Page 13 of Nashville Cowboy
“She said she’d try to stop in.” Eve dried her hands on a dishtowel. “I’m sure she’d like to see Jackson.”
Eve hadn’t lived with her mother since graduating high school. The little cottage provided by the landowner wasn’t much and though Brenda would have welcomed Eve back, she wanted her own place. When Eve got back from veterinary school, she moved into one of the cabins that Sadie’s father rented out on Lupine Lake. The rent was cheap, but between her student loans, rent, and buying into a partnership with Annabeth, Eve ate ramen noodles most days. Then Lillian asked for her help and it seemed a perfect solution and a chance for Eve to get back on her feet financially.
“It’s not going to be a whole lot of fun around here for these two weeks. He’s still pretty angry.”
“It’s not such an easy thing to forgive, honey.”
With her shaky non-dominant left hand, Mima opened the fridge and took out the creamer. Eve was forced to intercept again when Mima tried to pour with her left hand. The woman was a disaster waiting to happen. She desperately needed Eve to save her from herself.
“This isn’t going to be easy for me, either.”
“I know that,” Mima said. “Just give him a little time and he’ll come around. Why, I bet by the time you two walk down the aisle for Sadie and Lincoln in a couple of weeks, you’ll be the best of friends again.”
“Don’t get your hopes up.”
“Child, I was so mad at you I thought my eyes might stay permanently crooked. And now look at us!”
Having helped raise Jackson and his brother and sister, Mima was quite protective. It didn’t matter that Jackson left town, going after what he’d really wanted. For a while, MimablamedEve for not managing to keep him home.
“I think maybe you have a more forgiving heart.”
“Where’s the coffee?” A deep and grumpy voice said from behind her.
Oh. My. God. Had he heard? How much? Eve couldn’t look at him.
“Sit down and let us serve you breakfast,” Mima said from her seat at the kitchen table.
Translation: “Let Eve serve you.”
“No need.”
Reaching for the carafe, he accidentally brushed against Eve and her body buzzed with desire.Stupid, stupid body.
“Going to ride Taco up the hill and go see the old man.”
“That’s why you’re up early,” Mima said.
“Couldn’t sleep,” he said gruffly.
“He’ll be glad to see you. Tell him that calving doesn’t mean he gets away without ever seeing his Mama.”
“Yeah. Don’t count on it. You know Hank. Gives him a good excuse to hide up there and avoid everyone.”
“Don’t call your daddy ‘Hank,’ son. Not respectful. And try to make it to the wedding shower later today. Eve, Daisy, and I will be decoratin’ the lodge.”
“They’llbe decorating.” Jackson pointed to Mima. “You’ll be sittin’ in a chair supervising if you know what’s good for you.”
Temporarily forgetting herself, Eve piped in. “Oh, she will sit still. I’ll make sure of it. Don’t you worry about it.”
He turned to her. She saw he still hadn’t shaved which gave him a sexy, just-rolled-out-of-bed tousled appearance. But he wore a clean, pressed flannel shirt and blue Wranglers that fit him extremely well. Loose and tight in all the right places.
She wished she wouldn’t notice such things.
Jackson slid her a look you’d give to a flea on your prized stallion. “Not worryin’ about it. That’s your job. Do it well or you’re fired.”
Eve swallowed and bit her lower lip. She wouldneverdo any job poorly. The Iglesiases worked hard for years. There was a certain amount of self-righteous indignation simmering in her gut on a low flame. She would respond but what would be the point? Avoiding confrontation was her middle name.
“Now, now. Only I can fire Eve.”
