Page 52 of Reclaimed Roots

"Hey!" I protested with a laugh, swatting at his chest. "I'll have you know this backpack is very important. It carries all my hopes and dreams and... spreadsheets."

"Spreadsheets?" Jasper raised an amused eyebrow. "Sexy. Nothing gets me going like a good spreadsheet."

I groaned, tipping my forehead against his shoulder. "You're impossible. Why do I put up with you again?"

"Because I'm charming, ruggedly handsome, and fantastic in bed?" His tone was light, but there was an undercurrent of heat beneath the words. Memories of last night flashed through my mind. I pressed closer instinctively.

"Hmm, that must be it." I tilted my head back to meet his gaze. His eyes had gone molten, dark with promise. "Though I think I might need a refresher on that last one. You know, just to be sure."

He made a low, choked sound in the back of his throat, his hand tightening on mine. "Don't tempt me, woman. We'll never make it to dinner at this rate."

"And that would be a tragedy," I agreed solemnly, even as I rose up on my toes to kiss the underside of his jaw. "Imagine the scandal if we skipped out on family dinner to go fool around like a couple of horny teenagers."

"Oh they'd never let us live it down. We'd be the talk of the town for weeks."

"Months," I corrected, grinning up at him. "At least."

"Well then, we'd better get a move on." He kept our hands linked as he started down the sidewalk. "Can't keep the fam waiting."

We walked close together, shoulders brushing with everystride. It felt good to be with him like this. Easy in a way nothing else in my life had been for years.

I knew I should tell him about the orchard. He deserved to know the full extent of the financial mess they were in. But I couldn't put that weight on his shoulders. Not tonight.

I wanted to bask in this. In him, in us. In the simple joy of walking hand-in-hand, ready to face whatever came our way.

The rest could wait. Just a little longer.

Chapter Twenty-Two

JASPER

Weathered wood creakedbeneath our feet as we strolled up the porch steps of my parents' house. Having Natalie there was strange and fucking perfect all at once. Strange because it had been years since she last crossed that threshold for family dinner, perfect because it felt like the most natural thing in the world. She belonged there beside me, fingers entwined with mine.

Always had.

She was my person when we were seventeen, and she was still my person.

There was nothing else to it.

I couldn't stop stealing sidelong glances at her. She was beautiful, all shapely curves and luminous skin, dark hair tumbling down her back in glossy waves. And the soft light of the golden hour made her face glow. But there was a pensive set to her mouth, a furrow between her brows thathadn't been there this morning when I kissed her awake in the grass.

Was it ill-advised to fall asleep half naked in the middle of the orchard? Sure was. Did I regret it? Not for a damn second.

Despite not having a bed or blankets orwalls, it was the best rest I'd had in years. I could be absolutely anywhere on planet Earth with Natalie in my arms, and I'd be perfectly happy.

So why does she look so stressed?

"Hey." I tugged on her hand, pulling her to a stop before we reached the door. "You okay?"

She blinked up at me, hitching on an overly-bright smile. "Yeah, of course. Just a little nervous, I guess. It's been a while since I've attended an Everton family dinner. If I recall correctly, they can get a bit intense."

I rubbed my thumb over her knuckles, feeling the subtle tremor in her fingers. "They love you, Nat. Always have. And Mom's over the moon that you're joining us tonight. She's probably made enough food to feed an army."

Natalie's smile softened and her shoulders relaxed a fraction. "I've missed Emma's cooking. No one makes an apple pie quite like hers."

"That's because she puts all her love into it," a warm voice chimed in from behind us.

We turned to see my mom standing in the open doorway, her eyes suspiciously misty as she took in our joined hands. "Natalie, sweetheart. It's so good to see you."

---