Page 8 of As Long As You Kiss Me

“Then why lead her on with a kiss?”

“It wasn’t like that,” Jackson said.

“That girl has been through a lot. I’m just telling you to be careful. I’m not saying you should stay away from her altogether, but you might want to think about what you’re doing and if you want to get involved with her.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Jackson could feel his protective side flaring up. He didn’t like the way his dad made her sound broken. Sully was strong, a survivor. And she’d stood up to her ex in a pretty potent way.

“I’m just saying you should be careful with her.”

“I will be. And anyway, you should know she’s the one who kissed me. I wasn’t even expecting it.”

“Oh really? I hadn’t heard that part. Only that you both looked like a couple.”

“I promise we aren’t one.”

“Do you ever see yourself dating her?”

“I don’t know, to be honest. She’s a wonderful girl. But I know Tyson wouldn’t have wanted it.”

“You can’t live for what Tyson would have wanted.”

They were just going to have to disagree on that. Jackson wasn’t willing to go there at all. He barely spoke about Tyson. It was too painful to face. In fact, it had been tough for him to come back to Maple Creek because memories of his friend seemed to be everywhere in this town. All of them had come rushing back when Jackson returned.

But he missed his family, and he was tired of running. So he’d returned. But that didn’t mean he was ready to get all touchy-feely with his emotions regarding Tyson, either.

He’d closed the door on that part of his life and dead-bolted it. There wasn’t anything that could get him to open it either.

Not even the pretty eyes or the tender lips of his little sister. Definitely not her. She would have to be off limits from him because the emotions were too raw to face. If she ever knew the truth, she would never speak to him again.

He couldn’t bring himself to date someone who didn’t know the truth. That would be like living a lie with the woman he loved. He wouldn’t do that.

The problem was, he couldn’t get that kiss out of his head.

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