Page 63 of As Long As You Kiss Me

After they’d eaten their fill of cookies—Sully may or may not have had five of them—they said goodbye and headed out the door.

Jackson opened the door for her when they reached his truck. “Thanks.” She climbed in and he shut the door behind her. What a gentleman. He really was getting points with her lately.

“I need to tell you something, Jackson,” she said when he’d climbed behind the wheel.

“What is it?” He glanced over at her before backing out of her parents’ driveway.

“I owe you an apology.”

His beautiful eyes were on her, and she longed to run her hand over his stubbled jaw.

“After seeing the way my parents reacted to the news tonight, I realized I might have been overreacting. I have a really hard time trusting men. I recognize that, and I’m working on it. Can you forgive me?”

His mouth fell open. “You’re the one asking for forgiveness? I got your brother killed.”

“Don’t say that,” she protested. “You didn’t kill him. I want you to promise me that you’ll stop thinking it was your fault.”

He shook his head. “I think my brain is scrambled. I plan on going to therapy to work on my PTSD. My dad told me about someone I could go to.”

“Really? I think that’s a great idea.” A man who could accept the fact that he needed help was attractive indeed. And if he’d take her back, she wanted him all to herself.

“I know it will be hard, but I’m willing to give it a shot.”

“Jackson, I’m really proud of you.” She reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

“I appreciate your apology,” he said.

Had she messed everything up for them, or would he be willing to give their relationship another try? And she didn’t mean a fake relationship. She didn’t need him to pretend to be her boyfriend to run Mason off. Being with Jackson was essential, like breathing air or drinking water. He made her laugh and feel loved and safe.

He was more than Tyson’s best friend. He was her best friend now, and she wanted to keep him around for a very long time. Make that forever. That is, if she hadn’t ruined things with him.

“I know you’ve been through a lot with Mason, so I forgive you. I can’t imagine what you’ve had to face. I’ll never be able to understand it fully.”

“Good. You don’t want to ever know what this feels like. It’s awful.”

He pulled up to her place. “I hope we can figure out a way to get him to leave you alone.”

“Maybe we ran him off with the spider and the mouse. I haven’t heard anything from him since.”

“That’s a good attitude to have.” His gaze locked with hers, and her heart thumped wildly in her chest.

“Is it okay if I kiss you?” he asked.

She nodded, and he brought his mouth to hers, soft and tender. She melted against him, savoring his nearness.

This was exactly what she needed. To feel close to him. She could feel sunshine and happiness coming back into her life.

Not that she wasn’t happy before. But this took things to a whole new level. One she’d never experienced before.

She pulled away, running a hand down his prickly jaw, just like she’d wanted to do earlier. “You’re amazing.”

His nose brushed against hers. “So are you.”

“Goodnight, Jackson.” She opened her car door.

“Goodnight, beautiful lady.”

She walked up to her apartment with a bounce in her step that she hadn’t felt in a while. She put her key in the lock, but the door was already open. That was strange. She must have forgotten to lock it. She came inside and tossed her purse on the couch and headed into her room to change into pajamas. Opening the door, she headed to her dresser and pulled out a tank top and shorts. Just as she was about to pull her shirt over her head, an arm went around her.

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