Page 37 of Grounds for Love

Chapter 12

Jen

“Soyoujustcame back early?”

I was upset to be the cause of ending our escape weekend a day early. After I’d gotten past being sick on Friday night, Saturday had been amazing. I’d thought Rod’s clothing optional clause had been a joke. It wasn’t. I grin at the divine memories of spending the day naked in bed, by the yacht’s pool, swimming in the cove, and sunning on a lounger. And, of course, all those orgasms were incredible. Everything was absolutely great… until that night. “Yeah, I’ve never been so seasick in my life.”

Joy wipes down a table in the dining area of Uncommon Grounds. “That’s so weird. You’re never sick on the ferry. Do you think you just had a stomach bug?”

I shrug as I restock the cookies and brownies in the display case. “I don’t see how that could be. I was fine all day Saturday, but then when we stopped for the night, it started again.”

“But wouldn’t you be seasick when the yacht was moving, not when it was sitting still?”

That does sound like the normal thing. “I don’t know. All I know is that I’ve been fine since we got back to the marina on Sunday morning.”

Joy tosses the towel into the dirty mop rag basket. “Did you at least get your freak on?”

“My gosh, Joy. Who are you?”

“You know what I mean. Quit stalling. You might as well tell me.”

“Saturday, yes, but after we got back to his house on Sunday, no. Rod was annoyingly sweet. He wouldn’t touch me because he wanted me to rest and recover. When I was fine.”

She takes the empty tray from me and we both head into the kitchen. She starts washing the dirty pans in the sink and I grab a box of teabags from the shelves in the pantry.

“You must have scared him.”

I realize that and I hate that I was the cause of his worry, but I kept reassuring him I was fine. “He was even crazy talking about selling the yacht. I told him I’d just take motion sickness meds or get one of those pressure bracelets.”

Joy looks upward and sighs with a sappy grin on her face. “That’s so romantic. I’m so happy you’ve found love again, sis. I get to pick my maid of honor dress out, right?”

“Slow your roll! I’m not getting married again. Ever,” I announce as I head back into the front room to fill the tea canister.

Joy follows me, wiping her hands on her apron. “Wait. What?”

“You heard me.”

Joy crosses her arms and leans on the counter. “If Rod asks you to marry him, your answer is going to be no?”

I perch on the opposite counter. I’ve had years to think about this. I might as well get the conversation over with now so she won’t hold out hope that marriage is in my future. “Bryan is my husband. I don’t want another one.”

I can clearly see by her dropped jaw I have rendered my sister speechless. But only for a minute. “Jen. Yes, you loved Bryan, but he isn’t here. Rod is and you love him now. Don’t you want to spend the rest of your life with him?”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t be with him. It’s just the marriage thing I don’t want and I don’t think he does either. We’re older and we’re both in a place in our lives where we don’t need that piece of paper. I’m not sure where this is going, but I know it’s not going to be down the aisle.”

Joy sighs with a frown. “Gosh, Jen, way to pop my bubble. Does Rod know this?”

I shrug my shoulders. “We’ve not talked about it, but we’ve talked about spending more time together.”

“Like moving in with him?”

Would I move in with Rod? Maybe. Eventually. “I don’t know. He hasn’t asked. How would you feel about that? You’d have the apartment to yourself.”

“I’d be fine with it. It would give me an office for the marketing I’m doing for Brewster’s.”

“Are you sure?” I ask and she nods. “Another thing, how do you feel about asking Melissa to come on full-time and get a few more part-timers? This summer has been wild so far.”

“That sounds great. We can afford it and that way you can take time off whenever you need to, and I won’t feel so tied down myself. Maybe I can pick up another marketing job or two.”

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