Heartbreak's Reward (Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

kids and they haven’t thought of that yet.”
    He chuckled again and nudged his mother’s arm. “You haven’t met my niece, Destiny. She’s a sharp one. If any first grader figures it out, it’ll be that one.”
    “Well, maybe if no one encourages her, she won’t pick up on it.” Brenna found a chuckle and it made Jase give a quick grin as he scoped out her face. Their gaze connected and held a moment. Brenna lowered her eyes in a quick glance to his lips. He had a kissable mouth. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about in her school parking lot. She turned toward his mother and with that subtle smile on her face, Judy must’ve seen her checking out her son.
    “Hmm, not reminding my niece that her teacher’s name is Page. That’s debatable,” he said, low but loud enough for her to hear.
    “Maybe I should plan a list of rebuts to toss back at my little darlings.” Dropping her shoulders, she asked again, “Can I get the directions to a hotel, so I can quit for the day?”
    “No coffee?” asked Jase.
    “Okay, yes, you direct me to a hotel, and hopefully we can find coffee somewhere…and food. I’m starved.”
    Jase lifted his chin, nodding toward her Mustang. “Sure. Go ahead and make sure your car starts.”
    Brenna got inside and turned the key. Jase came to the side and knelt. It was then, she got a whiff of gasoline, yet his cologne overpowered it, and she took in a big inhale as inconspicuously as she could. She loved the scent of whatever he wore. It smelled masculine and spicy. Mmm, it was the right cologne for a man who looked like him. Right now she needed to turn on her air conditioning to cool off. Coffee with him? Maybe she’d ignore his on-again-off-again attitude like he displayed earlier. She gave a rev to the engine.
    “Hey, nice. I always loved that Mustang sound.” He sniffed his hands “I smell like gasoline. Sorry.”
    “Well, Jase, I’m heading on home, son. I’ll have to be there for Des tonight.”
    “Okay, Mom, I’ll drop your gas can off later.” He stood when she got into her vehicle, nodded when they passed by. “Well, Brenna, are you ready? Think you can trust me now?” He gave a subtle wink.
    “Was that your mom’s boyfriend or…?”
    He shrugged. “It’s her boyfriend, I guess.”
    She leaned over and took a bottle of hand sanitizer out of the glove box. “For your gasoline smelling hands. I’m always prepared.”
    “Yeah, real good that you’re always prepared. Thanks.” Holding out his hands, she squirted a big dab into his palms. He glanced around the area as he rubbed it in. “I’m still the same fearsome cowboy who stopped forty minutes ago.”
    She twisted around in the seat and sat sideways, her feet on the ground, and lifted her eyes way up. “Yes, but I have to start somewhere. I’m afraid I’ve made a bad impression with the first person I’ve met in Canyon Junction.” She stuck out her hand. “Maybe I need to start over.”
    Jase remained staring, his hands in his back pockets, hat low on his head.
    Brenna looked up at him when she got out of the car, her hand reaching out again. He took a step closer and grabbed hold of her hand. “Nice to meet you, again, Miss Brenna Page.” He held her gaze and gave a firm shake. “Now, if you’d like to follow me down the road, we’ll turn right on 60 and head into a town called A.J., well, Apache Junction. We’ll find you a hotel there. There’s also a place to get some food…and a coffee.”
    Brenna left her hand in his. “Thank you very much, Jase Carlson, aka, real cowboy.” A smile wanted to sneak out, but she held back as long as she could. She might have been able to longer, if he hadn’t first. Those cute dimples winning her over . Great!

 
     
     
Chapter 3
     
     
    Getting back into his truck, Jase started the engine, sat there a moment, shaking the fog from his brain. “Dammit all to hell, that woman’s strikingly beautiful.” He pulled around her car and drove