Page 14 of Hidden Desires

Chapter Five

It had been a day from hell. After the Dodo incident, several farmers called in with sick cattle—something Autumn didn’t normally attend to. She didn’t pass up the opportunity to keep her clients happy and allowed Summer to man the office while they headed to the rural farm area nearly thirty minutes outside of town.

And when they got there, it wasn’t only the cattle that was sick. Pigs. Goats. Sheep. Everything in sight had gotten into some tainted feed, and it was her responsibility to treat them all. Jackson, however, was willing to help. He wasn’t sure she would have made it without him.

“Okay, I’m taking a long bath, then curling up in front of the TV with a hot movie and nice steaming box of take-out pizza.” Autumn threw her purse down in the foyer and kicked off her shoes. “What are you doing?”

Jackson smiled. “Shower.”

Not only had the day been hell in the sense of him working his ass off, his libido rocketed sky high every time he came near Autumn. Even in her pink scrubs all covered with mud. He couldn’t help chuckling at the irony of it.

“Please don’t use all the hot water.” She pulled her shirt up exposing the flat expanse of her belly and knotted the garment at the small of her back.

Jackson’s gaze roamed her bare midriff. “Hadn’t planned on taking a hot shower.”

Autumn turned, meeting his eyes.

“What? I’m not hiding it, sweetheart. I’ve been hot for you all day.”

“Jackson, don’t.”

“Don’t what? I’m not doing anything.” He stood with his hands on his hips. His cock pressed against the fly of his pants and he didn’t bother adjusting himself. Nothing but Autumn would make the ache go away, and he wasn’t even sure after he had her it would go away completely.

“Yes you are, Jackson.” She brushed a blond strand from her face. “We work well together. Why do you have to make things complicated with statements like that?”

He kicked off his shoes all but moaning as his sock feet hit the soft carpet. “Statements like what? I want you? I’m horny, you’re hot. Enough said.”

“Don’t tempt me.” She glanced away.

“Why?”

“I can’t handle being used again.” She met his eyes, a hint of moisture shining in the fading light.

Please don’t cry. His stomach tightened.

“It’s all anyone has done to me in my life. First by you, and then…then…”

“Who?”

“No one.”

Jackson stepped forward and pulled her toward him. “Tell me. Who else made you feel like shit?”

Maybe if she opened up about her past, they’d find the stupid idiot who was threatening her and be done with the case. Truth be told, he couldn’t stand seeing her scared any longer. She put on a brave face for her audience, but he saw behind her mask. She was scared of something, and he wanted to know who or what.

“Frank . . . Gallagher.”

“The pompous nitwit?”

She nodded, staring at her toes.

Jackson rubbed her arms debating whether to ask her the question that crossed his mind or leave sleeping dogs lie. In the end, he decided to ask her. “What’s the history there? Did you fuck him?”

“We went to school together, and I stupidly thought he’d help me open my clinic and we’d be partners. Anyway, we partied, got drunk, and spent the night together.”

Jackson didn’t understand his sudden rage of jealousy. It hit him like a ton of bricks as he pictured some pompous nitwit putting his hands all over Autumn.

His grip tightened on her wrist. “Do you think he’s doing this to you?”

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