Firefly Duet: New Beginnings and Lasting Love Read online

  Jett pulled another worm from the can. “Watch and learn.” He threaded the bait to the hook. “Think you can handle that or would you rather I do it?”

  Sofia picked up the worm with the tips of her fingers on her cast side then used her other hand to wrap the bait on the hook.

  “Good job.” Jett stood, putting out his hand to pull her up. “I don’t know if my ideas will get past the gate-keeper. We aren’t exactly talking.”

  “Jim.”

  “Yep.” Jett headed toward the edge of the pond and she followed. “Okay, just watch me a few times and then we’ll get you started.”

  For the next several minutes she listened to Jett’s instructions, loving the whiz of the line when he cast over the water. He stood far from her when she tried, her line making it a few feet the first several times before he demonstrated how to relax and let the line flow as if an extension from her arm. She sat cross-legged next to him once both lines were in the water.

  “Do what I’m doing,” he said. “I tug a little on the line every so often and reel it in slowly.”

  She wiggled her shoulders. “Look at me. I’m fishing.”

  He glanced her way. “You’re a natural, Sis.”

  She couldn’t prevent the tear from falling down her cheek at his choice of words.

  “Hey.” He took the rod out of her hand. “Are you crying? Is it because I called you sis?”

  She inhaled and wiped her cheek with her sleeve. “It’s okay. It just hits me like a wave sometimes that my brother is really gone. It stinks when it shows up out of the blue and makes everyone uncomfortable.”

  “It doesn’t make me uncomfortable. I get it. I am sorry though. I’d never try to make you sad.”

  “I know you wouldn’t.” She swallowed. “Today’s been nice. Thank you for taking me fishing.”

  Jett rocked his head side to side with a small smile. “I have my moments. I’m working on stringing a few of my good ones together. Thanks for coming with me.”

  Chapter 12

  Jim’s head throbbed as he drove toward the ranch house, his eyes fixated on Jett’s truck parked in front. “What the hell is he doing here?”

  “Try not to jump to any conclusions,” Ben said. They parked and got out. “He stops by occasionally.”

  “On the one day you or I’m not here, but Sofia is?” Jim slammed his door and walked around the truck. “Just great.” He gestured to the fishing rods leaning against the house by the back door.

  “Looks like someone beat you to taking Sofia fishing.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate you pointing out the obvious,” Jim muttered. “Worst goddamn day ever.” He headed up the steps, opened the door, and followed his father inside.

  “Hi,” Sofia said from the kitchen table where she and Jett’s heads were almost touching as they studied something on her laptop. “How’d it go? Did you have any luck finding a construction crew?”

  “We made some good connections. Haven’t found the right thing yet,” Ben answered.

  “Why didn’t you ask me for help?” Jett added. “I can recommend some construction managers right around here. Not just in Four Bears.”

  Jim ignored Jett’s question, instead attempting to steady his last nerve by grabbing a glass from the cupboard and filling it at the sink. Turning to the room, he leaned against the counter. “What have you two been up to?”

  “We’re checking out this software that lets you create a map,” Sofia said. “Playing around with what it would look like if you added cabins near the lodge and had paths running in between.”

  Jim tilted his head, taking in Sofia’s smile toward Jett and his brother’s grin back. “Looks like you went fishing?”

  “We did and I’ll have you know,” Sofia put her hand on her chest, “I put bait on my own hook and everything.”

  “Perfect day for fishing.” Ben took his glasses out of his shirt pocket and motioned for Sofia to turn the laptop his direction. “Let’s see what you got. Look at that, it’s 3-D. That’s amazing. Jim, you should look at this.”

  “Maybe later.” Jim put his glass in the sink, his back to the room, and stared out the kitchen window.

  “I heard you’re taking Sofia horseback riding tomorrow.”

  Jett’s words landed like a knife stuck between his shoulder blades. “Actually, I had changed my mind and was going to take her fishing.” He turned around, making eye contact with Jett. “Now, I don’t think so.”

  “We should! The great part is you wouldn’t have to teach me everything because Jett already did that. Plus I’m not nearly as afraid of worms as I am of horses.” Sofia giggled.

  Keep a lid on it.

  Ben pushed his chair back from the table and winked at Sofia. “Tomorrow is supposed to be another beautiful day. You can never get too much practice fishing.” He left the kitchen, calling behind him as he went. “I’m going to wash up and then we should think about putting some supper together.”

  “It’s not all that exciting, but if you want to stay, I could make my famous grilled cheese sandwiches and a fruit salad,” Sofia said.

  “Not tonight.” His voice came out gruff, so Jim added a quick smile then discreetly shook his head at Jett when she wasn’t looking.

  “Ends up, I have to go too.” Jett scooted his chair back, picked up his keys from the counter, and headed out the door. “I’ll take a rain check on one of those famous sandwiches.”

  Sofia pouted. “Okay. I guess that leaves more for me and your dad.”

  “I’ll be back in a minute.” Jim headed out the door on the heels of his brother. “Hold up there, slick.”

  “Ah, Jesus.” Jett climbed into his truck and slammed the door. “I didn’t do anything, Jim. I took the girl fishing. I didn’t know you had plans to do that.”

  “How’d you know she was here alone today?”

  “I didn’t. I came by to see if Dad wanted to go to Patsy’s Diner.”

  “And you just happened to have your fishing gear with you and a free afternoon.”

  “You’re starting to piss me off.” Jett turned the ignition and revved the engine. “Bro.”

  Jim put both hands on the roof of his brother’s truck, his voice dangerously low as he spoke through the open window. “What happened today, doesn’t happen again. You stay away from her. Got it?”

  “Or what. Jim?” Jett shouted. “I told you, I didn’t do anything but take her fishing. I may be a drunk, but I’m not a fucking perv.”

  Jim took a step back, watching gravel and dust spit up as Jett pulled away. Turning back toward the house, he pulled up short at Sofia standing on the back steps.

  “What was that all about?”

  Jim moved to the bottom of the steps, shrinking inwardly at the stink eye she gave him. “You don’t need to be concerned about it.”

  “So everything’s fine. That’s why your brother just flew down the driveway like a bat out of hell.” She put her hand on her hip. “Why were you mean to him? He was nice to me today.”

  “I wanted to be the one to take you fishing. Everyone’s been riding my ass today about the idea of me taking you horseback riding. Like I was purposely trying to scare the crap out of you.”

  Fuck. I sound like a whiny brat.

  He stomped up the stairs. “Rafe and I stayed up too late drinking, okay? Jett frustrates the shit out of me. I don’t know how to deal with him. I was a jerk to my dad.” He looked down at her. “Today sucked.”

  She pressed her lips together and rubbed his arm. “I’m sorry you had a bad day. Are you sure you don’t want to have a bite to eat before you leave?”

  “No.” He gripped the back of his neck. “Thank you. I’m going to go. I need to put myself down for a nap or a time-out.”

  Thank God that got a tiny laugh.

  She opened the door and turned back. “I’m looking forward to spending the day together. Goodnight, Jim.”

  He walked down the steps and toward his truck, breathing in the night air. The
warm yellow light from the kitchen glowed around her image when he returned her wave out the window.

  Why do you have to look like everything I want to come home to?

  * * *

  The sky darkened during the drive home to the point he could see only the outline of the foothills. He let the blanket of night calm the stress of his no good, very bad day. Less is more, ghosted like a whisper, a sentiment both his parents subscribed to.

  “I miss you, Mom.” He said the words out loud as he made the turn past Little Forest Fairgrounds and the lodge, heading toward his house.

  A memory from his past landed softly on his heart. Something his mother did to keep him and his siblings encouraged on long family trips when exhaustion from being in the car several hours made everyone squirrely. Inspired, he parked the truck and went into the house. Rafe slept on the couch, a college football game in the last quarter on the television. Jim didn’t bother to stop, instead heading upstairs to make a phone call, crossing his fingers his idea would work.

  Late the next morning, he texted Sofia that he was about to leave to pick her up for their outdoor day together. Up early, he’d already been to Patsy’s Diner and the grocery store. A cooler filled with sparkling water, sandwiches, fruit, and chocolate chip cookies sat in the back of his truck. Blanket, paper plates, napkins…he ran through his mental checklist one more time.

  Flowers. Is that too over-the-top? She’ll love it. Avoid roses.

  En route, he stopped at a garden stand where he knew they had vegetables and flowers for sale.

  He agreed with Rafe and his dad that horseback riding hadn’t been the best first idea. Still he couldn’t stomach, no matter how immature, taking Sofia fishing the day after Jett did. Before drifting to sleep last night, he’d visualized this day being all about Sofia. A drive through the canyon. A short stop at Dragonfly Hill, a local landmark. A picnic next to the Talking Fish River. Plus, the special surprise he hoped she’d be excited about.

  Simple. Outdoors. Relaxed.

  He passed under the wooden arch on the road toward the ranch, a bouquet of wildflowers on the passenger seat, smiling at the blue sky and sunshine. Being Sunday, his dad would already at the senior center for the day. He walked up the steps, opening the door to an empty kitchen. “Hello.”

  “I’ll be right out.” Sofia called from the back of the house.

  Waiting, he held the bouquet in front of him, then quickly tucked it behind his back when footsteps carried down the hallway.

  “Hi, Jim.” Sofia held her arms out for him to examine what she wore. “Is this going to be okay?”

  It wasn’t possible to not let his eyes travel down and up her body at the invitation. She wore a yellow t-shirt the color of whipped butter with olive green shorts and tennis shoes. He took in her bare legs. I don’t want to stop seeing them.

  “You look beautiful.” His words came out quickly and the immediate blush to her cheeks made his heart speed up. “These are for you.” He held out the wildflowers with all the hopes of a boy on his first date.

  Stepping toward him, she smiled. “These are so pretty. I’ll put them in water.” She glanced around the kitchen, then took a vase from the top of the fridge and filled it at the sink.

  It pleased him, the way she took her time, carefully arranging the flowers in the vase before setting it at the center of the kitchen table.

  “That was really sweet of you. Thank you.” Sofia said.

  “You’re welcome. Are you ready to get going?”

  She picked up her camera and a matching yellow sweatshirt from the table. “Ready.”

  “I thought we’d go on a drive through the canyon,” he said, once they were outside. “There’s a local spot called Dragonfly Hill where we could make a short stop. One of my mom’s sculptures is there. It’s a short hike. Then we’ll continue further west.”

  He closed her door, walked around the truck, and climbed in. “We’ll be along the river again, so we could stop whenever we get hungry.” He gestured toward the back. “I brought some food.”

  “You’ve thought of everything.” She grinned at him as he helped with her seatbelt. “A perfect day. Helps make up for your bad day yesterday.”

  He turned the ignition. “That’s the plan.”

  Through the canyon, he glanced away from the road at her profile, taking in her smile. It didn’t escape him how neither of them felt a need to fill the silence with mindless chatter. At Dragonfly Hill, they parked and climbed the short rocky path up to where the sculpture of Doc Cindy’s sister, Cammie, danced at the top of the hill.

  “It’s amazing to see one of your mom’s pieces outdoors.” Sofia circled the young girl, one knee raised as if skipping, a dragonfly at the end of her finger. “It’s so joyful.”

  He put his hand flat on the top of Cammie’s head, the bronze hot from the sun. “You can touch it.”

  “I like what your father said about her wanting people to do that.” She put a finger on the dragonfly. “It shows the generosity of her spirit. Sharing her art. I bet you miss her.”

  “I do.” He nodded. “Your photography must feel that way to you.”

  “I’ve lost some connection to it since Anthony died. It feels more like the only way for me to make a living now, instead of art. I used to carry my camera absolutely everywhere.” She lifted a shoulder. “Now…”

  “What do you say we keep moving.” He spoke with a gentle tone to soften any abruptness his suggestion might give. “We’ll keep driving.” It wasn’t possible to be sure, but her quick agreement made him wonder if a day without focusing on the past would do them both good.

  After another hour on the road, Sofia laughed, a hand on her stomach. “Oh my, that’s embarrassing.”

  “What?”

  “You didn’t hear that? My stomach growled.” Sofia snickered. “I guess I’m hungry. Are you?”

  “Yes. There’s a good spot not too far ahead, maybe ten minutes. Think you can make it?”

  She laughed at his teasing. “I’ll try my best.”

  A few minutes later, he pulled the truck into a small dirt parking lot. It was a short walk down the path to where they could sit by the river. Summer’s sweltering heat had dissipated into early fall. He offered her the blanket to bring and carried the cooler, leading the way to a semi-secluded spot, just in case others with similar picnic plans showed up. Spreading the blanket, he waited for her to sit first, then sat and opened the cooler.

  “Okay,” he said as he pulled items out, “we have sandwiches, fruit, and water.” He waved a plastic bag of in the air. “And dessert. Chocolate chip cookies.”

  She sat, legs outstretched, her natural tan skin a draw to his eyes.

  “Turkey with swiss or ham with cheddar?” he asked. “Or we could split them and have some of each.”

  “Yum. Let’s do that. First, I’ll have a cookie.”

  He chuckled, opening the bag so she could pick one out. “Dessert first. A girl after my own heart.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  Her tone landed flat and she appeared purposely engrossed in examining the sandwich he handed to her, unwrapping it slowly and avoiding any eye contact.

  Say something. She thinks from the other day that you don’t even find her attractive.

  “You know when we were downtown having lunch...” He paused when she looked up at him then just as quickly away again. “I think I gave you a wrong impression.” He put down his sandwich. “Would you please look at me?”

  Her lips were pressed together as she made eye contact.

  “I think I gave you the wrong impression,” he repeated. “As if I don’t find you incredibly attractive or that I wouldn’t be interested.”

  She pulled her legs in, sitting cross-legged. “It’s okay. We don’t have to do a repeat and you don’t have to feel bad. I like you. I came off desperate. I know you like me too. Just … not that way.” She mimicked a deep male voice. “Don’t feel bad. It’s me. Not you. It’s complicated.” She
picked up a grape and popped it in her mouth, muttering words he didn’t catch.

  “You’re so far off, Sofia. Because, unless you tell me no, I’m planning on kissing you today.” He opened the cooler and tossed his half-eaten sandwich inside. “If I’m lucky…more than once.”

  Chapter 13

  She paused, the bottle of sparkling water midway to her lips. “What?”

  Jim groaned. “Well, that went about as well as the other day.” He pitched his empty water bottle toward the open cooler and missed.

  “Stop. No.” Sofia changed position getting up on her knees then sitting back on her heels studying him. “That wasn’t what I expected you to say.”

  He’s hurt.

  “Slow down.” She slipped her hand in his and held on, halting his movements as he began packing up. Moving up to her knees again, she gripped his hand for balance. “You’d like to kiss me?”

  “Very much.”

  “But the other day…”

  “I was an idiot.” He tilted his head. “I think we both know this isn’t forever. You’re going to leave Colorado, maybe not even that long from now. I’m tired of fighting myself.”

  “How long have you wanted to kiss me?”

  “Since New York.”

  “Really?” She scooted closer. “That’s a long time.”

  “I have a surprise for you too.”

  “More than the kiss?” It was a sassy thing to say.

  He slipped his hand in her hair and brushed his lips to hers. “It’s possible you’ll like it even more than my kiss.” He held her head at the perfect angle and Sofia moaned when he pressed his mouth firmly, prompting her to open. Her tongue danced with his, another moan escaping when he sucked on her bottom lip. Stopping, he moved his hand to her cheek, his breathing ragged, and rested his forehead to hers.

  I need this. I don’t want this to stop.

  She leaned in, kissing his cheek, chin, neck, then tiny soft kisses along the rim of his ear. Lifting her leg, he situated her so she straddled his lap and pulled her in chest to chest. Her hips pressed forward.