Forever in a Moment by Charlotte O'Shay

Author:Charlotte O'Shay [O'Shay, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: winter, jilted bride, country setting, fish out of water, banter, first person POV, opposites attract, New Year, rebound, different worlds
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2019-03-19T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

No Regrets

He looks away from me, thinking, but keeps the contact between us by threading his fingers through mine. He drums the fingers of his other hand on the steering wheel. “We could go to the cottage, the smaller house you saw next door to the main farmhouse. I live there. My grandparents, who’re in Florida right now, live with my parents. But that might mean…”

“No. No walk of shame out of your cottage, Jed.” For some reason that’s non-negotiable. But oh how I want him. I feel like I won’t breathe normally again till we’re together. “Come to my room at the inn.”

“People will see me there, you know.”

“But it’s my space. I don’t care what they think. But it would be too awkward to see your parents tomorrow wearing these clothes…”

“You’re sure?” His hand is hovering over the gear shift when I nod.

We’re both silent on the five-minute drive to the inn. Once inside, I beeline to Jared at the desk and hand him the corn muffin baggie. Jed meanders over to the winter wonderland village display on the sideboard at the back wall of the lobby and stands with his back to us, his hands loosely linked behind him.

Jared’s eyes widen in mock surprise. “Samantha, are you trying to buy my silence with one of Mrs. Armstrong’s muffins?”

His grin falters when he sees my expression morph from barely contained excitement to mortified embarrassment.

“No, I…” I’m so nervous about this for so many reasons but not nervous enough to call a halt to it. I want Jed. That’s the only thing I know with any certainty. I remember my conversations with Tracey and Beth. I will live my life with no regrets.

“No worries.” Jared’s tone gets serious. “Didn’t mean to make it awkward, Sam. I’m the original judgment free zone. If someone hears something it won’t be through me. But this is a small town. No guarantees someone won’t blab.”

I nod. How well I know this already. And still I’m not going to walk away from the chance to spend a night with Jed. “I know,” I say, backing up from the reception desk.

I catch Jed’s eye and he joins me at the bottom of the stairs. I realize he’s not trying to hide what he’s doing here with me but wanted to give me a private moment with Jared.

All is right in my world when he takes my hand and we ascend the stairs together.

But nerves return when I put the brass key in the lock and open the door to my room. I take off my boots and Jed follows suit. My room is cozy, which is a nice way of saying it’s dominated by the queen bed. I’m pretty neat though so my clothes aren’t everywhere and of course the inn’s housekeeper tidied up. Still the bed looms in front of us like a statement of intent.

“All of the sudden I wish we were in the pickup.” I try to make it sound like a joke as I fiddle with the zipper of my jacket.

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