Page 40 of Embers of You
We walk away from the main house and barn, further onto the property, and I’m starting to wonder if the dogs actually went to the house, and Jameson is just trying to get me alone. The thought should have my defenses rising, but all I can think is that I don’t mind it at all.
That is until he asks the dreaded question.
“What brought you to Amity?”
I sigh. “A story you’d never even believe.”
“Try me.”
“Would you believe it was just because I wanted to?”
“Not at all.” He chuckles.
“Why?”
“No one moves here. People leave here. This is the place you run from, not run to.”
“Why are you still here then? Shouldn’t you have run?”
He raises an eyebrow at me, clearly recognizing the deflection that this is. Luckily for me, he goes along with the diversion.
“I did.” He tucks his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “I moved to Florida for a while, ten years to be exact. I just came back recently.”
“Why Florida?” My immediate thought is that he’s going to say a girl, and the thought has my hackles rising. I have no reason to be jealous of some other woman, yet that’s exactly what I’m feeling before he’s even had a chance to answer.
“It’s the complete opposite of this place. I wanted to experience city life and warm weather. I wanted a change.”
“And you enjoyed it?”
He nods. “I did.”
“Why’d you come back?”
He hesitates, looking straight ahead and I feel like this is the first time I’ve seen him not have a hint of playfulness in his eyes. The lightness he always seems to carry dims at my question, and it reminds me of my reaction when he asked me.
Knowing we both have something that brought us here that we don’t necessarily want to talk about makes me want to reach out and touch his arm. Reassure him that he doesn’t need to tell me.
Before I’m able to do anything, the sky opens up and suddenly it’s dumping rain. I squeal at the sudden flood falling on us. Jameson doesn’t waste any time grabbing my hand without even thinking about it and pulling me behind him as we jog somewhere.
I hardly pay any attention to where we’re going, more focused on not slipping and falling on the suddenly slick ground. He pulls me inside, and I look down at my drenched clothes, my hair is dripping onto the wood floor, and every piece of fabric is sticking to my skin.
“Let me get you a towel,” he mumbles, rushing off. I look around and notice we’re in a small house I didn’t notice before.
It’s simple with a couch that looks unbelievably comfortable, like I could simply sink into it. There’s a TV and a large dog bed in the corner.
Jameson comes out with a towel, wrapping it around me instead of just draping it over my shoulders.
“Now I know this was a part of your plan,” I tease him, and he smiles. The lightness is back in his features, and it makes me curious what he didn’t want to tell me. But I would much rather see him look at me like this than how he was before.
“You caught me. I planned the rain. I’m really close with Zeus and he knows exactly when I need the weather changed.”
I can’t help the loud laugh I let out. “Is Zeus in charge of the weather?”
“To me he is.”
I laugh even more, tightening the towel around me.
“I really like your laugh,” he says, taking me off guard slightly. I look at him, and the way he’s looking at me is full of something I can’t quite place. Adoration, maybe. Whatever it is, I don’t want him to stop.
