and her sister up from the airport.”

“Well…well, I must say I’m surprised.” She said to Brenna, “Nice…
very
nice to see you again.”

“Hi, Judy. Jase was kind enough to pick us up.” She proceeded to explain about her car being too small and unable to hold enough luggage.

“I must say congratulations on the townhouse. Nora told me you’d be moving in.”

“Yes, this will be our first night there.” She nodded to the back seat. “This is my sister.” She faced Chloe. “Can you please acknowledge this woman? Without her I might still be sitting on the side of the road.”

“Hey,” said Jase. “I had something to do with that.”

Chloe leaned forward and tilted her hand in a halfhearted wave. “Nice to meet you.” She sank back into the back seat. Lowering her voice, she said, “I have to use the bathroom, Bren.”

Judy said, “I’m heading home, but it was good seeing you again.”

“Mom, what did you want?” asked Jase. “Brenna, excuse me a moment please.” He pulled up far enough to get the door open, got out, and walked back to his mom’s 4x4.

Davy tapped Chloe’s arm. “There’s a bathroom in the barn. Come on, I’ll lead you there. It’s a decent one.”

“Wait,” said Brenna.

“Bren, no!” Chloe opened the door and so did Davy. She watched them walk down the dusty road—her sister in sandals as she had predicted earlier. Then she kicked them off and carried them the rest of the way, making Brenna laugh.

Jase came back to the door and leaned in the window. “Mom invited you and Chloe to dinner Sunday. Are you interested? It’ll be the family.”

Brenna held back, but his mom waited for an answer. “Can I let her know tomorrow? I’d like to discuss it with the kid. She might not be ready for it.”

“
She
might not be?”

Brenna nodded. “Okay,
we
might not be ready.” If she had a bit of apprehension, for sure Chloe would.

“So you know, my family is very close-knit, and there are no strangers at Mom’s table.” Jase straightened up and watched down the road as Chloe and Davy headed into the barn. “You can let her know tomorrow. I’ll tell her and we’ll get up to the house.”

“Jase? Is she shocked?”

He shook his head. “Nope, not at all. I already had the third degree when I returned her gas can that night, three hours after she left us in the parking lot. Not much gets past her. Not to mention, someone saw us horsing around the night of the ice cream cone incident.” Jase winked.

He took a step away and Brenna looked down the road toward the barn. His horse trailer sat beside it. She hadn’t seen it the last time.

Jase slid behind the wheel after Judy drove off. “Mom said it’s fine. She understands if you’d rather wait. Think about it, okay?” He lifted the console out of the way, and scooted over. Jase slid his hand over her shoulder, fisting the hair at her nape before he wrapped his fingers around the back of her neck.

She laid her hand on his thigh. His cologne mingled with whatever else he had on, shampoo, aftershave, a little bit of him, and it smelled delicious.

“I did a lot of missing you, girl. Had to keep reminding myself you weren’t something I dreamed up. Even looked at your car when I got home yesterday to convince myself.” He used his other hand to cup the side of her face. “You’re as beautiful as you were in my dreams. But you
are
real.”

He tilted his head, came close to her lips, and Brenna slipped her hand around his waist. She leaned forward to meet his kiss. His lips were so warm. The closer he moved to her, the warmer she became inside and out.