Page 14 of Isabelle & Jason
Isabelle was made for him.
And he wasn’t ready to let go.
He worked his jaw, not willing to give his friend any indication of where he stood.
They were both quiet for a while, and Jason’s heart rate was just starting to ease up a bit when Mark had to open his big mouth. “Then again, maybe congratulations are in order.”
“Mark,” Jason warned.
“Cuz, you know. It’s been five years.”
“Mark.” This time there was a bite to his voice.
“You finally got the courage to make a move. That’s a monumental accomplishment, right?”
Jason slammed a hand down onto the countertop and glowered at his friend. “Leave it alone, Mark. I don’t need you butting into my business.”
His friend chuckled quietly to himself, only shaking his head. “If she means that much to you, I would have thought you would have done something by now. We’ve been working here for four years. How many days is that?” He cocked his head as if to calculate the number in his head, but whatever number he plucked from his mind wouldn’t be nearly close enough. “However long it’s been, you need to make a decision. Do something or don’t. Just stop mooning over her.”
“I’mnotmooning,” Jason said.
“Who are you mooning over?” A female voice wafted into the kitchen and Nikki appeared, laden with two paper grocery bags. She glanced from Jason to Mark.
Jason’s warning glare was thankfully clear enough that Mark shook his head with a chuckle. “Oh, you know. I’m always mooning over my fiancée. Can’t help it.”
“Nice try, Mark. But I’ve been working with you two long enough to know that you were the one telling Jason to knock it off.” She pushed the groceries onto the counter, then brushedher brown hair from her brow with the back of her hand. Then she turned to Jason with her hands on her hips. “Spill.”
There would be no getting out of this conversation. The best chance he had was to lie and pray that Nikki would believe him. Looking away from her, he sighed. “Camilla. We went out, remember? And she’s with Dallas now.”
Nikki offered him an empathetic frown. “Oh, sweetie.” She moved across the tiled floor and patted his upper arm. “You’ll find your special someone. Just continue to be patient. One day you’ll bump into her, and she’ll sweep you off your feet.”
Mark choked on a laugh. “Pretty sure it’s supposed to be the other way around.”
Nikki gave him a playful shove. “It can go either way, I assure you.” She then winked at Jason. “You’re a catch. If I were a betting woman, I’d say you don’t have to wait long.”
That was the understatement of the century. Jason had already fallen for a girl, and the worst part was that he barely even knew her.
He turned back to the task at hand, his thoughts shifting to how he’d found her this morning. He’d heard what sounded like footsteps around three in the morning, but when he’d gotten up and looked out his window, he hadn’t seen anything. Forty-five minutes later, he’d bumped into Isabelle. She’d been going for a run.
Strange time for a morning run.
He’d planned on asking her about it when she relaxed more. Mark was usually late, and he’d thought he had longer with Isabelle all to himself.
Jason gave Mark an irritated look. Why today, of all days, did his friend have to be on time?
Once breakfast was complete and they’d cleaned up to get ready for lunch, Jason set to work on a small project of his own. He grabbed the ingredients for a chocolate soufflé. He knewthe recipe by heart. It had been one he’d perfected over the years in culinary school. Desserts were his specialty. There was something about plating and presenting a work of art that made people swoon.
A smile tugged at his lips as he put the finishing touches on the dessert. Life was too short not to enjoy the sweet stuff. That’s what he told his siblings when he insisted they eat dessert before the main course. What if they choked on their lamb? Then they’d never get to experience the masterpiece he’d put together for them.
“I’ll be right back,” he called out to Nikki. She nodded at him without looking up from the recipe she had in her hand. Chili and cornbread were scheduled for lunch today. It would be easy enough but would need some additional prep.
Jason headed toward the main house, his steps sure until he reached the stairs. Then suddenly he wasn’t certain he was doing the right thing. He’d already put Isabelle’s name on the small box. The soufflé was still warm in his hands, and he wished he’d be able to see her reaction when she took her first bite.
Unfortunately, his courage waned, and he placed the dessert at the door before knocking and hurrying back to the kitchen. As long as Isabelle enjoyed it, he’d call this a win. Jason wasn’t sure, but he thought he heard the door open then close. He didn’t look back. He didn’t have to. Someone would give Isabelle the treat. He was certain of it.
6
Isabelle
