Page 70 of A Change Of Heart

"Are we what?"She was pretty sure what he had in mind, but wanted him to spell it out.

"Going to have that kiss."

"Depends on how nice you are.So far, there's a lukewarm chance."If he wasn't driving, she'd be all over him in a minute.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Only lukewarm."

"You haven't stopped teasing me during the whole half-hour drive."

"Twenty minutes.And I couldn't stop halfway through.I know how much you love it."

"Not as much as your kisses," she told him with a smirk, then leaned over to hug his arm.

"See, it was all foreplay."Jason pulled into Starbuck's driveway and found a parking spot close.First thing he did was open his door.

"Isn't there something you forgot?"she asked.

He turned to face her with a certain look in his eye.She lifted her face for his kiss, but he only dropped a dry smooch on her forehead."The others will have to wait.I don't want Heulyn to see you swooning over me."

"As if!"She flung herself out the door and marched toward Starbucks with her head in the air.Before she reached the entrance, he slid past to open the door.

"How long do I have to wait?"she asked brushing by him.

"Soon as we can wrap up this meeting."

They found Heu at a back booth, drinking a cup of coffee.Jason started to make the introductions, then remembered Stephanie had been visiting with Nicole at the dialysis clinic when she'd made the request to look for a journal.

"Forgot.You've already met."

Heu nodded."It's nice to see you again."

"You too."He was a tall, handsome man from Wales with kind brown eyes."Nicole didn't want to come?"Steph asked."

"No.I think she's afraid of disappointment.All day long I was bursting to tell everyone that there is hope again."

"I'm sure she must be excited about the journal."Stephanie glanced at Jason."We think it's wonderful, don't we?"

Jason linked his fingers with hers on the space between them."It is.If her father doesn't come to her rescue, then he has no heart."

"I know that once she sees it again, she'll be thrilled.Told her I'd bring it home tonight."He glanced from one to the other."Thanks so much for doing this.We can only pray it works."

"I would prefer action to prayer right now, but no reason we can't do both."Jason asked Heu, "After the sketchy idea I gave you yesterday, were you able to come up with a workable plan on how to get Henry to see these sketches?"

"Tossed a few ideas around with Nicole, but she wasn't excited about any of them."Heulyn rubbed his hands together and pushed his coffee out of the way."Hey, do you two want anything?Coffee, something to eat?"

Jason stood up."I'll get it.Steph?You want something?Another coffee or a pastry, Hue?"

He shook his head.Stephanie nodded."Yes, please.How about an iced Caramel Latte?Sound good?"

Jason brought back two lattes and two slices of lemon cake."Okay.Now back to our plans."

"I was thinking that I could show up at the shop with my son and wait until Henry's close to us.The sketches could simply fall out of my bag.Or I could line them up on his desk if that's a better solution."

"Not the worst idea I've heard.It's better than Stephanie's for sure."Jason told him how they'd discussed the rope, duct tape, and kidnapping idea.Heulyn was in stitches after they'd finished.

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