Page 88 of Perfectly Matched: Harbor Falls Romance Collection

Jasmine stared out from the back deck of Jack’s house, her gaze fixed on the lapping waters of Falls Lake several yards in front of her, and the foothills of the mountains in the distance. Her eyes scanned the horizon, traveling east to west and back again, taking in things she hadn’t seen in a very long time.

The old lodge sat across the way, nestled in Harbor Falls’ own mountain, its fa?ade overlooking the lake. But it didn’t look old any longer. Someone must have bought it and fixed it up. She remembered driving up there with friends when she was in high school, a case of beer in tow, and sleeping off a little buzz on the deck. They hadn’t done it often—she had always felt guilty lying to Ms. Leinie about where she was spending the night.

She took a deep breath and sighed. Ms. Leinie. What was she going to do about the estate?

She shook that thought off.

“I’ll think about that later,”

she muttered. Right now, other thoughts occupied her brain. Like Jack, and this incredible house he had built on ‘their spot.’

It was all too beautiful. The picturesque landscape, the log home, and the fact that it was right there—in the place where they had spent many a night dreaming of the future.

Unexpectedly, her eyes stung.

“I put our lunches in the refrigerator for later.”

Jasmine turned at Jack’s words to see him coming out the French doors leading onto the deck. She looked at him, caught his eyes. He halted, holding the connection between them. The expression on his face went from smiling to serious in a flash. And she realized the emotion she was feeling was playing all over hers, leaving nothing to speculation.

Jack stepped closer. “Jazzy…”

he whispered. Reaching up, he caught a strand of her hair between his fingers. That touch, so close to her cheek, was the beginning of her unraveling.

“Are you okay?” he added.

She nodded, and then glanced about.

“Yes. Jack, this is all so beautiful.”

“You are beautiful.”

Her heart ached. Shaking her head, she said.

“You never married, Jack. Why? I’m sure a wife would have enjoyed this beautiful place.”

Jack sighed.

“No one was ever right, Jazzy. Not after you.”

“But we were so young, so…wrong,”

she countered.

He took another step closer. “No.”

His voice softened.

“We were so right.”

Jack leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. A long dormant curl of desire burst up and sprinted through her body, from her lips, to her heart, to her soul. At that moment, all she wanted was to be as close to Jack as she could possibly be.

But she pushed back.

Her hands went to his chest and she applied a little pressure while she stepped away. Her gaze met his and her heart swelled. He searched her eyes.

“Jack,”

she said softly.

“As much as I am overcome by this moment, I think we need to step back a bit.”

His hands went to his side.

“Jazzy. I’m so sorry. I got carried away and—”

She stopped him with a forefinger to his lips.

“No. Don’t. I could just as easily get carried away here myself, but I don’t think that’s what we need right now.”

He stared at her a little longer, and then agreed.

“Okay. You’re not running?”

She thought about that for a second. Of course, he would expect her to run. Right?

Shaking her head, she replied.

“No, Jack. Not running. It’s time for me to face up to the past. Can we talk about what happened fifteen years ago?”

****

Jasmine, 1999

Looking over my shoulder, I glance back to Ms. Leinie’s house, knowing this was the last time I would see her, or the house that I practically grew up in, for the rest my life. A bittersweet sensation fluttered over my belly, making me slow my steps. I was ever so grateful for the life I lived with Ms. Leinie, and everything she provided me, but also apprehensive about the future, and a little melancholy about the past.

I longed for a life away from here, where I could get lost in the crowd and not stand out. Not be different. I couldn’t wait to experience college, to spread my wings, try new things, find out who I really was—without the barriers of this small town, where I never really did fit in.

But at what price?

I was sacrificing a lot. I knew that. Everything. I owed Ms. Leinie my life. I was doomed to fend for myself after my father was incarcerated, my mother dead in the cemetery. I was a moody, backward, and defiant eleven-year-old child who didn’t understand why she had been dealt the hand of being born to an odd couple—a black woman who eventually committed suicide and an alcoholic white man.

But it was time to move on. Deep in my heart, I knew it was time for me to do so, and what was about to happen next, was best for everyone involved.

Wearing my white graduation dress, my heavy orange backpack slung over my shoulder, I strolled down the sidewalk leading downtown and to Harbor Falls High, my thoughts scattered. I had to rein them all in before I reached the school. This was an important night, in so many ways.

One door closed. Another opened?

Or will that one slam in my face, too?

I sneaked around to the back of the school, crossed the track and the marching band practice field, and then headed toward the baseball field dugouts. I’d left the house early to give myself a little time but must have dawdled more than I thought. Glancing at my watch, I realized I needed to get a move on. Graduates were supposed to be in the gym in fifteen minutes to practice our line-up and procession one more time before they opened the doors for parents and families.

Quickly, I stashed the backpack beneath the bench seat in the dugout, pushing it far back enough to where it wouldn’t easily be seen. Glancing up, I took in the angle of the security light off to the right. It would give me just enough light to sneak back and retrieve the bag much later, in the dark.

I hurried off toward the back gym door, rounding the football bleachers, and thinking about the next few hours, when I was stopped short.

“Jazzy!”

“Oh my God!”

My hands went to my throat. “Jack!”

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, honey!”

I blew out a breath.

“No, sorry. I was just thinking. Not paying attention.”

“Come here.”

He tugged both of my hands and pulled me back into the shadows under the bleachers. He must have noticed my frantic glance at the gym door.

“For just a minute. I know we need to go.”

I nodded. “Okay.”

He pulled me closer and wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his chest and tried not to cry. His heart beat solid against mine and he was so warm. So safe. Mine.

“I love you, Jazzy,”

he whispered into my hair.

“I love you back.”

I felt the deep sigh escape his lungs as we held each other for a moment to last a lifetime. Then Jack pulled back, cupped my face in his hands, kissed me on the end of my nose, and said.

“I’ll meet you behind the Town Hall at ten-thirty. Watch for my truck. I can’t wait.”

I nodded and watched him walk away.

****

Jack studied Jasmine’s face. This day had been a whirlwind and it was barely afternoon. This morning, he’d had no earthly idea that the love of his life would walk right back into it. The reality of that fact was almost more than he could comprehend. But Jasmine was here, in the flesh, standing on his deck right in front of him. It was a scene he had pictured in his mind repeatedly throughout the years. In his dreams, however, he would carry her upstairs and make slow, delicious love to her, all night long.

That wasn’t going to happen today. Tonight.

He took a deep breath. There was no way he was going to let her slip through his fingers this time, though.

“Let’s go inside and sit down. That breeze sure is brisk coming off the lake.”

She nodded, and he took her elbow, leading her into the great room. He closed the French doors behind them. She sat on the sofa, and he followed, sitting a respectable few inches away. Right now, he wasn’t sure he trusted himself.

“Did you call this Suzie at the inn?”

she asked.

Jack nodded.

“I did. They are full up. She apologized profusely and recommended another B&B in Asheville. I can call them if you like.”

Her mouth drew up into a bow, her brows knit. It was a funny little expression he remembered from when they were kids, and it almost made him giddy-happy inside at the remembrance.

“I don’t know. I suppose I don’t have a choice,”

she said.

“Asheville is two hours away though, right?”

“Yes. Not very convenient.”

“But I suppose I’ll have to though.

“Well, maybe not. If you want to take it, I have a spare room.”

Her eyes widened, and he put up his hands in self-defense.

“Hey, I’ll be a good boy,” he added.

Jasmine’s face relaxed.

“I don’t know, Jack. I’m not sure that is a good id—”

“You don’t want to drive to Asheville tonight and back again tomorrow.”

She bit her lip.

“No, I really don’t.”

“Besides, we can continue to catch up.”

That’s when he clasped her hands and pulled them onto his lap and said.

“Jasmine, stay. I promise to give you space. I have some sweats and a T-shirt you can sleep in, and we can do a load of laundry tonight.”

“Jack, that is generous, but I don’t want to put you out…”

“Not putting me out. Besides, if you stay, it will be good for me. I’ll have the best night of sleep I’ve had in fifteen years.”

Her gaze narrowed.

“Why is that?”

“Because you’re back home, and I know you are safe.”

At that, she burst into tears.

****

Jasmine wasn’t sure what was wrong with her. She wasn’t an emotional person. Law school had pretty much drilled that out of her. She’d learned to disconnect herself from the situation and view it for what is was—just the facts, ma’am. She’d had to harden her heart working with the children—on the outside, at least—but inside, she bled with sorrow and sympathy for them. She’d lost many a night’s sleep over the children she served. They were a part of her life, each and every case she took on, but she kept the families at arm’s length. Being impartial was a way of life for her.

But for some reason, once she’d stepped back into Harbor Falls, that stoic personality she prided herself on professionally, and sometimes personally, started to crumble.

“Jazzy?”

Jack’s gaze caught hers, his eyes pleading.

“Are you okay?”

Fifteen years of grief spilled forward.

“Jack, I am so sorry!”

“For what?”

For what? How can he ask that.

“For graduation night! For leaving you there waiting for me behind the Town Hall. No explanation. Nothing. I don’t know how you could ever forgive me!”

“Ah, Jazzy…”

Jack had her in his arms within seconds. She was crying, uncontrollably, wetting his shirt with her tears. He held her, cooed in her ear, and threaded his fingers through her hair. She didn’t know what to do other than just let him hold her.

“Jazzy,”

he whispered.

“we were young.”

“Young and scared,”

she echoed back.

“I wasn’t scared. I was in love.”

Jasmine pulled back and looked him square in the eyes.

“I was scared.”

He ran a knuckle under her eyes, brushing away the tears. She sucked in two quick breaths, and then exhaled, long.

“I was scared, Jack,”

she whispered.

“I was pregnant.”