Nanna didn't quite know how to act with the prying eyes of Jasmine miles and miles away. Twelve months, 14 days and exactly 21 hours ago she met the strikingly handsome, Major Stallworth, a supposed to be retired, Dallas rancher. He was too virile to quit. This was a man who jogged four days a week, at 85 years old. Major was his name and not his title. They were absolutely besotted. Nanna was so horrified by her "sins," of number one, seeking out a man, and number two finding that man on a website called Senior Love Connections. She never got the courage to tell Jas about Major.

How could she have possibly done, what she did? Nanna's generation believed that a man should pursue you. Nanna's generation believed that it was a sordid thing to talk to a stranger on line with the intent of striking up a relationship. It was simply inconceivable. She'd broken every rule of decorum that she lived under, and had schooled Jas to avoid. It made her feel like a hypocrite.

Plus, Jas had always considered Nanna technologically challenged when it came to computers. Nanna would tell her I may be old, but I can still learn this. Jas would treat her like a baby when it came to how to do thing, like use software and use apps. At first Nanna, would try to fight Jas, begging Jas to teach her. Later, she used it against her and would play dumb; meaning that anything that required computer usage was work that she could pass on to Jas. While at the same time she was using, You Tube to teach her how to become technologically savvy. That led her to the online dating world. She emerged herself in it. Now she felt like not only a hypocrite, but that she'd technologically betrayed Jas.

Her time with Major was normally confined to anytime she could slip away or a few hours of being on Face Time during the week, behind closed doors. She felt so guilty when Jas would hear them talking and laughing. Major was this larger than life guy that made her heart sing.

He looked like Sam Elliot in Western's back in the day. Tall, and had a strong chiseled face. His hair was still thick, wavy and silver. She loved being caught up in eyes as blue as Texas skies, over shadowed by thick brows. He had a silver horseshoe mustache and dimples in both cheeks. His deep, resonate voice made her heart stir as much as the romance novels she had tucked under her bed.

Nanna logged onto her Face Time app on her laptop. Her heart was pounding in anticipation of her first conversation with Major that would be safe from disruption. Today, she wouldn't have to hide. She could act as she truly wanted to act. She could dress up, fix her hair, put on make-up and wear jewelry for him. That's exactly what she did.

Nanna ran a red rinse through her hair trying out a new color, blow dried and styled it back to her days as a young woman. The make-up she wore was perfect, giving her a youthful glow. Today she'd wear a little black dress that had collected dust in her closet and adorn herself with a silver chain that had a single tear drop diamond on it and a beautiful diamond tennis bracelet that Harvey had given her on her 25th wedding anniversary. She leaned down and kissed the bracelet.

"I'm so happy, Harvey. I know you're smiling over us from heaven." She wouldn't have to be confined to her room either. Nanna picked up the laptop and headed for the Solarium that was in the east wing of the lodge. That room had the most amazing view and weddings were often performed there in the old days. Aiden had totally renovated the glass room. He selected furnishings that matched the grey and copper streaked mountains and then had the room filled with beautiful indoor plants. It was simply elegant.

"Perfect, no one is here," she said entering the room. Nanna slipped inside and sank down on the copper sofa. She placed her laptop on the large brown trunk that was used as a coffee table, and was about to connect with him. Then she remembered that she had the master keys in her pocket. She chuckled when she locked the door, thinking about Jas. Guess some habits are hard to break. But she really wanted some uninterrupted time with him and this would secure that purpose. Nanna walked back to the sofa and flipped open the laptop and hit the Face Time app. He immediately picked up. Nanna smiled.

"Arabella, hello sunshine," his rugged southern drawl speaking her name, made her heart warm. It happened every time he spoke it. "You look absolutely beautiful. What did you do to your hair?"

"Put a little rinse on it."

"It's bewitching." She blushed deeply and he laughed. "And that dress – lovely."

Nanna heard cows mooing in the background and could see that he was standing in one of his barns. "What are you doing right now?"

"I'm looking at my love, pining away because I want to finally meet you face to face."

Nanna flinched a little. "I'm working on it."

"We only have six months, sunshine."

Nanna placed her hand over her chest and started fanning it. She took a deep breath in and exhaled really slowly. Don't remind me. "I know – six months. I know."

"I don't hear her knocking on the door. Where is that little love blocker anyway?"

Then he stopped. "Wait a minute, you're not in your bedroom? Oh, my goodness that view is grander than my prairies. Where are you, sunshine?"

Nanna burst out laughing. "She's out of town with Aiden. I'm in the Solarium."

"Well, I'll be damned. You finally hooked them up."

"I'm trying."

"Out of town like in Atlanta?"

"No, out of town like in New York."

Major flung his cowboy hat in the air. "Wahoo! It took him long enough to do something. You think he's going to try to keep her there a while?"

"I don't know, but she agreed to a week."

"I'll be doggone. That's good, Arabella, really good. Major placed a kiss at the end of his fingertips and placed it on the screen. "I've got to go sunshine. That knot head grandson of mine didn't lock the gate last night and I've got to help him to rustle up a few of my stray herd."

"Okay, my love." She leaned down and kissed the screen. Then she waved like a shy school girl before clicking out. Nanna leaned back against the sofa cushions and sighed. Her heart was filled with happiness.

***

Aiden was as high as the grey clouds that kissed the top of the mountain. His heart was floating with joy and anticipation of their days ahead. He'd dreamed of this very moment when the woman he loved more than life would walk through the doors of the home that he'd built.

The expression on Jas's face made him very pleased as she stood with her mouth gaping, at the interior.

"This is a bit much for me to take in," she said.

He watched as she made her way about the room. Just the sound of her boots stepping across the wooden floors made his heart stir. The room was open concept. She walked toward the stone fireplace that covered an entire wall. Jas sat down on the hearth.

He stepped aside when he saw her eyes sweep the room, taking in the vaulted 14 feet ceilings. "Everything is so lovely." He saw the quizzical look on her face. "Aiden, these colors..."

"I know."

He thought it would take her a while to notice that the interior was decorated in all her favorite colors. The leather sofa and two oversized recliners were rich burgundy, with purple accent pillows. A circular, purple ottoman was used as a coffee table. The furnishings were situated over a thick brown bear skin rug. Windows were draped with thick purple curtains that were drawn back opening to the autumn forest.

Each leaf seemed to reflect a color somewhere in that room. Like the red table cloth that covered the wood dining table and the red and gold floral arrangement sitting in the large vase on top of the table. Or the green chair cushions that matched the evergreens in the forest. It was also apparent that Aiden had trees cut down to make the cabinetry for the kitchen because it was the same pine wood on the barks of the trees. The countertops were black soapstone.

"My colors," she breathed. He heard her gasp when she saw the huge picture that hung on the wall up the wooden staircase. It was a picture that Nanna had taken of them when they were sixteen. They were sitting on the steps to The Apple Blossom Inn. He had leaned over giving her a kiss on the cheek and she had just bitten into an apple. That had always been one of their favorite pictures.

"I always wondered where that picture had gone." She turned to him looking astounded. "How did you do that?"

"It's a special effect that I asked the photographer to do."

"The only thing that is not in black and white is the apple. A beautiful red apple in the midst of us. Aiden, I'm speechless."

"That apple represents our heart, Jas."

She walked towards him and crushed him in a hug. "You kept a piece of us."

The hug overwhelmed him. Aiden's heart was pounding out of his chest. His arms enfolded her. "How could I not, babe?"

"We didn't end things on good terms, Aiden. I thought..."

"Shhh." He stroked the side of her face. "I can't change our past, neither can I go forward unless you're my bridge. My next breath depends upon you wanting me." Aiden's heart sank at Jas's brooding look. He searched the depths of her deep brown eyes seeking anything that would give him hope.

"Then, where's your bed."

***

Her words had unleashed his fire. Aiden couldn't take her to his bed fast enough. Everything vanished – the distance between the stairs and the corridor, the corridor to his massive room that covered half the upper floor. Jas was only briefly aware of the splendorous room that surrounded her. She caught glimpses of the wall of windows displaying the glorious mountains. The sunlight blazing through the windows made everything illuminous. She was keenly aware of the twenty-foot pine ceilings above, as he laid her on his soft bed.

The view was replaced by the object of her affection - the man that desperately needed to know that he was wanted. Her body trembled at the thought of giving him security, but her mind was clinging to hope that they could have a future with a different ending than what had shattered them years ago.

Perhaps it was seeing the lonely home that he'd built for her that stirred her heart. Or perhaps it was the joy she felt when seeing their picture hanging on the wall. Maybe it was the way he kissed her when they stepped off the plane. Possibly it was all of it. Jas only knew that for this moment she was exactly where she wanted to be – in his bed, on her back.

Jas's body was in flames as she felt his longing. His tall, muscular frame covered the length of her. She felt his fullness, as he pressed against her throbbing body. Aiden's slow gentle rocking, felt like heaven. Her arms instinctively wrapped around his back. She shuddered to think how much better it would feel if he'd only remove the clothes between them. Her mind struggled wanting him to free her from her clothes, yet wanting to stay safe within them. Where's your bed? Am I crazy?

Jas felt fire burn down one of her legs as he pushed it further apart, giving him more access to her. What am I doing? It was way too late to have those thoughts now. A low moan escaped her lips. He kissed her so hard stars formed in the back of her mind. She was delirious as he probed, deepening the kiss. Her core tightened mercilessly as his strong hips rolled awakening her sensitivity. "Aiden," she whimpered.

Aiden's lips curved at that whimper, revealing her pleasure and her nerves. He understood that she was being vulnerable enough to give him hope that things could be more – that she'd forgiven him. Yet, she wasn't emotionally ready to go but so far. He nipped the lobe of her ear, feeling the tremor of her body. His husky voice penetrated her conscious, "Nothing's coming off, babe." Help me lord, from peeling her out of those clothes.

"I thought I was ready," she whispered.

"I know."

He slid one hand under her rear, bringing her closer to him. The other hand slipped under her shirt. His warm hand molded over her bra, touching the swell of her breasts. Her body quaked from the fire consuming her chest. Jas couldn't form words, only moaned.

"You're here. That's more than enough."

Aiden whispered, sinking his mouth to her throat. He chuckled as her eyes closed in response. It gave him pleasure just knowing that she did want him. He sank lower, sending his body into fireworks as he trailed down her shoulder with his hungry kisses. Sparks were rippling everywhere. He pushed her shirt upwards, landing his mouth on her flat stomach. He watched as her hands clinched the spread in response to the blazing trail of kisses over her sensitive skin.

She thrashed against the soft comforter, as he trailed back up her body. He toyed with her breast, nipping through her bra. She pressed his head down. He lingered there, setting his blood on fire. Jas's head tossed about, her breathing was labored.

"Take it off."

"Nothing's coming off, babe."

"Thank you," she whispered.

Aiden slipped his mouth against her neck. She inhaled sharply as he caressed her there. He lifted his head long enough to whisper, "I'm breathing, again."

"My pleasure, Aiden."

He placed her face between his hands, planting kisses all over her face. "God, I've missed you."