A Taste of Love (Book #1)

You have an ex-wife??!?!?!?

Riding in Jayson's rental car on the way to my parents home I cant help but think maybe Jayson is who I needed in my life. He came all this just to see me. He wasn't even aware of what had happened to my grandma. I wasn't expecting to meet anyone while I was in Vegas but life has a funny way of bringing people into the lives of those who need someone.

"You ok over there?" Jayson asks reaching across the console to put his hand on my leg.

I put my hand on top of his. "I'm ok. Just thinking. My mind is going a million miles per hour it seems."

He doesn't push me into answering any other questions. But I have so many questions of my own. "We have about another 15 miles to go before we reach my parents home. Can we talk now?"

Jayson's face frowns for a second but he quickly covers it with a small smile. "I guess. We do need to get some things in the open after all."

"Ok, so first why are you here?"

"I wanted to see you. I needed to know that you were ok. You haven't taken any of my calls nor answered any of my texts. I didn't know if you just didn't want anything to do with me or if something was seriously wrong. When I got here that question was answered. I figured I'd show up to your grandma's funeral for support and if you didn't want me here you would tell me to leave. Which I had already had in my head. I just knew that you would see me and tell me to leave. Then when you started running, I thought you were running away from me. When you threw yourself into my arms it felt like I could finally breath again. There are so many things that I need to tell you and get out in the open between the two of us."

"I am so happy that you came Jayson. I was finally able to really cry and let it all out. I knew when I saw you standing there that I would be able to do just that. I wanted to call you or text you so many times these past 3 days but I just never had a chance. I've been pretty down and busy. What do you mean by there are so many things you need to tell me? You are kind of scaring me on that one"

Jayson squeezes my leg. "Are you sure you want to talk about this now?"

"Yes, I'm sure. If it is something that could cause change between us, I need to know now rather than later."

"Ok. Well for starters I need you to know that I was once married. I have a ex-wife. We have been divorced for a while now. I haven't met anyone else since her. I didn't want her to find out I was getting serious with someone and then she show up and you not even know she exist."

"What??!?! You have a ex-wife? This is just crazy. Why didn't you tell me from the start when we were getting to know each other?" I look at him in complete shock.

"I was worried you would react like this. I'm sorry. I know I should have told you from the start but I couldn't bring myself to do it. If you don't want to see me any longer. I'll leave as soon as I get you to your parents."

I burst out in a fit of laughter. Jayson is glancing at me like I have lost it.

"Scarlet, you are scaring me. Why are you laughing so much?"

Finally after I stop laughing and I'm able to speak I reach over and run my hand down the side of his face. "I know. I already knew that."

Jayson pulled over beside the road and put the car in park. "What? What do you mean you already knew that?"

I unbuckle and crawl over the console so that I'm straddling him. "Like I said, I already knew that. That night after you told me who you were, I did my research. I wasn't about to take a chance on someone who had some kind of dark past. So I had to make sure you were a good one."

As he goes to speak I smash my lips into his. "No more talking. Just kiss me for a minute. I have missed this."

He does just that. He slides his hands under my shirt running his fingers along my sides as I grab the back of his head fisting his hair.

Finally I pull away from him and climb back into my seat. There is no way I was about to have sex in a rental car beside the road with cars driving by.

"You could have told me you knew that already. I was scared shitless to let you know."

"I figured if you wanted to share that with me, you would eventually. It's your past Jayson. I can't judge you off of a time that I didn't even know you. I like you even more now than I did before. You showing up here like this means something. So no more stressing about stuff that is your past. Only thing that matters now is what you do from this moment forward."

Jayson leans over pecking my lips one last time before getting back on the road to finish the drive to my parents home. 

"Great. This is more than just a few people. I am not in the mood for this right now. Let me run in and grab Caroline and then we can go back to my place. She is dying to meet you. Are you ok with that?"

"What ever you want baby. I'm here for you."

I smile at him before getting out the car and running up to my parents house and in the side door.

"Scarlet. Where is that handsome friend of yours? Jayson, was it?" My mom jumped on me right time I stepped foot inside.

"Yes mom, that is Jayson, we are going to go back to my place for a little while. There are just too many people here for my liking. I'll bring him back over for dinner if that's ok with you."

"Sure honey. That's fine."

"Where is Caroline?" I look around but don't see her.

"I think she went out back by the pool."

"Ok. I'm going to grab her. I will see you later. Love you mom" I kiss her cheek

"Love you too sweetie."

I walk out back and see Caroline sitting by the pool with her feet dipped in.

"Hey babe! " I yell at her.

She looks up at me and smiles but it doesn't quiet reach her eyes. "Hey"

"Are you ok?" I sit down beside her crossing my legs under me.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? Where's Jayson?"

"Jayson is waiting for us out front. We were going to go to my place and hang out and let you get to know him if you want. And Caroline, you have asked me plenty if I was ok. I can see it in your eyes that you aren't ok. So, with that being said, what's wrong?"

"You and your family is all I have ever had. My parents and grandparents were just horrible to me. So you know yall are all I have. I know she was you grandma and not mine but my heart is broken too. I loved your grandma so much. It's not going to be the same with out her around fussing at us about settling down with a good guy. I think that's what I'm going to do though. To honor your grandma I am going to stop all this going to clubs and sleeping around. I am going to start going on dates and try to meet the one for me."

"Awe Caroline." I wrap my arms around her and pull her into me. "Caroline. I know she meant a lot to you too. She was an amazing woman. I'm upset that she didn't get to meet Jayson. I feel like he could be my end game. I don't know. But I am sorry I didn't realize that this was bothering you just as much until now. My family loves you. I love you. You are my person. Always will be. So what do you say? Want to go with me and get to know that sexy ass man that's waiting for us out front?"

Caroline stands up reaching her hands out to me to pull me up beside her. "Yes. Let's go. I have been waiting to see this sexy sex god that you talked so much about."

The two of us link arms and head out front to where my man was patiently waiting on us.