Oh. She hadn’t really thought that through. “I don’t need your help.” Ashlee held up her phone. “Someone will be here shortly.” Just as soon as she thought of someone to call.
“So, you did run out of gas,” he repeated smugly.
“Don’t you have somewhere you have to be?” she asked. “A date maybe?”
“Actually,” he said with a grin. “I do have a date.”
Her heart sputtered, just like her car had done right before the engine died. “Then I don’t want to keep you.”
“My date won’t mind. In fact, she’d be very upset with me if I didn’t invite you to join us.”
She stared at him, not sure if he was joking around or not. “You really need to understand that I’m not your kid sister. I can’t just tag along as the third wheel like I did in junior high.”
The crinkles around his eyes softened. “I’m heading over to Nana’s place to have supper with her.”
Hope fueled her sputtering heart, making it pound wildly. “Your date is with your grandmother, not Kate Taylor?”
“Kate?” He frowned. “I’m not interested in dating Kate.”
“Oh.” A bubble of happiness welled up inside her, but Ashlee tamped it down. Just because he wasn’t interested in dating beautiful Kate, didn’t mean he wouldn’t decide to date her. Plus, she’d vowed not to show her emotions so easily. “What about my car?”
“It’s not going anywhere until we get gas for it.”
Her phone dinged a few more alerts. Beau’s eyebrows bunched together as he zeroed in on her screen. “Your phone is going to explode.”
The jealous edge to his voice made Ashlee smile. Perhaps the whole dating app thing was the catalyst the stubborn man needed.
“I know, right?” she said with a laugh. “And here I was worried no one would notice me.”
“Right,” he said with a laugh. His mirth died when her phone dinged again and Darren Hasting’s face appeared on the screen. “Is he going to keep bugging you until you shoot him down or what?”
“Who says I’m going to shoot him down?” She flashed him a wide smile and raised the window back up.
Beau immediately opened the door. “You’re really going out with him?” he asked in a clipped voice.
“Maybe.” Elated by how effective her nonchalance was working, she grabbed her purse from the passenger seat and exited the car.
Beau hadn’t moved from his position, but stood there glaring at her while holding on to the top of the door. “Look,” he said in a serious voice, “I know I don’t have a right to say anything about who you do date or don’t date, but I don’t think a dating app is the way to go.”
“I appreciate your concern, but since my job involves dressing up like a fairytale princess for little girls’ birthday parties, it’s not likely I’ll meet anyone at work.” She ducked around him and headed for the passenger side of his SUV. “Besides, I’m not in school, so where else am I supposed to meet eligible men?”
Beau was right behind her and quickly reached out to open the door for her. “School is an excellent idea,” he said, ignoring everything else she’d said. “Why not go to college?
She pinned him with an irritated glare. “College isn’t really an option for someone like me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means I didn’t bother takin’ the college entrance exam. I don’t need a test to tell me how dumb I am.”
“You’re not dumb, Ashlee.”
“Just dumb enough to use a dating app?”
A smile ghosted his lips. “I didn’t say that, exactly.”
“I think you did,” she said in a sing-song voice as she pulled the door to his car shut.
Beau hesitated for a brief moment before rounding the front of the car. He climbed in behind the wheel and turned toward her. “I didn’t mean to imply that you’re dumb, just that online dating isn’t very wise.”
Ashlee clicked on her seatbelt. “Duly noted.”
“And I don’t think you should rule out going to school.”
“My GPA says otherwise.”
He smiled and started the engine. “That shouldn’t stop you from looking in to it.” He looked over his shoulder before pulling onto the road. “Your grades are only one aspect. You could wow them with an essay and tell them you’re older and wiser and know you could do better if given a chance.”
“Wait a minute,” Ashlee said, turning toward him. “Did you just actually say I’m older and wiser?”
He cut her an amused expression. “I guess I did.”
“It’s about time,” she said under her breath.
Beau must have heard her because he laughed. Ashlee loved making him laugh. Too bad that couldn’t be her full-time job.
“So, what is it you’ve always dreamed about doing?” he asked a few minutes later.
She considered this for a moment and was dismayed that she had no idea what she wanted. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe become a trophy wife?”
He snorted a laugh. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
He stopped at a four-way intersection and looked over at her expectantly. Nervously, she said the first thing that popped into her head. “I don’t know. If the pie is any good, I might consider culinary school.” She wasn’t really serious. She didn’t love cooking like most Southern women did.
“I guess we’ll find out soon enough,” he said, proceeding through the intersection. “We’re having pecan pie for dessert.”
Ashlee hoped he hadn’t brought the pie she’d made. It probably wasn’t up to Miss Barbara’s standards. “I hope it’s the one Kate brought you.”
“Why?” he asked, looking genuinely confused. “I’d much rather have the pie you made.”
“But what if it doesn’t taste good?” Ashlee asked, spotting her pie on the backseat. “I mean, I’m fine if you eat it and it’s horrible, but not your grandmother.”
“Thanks a lot.”
“I’m serious, Beau.” She leaned across the seat and pushed his arm. “That pie is for you and no one else.”
“Now I’m starting to worry.” Beau slid her another surreptitious glance before making a right turn at the corner. “Did you put rat poisoning in it or something?”
“No, but it’s my first attempt… well, actually your pie was my third attempt. The first two didn’t turn out very good.”
Beau merged into the turn lane for the senior living community to wait for the red arrow to turn green and then looked over at Ashlee. “You really went to all that trouble for me?”
“Yes.” She bit her bottom lip and lifted one shoulder up in a shrug. “I wanted it to be good. I just don’t know if it’s good enough.”
Her words echoed in her mind, and she realized she might as well have asked him if she was good enough for him. Her throat squeezed as this new thought took hold. What if Beau’s reasons for denying his attraction to her really wasn’t about the age difference, or that he was her brother’s best friend? The women he’d dated were most likely accomplished professionals with a college degree behind them. She dressed up like make-believe princesses and had aspirations of being a trophy wife.
His forehead wrinkled slightly as he held her gaze, making her feel even more self-conscious. A car horn beeped a couple of times in a row, and Beau jerked his attention back to driving. He lifted a hand in apology to the car behind him and then proceeded to make a left turn.
Neither of them spoke as he wound through the tree-lined road until he came to a set of condos adjacent to a clubhouse surrounded by lush flowers and greenspace.
“This is beautiful,” Ashlee said as Beau pulled into a designated visitor parking space. “Does your nana like living here?”
“I think so.” He shifted the gear into park. “She loves all the new friends she’s making and all the activities the facility offers, but I know she misses the house.”
“Do you have any buyers yet?”
“I don’t want
to list it with the real-estate agent until it’s ready to show.” Beau cut the engine and unclicked his seatbelt. “She says she already has an interested buyer as is, but if it’s the developer trying to buy the farmland surrounding Nana’s house, then I’m not so sure I want to sell it to him.”
“Why not?” Ashlee asked as she unbuckled her seatbelt.
“Because Mr. Fredrickson has a reputation for destroying historical homes to accommodate his massive development plans.”
Ashlee listened to Beau as he passionately listed all the reasons why he didn’t want Mr. Fredrickson to buy his grandmother’s house, or the surrounding property. They were valid reasons, especially given how incongruent the new housing development would be next to his grandmother’s historic structure.
Listening to Beau sparked an idea. She just wasn’t sure if she dared share it with him. While Ashlee didn’t know anything about land development or architecture, she knew what she liked and the vision in her head was so clear. If other builders offered a certain style of home with a few variations, then why couldn’t Beau design new homes to appear as if they’d been built a century earlier? The neighborhood would be like stepping back in time.
“Why don’t you do it?” Ashlee blurted out.
One of his eyebrows went up. “Do what?”
She hesitated for a moment, hoping he wouldn’t laugh at her suggestion. After all, she only had a high-school diploma to her name. “Buy your grandmother’s house and develop the land yourself.”
Chapter 14
Beau considered Ashlee for a moment, surprised by the serious tone of her voice. Starting his own business was a great idea… one he’d considered in his daydreams. “I’d like to, but I don’t have the money or experience it would take for a project that massive.”
“Isn’t that what investors are for?” Ashlee asked. “I know Jackson is always looking for companies to invest his father-in-law’s money in.”
A half-smile edged up one side of Beau’s mouth. Ashlee’s matter-of-fact response intrigued him. He’d never seen this side of her. “That’s a great idea, only I don’t have a company for Jackson to invest in.”
“Then you should start your own company.” Ashlee nervously fiddled with the strap to her purse. “You could specialize in designing new houses to look old, matching the era of your grandparent’s home. That style is timeless. In fact, that could be the name of your company. Timeless Architecture or something like that.”
Beau didn’t say anything, he just stared at her with a dumbfounded expression. The idea was brilliant— still not feasible right now— but brilliant. While he’d wanted to focus on restoring old homes, it had never occurred to him to design a new home that replicated a home built more than a hundred years ago.
Before he could respond, Ashlee dropped her eyes and reached for her door handle. “Forget it. I can tell you think it’s a stupid idea.”
“No, Ashlee,” he said, reaching out to snag her wrist. “It’s not a stupid idea.”
Slowly, she eased back into her seat and looked at him. “Really?”
“Yes, really.” Acutely aware he was touching her, he loosened his grip on her wrist. “But before I talk to Jackson or any other investor, I’d need time to carefully think this through and then come up with a business plan.”
He met her gaze and swallowed hard as he slid his fingers down her soft skin to wrap her hand. He also needed to come up with a plan for what to do about his feelings for her. They seemed to grow stronger every time he was around her. It wasn’t fair to Ashlee to be so indecisive. She adored him. He could see it in her eyes.
“A plan,” she repeated softly. Then her eyes widened, and she quickly withdrew her hand. “Of course, you’ll need time to think this through. You’ve always been a planner.” She grabbed her purse and dropped her phone inside. “Let’s go eat. I’m starving.”
“Okaaay,” he said, trying to figure out what had just happened. Usually, he was the one abruptly severing their connection. “But what about the pie?” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
“I guess you can bring it in. Just don’t tell Miss Barbara I made it unless she likes it.”
After retrieving the pie from the backseat, Beau got out and went around to open Ashlee’s door. She thanked him and then started toward the condominiums. “Which one is Miss Barbara’s?”
“It’s the end one on the far right,” he said, catching up to her. She was acting a little off, and Beau wasn’t sure what he’d said to make her so aloof.
“Over here,” he heard his grandmother say as she stepped out of the condo adjacent to hers. “Oh, my goodness, you brought a date!” she said with a little too much enthusiasm.
“It’s not a date, Miss Barbara,” Ashlee said before Beau could answer one way or the other. “Beau was kind enough to rescue me when I ran out of gas.” She reached out and gave his grandmother a hug.
“Well, date or not, I’m glad you came with him.” Nana released Ashlee and then opened her arms to Beau. He stooped down to hug her and wasn’t at all surprised when she whispered, “Why aren’t you dating her?”
“I missed you too,” he said, kissing her on the cheek. He straightened up and handed over the pie. “And I brought dessert.”
She grinned, as if to say his diversion hadn’t worked on her and they’d talk later. “Thank you.” She lifted a corner of the aluminum foil and peeked inside. “Mmm, homemade pecan pie. Who made it?”
Unsure how to answer, Beau glanced at Ashlee. After several seconds of silence, she let out a long breath and rolled her eyes. “That would be me, Miss Barbara, but I didn’t want Beau to say anything in case it’s not up to your standard.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful, sweetie,” Nana said with a wink. “Especially since you made it for my grandson.”
Ashlee looked at Beau through narrowed eyes. “Yes, I figured he’d be the perfect victim for my baking attempts since he probably wouldn’t know the difference between homemade or one from Kroger’s.”
“Hey,” Beau said with a laugh. “I’d know.”
“Oh, that’s right,” Ashlee said sweetly. “You do have a pie from Kroger’s. You should’ve brought the pie Kate Taylor dropped off so we could compare the two.”
“Kate Taylor brought you a pie?” Nana asked with one eyebrow raised. “Isn’t she the pretty girl who caught the wedding bouquet?”
While Beau hadn’t wanted to reveal that information to his grandmother for fear she’d try to play matchmaker, he couldn’t hold back a smile. Ashlee was jealous. It was kind of nice having her be the one that was jealous instead of him.
“Yes, ma’am,” Beau said. “Kate and I have been friends for years. We’re still friends.”
“Well,” Nana said glancing back and forth between him and Ashlee, “Isn’t that sweet.”
“Isn’t it?” Ashlee said with just enough sass to make Beau’s grin widen.
A woman with unnaturally red hair, came out of the unit next to Nana’s and headed their way.
“Hello there, I’m Nora Franklin,” she said with a slight Irish accent. “You must be Miss Barbara’s handsome grandson she’s always goin’ on about.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Beau said, shaking her proffered hand. “Beau Jacobsen.”
“And who’s this Bonnie lass?” she asked turning toward Ashlee.
“Ashlee Nichols, ma’am.” Ashlee stepped forward and shook the woman’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Franklin.”
“You’re a very pretty girl,” Mrs. Franklin said.
“Thank you, ma’am.”
Nora turned to address Beau’s grandmother. “Might this be the girl you were tellin’ me about? The one who could come to my great-granddaughter’s birthday party as Cinderella?”
“The very one.” His grandmother moved next to her neighbor. “Nora’s family is coming in a few weeks for a big family reunion. Chloe, one of her great-granddaughters is turning nine, and she wants to surprise her with a princess birthday par
ty.”
“That’s my specialty,” Ashlee said. “Do you have a specific day in mind?” She pulled her phone from her purse. “I can check my schedule right now.”
“While y’all are doing that, I’ll take the pie inside,” Nana said, heading toward her condo.
Nora gave Ashlee a date. She tapped on the screen, and her phone dinged multiple times with new alerts. Beau bet they were all from the dating app. He moved in a little closer so he could see her phone. Sure enough, a picture of some guy kicking a soccer ball was on her screen.
“Sorry,” she said, when her phone pinged three more times. She swiped up to get rid of the alerts and tapped on her calendar. “It looks like I’m booked for three parties that day. Any chance we can do it on another day?”
“Let me see,” Nora said, moving to stand next to Ashlee so she could see her screen. “How about this day?” she asked, pointing at the calendar.
“That looks good.” Ashlee tapped on the date and typed in Nora’s name. “I’ll double-check with my boss, but I doubt there will be a problem.”
“And I’ll check with Chloe’s mother to make sure there isn’t a conflict,” Nora said.
Ashlee’s phone pinged a new notification. Beau squinted at the screen and could see it was the same soccer guy.
“Is that your boyfriend trying to get a hold of you?” Nora asked.
“No, ma’am.” Ashlee cleared the screen with a swipe of her finger. “I’m in between boyfriends right now. Supposedly, this new dating app is going to help me find one.”
Jealousy snaked through Beau, tempting him to grab her phone and delete the app before anyone else messaged her.
“I’d like a new boyfriend,” Nora said. “Do they have apps for someone my age?”
“I think so,” Ashlee said with a laugh. “Do you have a smart phone?”
“A smart phone?” Nora questioned as she pulled out an old styled flip phone from her pocket. “My daughter bought this one. It’s called a June bug or something like that, but I have no idea if it’s smart or not.”
“Hmm,” Ashlee said, eyeing the phone. “I don’t think that will work. Do you have an iPad?”
Blue Moon Kisses: Georgia Moon Romance Book 3 Page 13