Nonstop (Open Skies #3) - Becca Jameson Page 0,61
with you for several more days as we turn this trip into a sightseeing tour of half the country.”
She smiled. He was sincere. “Have I mentioned how incredibly awesome you are?”
He smiled and reached for her hand to hold it against his thigh, something he did often when he was driving. “Not yet today, but I’ll take it.”
“How did I get so lucky?”
“Right place at the right time, I guess. That’s how I look at it.”
She leaned closer to him and cleared her throat. “Now that I have you trapped in the car with me and no way to escape, tell me what your mom was referring to yesterday morning when she so cryptically kept encouraging you to tell me something.”
He winked playfully. “You caught that, huh?”
“Yes. How could I miss it? It must have something to do with baking. She seemed incredibly interested in our confections.”
It had been fun creating all kinds of delicious treats for Bracken’s parents while they’d been staying there. Bex and Bracken had baked far too many things, but his mother had assured them their treats would be gratefully devoured by the neighbors.
“Mmm.” Bracken seemed to be thinking about what he wanted to say for several moments. “Well, she thinks we should open a bakery.”
Bex flinched. “Open a bakery?”
“Yep. Rather than you trying to peddle your delicious desserts to all the local bakeries, why not just open your own?”
Bex stared at his profile. He was serious. “Because that takes a lot of money, which I don’t have.”
He glanced at her and then returned his gaze to the highway. “You have a business degree, an incredible drive, and amazing recipes that make people’s mouths water. My mom is right. And I’ve been thinking the same thing for a few weeks now. I just haven’t mentioned it yet.”
“Again, let me point out the amount of capital I would need to start my own business. I’m about to quit my job, which is going to make it difficult to pay my rent, let alone open a bakery.”
He silently took the next exit and pulled off the side of the road, putting the rental car into park before facing her fully. “What if you did have the money?”
She searched his face, wondering what he was getting at.
He clasped her hand and grabbed the other one to join all four of them together. “I mean it. What if you did have the funds? Would you do it?”
“It’s a rather moot topic, Bracken.”
He shook his head. “It’s not.”
She eyed him far more suspiciously. “Are you saying you have that kind of money?”
He licked his lips and drew in a breath. “Yeah.”
Her eyes went wide. “First of all, you must have really scrimped for the last twenty years on your military salary to save up that much cash. Second of all, there isn’t a chance in hell I would use a dime of your life savings to open a bakery.”
He shook his head. “It’s not from my job. It’s an inheritance. From my maternal grandparents.”
She gasped. “Seriously?”
“Yes. I didn’t want to bring it up prematurely because I know how you are about being self-sufficient. And I get it. I don’t blame you. You’ve worked hard to build your career and take care of yourself. I know from the few conversations we’ve had that you’re not hip on the idea of letting me take on some of the burden. That’s why I haven’t pushed too hard.”
She nodded. “I can’t lean on you, Bracken. It would stress me out. I have to make it on my own. Besides, we haven’t known each other long enough for me to let you pay for my shit. It’s ludicrous. Not as ludicrous as me using your inheritance to open a bakery, but close.”
He squeezed her hands and leaned closer. “Rebekah, I need you to understand something. Hear me out.”
She narrowed her gaze, certain she wasn’t going to like what he said.
“From my perspective, you’re it for me. I’m in love with you. I want you to move into my house. I want your face to be the one I see next to me every morning for the rest of my life. If I had my way, you would find someone else to finish your lease, come live with me, and let me handle some of your burdens. I know it’s fast, but it’s how I feel.”
She opened her mouth, but he cut her off before she could say anything, which was just as well since she had