Jenna

jenna

Jenna woke with a clear head on Saturday morning, as if the cobwebs of the past nine years had been swept away. And she knew just how to respond to Jake’s declaration of love.

Throwing back the covers, she headed for a quick shower and dressed in her favorite yellow sweater and a pair of jeans. She paused to smile at her reflection in the mirror—Jake always called her sunshine when she wore this sweater.

Grabbing her coat, she took the elevator to the lobby and dashed across the street to the grocery store. There, she purchased a small mason jar and three bags of Brach’s Tiny Conversations Hearts, marked down to half price. With her items in hand, she made her way to a nearby Starbucks, ordered a coffee, and claimed a table for two by the window.

Pulling out her phone, checked the resort’s website for availability and wasn’t surprised to see it was sold out. Still, on the off chance of a cancellation, she clicked the number for the reservation hotline. As she waited on hold, elevator music droning in her ear, she counted heart-shaped candies, dropping them into the mason jar one by one. When a reservation agent finally picked up, made her inquiry. She shot out of her seat when the woman informed her they had a room available.

Providing her credit card information, she confirmed the room and ended the call.

She texted Jake.

What’re you doing?

I just woke up. Why? What’re you doing?

I’m at Starbucks. Since the contest is over, I was hoping we could have coffee together.

Be there in a few. Order me the bacon, sausage, and egg wrap, please.

pressed her fingers to her lips to hide her smile. Jake never ate breakfast. He usually fasted until lunchtime.

Uh-oh. Rough night?

Sorta. I’ll tell you about it when I see you.

She gave his text a thumbs-up and went to the counter to place his order. By the time he arrived twenty minutes later, his food was waiting on the table in front of the empty seat across from her. Her heart somersaulted in her chest. He was so adorable, with mussed hair and cheeks still rosy from sleep. How had she resisted his boyish charm all these years?

While he devoured his breakfast wrap, he filled her in on everything she’d missed at the party. She didn’t ask about Gabe. She didn’t care anymore.

She waited for Jake to finish eating before removing the mason jar from her purse and plunking it down on the table.

“What’s that?” Jake asked, eyeing the jar suspiciously.

“A bet. Guess how many hearts are in the jar.”

He picked up the jar and shook it. “What’s the prize?”

“It’s a surprise,” said, a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips.

“Hmm. Let’s see.” He shook the jar, turned it upside down, and studied it from every angle. “Seventy-two.”

Her warm brown eyes widened. “Close. Sixty-eight. Why are you so good at this?”

“Lucky guess.” He held out his hand. “My prize, please.”

She placed a pink BE MINE heart in the palm of his hand.

He looked down at the candy, then back up at her. “What is this?”

She chewed on her lower lip. “Isn’t it obvious? I’m asking you to be my Valentine.”

He shook his head in disbelief. “Seriously?”

She nodded eagerly. “Seriously. I’m willing to give us another chance at romance.”

Tears filled his eyes. “Don’t play games with me, . I can’t handle it.”

Her gaze dropped to the candy heart in his hand. “I’m not playing games, Jake. But you’d better not break my heart again.”

He cupped his hands around the heart, cradling it gently. “You have my solemn vow—I will never betray you again.” After a beat of silence, his lips curved into a sheepish grin. “So . . . now what?”

stood and dragged her chair around to his side of the table, settling close beside him. “How do you feel about a spontaneous getaway? I managed to snag a room at Old Edwards Inn for tonight—my treat.”

He glanced sideways at her, his blue eyes sparkling with mischief. “ A room? As in just one? You mean we’ll have to share?”

She played along with him. “If you’re okay with that. We were lucky to get a broom closet on Valentine’s weekend. A guest had to check out early because of a family emergency.”

“I’m sorry for the guest. But their loss is our gain,” he said, draping an arm around the back of her chair.

She leaned in close. “We have a lot of making up for lost time to do, you know?”

The smile reached his dimples. “It certainly seems so. How soon can you be ready to leave?”

She glanced at her watch. “In an hour. I just need to throw some things in an overnight bag.”

He pushed back from the table and pulled her to her feet. “Are you sure about this, ? I’d understand if you need more time to think it over.”

Standing on her tiptoes, wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him lightly on the lips. “I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life.”

Thank you for taking the time to read Cupid’s Count Down .