Page 21 of Nashville Cowboy
“This jam is for the weddin’,” Eve said.
Jackson reached in his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and took out a bill which he slapped on the table. “There. I get my jam now.”
“I do have extras. You don’t have to pay—” Sadie said.
“Yes, he does,” Eve interrupted.
“Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m here to talk to Sadie,” Jackson said.
“What about?” Sadie straightened.
“Now, I know you love my brother—”
“Oh, I do, Jackson. I dosomuch.”
“But you’ll have to excuse me for having my doubts. You are best friends with a woman who doesn’t follow through with her commitments.”
“Are youkiddin’me?” Eve whispered.
He ignored her. “Not that I expect this, but just know that if you stand my brother up, there’ll be hell to pay.”
“Jackson.” Eve stood.
Sadie seemed shocked to silence, staring from Eve to Jackson and back again.
He also stood, nearly knocking over the chair. “You got something you want to say to me?”
“Yes,” Eve said. “But I can’t say it here. Sadie doesn’t like it when I swear.”
“Outside, then.” He strode toward the back door.
Chapter 8
Here we go again.
Jackson followed Eve out the back door, but they hadn’t gotten far when she turned to him, her hazel eyes flashing anger.
“S-say what you want about me, but you lay off Sadie.”
“This is a conversation I’m about to have with Sadie and you need to stay the hell out of it.”
“You can’t blame Sadie for what I did. She’s my only friend and I can’t let you. I just can’t.” She crossed her arms.
He didn’t know what the hell was up with the women in this town, so he couldn’t be sure that Sadie should be trusted any more than Eve. He’d just been dropped off by Jolette Marie, who held the runaway bride record. Best as he could surmise, the women here had their pick of men so they often couldn’t make up their minds who would be best.
Yes, Sadie claimed she loved Lincoln. Eve said she’d loved Jackson and look what happened there.
“She’s been after my brother for years. She has her choice of men. Why? That’s what I want to know.”
“Why? Sheworshipshim. And she’s loved him for years. You’ve got to have seen it.”
“All I see is two people headed in the direction of what could be a lot of heartache. And I can’t stand by and let it happen to my brother.”
Eve’s gaze softened. “They’re not as young as we were. They know what they want and they’re ready to commit to each other. They’ve both dated other people and they know what they have is special. You can’t compare them to us.”
“They practicallyareus! She’s your best friend, he’s my brother. It doesn’t get much closer than that.”
He’d been thrown back eight years to all the same type of wedding shenanigans that he’d been through with Eve. Lincoln had been his best man and now Jackson would return the favor. His first order of business was to make sure the bride showed up.
