Page 212 of The Coach

Kara actually blinks.

Like she wasn’t expecting that.

Jackson lets out a quiet chuckle beside me.

Kara recovers quickly. “Right. Well, what do you say to those who think this relationship is just…a little tooconvenient?”

Jackson’s jaw clenches.

I tilt my head. “I’d say that sounds exhausting.”

She frowns. “Excuse me?”

“Spending all that time trying to turn something real into some kind of conspiracy.” I smile sweetly. “Must be tiring.”

Kara’s completely thrown now.

I feel Jackson’s pride radiating off him.

Kara narrows her eyes. “So, you’re saying there’s no scandal. No secrets. No drama?”

I rest my hand on my belly. “Just a baby who’s going to be really lucky to have Jackson Knox as his dad.”

Jackson inhales sharply beside me.

For the first time tonight, Kara seems…lost for words.

She stares at me. Then at Jackson.

Then, slowly, she nods. “Well then.” She forces a smile. “Congratulations.”

And with that?

She walks away.

I release a slow breath.

Jackson is staring at me.

“Ivy.” His voice is rough. “That was the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.”

I let out a shaky laugh. “I blacked out. What happened?”

Jackson just shakes his head, grinning.

Then he pulls me into his lap, right there in the middle of our private rooftop dinner, and kisses me senseless.

I gasp into his mouth, my fingers curling into his shirt as he pulls me closer, his grip firm, his body hot and solid beneath me.

God.

I barely spoke a few words. But the way he’s looking at me right now is like I just won him the damn Super Bowl.

It makes something deep in my stomach tighten.

Jackson groans, his hand sliding down my waist, gripping my thigh beneath the slit of my dress.

“You’re so fucking hot when you do that.”

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