Anderson, Cayson, Silver, and Hope are still around to give Brayden a little taste of what Bexley life is all about by showing Brayden how to push down a dead tree in the woods and shoot a bow and arrow. They even let him ride the pony that he’s deemed his. No one argues. After that, Brayden demands we join in on one of the campers’ activities.
Camp Bexley life is fun, just as it always was, but with every moment that goes by, I can’t ignore the nagging worry in the back of my mind that Jami will always be living two lives. One here and one in Seattle. And I’m just not sure how I feel about that.
After Brayden goes to sleep at night, my thoughts begin to roam, but then Jami calls me to video chat and I go out to the porch to take the call. We talk for hours, laugh until our cheeks hurt, and eventually reluctantly get off the call. When he calls on Thursday, however, disappointment immediately sets in because there’s no video invite.
“I miss you,” Jami says in a gravely tone.
I pout while taking one look back at my sleeping Bray before reaching for the door to slip outside. “Then you should have video called me like you always do?”
A heavy sigh breaks through the line. “I’m too tired. I’ve been traveling for the past few hours.”
I frown and shut the door behind me. The word “travel” doesn’t sit right in my chest. Jami was supposed to be back tomorrow. “Where are you going?”
There’s a strange sound—crunching gravel or maybe static—but it’s unclear where it’s coming from. Until I hear his voice again.
“Home.”
My heart jolts, and I look up, my eyes connecting with his. Jami’s standing at the bottom of my front porch, looking ridiculously sexy in a blue suit and silver tie, but it takes a second for it to sink in. My smile spreads as quickly as the butterflies that take off in my chest. He’s here.
I rush forward and wrap my arms around his neck while I continue to absorb the shock. “You said you had meetings until Friday.”
He chuckles. “I do, but I had a meeting with Randall tonight. I convinced him to meet up near his place so I could swing by here afterward to see my girl.”
My mind swoons, and I tilt my head, unable to stop my grin. “You told your client about me?”
He tightens his hold around my waist. “Of course I did. Randall’s a romantic. He wanted to know everything about you.”
I cringe, thinking about the fact that Randall has already seen me twice without knowing it. “Please tell me you kept some things private.”
Jami leans in, touching his nose to mine. “You mean your pink bunny mask?”
“Shhh,” I hush him and laugh. “Watch yourself, Bexley. You promised.”
“Did I?” he teases. “Now that we’re talking about your alter ego, I might need you to refresh my memory.” His lips move to mine.
“Hmm,” I hum against his mouth. “I might be able to help you out with that, but you’re going to have to take a rain check.”
He kisses me firmly before groaning and pulling away. “I know Brayden is fast asleep. Don’t worry. I didn’t come here to try to proposition you tonight. I’ll go to my cabin like a good boy but only on one condition.”
I can’t stop staring into Jami’s golden eyes. They’re filled with so much more than words can express. I’ve always believed I could read him with one look into that almond gaze. Maybe those secret peeks into his soul are why I have always trusted him.
“Let’s hear it.”
He grins again. “Come with me to Seattle tomorrow. For a long weekend. I’ll go with you to take Brayden to school, and then we’ll go straight there.”
I’m so stunned it takes me a few seconds to formulate my thoughts. “But you have me on the schedule at the saloon all weekend.”
He shakes his head. “I’ve got that covered. You’ll get paid vacation time too.”
“I usually pick Bray up from school and drop him off at Trevor’s.”
Jami squints. “I didn’t think that one through. We can leave after you drop Brayden off if you want.”
I shake my head. “Wait, no. Let me think.” My mind goes into overtime while I consider the classes I need to teach at the studio tomorrow and then immediately wonder who could teach them if I did skip off to the city with Jami. Guilt shoots through me for taking so long to give him a response. He invited me for a weekend away. Certainly I can make it work. Trevor can pick Brayden up from school this one time.
Jami must worry about my pause because he squeezes my waist. “I just want to show you what I’ve been doing for the last seven years.”
One look at him and I’m reminded that he traveled all this way to ask me this one simple question. There’s no possible way I can turn him down.
He tilts his head. “What do you say, Tarzan?”
I let out a dramatic sigh then break into a smile. “Take me to the city, Jane.”
“Love you, Bray,” I call to him as he hops out of the truck with the help of Patrice.
“Bye, buddy,” Jami chimes in.
Brayden stops to wave back at us before hurrying off to class. Patrice smiles and sticks her head through the passenger window. “Hey, Violet. I wasn’t expecting to see you when I spotted the truck.” Her gaze slides to Jami, but she doesn’t look surprised. “Jamison Bexley. Long time no see.”
Jami leans over and reaches out a hand to her, but it’s not a shake, just a friendly squeeze of the hand. “Patrice… Webner now, huh? Vi told me about you and Jimmy. I should have seen that one coming.”
Patrice laughs. “Trust me. No one saw that one coming. Not even me. Library nerds and soccer players don’t usually mesh.”
“No,” Jami agrees, “we’re usually not that lucky.”
Patrice laughs and turns back to me. “Hey, I was actually going to call you soon. The high school is looking for a couple of chaperones for the spring dance coming up. We need a few more volunteers. If you’re available,” she adds with a hopeful smile.
“Definitely. Count me in.” I reach my hand out to indicate Jami. “Can I bring a date?”
Patrice’s eyes sparkle with her nod. “Absolutely. Come. Jim and I will be there too. It will be like old times.” She laughs. “Except a lot different, I guess.” She promises to text me the info before taking a step back onto the curb and darting her gaze between us. “It’s really nice seeing you two together again.”
Jami slides his hand over mine. “Keep telling her that, Patrice. I’m going to need all the support I can get.”
Laughing, I roll my eyes. “Ain’t that the truth?”
One ferry ride, a two-hour drive with traffic, an apartment tour of the cleanest bachelor pad I’ve ever seen, and I’m definitely feeling like the Tarzan in this relationship. Even though we’re eighteen floors above the hustle and bustle of downtown Seattle foot traffic, it feels like we’re trapped in a maze.
I walk over in awe to the wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the city. We’re in a large boardroom of Bexley Financial Services after hours. He just finished giving me the tour of the entire top floor of the building. All his.