Page 40 of Blue Moon Cowboy
Together, they made their way to the movie theater, where Lainey bought popcorn and drinks while he paid for the movie tickets.
The action flick wasn’t something she would have necessarily chosen if she’d been by herself, but she liked the actors, and the fast-paced script kept her on the edge of her seat.
When it ended, Jason went to the restroom to wash the popcorn grease off his hands.
Lainey washed her hands, then heard her phone ping with a text. She took it out of her bag and saw it was from Reuben.
Glad I ran into you, Lainey. Jason seems like a great guy. Thanks for buying my dinner. I appreciate it. Safe travels and be happy. You deserve it!
Lainey would have purchased Reuben’s meal if she’d been thinking about it, but clearly Jason had been. It was so like him to do a kindness like that and not mention it. He quietly did so many things for people without expecting anything in return, and it was one of the dozens of reasons she loved him.
Jason Price might be a lot of things, but he was a good, kind, wonderful man. A man that any woman with half a brain would pursue until her last breath.
Rather than dwell on what a catch he was and what an idiot she was being, she sent Reuben a text.
You are welcome. I’m so happy we got to see you, and you and Jason got to meet. Be safe out there.
Lainey dropped her phone into her bag and stepped out of the restroom to find Jason waiting for her. His expression lit up when he saw her and held out an arm to her.
She wrapped her hand around his hard bicep, and they meandered through the huge truck stop.
“Want dessert? I saw something on the menu earlier that we could share,” Jason said, apparently not ready for the evening to end.
Lainey was stuffed, but she wanted to spend more time with him. “Sure.”
Jason ordered a caramel banana chimichanga for them to share, along with a cup of tea for her and a glass of water for him. The dessert arrived at the table topped with a tower of whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.
“My arteries are clogging just looking at that,” Lainey said, then motioned to Jason. “Hand over that fork.”
He laughed and gave her one of the two forks the server had left on a stack of napkins.
As they enjoyed the indulgent treat, they talked about the movie and what they liked about it.
“We should do this again,” Jason said after leaving money on the table for the dessert along with a nice tip.
“We should, but only if you let me pay for dessert. Maybe even dinner. You know I’m not destitute just because I live in my van.”
He gave her an indulgent look. “I know, but I’ve told you before, and will likely say it again, I’m an old-fashioned guy. So, sue me.”
“If I sued you, does that mean I get your family in the bargain? I love them all, Jason. Did you hear from Pops today?”
He nodded and settled a hand at the small of her back as they went outside and started across the parking lot to her van.
“I did. He had a good day and said Galen and Tyler got the cattle moved to the north pasture with no trouble.”
“That’s great. How is Lisa feeling?”
Jason’s left eyebrow hiked upward. “You tell me. I’m pretty sure the two of you converse on a daily basis.”
Lainey grinned and shrugged. “I can’t help it if your daughter has become my friend.”
“She said she …” Jason stopped and caught a soccer ball that had gotten away from three kids who had been playing nearby while their mom pumped gas into their minivan. He kicked it back to them with a smile, and all three of the kids waved at him and called out their thanks.
Lainey had noticed that children, the elderly, and animals all seemed to take to Jason. “You’re so friendly, you’re lucky a pack of strays doesn’t follow you home every night.”
“They might, but then they’d see Carter and Caitlyn and all the tomfoolery that takes place in our trailer and run the other direction.”
“Maybe so.”
