Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 20 - Ethan

As Ethan exited onto the interstate towards his parent's home, he couldn't help but glance over at Jasmine as she sat staring out of the window with a small and contented smile on her face. Ethan couldn't believe that she was actually in Chicago....in his truck, and was on her way to meet his family. Several hours before, Ethan had been wondering if he would ever see Jasmine again, and after what she'd shared with him about Valentina's stunt in his room that morning, he could have lost her forever.

Rage quickly began to fill Ethan once more as he thought of just how close he had come to losing Jasmine, and he gripped the steering wheel in an attempt to calm himself down. In the past, Ethan had tried to be civil with Valentina and to keep the peace with the Moretti family, but after what Valentina had pulled that morning, Ethan was done playing nice, and allowing her to get away with her psychotic behavior.

Thinking back on Valentina's actions since the moment he had met her in Italy four years prior, Ethan had to admit that she had not only sexually harassed him each and every time they had been in the same room together, but she had also sexually assaulted him as well. As a man, and being on the receiving end of a sexual assault, he wasn't quite sure how he felt. Oh, Ethan had known that both men and women were sexually harassed and assaulted all the time, but he'd never experienced either, until he'd met Valentina Moretti.

She had constantly made crude comments about things that she would like to do either with or to him sexually, while also trying to touch him in some way. In Italy, she had literally stripped naked, and joined him in the shower, without his knowledge or consent, and had literally sucked him down her throat before he'd even known what was happening. Since that encounter, she had made her interest in him abundantly clear, and Ethan had made his lack of interest in her just as apparent, which Valentina had completely ignored.

Ethan made a mental note to reach out to Shane over the next couple of days, to inquire about the name of the private investigator that he'd used once before to help prove the paternity for one of his clients after a young lady had tried to extort money from him. Shane had mentioned the guy had been some sort of wizard with "all things" cyber tech, and after hearing how Valentina had gotten into his suite without him knowing had Ethan thinking that he definitely needed a pro to check into it.

Ethan shook off his thoughts of Valentina when he felt Jasmine gently stroking his forearm. When he turned to glance at her, Jasmine gave him one of those smiles, which displayed the lone dimple in her left cheek that had caused him to be wrapped around her finger. Ethan watched as the little minx glanced down at his erection that had begun to stir against his thigh at her light touch on his arm, and her scent that filled the inside of the cab of his truck, and when Jasmine sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, Ethan shook his head as he said, "Yep...the damn death of me."

They drove away from the airport, heading towards his parents' home, and Ethan couldn't help but smile at having Jasmine with him, in his hometown, and finally on the way to meet his parents. His excitement had returned, and thoughts of Valentina melted away.

It was close to forty-five minutes later, when they drove through Glencoe towards his parent's home, and Ethan glanced over and watched the play of emotions that flowed across Jasmine's face as she peered out at the large homes, and manicured lawns. The homeowners took pride in their investment, and how well the homes and lawns were maintained was a true reflection of that.

Glencoe was a pretty affluent, but small town in Illinois. With a population of close to 9,000 residents, Glencoe was a part of North Shore Village, and home of the Chicago Botanic Garden where Ethan spent many summers working both before and during college. Those summers spent there had fostered his love for growing things, and he'd loved spending as much time there as possible. When he'd graduated from college, and started E&D Landscaping with his best friend Daryl, he made a sizable donation to the foundation, and became a member of the Board of Trustees.

As they pulled up to his parent's home, Ethan drove around the same circular driveway that he had driven around a million times before, but this time it was different. It was special because he had Jasmine with him. Glancing up, Ethan smiled as he spotted his mother sitting in one of the red rockers on the large wrap-around porch laughing as his brother Caden played with the chocolate Labrador puppy that Ethan had purchased for his parents two years prior. After they'd lost their family pet, a golden retriever, named Spiderman, two years ago to heart disease, Ethan had decided to buy his parents another pet to help ease the loss. His parents had gotten Spiderman as a puppy eleven years prior, as a Christmas gift for Ethan and his siblings, and he had become a true member of their family, so losing him had hit them all pretty hard.

A smile crossed Ethan's face as he watched his brother Caden playing fetch with the newest member of their family, Batman. The two were having such a great time that they were completely oblivious to Ethan and Jasmine's arrival. It wasn't until Ethan had pulled his truck into the circular driveway and parked behind of Caden's hunter green, Ford Bronco SUV, and exited his truck, did Batman finally notice their presence.

The dog began to frantically bark, while wagging its tail, clearly indicating that it recognized the truck, and was excited to see Ethan. Leaning down, he patted the two-year-old pup on his head, as he said, "Hey Batman! Oh...you're such a big boy. Have you been taking care of mom and dad for me?" Batman's energy level seemed to increase as if he was saying "Yes I have!", and Ethan laughed before glancing over at Jasmine and back to Batman. Patting the excited puppy on the back, Ethan stood and said, "Batman! Look! I've got someone for you to meet!" When Batman noticed that there was a new person that he needed to inspect, he totally ignored Ethan, and happily walked over to investigate the newcomer. To Ethan's surprise, Jasmine immediately welcomed the excited energy and sloppy licks from the puppy as she laughed, and rubbed him affectionately. A brief memory flashed into Ethan's mind of a similar scene many years ago when he'd brought Christine to meet his parents. Her introduction to Spiderman hadn't gone as smoothly as the one that he was currently witnessing.

Ethan had learned the truth behind the old saying of "animals and children possessing a sixth sense about people", because Spiderman most definitely did not take to Christine's presence well at all. He'd growled at her from the moment she'd stepped out of the car when they'd arrived, and then he'd practically avoided her like the plague each and every time that Ethan had brought her to his parent's home. As he stood watching the interaction between Jasmine and Batman, Ethan had no doubts that Spiderman would have loved her as well. Jasmine just had a way about her. It was almost like an inner light that shined when she smiled, and he couldn't help but chuckle as Jasmine knelt and embraced Batman, as she cooed, and said, "Oh my goodness, you are so adorable. I can't stand it!"

Caden walked up to stand by his side, and crossed his arms over his chest as he said, "Well Ethan, it looks like Batman may have just stolen your woman." Shaking his head, as the adorable, woman stealing puppy continued to solidify his place in Jasmine's heart, Ethan chuckled as he said, "Yep, I think you may be right about that baby brother." A few beats later, Jasmine glanced up, a huge smile on her face that had her solitary dimple on display, and Ethan's pulse sped up, just as it had each and every time she smiled at him, and the love that he felt for her filled his heart to almost overflowing in that moment.

Having Jasmine in his hometown, and meeting his parents meant the world to Ethan. When Jasmine gave Batman one last rub behind his ear, clearly becoming his new best friend, Ethan watched as she stood, and turned with a smile directed at Caden. Extending her hand towards his brother, Jasmine said, "Hi. You must be Caden. It's nice to meet you...I'm Jasmine." Ethan stood quietly as he watched their interaction, and when Caden briefly glanced down at Jasmine's outstretched hand, before a huge smile crossed his face as he waved off the gesture, Ethan smiled when Caden gently pulled Jasmine into his arms for a hug, as he said, "We're way past that! You're family now!" Ethan chuckled at the look of surprise that crossed Jasmine's face. Her surprise quickly morphed into amusement as she hugged Caden in return and laughed.

Ethan glanced over atthe large wrap-around porch and noticed that his mother stood watching themwith a huge smile on her face. Locking eyes with her, Ethan's smile widenedwhen she gave him two thumbs up. Ethan chuckled, and shook his head at his mother'squiet vouch of approval of the woman that he loved.