Wanted A Real Family(42)

“Yes, but I’d also like to mention you’re a widow and single mom. That’s The Mommy Club lead-in. I’d like your thoughts and feelings on losing things you held dear. I’d like you to express how you felt when you saw volunteers carrying in everything you might need.”

“You want me to turn myself inside out.”

“A part of yourself, maybe. Not everything.”

No, not everything. Not for the article. But maybe for him. He was looking at her as if he expected no less than her best. He was looking at her as if he wanted to make love to her right here...right now.

“Jase...”

“Why don’t you just start talking? Remember as best you can the fear when you smelled the smoke and tell me what came next.” He took out his phone, pressed an app she assumed was a recorder and nodded.

She started with the smoke.

An hour later, she felt more exhausted than she could ever express. Remembering waking up unable to catch her breath, immediately stricken because Amy seemed so far away, had brought back fear and panic that had almost made her break out in a sweat. Only Jase’s voice and the next question had kept her in the here and now. Until he probed again and she’d relived the house burning down in front of her eyes. It had gotten easier after that, but still...

After Jase attached his phone to the holster on his belt, he moved closer to her and wrapped his arm around her.

She would have pulled away if they kissed again. Tonight she wasn’t sure she could resist making love with him.

Making love with all its consequences.

“Settle down,” he urged her, holding her a little tighter. “I know what it’s like to tell your story. Remember, I did it with you.”

Tucking her head against Jase’s shoulder, she didn’t think anything had ever felt so right.

That thought scared her as much as telling her story to the world.

* * *

Sara arrived to work early the next morning, still remembering the strong feel of Jase’s arms around her, the way he represented comfort as well as temptation. He hadn’t kissed her again, though he’d looked as if he wanted to. And she had wanted him to. But at some point, neither of them would stop, and they had to be prepared for the repercussions of that.

Since she was a few minutes early, curiosity drove her to the newspaper’s website and Jase’s article. There were more comments now. She ran her gaze over the list and then froze at a whole batch of them. It took her a moment to realize the thread was discussing her.

Interested Party in Fawn Grove mentioned the story on the news about her house burning down. The person went on to state The Mommy Club brigade had gathered furniture for her.

That was fine, but someone else said, Where did all the furniture go?

A new comment by Gossip Lady stated, I heard Sara Stevens is staying at Raintree Winery.

Bystander listed a link to the winery’s social media page and said, See discussion there. Really interesting.

Sara knew she should walk away from the computer. She knew she shouldn’t care what was being said. But this could affect Amy as well as her. It could affect Jase and business at the winery. Had he realized that might happen? Or had it been part of his plan to get publicity for Raintree?

No, that wasn’t Jase.

But she remembered when Conrad’s car had been repossessed and the thoughts that had rolled through her head then. This must be a mistake. Conrad would have told me if we were in trouble.

So, yes, she had doubts about her judgment in men. She clicked on the link.

She was appalled at the discussion on the winery’s social media page. Someone named Orange Maiden posed the question, Just where at the winery is Sara Stevens staying?

SunnyGirl’s response to that was, Maybe at the main house. Maybe she has more on her mind than a temporary place to live. After all, Jase Cramer is a very eligible bachelor.

That comment alone could fuel Ethan Cramer’s belief that she was a gold digger!

Now Sara did stop reading and picked up the phone, speed dialing Jase’s number.

He answered immediately. “You saw the comments,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Yes, I saw the comments, and I don’t like them. What are we going to do about this?”

“I don’t see that there’s anything we can do except to go ahead with the interview.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“I’m serious, Sara. The questions raised will be laid to rest by my interviewing you.”

“Jase, I just...I don’t know what to do. I don’t want people to get the wrong impression about me.”

“They won’t. Let me write up the interview and let the newspaper run it.”

“I need some time to think about it. Can you give me that?”