if a couple kissed under the tree, theirs would be a lasting love.
Jillian had never been kissed her under the tree, not even by Douglas. “Actually, I do.”
Chelsea was silent for a moment, and Jillian guessed she wanted JR to take her to the tree.
After hemming and hawing, the girl bit her lip. “Can I ask you something, Jillian?”
“If it’s about my brother, I have no idea what he’ll do.”
“Huh?” Chelsea said, with a blank look. “This is about work. If I don’t get the job at the Rogue Valley Cheesery… Do you think you could hire me as your assistant?”
She’d never shown any interest in making pottery, but, then, Jillian hadn’t exactly encouraged her. “I’m flattered, and I think you’d make a great assistant. The problem is, I’m barely making enough money to cover my own expenses, let alone pay you. Although you never know. If my classes take off… Maybe. First you’d need to learn pottery basics.”
“But I need a job right away.” Chelsea’s shoulders slumped. “I understand. I’ll keep looking.”
She didn’t seem interested in learning about pottery. Still, she did have retail sales experience… Jillian had an idea. “The Rogue Valley Arts Festival I’ve been working so hard to get ready for is a little more than three weeks away. I expect to be busy day and night, and I’d appreciate an extra pair of hands. Maybe you can help me out then?”
Chelsea’s somber expression lifted. “You mean it? Thanks, Jill.”
“The festival only lasts three days, with an extra day needed to set up the booth and a long night taking it apart again Sunday evening. I won’t be able to pay you much.”
“Anything is better than zero.”
Suddenly Pooh’s ears pricked up. With a joyous woof, she scrambled up and raced for the door. Jillian recognized the sound of the purring engine. Her heart bumped hard in her chest. “Isn’t that Rafe’s car? He must be bringing JR home.”
Chelsea stood. “I thought he would walk back.”
Jillian half hoped Rafe would drop off JR and leave. Given her growing feelings for him, that would be the safest route.
She let Chelsea go out alone and waited a few minutes, listening for the revving engine to tell her when Rafe drove away. But all she heard were Calvin’s woof and Pooh’s responding yip. Curious and unable to help herself, she slipped out the door.
Rafe had exited the car. Calvin wagged his tail at Pooh, who pranced with excitement. Despite the cool afternoon temperature, Rafe wore no jacket. In a navy T-shirt and jeans, he looked so good she wanted to drool. He sauntered toward her, while JR moved toward Chelsea with a swagger in his step.
He put his arm around Chelsea and grinned. “Zach and I start a week from today.”
They shared a quick kiss, followed by a meaningful look. Arms around each other, they headed into the house, leaving Pooh behind to frolic with Calvin. And Jillian alone with Rafe and the dogs.
She wanted the same things—a kiss, a meaningful look. and the promise of a lot more. Just now, her feelings for Rafe were so strong, she tucked her hands under her arms to keep from reaching for him.
“So it went okay?” she asked, impressed she sounded totally normal.
He nodded. “Even with Zach’s expertise and the two of them working, the job won’t be easy. But I think JR will manage.”
Jillian crossed her fingers—and decided to share her doubts. “My brother doesn’t have the best track record for sticking with things,” she warned. “Especially when the task is difficult.”
“I’m not worried.”
She released the breath she’d been holding. “Thanks for giving him this opportunity, Rafe. I…we all…appreciate this.”
“My pleasure.”
Pleasure. The word whispered across her suddenly feverish skin. Rafe’s eyes had gone as warm and as dark as melted chocolate. Jillian felt the heat radiating from him. A wave of longing rushed through her. She stepped back, away from his magnetic pull,
Jillian had never been kissed her under the tree, not even by Douglas. “Actually, I do.”
Chelsea was silent for a moment, and Jillian guessed she wanted JR to take her to the tree.
After hemming and hawing, the girl bit her lip. “Can I ask you something, Jillian?”
“If it’s about my brother, I have no idea what he’ll do.”
“Huh?” Chelsea said, with a blank look. “This is about work. If I don’t get the job at the Rogue Valley Cheesery… Do you think you could hire me as your assistant?”
She’d never shown any interest in making pottery, but, then, Jillian hadn’t exactly encouraged her. “I’m flattered, and I think you’d make a great assistant. The problem is, I’m barely making enough money to cover my own expenses, let alone pay you. Although you never know. If my classes take off… Maybe. First you’d need to learn pottery basics.”
“But I need a job right away.” Chelsea’s shoulders slumped. “I understand. I’ll keep looking.”
She didn’t seem interested in learning about pottery. Still, she did have retail sales experience… Jillian had an idea. “The Rogue Valley Arts Festival I’ve been working so hard to get ready for is a little more than three weeks away. I expect to be busy day and night, and I’d appreciate an extra pair of hands. Maybe you can help me out then?”
Chelsea’s somber expression lifted. “You mean it? Thanks, Jill.”
“The festival only lasts three days, with an extra day needed to set up the booth and a long night taking it apart again Sunday evening. I won’t be able to pay you much.”
“Anything is better than zero.”
Suddenly Pooh’s ears pricked up. With a joyous woof, she scrambled up and raced for the door. Jillian recognized the sound of the purring engine. Her heart bumped hard in her chest. “Isn’t that Rafe’s car? He must be bringing JR home.”
Chelsea stood. “I thought he would walk back.”
Jillian half hoped Rafe would drop off JR and leave. Given her growing feelings for him, that would be the safest route.
She let Chelsea go out alone and waited a few minutes, listening for the revving engine to tell her when Rafe drove away. But all she heard were Calvin’s woof and Pooh’s responding yip. Curious and unable to help herself, she slipped out the door.
Rafe had exited the car. Calvin wagged his tail at Pooh, who pranced with excitement. Despite the cool afternoon temperature, Rafe wore no jacket. In a navy T-shirt and jeans, he looked so good she wanted to drool. He sauntered toward her, while JR moved toward Chelsea with a swagger in his step.
He put his arm around Chelsea and grinned. “Zach and I start a week from today.”
They shared a quick kiss, followed by a meaningful look. Arms around each other, they headed into the house, leaving Pooh behind to frolic with Calvin. And Jillian alone with Rafe and the dogs.
She wanted the same things—a kiss, a meaningful look. and the promise of a lot more. Just now, her feelings for Rafe were so strong, she tucked her hands under her arms to keep from reaching for him.
“So it went okay?” she asked, impressed she sounded totally normal.
He nodded. “Even with Zach’s expertise and the two of them working, the job won’t be easy. But I think JR will manage.”
Jillian crossed her fingers—and decided to share her doubts. “My brother doesn’t have the best track record for sticking with things,” she warned. “Especially when the task is difficult.”
“I’m not worried.”
She released the breath she’d been holding. “Thanks for giving him this opportunity, Rafe. I…we all…appreciate this.”
“My pleasure.”
Pleasure. The word whispered across her suddenly feverish skin. Rafe’s eyes had gone as warm and as dark as melted chocolate. Jillian felt the heat radiating from him. A wave of longing rushed through her. She stepped back, away from his magnetic pull,
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