Page 43 of Slowly, All at Once
She turned slightly, gave him the spoon and raised her eyebrows at him.
“Mmm. Perfect.” He kissed her cheek, and she closed her eyes in bliss.
Jacob pulled in a few minutes later. As was usual in the valley, the fall nights turned cool early. He stepped out of his car wearing his sheepskin jacket, jeans and hiking boots. It amazed me that a California boy could look so at home in the mountains of Wyoming.
He walked through the front door announcing his arrival, and smiled at me when he came into the kitchen.
Dinner was a flurry of, ‘pass the Parmesan’, ‘can I have more wine?” and ‘are there any more meatballs?’
John, Mia, and Jacob all talked about the summer football camp. Jacob expressed his initial hesitancy. “You know I can’t run like I used to. If the kids expect some kind of hero, I don’t want to disappoint them.”
Mia reached out, placing her hand on his forearm. “Jacob,” she sighed. “The kids will love you. And we’ll make it work at the shop. We can hire more local kids to work the store.” She looked at me. “Maybe Camille can work the shop.”
“Actually, I have something else I’m working on.”
Excitedly, she asked, “Really? What? Tell me.”
I glanced at Jacob. “I need a few more days to get it worked out but I promise I’ll tell you soon.”
I helped Mia clean up while Jacob and John finished planning the camp for next summer.
When I’d dried the last plate, I announced I was going to leave for the night.
Jacob jumped up out of the chair. “I’ll walk out with you.”
He shook John’s hand. “John.”
“Jacob. I’m glad you’re in buddy.”
Jacob nodded.
When we reached the driveway, Jacob pulled me behind the garage and kissed me deeply. “I’ve been waiting to do that all night long.”
I sighed and melted into him. “Jacob, this is crazy.”
“I know. I feel like everything was on hold. Now I can’t stand to be apart from you.”
“Sneak upstairs.” I said against his chest as I tried to unbutton his shirt. The soft fleece from the inside of his jacket was keeping me warm.
“Friday night. Come out with me again. Let’s go dancing.”
I coughed. “Dancing?”
He pulled back, his hands resting at my hips. “Yeah, dancing.” He ground into me and grabbed my bottom.
Heat flushed through me. “Some of the athletes are coming in Saturday for the shoot next week. Mia said she would go with me in the van to pick them up. I can’t stay out late.”
His eyes shimmered with good humor. “Got it. No sleepovers.”
I sucked my lips in between my teeth trying not to laugh. “Okay.”
He kissed me on the nose. “I’ll pick you up at eight. We’ll get dinner before.”
“What about John and Mia? Do you think they know?”
“I don’t care if they do,” he said, smiling as he walked backwards to his car.
“Jacob.” My expression softened. My tone practically begged him to come back.
He stopped, his smile dropping from his face. I waited. He took a deep breath. “It’s just the beginning, Camille.”