A/N: 1st: I'm gonna start this again with a huge amount of thanks and gratitude for all of you who are reviewing, following, and making this story a favorite. Seriously, I wish there was a way for me to explain plainly how that support means a lot to me. This is a very heavy Owen/Jasmine chapter.
2nd: I snuck in a small nod to Chris Pratt's character Star-Lord AKA Peter Quill. Sorry not sorry. I saw the opportunity and I ran so far with the mofo...
3rd. I listen to music while I do this and the main song that I listen to for Owen & Jasmine Miley Cryus "Adore." It's literally perfect and the ideas floooow. Also, John Mayer's "Slow Dancing In A Burning Room," for Claire & Amber for this chapter.
4th. If I offend anyone with my portrayal of Claire in this chapter, I apologize. I promise in the later chapters it will all come together and make sense! So stick with me here.
5th. After this chapter I'm either doing 1 or 2 more chapters and then heading head first into the film. I'm watching it again for the fourth time Tuesday lol (I have no shame). It just helps keep the ideas and hopefully some dialogue I remember fresh.This is a long one again guys so...brace yourselves and enjoy!
It was safe to say that Jasmine did not show up later that night at Owen's. She'd done the exact opposite. She went back to her sorry excuse for a bunker, took a shower, and laid down in her bed staring up at the good awful off-white ceiling. She'd tortured herself all night thinking about what she would actually be doing at this very moment if she had gone to Owen's.
She was stubborn. It wasn't her best trait.
Jasmine had only made herself hot and bothered and couldn't give herself any release. Well, she could but…she wasn't Owen and he was what she wanted the most.
She'd grabbed her pillow a few times and screamed into it until her throat was sore. The only thing that took her mind off of it was imagining what she was going to say to Claire. It needed to be done. Someone had to tell Amber what had happened before another park employee beat them too it.
Just like Caroline, the mosasaurs trainer, had told her.
Jasmine couldn't be pissed. Not a whole lot. No one knew about her and Owen. Well, outside of Barry and Amber, and now Brady, but the rest of the park employees had no idea. And of course girls were going to ask Owen out on dates. He was the most eligible bachelor (and by the far the best looking) on this damn island. Just the thought of him going on any date with any woman was enough to send her blood boiling; her fists clenching so tight her knuckles turned white.
After all the screaming she'd done Jasmine decided to treat herself to the Ben & Jerry's that was located in the main area of the park. A cup of two giant scopes of mint chocolate chip and cookie dough was enough to put her in a little mini paradise. She had her feet propped up on the second chair as she watched kids scatter from their parents; some dragging them by the hand to the next exhibit.
Jasmine smiled fondly thinking back to a much simpler time when she would do the same with her parents.
She was so lost in thought that she barely caught sight of a familiar figure, tight beige crew neck a couple buttons undone, dark blue jeans (a far cry from his usual), making his way towards her. Jasmine didn't need to turn her head to look at who pulled out a seat next to her. Owen was the only man she'd ever known that just his presence was enough to send her body into overdrive.
Jasmine had her spoon in her mouth, frozen in place as she fought not to look over at him.
"Hmm whatcha got there?" His voice sliced through any rational thinking as his hand extended and took her ice cream from her.
"Rude," she blurted, spoon still in her mouth.
Owen just looked at her, amusement clear on his face as he looked at her half destroyed ice cream.
"Mint chip and cookie dough. Very nice."
He plopped the spoon from her mouth and instantly dug into her ice cream.
"That's just uncalled for," she pouted.
Owen propped his long legs on the same chair as her; their legs touching and sharing room. Jasmine couldn't help but bring one of her legs to rest over his, earning a surprised brow raise from him mid bite.
He took one last bite out of the mint chip and placed the bowl down on the table, his hands rest together in his lap.
"I thought I told you to come over last night."
Jasmine looked away from him; her eyes roaming the tourists again.
"I went by. You were napping."
"I don't nap."
"You did last night."
"You're impossible!"
"And you," Jasmine replied, drawing out the U, "ate my ice cream."
That earned her a look that caused a giggle to bubble up from her throat. She leaned over and picked up the bowl; asshole really did eat all the ice cream.
"How did you find me anyway?" she questioned. More curious than upset.
"I told you; I'm a hunter. I'll find you anywhere Jasmine. We have a connection that I can't explain." She rolled her eyes and he caught it instantly. "You know it's true."
Jasmine held his gaze. She did know it was true. It wasn't anything ridiculous but she knew it wasn't normal to be able to tell when someone was close or to have someone make your heart feel like it's going to implode on itself every time they touched you. Owen could read her easily. He would know things before she even felt them and it scared the hell out of her.
If this was love, it was definitely a first for her.
Jasmine didn't know what to say and if she lied he would know; Owen always knew. So instead she nodded her head in agreement once more turning her attention to the crowd. They stayed quiet for a moment just enjoying the presence over the other when his voice finally cut through her daydreaming.
"What do you say to us having that date?"
Her head snapped so fast she thought she gave herself whiplash.
"Like now, now?" she squeaked.
A smile curled his lips as he replied, "Now, now."
"Ugh-"
"I prefer Mexican food myself. You."
"Italian. They don't have any Italian restaurants here so-"
Jasmine shrugged her shoulders and gave him a not too apologetic smile, thinking she had won. She was wrong.
"So pizza it is then," Owen replied.
He hopped out of his seat and he seemed…giddy? Owen reached his hand down for her to take it and for a few seconds she just stared at it and him. He shook his hand twice letting her know he was serious.
"We're seriously going to hold hands?"
"Just shut up and take it Everrwood," he ordered.
Jasmine tried to remain strong but the way Owen had said it instantly made her laugh. The smile he shot her making her warm all the way down to her toes. She rolled her eyes trying to play cool but did as he asked.
The minute her small hands touched down in his they laced together. Owen pulled her out of her seat and started forward; ushering them both through the crowd and back out into the blaring sun of Main Street.
Jasmine had never held hands before. At least, not with anyone who wasn't her immediate family and she'd been seven the last time, if she recalled correctly. Plus, she didn't care too much for people in her personal space. She always thought it was silly when she saw couples do it. Like one was a child and the other the parent. Jasmine never understood it; she didn't understand it until now. Right this very moment in time it finally clicked as she felt the firm grip of his hand and the slight way their arms brushed against one another as they moved.
She noticed a look from one of the park attendants, Janet was her name. Or was it? As Owen cut a path towards Domino's Jasmine realized that the steady gaze of the girl never left them and Jasmine instantly found herself scooting closer to him. That probably didn't help the young girls staring.
It didn't matter anyways as Owen soon had them standing in line waiting for their turn to order their pizza.
"You want it for here or to go?" he asked looking from the menu down at her.
Jasmine noticed the girl with another part attendant looking in their direction through the open window. She was pointing…at them. Without thinking she grabbed a hold of Owen's shirt and buried her face in his chest. Wishing that somehow his body would just swallow her whole. God, she could feel her cheeks burning.
"Whoa! Hey there! What the hell are you doing?" He blurted smiling nervously at all the families that looked on as Jasmine nuzzled herself so close to him he had to wrap his arm around her to keep his balance.
He gave them all a smile and a wave and said, "Low blood sugar," as a way to explain her weird behavior.
Kill me, Jasmine cringed.
Owen tapped her shoulder as they moved forward in line.
"Seriously, as nice as it is to have you all over me, you're starting to scare the children," he joked.
She looked up at him then and he chuckled at the look that threw daggers in his direction.
"Everyone is staring!" she whispered fiercely.
Fingers still digging in tight to his shirt, she had started lifting the fabric up to expose some skin. He smiled again at a small family who shot them disapproving looks as Owen tried to get her fingers out of his shirt.
"Well what the hell do you think is going to happen when you're acting like a crazy lady?!" he shot back finally releasing her fingers from his shirt.
"No, I'm not talking about them. I'm talking about-"Now even the girl's at the cash registers were staring. More like they were eye fucking Owen but on occasion looking at her. Jasmine instantly felt her eyes narrow on the two as she spoke; "Them."
Owen looked to where she mentioned. Jasmine was talking about the park employees. He smiled down at her but quickly noticed the death glares she was giving the girls. Owen wrapped his arm around her shoulder and shook her a little bit to get her attention. He wasn't sure if she meant to do it or if it was involuntary but her arm slid around his waist.
He was really starting to enjoy this.
"What about them?" he asked as they took another step forward.
"They're seeing us," she stated simply like he was supposed to get it. He didn't.
"So?"
"So!? They're gonna go around telling everyone we were on a date!"
"I think I'm failing to see the problem here."
"Of course you would," she huffed. "They're gonna know we're on a date, Owen."
"Yeah, that is the purpose of dates."
"Well I wouldn't really…know," Jasmine confided.
Her voice had gone so light he'd had to lean down just to catch it. His eyes narrowed on her, a tickled smile starting to raise his lips.
"What do you mean you wouldn't know?"
Jasmine released her arm from around his waist and began to fidget with her shirt.
"I've never really been on a date."
If Owen had been drinking he would've choked. The sound he made was audible as if he'd just choked on his own saliva.
"You've never been on a date? Never ever. How old are you again?"
Jasmine scolded him as she wrapped her arms around herself, not before lightly punching him in his shoulder, and took a step forward in the line.
"Dating has never really been my thing. I'm not good at it."
"You can say that again."
Another look from her. Another wide spread smile from him.
"So am I like your first real date then? Am I popping your dating cherry?" He wiggled his eyebrows at her and she rolled her eyes and tried to keep the smile that was spreading off of her face and failing.
"Hi welcome to Domino's what can I-Owen!"
The girl spoke his name as if she was swooning. She probably was. Jasmine could sympathize with her, but not at the blatant flirting she was doing with him.
"Hey Sandra," he replied politely.
Jasmine looked up at him to make sure he wasn't giving her the smirk. When she made sure it was just a friendly smile she looked down at the awe struck girl before her and felt her blood boil even more.
"It's so good to see you! It's been too long! Have you come for your usual?"
Owen looked down at Jasmine to ask if that would be fine when he noticed her bristling beside him. Her eyes deadlocked on Sandra.
"I think the usual would be fine."
Sandra's fingers pressed down on the buttons on the monitor giving him side glances and a once over at Jasmine.
"It's really good to see you, Owen. You're looking really good."
Sandra's words dripped with sex and Jasmine wanted to make them drip with something else.
"Uh thanks."
Owen didn't know how to answer and when Jasmine shot him a bewildered look he knew that had probably been the wrong choice. Sandra's eyes scanned over Jasmine one more time and finally she addressed her, with the bitchest smile Jasmine had ever seen. She was impressed. Pissed off but still impressed.
"Who's your friend Owen?"
Before he could answer Jasmine did it for him.
"I'm his date you little trollop!"
It wasn't funny; it shouldn't have been funny but Owen couldn't get over her choice of words. Sandra looked confused like she didn't know what Jasmine had just called her. She was young; she probably didn't. But she knew enough to know it probably didn't mean anything good.
"Excuse me, grandma but I didn't realize he liked the older women. I'm surprised you aren't all worn out-"
Sandra never got to finish her words as Jasmine lunged across the counter.
"Oh shit!" Owen shouted as he tried to grab a hold of her. It wasn't easy. She was like a spider monkey.
Sandra let out a shriek of panic as Jasmine grabbed a hold of her shirt and hoisted the girl towards her. The more Owen tried to pull Jasmine back to him the more she pulled Sandra towards her; Jasmine's fingers laced so tightly in her tacky blue uniform that he couldn't get between her digits or the shirt.
"Jasmine let go of the nice girl!" he practically had to shout over Sandra's incessant screaming.
"Nice!? Are you fucking kidding me?!" Jasmine finally looked at him her face set in shock at his choice of words.
He finally got her hands off of Sandra's shirt but it took a lot more work than he was willing to admit. It reminded him too much of trying to get one of the wrangling poles back from Charlie.
Owen pulled a flailing Jasmine back towards the entrance.
"Excuse us. Pardon me. Sorry about that," he muttered as he tried to hold down Jasmine's arms. Which only ended up in her kicking out her legs. "Jazz would you just chill out for a second! You're like a rabid Chihuahua."
Once he had her outside Owen put her back down only having to end up grabbing her by her arm and swinging her back around towards him.
"How about we not beat the living shit out of young girls today," he quipped still holding onto her arm as he navigated her towards the back gate where his bike was parked.
"Did you not hear what she called me?! She called me worn out! And Grandma!"
"Well, I mean-"Owen started jokingly, laughing harder as she socked him in his shoulder again.
"It's totally not funny, Owen."
"It kind of is. And trollop. Really?"
Jasmine shrugged.
"Hey I read from time to time."
Owen shook his head, unable to wipe the smile off of his face.
"I really wanted pizza," she pouted.
"Well if you hadn't insulted the trollop we would be having some right now."
"Oh, I'm sorry was I supposed to just ignore the hussy trying to flirt with you?"
"What is it with you and these words?" he asked genuinely curious.
"I'm serious, Owen. Let's see how you react if a guy flirts with me blatantly in front of your face."
She had a point Owen had to admit. Whoever it was would be a sorry son of a bitch the day he ever caught them trying to pick up on his Jasmine.
They made it without any other incident to his bike and Jasmine was both calm and embarrassed for allowing herself to get worked up over some young girl with a cute face and tight body-
Owen's fingers snapping in her face brought her back to reality and she realized he had started the bike; sitting idly on it as he waited for her to jump on.
"Are you going to get on or just continue to look like a creep?"
She glared at him as she moved forward, swinging her leg over and sitting perfect behind him. Jasmine wrapped her arms around his hard middle and allowed herself to rest her head on his back.
'What are we gonna eat now?"
"I got some leftover anchovies in the fridge."
"Oh that is disgusting-"Jasmine screamed and clutched on to Owen tighter as he tore off back down the path. Making a sharp right; heading in a direction she knew all too well.
When they got back to his house, Jasmine instantly saw just what he had been doing the past couple of weeks in her absence. The end part of the trailer that used to hold the bedroom had been completely taken off. Now it ended in what looked like the world's smallest wooden cabin: Owen's bungalow.
The stream of lights he'd placed in the palm trees were still there along with the picnic table, barbeque grill, and work bench. Although he had moved it to be on the opposite side of the stairs that led up to the bungalow now.
Jasmine hadn't thought much about if she'd been looking too long or not long enough. But when she heard Owen clear his throat, her eyes quickly averted to his form. He'd had his arms crossed over his chest and a playful smile on his lips as he looked at her coyly.
"If you're a good little girl I'll take you on a tour later."
"Oh, lucky me," Jasmine replied slightly jumping up and down like a child.
"That's strike one," Owen informed her.
He lifted up a hand to show her literally one and moved towards the trailer. Jasmine followed after him mouth agape and brow furrowed.
"Shut your mouth or you'll catch flies."
"What do you mean strike one?"
"You gotta be a good little girl to get into the candy store," he cooed before he disappeared inside the trailer.
Owen came back out seconds later arms full of hot dogs, buns, and condiments.
"I figured since the pizza thing went south so fast we could just barbecue the hot dogs. They've just been sitting in the fridge."
Jasmine quirked as she moved over to where he stood at the table. She picked up the hotdogs and resisted the urge to smell them.
"Are these things still any good? Lord knows how long they've been in there."
Owen snatched them from her hand, giving her a playful glare, as he took out his knife from the sheath on his lower back. He cut open the wrapper and set them back down on the table.
"I'll have you know these are still as fresh as the day I bought them."
"Uh huh. Just like the mozzarella?"
"That was one time!" he shouted frustrated hands making quick work of dispersing the charcoal evenly inside the grill.
He pulled a long stemmed lighter from the side of the barbeque and lit the coals stepping back to give it some time to heat up the grill. Owen went back inside the trailer and came back out with a couple plates. He emptied the entire eight package of hot dogs on one plate and moved it towards the grill; testing to see if it was hot enough yet.
"Uhm who's going to be eating all of those?"
The most amount of hot dogs she'd ever eaten was two, maybe three on a good day.
"Well for me obviously."
He started placing them down on the grill and immediately that wonderful smell of grilling meat hit her nose. Instantly making her mouth begin to water. Maybe she was hungrier than she thought she was.
"How long do you think they'll take before they're done?"
Jasmine watched as he moved around a few things before he pulled out what looked like a prehistoric (no pun intended) radio.
"I'd say we have at least a good ten minutes until they're all cooked," Owen finally replied. He clicked on the radio and adjusted it until an oldies station came on. It took her a moment but Jasmine recognized the song. Redbone – "Come and Get Your Love," started blaring from the speakers. Owen turned to her, his bottom lip between his teeth, as he pretended to be strumming a guitar and swaying his hips towards her direction to the beat of the music.
"What in the world are you doing?"
Her outburst caused Owen to halt for a second before he simply shrugged and continued his way towards her.
"Dancing," he quipped back.
He was in front of her moving his hips now making her laugh.
"Yeah I see that but why are you dancing?"
Owen reached out and took her right hand in his, the other sliding around her waist and pulling her in close.
"Because it's a good song and I want you to dance with me."
"Oh no I don't dance."
Owen smiled mischievously down at her as he spun her out and then back in.
"You do now."
Jasmine couldn't say that she didn't enjoy herself. She couldn't really remember the last time she had danced with anyone especially a guy. Jasmine had never attended proms and while she'd been in the Army, well they didn't really ever have a reason to dance. But for the entire song they danced around with each other. Even taking small breaks to have a small dance off.
When the song ended Owen went back to check on the hot dogs, which finished in about another two minutes. The music kept playing while they ate (Owen making a disgusting combo of mayonnaise and ketchup and singing mouth full to Journey's - Faithfully). Jasmine ate two while Owen ate the other six. Literally.
She helped him clean up around the picnic table before he did as he promised and showed her around his new bungalow. It turned out to just be a bigger bedroom with a much softer bed. What she thought was the best part was when you walked through the door, you were greeted with a rubber ducky shower curtain.
Owen was showing her the upgraded mattress he'd acquired when she felt his phone go off for the fifth time. Letting out a frustrated sigh Jasmine pushed him off of her and slid off of the bed.
"You really should answer that."
She glanced over at Owen; his back still pressed to the bed as he shook frustrated hands up at the ceiling. Jasmine got up from the bed and felt Owen at her back before his fingers trailed down her forearm; grasping at her wrist. He tried to pull her back to the bed when his phone went off again.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" he snarled. "What!"
Jasmine shook her head as she headed back outside; descending the stairs as she heard Owen's voice slowly quiet at whoever was on the other end. Within a couple of seconds he came out to join her, vest in hand, as he paused for a moment at the top of the steps.
"I have to go," Owen began. His voice was gentle as he slowly descended down the steps, stopping in front of her. Jasmine tried not to actually pout even though she could feel herself doing it on the inside. "I forgot today I was supposed to be showing the suits around."
Jasmine leaned into him.
"They trying to make your girls the next big attraction?"
"Something like that," Owen grumbled back not happy with the thought.
Without another thought Owen placed his hand on the small of her back, bringing her towards him. Their mouths found each other instantly; her hands finding a good perch around his neck with her fingers locked in his hair.
It felt like they stayed that way forever and, reluctantly, Owen pulled away. Not before giving her another brief kiss on her swollen lips.
"I really gotta go this time. Before I forget what they actually pay me to do here."
Jasmine chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him to her hard.
"I have something you can do," she purred against his mouth making him groan.
"You're not playing fair."
Jasmine shrugged her shoulders as this time she placed a chaste kiss on Owen's lips and every fiber of his being wanted to deepen it. To take her back to his bungalow and finally christen the room-
"I gotta go. Right now. Right this second."
He stammered as he pulled himself away from her, heading towards his bike.
"I hate to see you go," Jasmine called after him, "but it is a damn fine view watching you leave."
Jasmine waited until he was down the road when she went looking for his spare quad he kept around. When she'd come with him Jasmine had forgotten her car had been left behind back around the resort. So unless she was going to walk she had to find his quad. Jasmine only had a limited amount of time to get to where she needed to be. And walking definitely wasn't going to get her there fast enough.
It had taken Jasmine almost an hour to get up to Claire's office. The ride on the quad had only been twenty minutes or so. The real hassle had been having to stop and show her badge to every guard she came across. Explaining that she did, in fact, work at the park at that she needed to run something by Claire about veterinary expenses. None of them really seemed to believe her and were all wary of the KA-BAR attached at her hip.
When she'd finally arrived in the waiting room adjacent to Claire's tinted double glass office doors she'd talked herself out of doing this a dozen times.
Zara hadn't noticed her yet until she realized someone was making quick work across the cherry wood floor.
"Excuse me do you have-"
"Keep your bony ass in your seat," Jasmine directed with her finger.
Zara's mouth gaped open like a fish as Jasmine turned to face forward and barreled through the doors right into Claire's office.
Claire jumped at her sudden entrance, her hand on her chest, as her eyes narrowed on Jasmine as she moved fast from the doors to sitting across from her in one of her fine leather bound chairs.
"I'll have to call you back," she spoke into the phone. "No, I know I apologize but something just came up. I promise to call you immediately once it's taken care of. It shouldn't take long, I assure you."
Jasmine figured the last part of the phone call was directed at her. Sure enough when Claire clicked the side of her headset she snapped: "Who the hell do you think you are barging into my office like that?"
"You and I have a long overdue talk, Claire."
Was all Jasmine said in return. She leaned back in the seat, one arm slinging over the back, as Jasmine openly stared at Claire.
"Is this Corinthian leather?" she mocked looking down at the chair.
"Cut the bullshit," Claire snarled.
"Oh my god Claire I am so sorry," Zara busted into the room stammering like her life depended on it. "I tried to stop her but-"
Claire waved her off.
"Its fine Zara I can handle this. Just go back out to the lobby and screen the incoming calls for me please."
Zara gave a curt nod and left the room without looking back. Her 'Oh Shit' meter must have been going off.
"So should I start this talk or would you like too?" Jasmine genuinely asked.
She removed her hand from the back of the chair moving forward to sit at the edge of it, hands clasped in front of her.
"I don't think I have much to say to you except to get the fuck out of my office."
"See, that's where you would be wrong," Jasmine corrected. "Funny, how coworkers around here talk." Jasmine got up from the seat and looked down at Claire. "A couple weeks back I heard the strangest thing. Claire Dearing went on a blind date with Owen Grady."
As soon as the words left her lips Jasmine took note at the sudden tension that squared Claire's shoulders. Her face remained deadly still; not a flicker of emotion. But Jasmine had seen enough to know that Claire wasn't happy that she knew.
"Which, I think is hilarious because the last time I checked you were supposed to be in a committed relationship. With my sister."
As she ended her words Jasmine placed both her hands down on top of Claire's desk, leaning in just enough to let her know she wasn't happy.
"That is none of your business."
"That is open for debate."
"How do you figure my personal business is any of your concern? Does this have to do with Mr. Grady-"
"This has to do with the fact that my sister is in love with you Claire!" Jasmine shouted. Reigning in her tone she continued, "Madly in love with you. You won't openly admit to your relationship, which makes her feel like shit. But you will openly go out on a date with Owen and touch him in public but not your own fucking girlfriend. My sister deserves better than to be your dirty little secret," she seethed.
Claire quirked up, suddenly getting some balls as she got out of her own leather desk chair, and stood face to face with Jasmine.
"Is this about Amber or is this about Owen?" she quipped.
"Why did you go on a date with Owen in the first place?"
Jasmine couldn't help herself. The question left her mouth before she could stop it.
"He's cute."
"He's cute?!"
Claire shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly looking bored.
"I'm still a red blooded woman. I was told he was wanting to go on a date and I volunteered."
Jasmine felt her eye twitch as she looked over at the woman across from her.
"You are dating my sister!"
Another shrug and another attempt in control that Jasmine had to use not to slap her in the face.
"I'm not sure what I want anymore. I'm feeling…confused."
Before she could even contain herself Jasmine felt her arms swing out across the desk. Everything from Claire's laptop, personal papers, picture frames; all of it scattered onto the floor. For a moment she looked terrified her chest rising at a rapid pace but quickly she righted herself. Anger taking the place of creases of her once startled expression.
"I can see your sister is the ones with all the brains," she spat.
"What the fuck are you even talking about: confused? Amber is in love with you! Don't you understand that?! This isn't some game for her or a way for you to work out who you want to be or with who or whatever." Jasmine had to move away from the desk and fast. Her hands shaking as she put a quick hand through her hair. She couldn't even stand to look at Claire at this point. "Do you not understand that you can't just use people like this? When Amber finds out she's going to be beyond devastated. She thought you were different, Claire. She tells me all the time my view point on you is too harsh; I don't see the real you. Well I see you Claire and you're exactly the same heartless bitch I always thought you were."
This time it was Jasmine's turn to snarl at the woman before her. Trying desperately not to do something she would regret…maybe. Jasmine headed for the door knowing that that was her best course of action when Claire's voice stopped her a few feet away from the door.
"Why are you giving me so much shit, huh? When Owen asked me to go back to his new bungalow that night after our date."
Jasmine turned around to look at her; in what felt like horror movie slow fashion. She felt sick and angry. So angry her whole body was trembling and Claire looked just as smug as ever. Jasmine took two steps back towards the woman and raised a shaky finger at her. Her words laced with so much hatred she hoped they hit Claire as if it was her own fist doing the talking.
"You want to play around with people you date that's fine. But not with my sister and definitely not with Owen. Stay the hell away from them or the next time I come back here, it won't be the desk I mess up."
And without giving Claire a second look Jasmine stormed out of the office. Her heart pounding and her mind racing.
Owen pulled into the lot and found Jasmine with a few cans of beer at her feet and his rifle in her arms. He watched as she lifted the rifle, her eye in the sight, and within a millisecond later the sound of a gunshot followed by breaking glass reverberated around them. Owen let out a groan as he noticed her targets of choice were the bottles of coke he'd just bought.
Swinging his leg over the motorcycle he walked it forward before kicking out the kick stand and placing it down. Just a few feet away from Jasmine.
Everyone had heard about the commotion that had happened in Claire's office. Zara was the biggest gossip there was so within a matter of minutes of Jasmine's leaving, Owen had found out about the…colorful exchange between the ladies by 5:23 that day.
It was almost seven now when he got back. The lights that he'd hung in the surrounding trees had clicked on for the night. The light background of the skies colors of peach and purple painting a beautiful picture behind them. He had been hoping for a relaxing evening but by the rifle shooting alone, Owen knew it wasn't going to be so simple.
He let out a frustrated sigh as he leaned his butt against the bike, crossing his arms. Jasmine hadn't even acknowledged him yet as she took on last swig from a can and walked it over to replace the glass bottle.
"You gonna say something to me or keep ignoring me?" he finally asked.
They'd had a good day and suddenly it went to shit. He was tired and not in the mood for this. At first she didn't answer him. If there was one thing he hated, it was being ignored. No one liked it, but here she was doing it.
Owen wanted to be smarter about how he went talking to a woman with a high-powered rifle in her hands but she wouldn't shoot him. Would she?
Jasmine walked back over to her post next to the workbench and lifted the rifle a second time.
"If you aren't gonna talk to me I'll take you back to your car. I ain't got time for this bullshit today, Jasmine. I'm tired."
He moved to turn back to the motorcycle when her voice finally rang out in the clearing.
"Did you ask Claire to come back to your bungalow?"
Owen was glad she was talking. He just preferred the first thing she had said to him wasn't that. He turned back to face her and take a few steps towards her. She put the rifle down on the workbench and faced him, ready to hear what he had to say.
He could see she was trying to be strong but the faint outline of previously shed tears caught him off guard. There was no denying the quivering that had been heard in her voice. But he had thought it of anger, not of sadness.
"Who told you that?" he asked simply.
She scoffed like it was the most absurd question ever.
"Who do you think?"
"Jasmine," he began nearly inches away from her now. When he tried to take a final step into her space she took a step away from him. He faltered for a second but continued his way towards her. "You know me. I would never ask her to come back here."
"That's not how she claims it went."
"She's lying! The only reason she even knows about the bungalow is when she brought some uptight investor out her to talk about introducing a fifth velociraptor into the mix. That is the only time she's ever been out here. I put that on my girls."
His eyes were too intense as they held hers; he looked close to panic but Jasmine didn't think it was because he got caught. Owen had never lied to her and wouldn't bring his girls into anything like this if he thought it would endanger them (superstition or not). Not yet anyways, and as much as the reckless female part of her brain wanted to call him a liar, she knew he wasn't.
Owen reached his hand out to her letting her know it was there when she was ready. But she surprised him completely by going straight past his hand and into his arms, wrapping him into a tight embrace. It didn't take him long before his large arms were wrapped around her, crushing her to his chest. His nose nuzzling into the crook of her neck.
A sudden thrill went through him as he realized, what was going on between them was different than before. This was different.
When they pulled back from each other he smiled down at her, running his thumb over to trace her cheek where the dried tears had been.
"What do you say we head to bed?" he offered.
She gave him a small smile in response and took the open hand he offered.
"That sounds amazing."
They walked towards the stairs and he watched as she ascended them. When she reached the last step he couldn't help himself.
"We really should look into putting you in anger management."
Jasmine turned around to say something back but Owen took this opportunity to lift her up into his arms and silence her with a kiss. Kicking in the door to the bungalow and slamming it shut behind them.
They were lying in bed a light sheet the only thing covering them, as her head rested on his chest, and his fingers lazily skimmed over her back. Jasmine began a languid trail lower with her hand creeping under the sheet. Owen gave out a pleased yet exhausted laugh his hand reaching down to stop her.
"Not that I don't enjoy the enthusiasm, but me and the boys are gonna need a minute here."
Jasmine laughed but Owen quickly silenced her with a kiss; when he disconnected his lips from hers he smirked at the breathless look on her face. Pleased with himself that he could kiss her into silence or a frenzy.
They continued to lay in the silence before Owen's voice startled her out of her calm.
"You know when I came to Isla Nublar I told myself that I was going to be dedicated to one thing while I was here: research and my animals."
"What changed?" she asked quietly from beside him.
Owen looked at her and she felt her pulse speed up.
"You." He whispered the words so lightly for a moment she thought he hadn't spoke at all. His intense gaze holding hers as he brought his free hand over to run his fingers along her jawline. "I saw you that day and it just felt…different. I was going to ignore it but then you said those six magic words…"
Jasmine's face scrunched in confusion causing Owen to hold up his hands, fingers flicking up with each word: "Is there a bar around here?"
Jasmine busted out laughing.
"Seriously?"
"Hey it's very attractive when a woman can handle some tequila," Owen chuckled beside her, pulling her in closer and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.
They lay wrapped in each other's arms, the silence swimming around them as the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest was rocking her to sleep.
"I love you, Jasmine."
He'd said it for the second time now but this time he was hoping the end result would end up different; better.
She stayed quiet for a moment and worked her way through the thoughts that had converged on her in a matter of seconds.
"I know," she whispered back in response. She lifted her heads position off of his chest and looked him straight in his heavy lidded, sleep deprived, eyes. "One day I'll be able to say it back."
She hoped he could read all the happiness she felt wrapped in his arms, the way she was dying to say it back but was too afraid, and the way he kept her grounded; all at once in her eyes. Owen ran another finger along her jawline, his eyes locked with hers, as he whispered back, "I know."
She rested her head back down on his chest, both of them becoming comfortable, as they soon fell asleep in each other's arms.
So this is really important guys. I know my chapters are pretty lengthy. Is that something you like or do you want smaller chapters? What did you think? Like seriously I need to know because UGH I have mixed emotions about it. Like I like it but then I don't and I'm just wondering if this is something you would like to see from time to time throughout the plot. Reviews and comments are the best! Thank you so much for reading.
MUCH LOVE!