“Seth?” She put a hand to her throat, not believing he was really here. She wanted to run and throw herself at him, but he simply straightened and kept grinning at her. He didn’t move her direction.
“Hey.” He raised a hand in greeting.
“Hey.” She fought to calm her heart as she walked toward him. He’d kissed her goodbye at the airport. Would he kiss her hello now?
She was so focused on his handsome face that she stumbled forward in the too-tall high heels.
Seth sprung forward and caught her in his arms. Breeze clung to his solid forearms and stared into his blue eyes, rasping out, “New shoes.”
He smiled and helped her stand up straight. Breeze didn’t care that she’d tripped, all she cared about was that he didn’t release her.
Sliding his hands around to her lower back, he tugged her in closer. Breeze’s hands worked their way up his arms to his shoulders, and she gave a breathy sigh. Seth bent down close and tenderly kissed her. He pulled back slightly and said, “Hello.”
Breeze laughed unsteadily. “That’s more the hello I was hoping for.”
“Were you now?” He grinned and then kissed her more firmly, taking his time and doing a beautifully thorough job of the hello she’d been dreaming of since they said goodbye three weeks ago. San Francisco had never been so perfect.
He tilted his head and smiled at her. “Breeze, would you …”
Her heart slammed against her chest. “Would I …” She moistened her lips and wondered if this was the day that all of her dreams came true. Sure she would. Would she ever. Anything he asked, she definitely would.
“Go to dinner with me?”
“Oh.” All her hopes of him asking for some large commitment fizzled and died. Dinner? She liked food, and she liked him, and she’d like to eat dinner with him, but dang, she’d been hoping for a lot, lot more. “Of course, sure.” She pulled free of his arms and pulled her key from her purse. “I’m just, um, a little overdressed.” She gestured to her silky blouse, skirt, and high heels. She liked that she could say that. She’d never been overdressed before.
Seth’s eyebrows rose. “I think you look incredible. But you can change if you want to.”
“Where are you wanting to eat? That might help me decide what to wear.”
He looked slowly over her face. “You know the sad thing is, I don’t even know what kind of food you like.”
Breeze thought it was sad. She wanted to know everything about him as well. “Mostly just regular American food, but that’s probably because I’ve never tried anything else. Well, I guess I’ve tried pizza and crappy Chinese but that’s pretty much American too, right? What about you?”
He smiled. “I like everything, but I would say Asian food is my favorite.”
“Oh! Like the Thai food we had with your family in Jackson Hole. That was delicious. There’s a Thai restaurant just a couple blocks down. Should we try it?” She’d wanted to try it after her experience eating Thai in Jackson Hole, but eating out wasn’t something she had ever spent money on.
“Sure.” He extended his hand but then cocked his head to the side. “Do you want to change then or …”
“It looks kind of fancy, so I’ll stay dressed up.” She’d found that she liked being dressed up, feeling feminine. She especially liked it right now with Seth looking at her like he was and saying he thought she looked incredible.
He grinned and took her hand. “So, I’ll be the underdressed one now. I see how it is.”
She smiled as they walked along the balcony and down the stairs. She knew he had more money than the big-time potato farmers, but he didn’t put on airs by wearing a fancy suit around all the time. “You look amazing in those jeans,” she said, then put her free hand to her mouth. “Sorry that was kind of brash.”
He chuckled and squeezed her hand. “I don’t mind. You might have to watch that lovely mouth around my mom though.” He winked.
They reached the sidewalk and meandered toward the restaurant. “How is your mom? Your whole family?” She got reports from Mar but wanted to hear it from him.
“They’re all great. Rachel seems to be recovering well. Everybody else is busy and happy. You see Mar, Luke, and Cosette more than I do.”
“Probably.”
“And you’re living the dream?” he asked. “Working for Mar.”
She tilted her head to look at him. He’d come to see her, he’d kissed her, but she wasn’t sure if he had any intentions beyond a casual dinner date. “You put Mar up to it, right?” She’d been wondering about that. The timing was just too coincidental.
“Excuse me?” He stopped walking on the slanted street and turned to her. As this street was off the tourist path, it was pretty quiet.
“You asked Mar to hire me, to create a job for me.”
His mouth pursed but he shook his head. “No. I called her asking for advice on how to hire you myself. I need a social media manager and someone to help my main manager with scheduling and a hundred other things he can’t keep up on, but you didn’t seem open to that idea. At the park, you know? I didn’t want to leave you in Idaho alone and without a house and without Ridge. Mar fought with me; said you should work for her so you could retain your pride. Mar says you’re amazing … Breeze, what? What did I do wrong?”
Breeze bit at her lip to keep her emotions under control, but a traitorous tear still rolled down her cheek. “Nothing,” she managed as she started back down the sidewalk.
“Breeze,” Seth’s voice had a warning note in it. “This isn’t nothing.” He tugged her to a stop again and pressed the pad of his thumb softly to her cheek. “Talk to me. You didn’t want to work for Mar?”
“No, it’s not that. It’s just …” She closed her eyes. He might not return the feeling, but she had to be brave and throw her pride in the trash. These past three weeks of craving him had shown her that her pride wasn’t worth being without him. “I didn’t know you had an actual job for me. I wanted to be with you.”
Seth’s eyes widened. “But after the police station that night, in the park, you were so adamant about your pride and me just taking Ridge with me. I had no clue you would’ve come with me. So, I let Mar win the argument and offer you the job. You’d be willing to work for me now?”
She stepped back and shook her head, feeling awkward and embarrassed. If he wanted her, he would say it, not recall the stupid words she’d said when she was a mess. “I shouldn’t have said anything. You don’t need me.”
“What do you mean?” He crossed the distance she’d created between them and captured both of her hands with his. “Dang straight I need you. I need you to kiss me and hold me and make me smile.” His face lit up as if this were the best news ever.
“You can’t hire me for …” Her face burned red. “I need to have a legitimate job, Seth, like helping your manager, not just your kisser and holder. Though that sounds amazing.” Her entire body was on fire as he gave her the most appealing look she’d ever seen. “Oh my, never mind!”
She tugged her hands free, but he just grinned bigger and wrapped his hands tight around her hips. “I want to hire you. As I mentioned I need a social media manager and a personal assistant for my manager.”
She tilted her head, finding it hard to think with his warm palms on her hips. “Do you really?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“I can’t just up and leave Mar after she’s been so good to me and trained me and given me an advance.”
“Oh, yes you can. Mar will be just fine, but I would be lost without you.” He tugged her closer and wrapped his hands around her lower back.
“You’ve been just fine without me,” she insisted, though she couldn’t resist placing her hands on his beautifully formed chest muscles.
“No,” he insisted. “I’ve been miserable and grumpy and shriveling inside. Breeze,” his voice dropped low and beseeching. “I had no clue that you would’ve come with me. I’ll make things right with Mar just please, please say
you’ll come with me and stay by my side. I need you. I love you.”
“You … love … me?” She could hardly formulate the words, and there was no way she could comprehend or internalize them. She had friends and neighbors who cared for her, and Ridge loved her in his way, but this incredible man, this national icon, Seth Jewel, loving a destitute girl from the backroads of Idaho? Insanity.
Seth’s blue gaze was very intent on her. “You are the most down-to-earth, kind, genuine, and beautiful woman I’ve ever met, Breeze. Please say you’ll come travel with me, work with me, get to know me. I won’t push you to love me until you’re ready, but I can’t stand to not have you close.”
Breeze studied him and tugged him close and kissed him. “Yes,” she breathed against his mouth. “Yes, I want to travel with you, work with you, get to know you, and, hopefully, someday love you.” She already did but she felt like teasing him a little bit right now.
Seth grinned against her mouth. “Hopefully that day isn’t too far away.”
“You never know.”
He chuckled and then covered her mouth with his own. The kiss promised that he was hers and they’d have many beautiful days to come. She’d tell him how much she loved him. Later. She kissed him fiercely. Much later.
Epilogue
Seth was performing at a freestyle event in Las Vegas, and Breeze’s stomach was in knots. She could handle him racing a lot easier than him doing all the flips, stunts, and tricks dozens of feet in the air while maneuvering a two-hundred-pound dirt bike. No wonder the muscles in his arms felt like steel bands. She fanned herself, sweating from something besides nerves as she pictured those arms circling her and his grin as his blue eyes sparkled at her.
“Breeze!” Ridge’s voice pulled her from her fantasies while she waited backstage for the main event — Seth’s time to shine.
“They need you.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the tunnel that led to the floor of the massive indoor stadium. Apparently, they also hosted rodeos, concerts, and sporting events in this insanely huge building.
“Who needs me?”
“They do. Come on!”
Breeze ran along with him, trying to keep up in her heels. Mar had converted her to dressing up, and Breeze really enjoyed looking the professional part of Seth’s social media manager and his manager’s assistant. She stood out from the dirt bike crowd of men in riding gear or t-shirts and jeans and women in next to nothing. Seth had to defend her a few times from leering men. Luckily, he’d only gotten to fists once. Though she secretly loved watching him fight for her, she couldn’t condone violence.
They burst through the bottom of the tunnel and onto the packed dirt track. The lights were bright, and the crowd was hollering at something.
“Breeze!” Caleb jogged up to her. “There you are. You ready?”
“For what?” She hadn’t even known Caleb was going to be here tonight.
He winked. “The main event.”
She usually didn’t watch the events from down here. Only the pit crew and cameramen did. What was going on? Her brow wrinkled and she held a hand up to shield her eyes, glancing at the big screens mounted high in the middle of the stadium. Her own face stared back at her. She put a hand to her mouth and the screen reflected it.
“Caleb? Ridge?” She put her hand down and tried not to look stunned. “What’s going on?”
“Watch.”
The crowd roared as dirt bikes in single file approached the first jump and the screen blessedly switched to the first rider. It was different than what she’d seen before at a freestyle event as the first rider did a flip but pointed to his jersey. Instead of the usual sponsor logo on his jersey, it was white with a large B on it.
Breeze looked to Caleb, but he just smiled and pointed at the next rider. This guy did a three-sixty, displaying an R on his jersey. The next guy did a superman seat grab and had an E on his jersey. The next did a heel clicker backflip, proudly displaying another E. The crowd was catching on and yelling each letter as they cheered each stunt.
The stunts seemed to get progressively more difficult and Breeze clasped her hands together as one guy did a backflip and let go of his bike completely before grabbing it again, she thought it was called a rock solid backflip. Where was Seth? She knew he was the premier rider tonight and his trick would probably be the most insane.
She glanced at the big screen as the crowd screamed another letter R as the rider flung his legs out to the side, she thought Seth had called it a Nac-Nac. The jumbotron had all the letters that had been displayed on jerseys so far written along the bottom. Breeze, Marr …
Breeze’s mouth fell open. She glanced quickly at Caleb, but he had his arms folded across his chest and was grinning but not looking at her.
The men and letters kept coming until the screen read: Breeze, Marry Me.
Breeze had her hand over her mouth again, but, luckily, they weren’t filming her. The other bikes and riders were all lined up under the jump, the letters proudly displayed as a lone rider raced onto the track. Breeze knew it was Seth. She’d recognize him anywhere. Her heart raced as she prayed he wouldn’t get hurt on his trick. She could hardly believe that he was asking her to marry him.
Seth’s bike roared up the jump and he flew over the other riders’ heads, doing a double back flip in the air. Breeze screamed out in a panic, and then cheered as loud as anybody in the crowd as he landed it safely.
He rode straight up to her, jumping off the bike. Ridge was right there to grab the bike and the helmet Seth pulled off, revealing his handsome, smiling face. His blue eyes twinkled as he strode up to her. She was sure that stupid big screen was showing their faces, but she didn’t have eyes for anyone but Seth.
“Breeze.” He said her name so beautifully, so sweetly. He dropped to one knee right in front of her and pulled a sparkly diamond ring out of his pocket. She felt dizzy. Reaching for her other hand he said, “Sorry for all the crazy fanfare, but I wanted your attention.”
She giggled. “You have it.” She loved that he’d made such a huge deal out of asking her. He always made her feel special, important, and loved, and tonight was no exception.
“Will you marry me?” he asked.
“Yes.”
The crowd roared their approval, and Seth reverently slid the ring on her left ring finger. He stood and swooped her off her feet and into his arms. He took possession of her mouth, and the joy filling her was louder than the loudest cheers of the crowd. Eventually, Caleb pulled them apart.
“Okay, you two, it’s getting awkward.”
Breeze smiled at her future brother-in-law. “I’m sorry, but I don’t really care.” She kissed her future husband again. He chuckled against her mouth and swept her into his arms and carried her into the tunnel.
“What about the main event?” Ridge called after them.
“This is the main event,” Seth hollered back.
Breeze didn’t have to worry about responding, because as soon as they were out of sight of the crowds and the cameras, he kissed her again. It was the best main event she’d ever attended.
Thank you for reading Seth and Breeze’s story! If you enjoyed this clean romance keep reading for excerpts of more Jewel Family Romance.
Hugs,
Cami
Jewel Family Romance
Do Marry Your Billionaire Boss
Do Trust Your Special Ops Bodyguard
Do Date Your Handsome Rival
Do Rely on Your Protector
Do Kiss the Superstar
Do Marry Your Billionaire Boss
A group of young men, barely out of their teens, walked past, several staring at Jade. They stopped and talked and laughed and jostled each other and kept sneaking looks at her as she slowly licked her ice cream cone. A tall redhead kid broke from the group and approached her. “Hey, pretty lady.”
She smiled, having no desire to crush this young man’s confidence. He was a cute kid. “Hey.”
“You want to …
go for a walk?”
She tried to be nice. “That is so kind of you, but …” But what? I already have three men I’m interested in and you’re too young to compete with any of them?
“She has a boyfriend,” said a deep, irresistible voice behind her.
Jade whirled, and there he was. Joshua looked as gorgeous as ever, wearing dark gray slacks and a button-down pale blue shirt that showed just a hint of his tanned, tough chest. His chestnut-brown hair had just that perfect wave to it, and those blue eyes yanked her right in. How she wished he truly could be her boyfriend.
“Ah, sorry, man,” the guy was saying.
Joshua reached out, and she watched them shake hands. “Hey, no hard feelings. I know she’s the most beautiful woman on this ship. You didn’t know she was taken.”
“You’re one lucky dude.” The kid smiled an embarrassed grin at her and then scuttled back to his friends.
Jade stared in semi-shock at Joshua as he took the chair next to her. His knees brushed hers, and he looked her over possessively as if he were her boyfriend. “You’re welcome,” he said.
“Excuse me?” Her temper flared up. At this point she didn’t know if he could win with her, no matter what he said. What happened to him staying away until he figured out she was innocent? “What am I thanking you for?”
He smiled smoothly, and she loved that dimple. “First of all, saving you from that kid hitting on you.”
She narrowed her eyes. “He seemed like a very nice young man, and I’ve always been partial to redheads.” She folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t have any problem with a cute guy hitting on me.”
He edged in a little closer, and she smelled that irresistible cologne.
“Second of all …” His voice was so irresistibly husky, it made her stomach feel all warm, like she’d just drunk a mug of hot cocoa. “You looked really lonely. I thought I’d rescue you from that.”
Do Rely on Your Protector (Jewel Family Romance Book 4) Page 13