Seaside Sunsets(18)
As Jamie ran his hand down Jessica’s arm, his gaze lingered on her, warming her all over.
“Good morning, Gram. Want some coffee?”
“No, thank you, dear. I had some already. Did you two have fun last night?” Vera took a paperback out of her tote.
“We did,” Jamie answered.
The way the corner of his mouth kicked up combined with the heat Jessica saw in his eyes brought back the memory of being beneath him. Feeling his weight on her thighs and hips, the power behind each pelvic thrust, the passion in every heated kiss. Oh, good Lord, I am breathing hard again.
He squeezed her arm. She saw the recognition of her heady state in his eyes and had to look away. She handed Vera the wildflowers to distract herself from thinking of Jamie.
“I picked these for you.”
“Aren’t they lovely. Thank you, Jessica.”
“I’ll get a vase.” Jamie went inside the cottage and Jessica sat across from Vera.
“It’s going to be a beautiful day. Do you and Jamie have plans?” Vera asked.
“No, we don’t.” She just realized this was true, and yet it felt like a given that they’d do something together.
Jamie brought out a vase full of water and arranged the flowers in it. “There you go. What do you want to do today, Gram?”
“I’m still a little tired, so I’m going to sit and read for a while. Why don’t the two of you go do something fun?” She smiled up at Jessica.
Jessica recognized the matchmaking Jamie had mentioned, and when she glanced at Jamie she knew he felt it, too.
He touched her shoulder. “Do you like to bike?”
“Bike? Gosh, I haven’t been on a bicycle since I was little.” She honestly couldn’t remember how long it had been, but she had a vague memory of riding a bike before the cello took up all her free time.
“Oh, Jamie. Good idea. Jessica can use one of ours.” Vera patted Jessica’s leg. “It’s like reading music. It’ll come right back to you.”
“Sounds perfect.”
Jamie loaded the bikes on the rack on the back of his car, and they drove down to Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham. The glass and brick building was built just off of Route 6, with a large amphitheater off to the side.
“Have you been here before?” Jamie took her hand as she stepped from the car.
“No. Other than one weekend trip as a teenager, this is the only time I’ve been to the Cape.” The air smelled like wet earth and sulfur. “What’s that smell?”
“Nauset Marsh. It’s behind the building. Let’s go inside before we ride. This is something you shouldn’t miss. I come every year, even though I’ve seen everything a million times.”
His hands were big and slightly calloused, manly and strong, like him. She loved how her hand felt in his. He had on a pair of army-green cargo shorts and a white tee, and he looked like every one of the words Bella had used to describe Caden. Only better.
“Did the girls grill you this morning?” he asked.
“A little, but it was obvious that they were just looking out for you. Especially Bella.”
He held open the door to the visitor center. “Bella’s protective of everyone, but her bark is worse than her bite.”
The atrium of the visitor center was spacious and busy with people milling about, talking to the forest rangers behind the information desk and hovering over a diorama of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem in the center of the room. The glass back wall offered a spectacular view of Nauset Marsh. Jamie led Jessica through the atrium and down a hallway.
“There’s a bookstore we can check out afterward.” He nodded to a small bookstore as they passed, but continued walking through a set of heavy wooden double doors. “This is my favorite exhibit.”
They walked into a small museum, with stuffed birds and other animals perched around the room. There were articles and artifacts detailing the changes in boating, industry, and other aspects of the Cape’s seafaring heritage. It was fascinating, and Jamie didn’t rush her through, even though he’d seen it many times. He stood patiently beside her while she looked at each exhibit, and when they finally made it to the bookstore, which also served as a gift shop, he bought his and hers key rings engraved with their names on one side and an outline of the lower Cape on the other. He gave Jessica the one that said Jamie.
“Now you’re branded.” He kissed her softly.
She loved that he’d given her something so simple and so meaningful.
“Don’t worry,” he said. “I am, too.” He put the one with her name on his key ring and then ran his finger down her cheek. “I figured that since you grew up under an iron thumb, you probably never had much time for these types of boyfriend/girlfriend things.”
“I never even had a real boyfriend in high school.” She’d been too busy practicing.
“Well, I know it’s silly, but every girl should experience things that let them know how special they are. Even if it’s about ten years later than what’s typical.”
She reached into her purse and handed him her keys, and he slipped the silver ring that said Jamie onto her key ring. He was right. She did feel special.
They walked around for a while longer, and then they unloaded the bikes and hid her purse in the trunk.
“Why don’t you ride around the parking lot first to make sure you’re comfortable?” He took care of everything, just as he had earlier that morning with tracking down the eBay seller.
“I feel so silly needing to practice,” she admitted.
“Well, you look hot as hell, so if that’s what silly looks like, I’m all for it.” He patted the bike seat. “Come on. I want to make sure you’re comfortable.”
She climbed on the bike, and after a minute of wobbling and finding her balance, the muscle memory returned, and she sailed across the parking lot feeling free and light and incredibly happy.
They followed the paved bike trail as it wound through woods and behind several businesses all the way to the Orleans Rotary, where they passed several bikers coming in the opposite direction. For the first time in as long as she could recall, Jessica felt normal. How she’d longed to experience life the way others did, without every hour spoken for, without always being properly attired, aware of giving appropriate answers. Here, she was meeting friends, laughing, and enjoying herself more than she ever had, and she never realized how wonderful a relationship could be until she met Jamie. No matter what they were doing, it felt natural to be with him. He looked out for her, and he treated her well, not to mention those heart-stopping kisses he doled out like candy.
The trail was cool beneath the umbrella of tall trees. They rode side by side where the path was wide enough, and when Jamie was forced to pull ahead, he looked back often to check on Jessica. They were surrounded by woods, with the smell of the sea in the air; it was like they’d entered their own private paradise. The path widened and the trees became sparse as they entered reality again and came into town. They followed the bike path behind a bike rental shop, and a few feet ahead, the path crossed Main Street. Jamie looked handsome with his windblown hair and glistening skin as he came to a stop beside her and grabbed hold of Jessica’s handlebars, then leaned in for a kiss.
“I want to show you something.” He nodded up Main Street toward the traffic light.
“The Chocolate Sparrow?” she asked hopefully. The Chocolate Sparrow was a chocolate specialty store across the street. She’d seen it in the tourist magazines, and now, as the scent of chocolate hung in the air, she could practically taste it.
“Sure, but I had something else in mind.”
She followed him to a stoplight, where they crossed the street and turned down the main road. They came to what looked like an abandoned office complex and parked their bikes by the empty parking lot.
“What is this place?” She took in the cedar-sided offices. The windows were filmy, the offices void of all signs of life.
“I’ll show you.” He took her hand and led her up a set of stairs between two buildings, to the entrance of an office. Above the door was a sign painted to look like a baseball and the words MY MOM THREW OUT MY BASEBALL CARDS written in black.
“Oh.” Her breath left her in a rush of hot air. “Jamie, how did you find this?” She ran her hand along the flat metal door.
“Bread crumbs.” He pulled his phone from the pocket of his shorts and checked his text messages. “Leanna said the owner, Steve, isn’t at the flea market, but she got his phone number from the flea market admin staff.” He smiled at her and handed her his phone. “You can call him.”
“Jamie, you did this. I can’t believe you did all of this for me.”
They sat on the top step. “I like puzzles.”
The way his eyes darkened and his voice softened told her that wasn’t the only reason he’d done it.
“Thanks for helping me try to solve mine.” In so many more ways than one.
“Are you going to call?”
“Yeah, in a second.” She reached for his hand. “I don’t have a lot of friends outside of work, and I want you to know that I really appreciate what you’ve done. It means a lot to me. I’m a little nervous about calling, though. When I came to the Cape it was with the intention of figuring out how to be normal, and finding my dad’s ball was supposed to be something for me to focus on so I didn’t think about playing the cello day and night.”