Page 74 of The Convict Gets His Girl

"I know," Chase said softly. "I'm prepared for her to be angry, to reject me. I just want her to know that I want to be in her life, on her terms."

Jewel's eyes softened. The vulnerability in his voice, the genuine care he was showing, was unexpected. This wasn't the cocky young man she'd known so long ago. This was a man who had been shaped by time, by experiences, by loss.

"When do you want to do this?" she asked.

"As soon as you're off work for a few days," Chase said.

She hummed, then said, "I'll talk to Dad and Gemma about going this weekend. That would give us a few days to make a plan and present a united front when we approach her."

She glanced around the room, taking in the potential of the space. "This house could be good for her. A fresh start."

Chase followed her gaze. "A lot of land for her to explore. Plenty of space to breathe."

Jewel's veterinary mind was already calculating. "The barn could be perfect for her 4-H projects. She's always wanted horses, but we never had the space. She used to go with me to the ranches when she was little, like my dad did with Gemma and I…"

He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, squeezing her hand gently. "Come on, let's go eat brunch at the diner. I'm starving."

She chuckled and, hand-in-hand, they went out of the room and down the stairs.

ChapterTwenty-Eight

The diner was bustling with late morning activity when they walked in, hands still intertwined. Chase's stomach rebelled at so many eyes on them, and he knew the rumors would be running through town by this afternoon. Several regulars nodded at Chase, a few giving Jewel curious glances. Dot greeted them with a raised eyebrow but said nothing.

He was trying so hard to be the perfect gentleman, different from the rough-edged young man from before, but he wasn't sure how the town would react to seeing him dating Jewel. Not that he was… yet.

Chase pulled out her chair, a gesture that made Jewel roll her eyes.

"What's that look for?" he asked, sliding into the seat across from her.

"You keep being a perfect gentleman, and it's weird," she said honestly.

His brows rose as he sat across from her, surprised that her thoughts were so aligned with his own. "Why is it weird? You deserve a gentleman waiting on you hand and foot."

She laughed, drawing gazes from other patrons, but he barely noticed. He was captivated by the carefree sound, the way the light caressed her cheek.

"Well, that's a big change from who you were before." She grinned.

He chuckled, a low rumble that joined the soft sounds of the diner. "Prison changes a man. So does losing everything."

Her expression sobered as she glanced at the menu, then she began to bite her lip.

Dot took their orders, but in the back of his mind, he was more nervous than he let on. Between the house, the potential for a family, and Jewel's unexpected serious consideration of his crazy idea to move in together, he was afraid to hope, to go after more in life.

The morning sunlight streamed across the worn wooden table, highlighting dust mites dancing between them.

"What are you thinking?" Chase asked, his voice soft, his gaze captivated by the way the light played with the blond in her hair.

She looked up, vulnerable and cautious. "About Destini. About how we tell her."

They talked through various options and scenarios before Dot arrived with their plates—his a massive platter of scrambled eggs, thick-cut bacon, and homemade sourdough toast. Hers with avocado toast, scrambled eggs, and grilled chicken strips.

"I have no idea how she's going to react. When I saw her, she was just so angry and sullen."

He nodded, understanding the delicate terrain they were navigating.

"We could write her a letter first," Chase suggested. His hands, rough from years of manual labor, fidgeted with his napkin. "Give her space to process before we're... face to face."

Jewel sighed, spreading the avocado on her toast. "She's smart, perceptive. I think she'll understand more than we give her credit for. I certainly hope that if we tell her together, face to face, she'll become more accepting of moving. I'm so, so tired of being away from her." Her fingers fiddled nervously with the straw as she took a bite of toast.

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