“Everything okay?” I asked.
Clark looked me over and forced a smile. “And who are you?”
“Taylor’s boyfriend.”
His head snapped back over to Taylor. “You had a boyfriend?” Looking back at me, he held up his hands. “Dude, I had no idea. If I had I wouldn’t have . . . um . . . shit.”
In a strange way, I felt sorry for this guy. Taylor quickly said, “We weren’t together so it’s fine, Clark. But if you’ll excuse me, we really need to finish up and head out.”
His eyes bounced between the two of us. “Right, well I guess I’ll see you around. Or not. Okay. Bye.”
Clark quickly turned and walked away as Taylor shut the door and looked up at me. “I’m so sorry.”
Cupping her face with my hands, I kissed her gently. “Let’s get out of here and get you settled in. I’ve got plans for us tonight.”
Taylor’s eyes lit up. “I really like the sound of that. Will you stay with me tonight? I’m not sure how I feel staying there by myself in the middle of that giant ranch!”
My stomach did the damn flutter thing, just like it did every time Taylor smiled at me, or told me she loved me. “Nothing would make me happier.”
Pressing her palms to her cheeks, Taylor giggled. “Oh my goodness! Is this really happening? I’m moving to Mason! I’m starting a new job and I have a boyfriend!” Knowing I had something to do with how happy she was did crazy things to my own emotions. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do to make every single one of Taylor’s dreams come true.
“Um . . . what about your parents? Your father wasn’t too pleased when you called him earlier and told him.”
With a wave of her hand, Taylor grabbed the vacuum, wrapped the cord around it and handed it to me. “He’ll get over it. He knew I was moving back home; I just had a little change of plans.”
“And me?”
She chewed on the corner of her lip. “I think we should let my father get used to the idea that I started a new job and moved into another place before we drop you into the mix.”
With a huff, I asked, “Won’t Scott tell him?”
Shrugging, Taylor looked around one last time before reaching for her purse.
“If he does, I’ll deal with it then. Right now I really want to get back to Mason. We have a lot of time to make up for and another new place to break in.”
I pulled her into my arms. The smell of her perfume filled my senses. “Then we have my place when I move into it.”
“Yes,” she whispered. “And your truck. My car. So many new places and things to learn.”
Closing my eyes, a low growl came from the back of my throat as I said, “I can’t wait.”
Jase
Taylor and I left Austin and headed straight back to the Reynolds’ place. I called my mother to let her know what was happening. I could hear it in her voice she was happy, but she tried not to get to excited or ask too many questions. I was positive the moment I got home I was going to be hit with questions from my parents, my sister, and Walker.
When we pulled up to the main house, there was another truck parked out front. I parked behind Taylor and got out of my truck. Lauren said Taylor needed to stop at the main house to pick up the key.
She sat in her car staring ahead. I knocked on the window, causing her to scream. Laughing, I opened her car door.
“Sweetness, what in the world is wrong?”
Turning back to look at the house, Taylor said, “I don’t even know where to begin.”
“What do you mean?”
Quickly getting out of the car, she shut the door and faced me.
“No matter what my father says, please ignore him.”