Saturday morning, Rhett took a deep breath and knocked on Jasmine’s door. He knew he was taking a chance, and Jasmine might refuse him, but he hoped he could convince Jasmine to say yes.
Maybe she wasn’t home, he thought, waiting for her to answer the door. He’d just assumed she’d be home. Rhett started to turn away when Jasmine opened the door.
Her mouth turned down. “What do you want, Rhett?”
“I want to apologize. I… I ran away from you, from my feelings for you.” He tugged at the hair tie on his wrist. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Jasmine’s expression softened. She leaned against the doorframe. “I was really angry, Rhett.”
“And you’re not now?” he asked with a lot of hopefulness in his voice.
“I haven’t decided yet. You’ve run away twice now.”
“You have every right to be mad. I thought… I said I’d take you out to dinner when I got back, and I was hoping you would give me another chance and spend the day with me today. I packed a picnic for us, and I have someplace I’d like to take you.”
Jasmine bit her lip, toying with the hem of the flannel pajama top she was wearing. The wariness in her eyes when she looked back at him tightened the knot in his stomach.
“I shouldn’t have come,” he said, backing away.
“No, wait.” She reached out and snagged his wrist, stopping him. “Can you give me an hour to get ready?”
Rhett nodded. “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait.”
She gave him a slight smile and said, “Wait for me,” before she closed the door.
He’d wait for as long as he needed to.
Rebel was waiting patiently for him when Rhett jogged back downstairs.
“Should we take a walk while we wait?” he asked.
With a quick hand signal from him, Rebel jumped out of the Jeep and came to his side. Rhett avoided the throng of people shopping at the farmer’s market. Skirting the park, he made his way toward the old train depot Reid and Dan had just purchased with Rebel at his side.
While trains still passed through town, they didn’t stop in Colton and hadn’t for many years. Hardly any paint remained on the long, low building, and the red shingles on the roof were barely hanging on. Rhett rounded the corner and found Dan and Reid sitting next to each other on the edge of what used to be the old loading bay.
Reid waved. “Hey, what brings you this way on a Saturday?”
“I’m waiting for Jasmine. I’m taking her on a picnic.”
Dan grinned. “Glad to see you took Primus’s advice.”
“Yeah, well”—Rhett shrugged—“I needed to do something. Looks like y’all are having your own picnic.” He pointed to the small crate of beer and what looked like a couple of sandwiches wrapped in paper.
“We just got the keys, and we’re going to start cleaning out.” Dan grinned.
“I know I turned down your offer, but if you need any help, let me know.”
“What about you, anything we can do to help at your grandpa’s place?” Reid asked.
“Nah, I’m good.” Rhett cringed inside. There was a long list of things he needed to do at the cabin, but it was useless when he still couldn’t bring himself to go inside.
He glanced at his watch. “I’ve got to get going and pick Jasmine up.”
“Good luck,” Reid and Dan said in unison.
Rhett waved and headed back toward Jasmine’s apartment. She was waiting for him, sitting at the bottom of the stairs leading to her apartment.
“Hey there, have you been waiting long?” he asked.
“No,” she said, getting up. “I didn’t need that much time to get ready.”
Rhett gazed at her. It was crazy to miss her as much as he did after not seeing her for a week. She’d changed into an oversized denim shirt that was almost a dress on her, paired with leggings and knee-high boots.
“We match,” he said, pointing to his own denim shirt.
A faint tinge of pink spread over her cheeks. “I didn’t do it on purpose.”
“I… why is this so awkward?” he asked.
Jasmine looked at him, her dark brown eyes searching his face. “Are you going to run away again?”
Rhett shook his head. “No, I’m not going to do that again.”
She gave him a slight smile and slipped her hand into his. “Come on, let’s spend the day together.”
Rebel jumped into the back seat while Rhett opened the door for Jasmine. He hesitated for a moment before letting go of her hand.
As soon as he was behind the wheel and they were on their way, Rhett reached for her hand again. Jasmine’s grasp was warm and firm in his, and as they made their way out of town, the tension he’d been feeling drained away. The top was down on his Jeep, and Lucas Monroe was singing about country roads and summer girls. The moment took him back to his high school days. Only now, he appreciated it much more. He’d never take moments like this for granted again. They were too precious.
Wherever I’m goin’, I’ll never get lost. My heart will always lead me back to you.
He glanced at Jasmine, who was tapping her foot with a big smile on her face. She pulled her hair into a topknot, her curls dancing in the wind. This was exactly the picture in his mind when he bought his Jeep.
He turned off the main highway onto a narrow two-lane road and, after a couple of miles, turned again, leaving the pavement behind. Jasmine’s eyebrows shot up when he left the dirt road, following two faint ruts in the road.
Rhett gave her hand a squeeze. “Trust me.”
“You know that’s what the date always says right before the murderer jumps out in every scary movie,” she said.
Rhett laughed.
They came around a bend, and a small lake glittered blue and silver in the sunlight.
“Wow,” Jasmine breathed. “This place is beautiful.”
Rhett pulled up in front of a pristine low country cottage painted white with a dark green shingled roof. An older Black man came out onto the front porch, followed by a woman who clapped her hands and beamed at them. Rhett came around to open the door for Jasmine. He grabbed the bottle of whiskey he bought from Primus, tucking it into his back pocket before he walked over to meet them.
Rhett always thought the man he was looking at was the definition of the term baby face. Even now, well into his eighties, the deep russet-brown skin on Abraham Greene’s face didn’t have a single wrinkle. The only signs of his age were the gray in his hair and the slight stoop of his back. A yellow Lab came streaking out of the door behind him, and with a joyful bark, Rebel jumped out of the back of the Jeep and joined his friend in a happy chase.
Mr. Greene held his hand out to Rhett. When it was in his grasp, he pulled him in for a hug, patting his back.
“Young blood, it’s good to see you again. I’ve been waiting a mighty long time to see your face.”
Rhett hugged the man back. “It’s good to see you, Mr. Greene.”
His wife was next, hugging Rhett so hard he thought she might break a rib.
When Mrs. Greene finally let him go, Mr. Greene turned to Jasmine, asking, “And who might this beautiful young lady be?”
“This is Jasmine Owens. She’s the new vet in Colton.”
“Dr. Owens”—Abraham’s large hand engulfed hers—“it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
Mrs. Greene pulled her into her arms, beaming at Rhett over her shoulder. “We’ve been waitin’ a long time for Rhett to bring a young lady to meet us.”
“Minnie, let the girl go. You’re embarrassing Rhett.”
Rhett dropped his head, shaking it. He should have prepared Jasmine for the Greenes. They were some of the warmest and most affectionate people he knew.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you both, Mr. and Mrs. Greene,” Jasmine said.
The older man smiled. “You’re both grown. You can call us Abraham and Minnie.” He tucked Jasmine’s arm in his and jerked his head off to one side. “You come on back. I’ve got everything set up in my shop.”
Minnie waggled her finger at Rhett. “Don’t you dare leave without saying goodbye.”
Rhett gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Yes, ma’am.”
They walked behind the house toward a large shed painted the same creamy white as the house.
“Derek says hi. He and the grandkids are delivering an order to North Carolina today,” Abraham said.
“Next time,” Rhett said.
Abraham glanced over his shoulder, giving Rhett an understanding nod. As much as he cared for the Greene family, Rhett wasn’t ready to see Derek and the other Greene children he’d grown up playing with. In his heart, Rhett knew they understood what he did and didn’t take any of it personally, but that didn’t make it any easier to face them. When he called Abraham and asked if he could bring Jasmine to the lake, he’d asked if he could introduce Jasmine to just the two of them for now.
Abraham let go of Jasmine’s arm and pulled back the large barn door. Jasmine peered inside and looked back at Rhett, wide-eyed.
Rhett smiled. “Abraham is one of the best rod and reel suppliers in the country. People from all over come here to get one of his masterpieces.”
They went into the shed that served as Abraham and his son’s workshop. A workbench took up one wall while a lathe was on another, with a smaller workbench with chisels and other woodworking tools scattered on the surface. Abraham led Jasmine over to a stool in the corner. “Now, you just sit right here, young lady, while I get you sorted out.”
The old man went over to a rack of rods. “Now, let’s see, your pond is about twenty-five feet, give or take. You can do a six and a half or seven and a half footer.”
“Grandpa and I always used a seven and a half.”
Abraham nodded. “I remember.” He pointed to where Jasmine was sitting. “I remember you as a little boy in that very spot, waitin’ quietly while your grandpa and I told fish tales. Most younguns would wiggle and squirm, but you were as still as a statue.”
The memory of those days washed over him, bringing a fresh wave of grief.
Abraham picked up a rod with a beautiful burl wood handle, the light and dark shades of wood swirling together like storm clouds.
“Abraham, this is incredible,” Rhett said, taking the rod out of Abraham’s hand.
“It’s from a burl off an old willow tree.” Abraham’s voice grew thick with emotion. “Your grandad brought the burl to me after that old willow by your pond went down after a storm.”
Rhett looked down at the rod he was holding that suddenly became heavy in his hands.
“Your grandad told me to wait until you were ready. I figured you finally calling after all this time was a sign.”
Rhett struggled to speak. When he finally got the words out, his voice shook with emotion. “Thank you.”
Abraham’s heavy hand landed on his shoulder and gave it a squeeze before he went back to the rack, pulled out another rod, and handed it to Jasmine.
“This one should be just about right for you, Doctor.”
The handle of Jasmine’s rod was a deep, plum purple wood.
“That’s Purple Heart,” Abraham said, pointing at the handle.
“You are an artist,” Jasmine said.
Abraham beamed at them, hooking his thumbs in the straps of his overalls. “I’ve got bait and everything else you need in the basket by the door there.”
Rhett turned to Jasmine and held out his rod. “Can you hold this for me?”
“Sure.”
Rhett went over and gave Abraham a hug. “Thank you,” he whispered. He took the bottle out of his back pocket. “I know you won’t take any money from me, and Minnie will have my hide, but I thought you might like this.”
Abraham looked at the bottle, his eyes lighting up. “You get this from Primus?”
Rhett nodded. “Yes, sir.”
Abraham clapped his hand on Rhett’s shoulder. “It’s good to have you back. Now, you two go off and enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you back at the house after you’ve filled that basket full of trout.”
“Yes, sir.”
Rhett grabbed the basket on the way out the door.
“What an incredible man,” Jasmine said on their way back to the Jeep to retrieve the picnic basket. Rhett stacked the basket with bait and tackle, and Rhett led Jasmine toward a path leading down to the lake.
“The Greenes are good people. I’ve missed them.”
“I should have realized.” She gave his hand a squeeze. “You made a lot of sacrifices big and small,” Jasmine said. “I’m ashamed. I thought I knew what you went through being undercover. You haven’t seen the Greenes for over two years now, have you?”
Rhett’s jaw ticked. “Please, don’t give me that sympathetic look. It makes it worse.”
Jasmine nodded. “Okay.”
They followed the path along the edge of the lake until they came around a bend, and there was a small dock with two Adirondack chairs.
The dock warbled slightly when they stepped onto it. Rhett put down the baskets between the chairs, took the poles from Jasmine, and slid each one into pole holders that were screwed onto the dock.
“Well, what do you think?” he asked.
Jasmine looked at him with a blinding smile. “It’s perfect.”
“Are you sure? It’s not a fancy restaurant or even the Catfish.”
“Don’t ever tell Tillie I said this, but this is better than any restaurant in Mississippi.”
A splash in the water caught their attention.
“Come on, let’s get some bait on and get these hooks in the water.”
Jasmine rubbed her hands together, bouncing on her toes. “I can’t believe I’m actually going to fish.”
“Is this really your first time fishing?”
“Yup.”
Rhett reached into the basket Abraham gave them and pulled out a small container. Opening it, he tilted it in Jasmine’s direction.
“First lesson, baiting a hook.”
Of course, Jasmine was a pro, putting the worm on the hook with surgical precision. She watched every move while Rhett showed her the components and explained how to cast.
Her first few attempts didn’t go well, but on the third try, the line sailed through the air and landed in the water with barely a ripple.
“You’re a natural,” he said.
“You’re a good teacher.”
Rhett quickly got his line in the water, and they stood side by side at the edge of the dock, watching the sunlight create shadows on the lake.
“I grew up coming out here with my grandpa,” Rhett said quietly. “He and Abraham would sit out on this dock for hours fishing. Abraham took a chance on my grandpa. He was willing to let him prove he’d changed his ways. They were lifelong friends after that.”
“Can you tell me more stories about your grandpa?”
Rhett nodded with a mischievous glint in his eye. “I can. But you just got a bite.”
Jasmine let out a yelp and gripped the pole. “What do I do?”
He slipped his pole into the holder and moved behind her, taking her hand he positioned it correctly on he reel, guiding her through the dance with the feisty fish. When she pulled the trout free of the water, she let out a whoop and held up her catch, grinning from ear to ear.
Caught up in the moment, Rhett swooped in and kissed her.
Her lips opened, inviting him in. This is what happiness tastes like, Rhett thought, losing himself in the depths of Jasmine’s soft mouth. He abandoned her mouth, trailing kisses along her jaw and then the spot on her neck that brought a low throaty moan from her.
“I can’t make it through a day without wanting to kiss you,” he said before returning to the softness of her mouth.
She dropped the fishing pole and threaded her hands through his hair and around his neck, pulling him closer, molding her body against his.
He wanted to strip her right there and make love to her on the dock.
Rhett ignored the splash of the fish finding its way back to the water and the line going back out. He didn’t care about anything but having Jasmine in his arms.
The sound of the pole scraping across the dock brought him back to reality.
“Oh shit. Abraham will have my hide if I lose that pole.”
He let go of Jasmine and grabbed it just before it tipped into the water. Jasmine was laughing, the sun shining on her face, her lips pink, looking at him in a way that made him feel whole and happy.
He wanted to spend the rest of his life making her look at him like that. Now, all he had to do was figure out a way to be a man who was worthy of her.