Jade gasped. “I’m so sorry!”
Looking sideways, I saw she’d put her hand to her chest, and her eyes were wide. “Thank you. It sucked, and I miss him, but he died in his sleep, so I can’t complain about that. I visit my mother every other month or so for a weekend.”
“What brought you to Stolen Hearts Valley?”
“The job. Keeps me sane to stay outside. Jackson wants to start some small flights too, and I’ve got my pilots license. That was an easy yes. Between the first responder crew and working at the lodge, it suits my personality.”
“Any siblings?” Jade asked.
“Nope. Just me. I’d like to say I was spoiled, but not really. My dad was ex-military and pretty strict. We got by, but money was tight.”
“Tell me about your best friend who’s getting married. I need some details.”
“I suppose that would help. It’s my buddy, Dave. We went to high school together. He’s a great guy. He’s marrying his college sweetheart, Jenny.”
“Got it. Now tell me about your ex.”
“Dee.”
“Dee who?”
“Dee Clark.”
I felt Jade’s attention on me, and I glanced to the side. She lifted a brow. “I need a little more history than that. Like how messy was it? That kind of thing.” Jade circled her hand in the air.
I rolled my eyes, once again returning my focus to the road. The sun had started to slide down the sky, shifting from late afternoon into early evening and casting the mountains in a rosy gold glow.
“It wasn’t a heartbreak. Dee and I dated a little bit in high school, and then reconnected one time when I was home for a visit. Honestly, she didn’t break my heart. I felt foolish all right. I mean, who appreciates finding out his girlfriend is screwing around with their best friend’s brother?”
“I certainly don’t,” Jade said, her tone firm.
“Right. So, it was just that. Nothing horrible. I cut things off right away so it didn’t drag out.”
“How long ago?”
“Last summer. That’s when I finished my time with the Air Force. I found out when I got back.”
“How’d you find out?”
“Damn, you’re one with the questions.”
Jade bopped me lightly on the shoulder with her fist. “Maybe I’m nosy, but it’s so I have something to say if anybody asks me about it. People gossip, especially when they’ve had a few drinks. Maybe she didn’t break your heart, but I’ll be prepared to make her feel like an idiot.”
“Is this personal for you or something?” I finally asked.
“Not me personally, but yes, it’s personal. Lucas’s ex screwed around on him. He didn’t find out until after she died, but man, it was a bit of a mindfuck for him for a while.”
I pointed out the obvious. “Lucas seems to be doing great now.”
Her smile was wide. “Damn straight. He deserves a good woman, and Valentina is the best.”
“It’s obvious Lucas has it bad for her,” I observed.
Jade nodded in satisfaction. “Okay, back to Dee. What do I need to know?”
“I came home from being overseas and found her in bed with Dave’s brother. I broke up with her on the spot, and that was that. Honestly, I’m surprised they’re still together. Lately, she’s been texting me. I’m guessing she’s fishing to try to get back together. I am not interested, and I’d rather not have to deal with it. Having you with me should help with that.”
I could feel Jade shaking her head. “This is going to be fun. I get to really make her jealous.”
I slid my eyes to hers. “You don’t have to try that hard.”
“If we don’t make some effort, everyone’s gonna know it’s not a real thing.”
I shook my head and left that alone. It wasn’t real, and we needed to remember that. We managed to settle into an easy conversation for the remainder of the drive. When we pulled up to the picturesque resort, Jade let out a little sigh as I cut the engine.
“Oh wow, it’s gorgeous here.”
I followed her gaze. This winery and resort had become a wedding destination in the last few years, or so Dave had told me. The sprawling hotel was nestled into a valley. The center of the hotel was three stories with two wings flanking it. The curved shape of the structure followed the lines of the mountain ridge behind it. The lawns surrounding it had a mix of hardwood trees scattered across the lush grass and offered an excellent view of a sparkling oval-shaped lake. Just now, the colors of the setting sun cast a watercolor shimmer of pink, purple, and gold across the surface.
I climbed out and rounded the truck to open Jade’s door. I chuckled to myself when I got there to find her opening it.
“In case you didn’t notice, I’m perfectly capable of opening a door for myself, Walker,” she drawled as her eyes met mine.
She had started to slide off the seat with her cowboy boots resting on the running board. Maybe six inches separated us. In a flash, it felt as if the air hummed to life around us. That lust only Jade seemed to elicit whipped through me. I was tempted, so fucking tempted, to kiss her pretty mouth.
Chapter Seven
Jade
I stared up into Walker’s silvery-gray gaze and tried to catch my breath. My lungs weren’t doing the best job. I’d never experienced the concept of breathlessness and was irritated to find Walker had that effect on me just by getting a little too close.
I absorbed the way his eyes darkened like the summer sky
