Page 28 of Nashville Cowboy
“Don’tyou fight me on this,” Jackson said, his gaze locking with Eve’s.
She didn’t want to fight him. Instead she let the knowledge that Jackson cared just a little bit wash over her. More than any man she’d ever met, Jackson straddled the fine line between protective and possessive with true skill.
“I’m going to make sure all the dogs are in the barn first,” Jackson said, echoing her thoughts.
The family stable was always safe and guarded from the elements and any predators. Wanting to help Jackson with the dogs, she reluctantly went inside simply because she didn’t want to push her luck.
“Are you ready for some supper?” Eve said as she walked into the living room, where Mima sat watchingThe Pioneer Womanon the cooking channel.
“Looks like it will just be you and me tonight after all.”
“Actually, Jackson will be inside in a minute. He heard a coyote.”
Alarm flashed in Mima’s eyes. “Did you hear it?”
“I did but I didn’t think it was close.” She could have been wrong. It bothered her more than she’d want to admit. By now, she should be used to having less than perfect hearing.
“Matter of fact, I’m not hungry. Why don’t you two go on and eat without me.”
“What?” Eve froze halfway to the kitchen and backtracked. “Wait. Mim—”
“Don’t argue. My arm needs restin’.” Mima waved with her good arm and disappeared into the back wing of the house in the direction of her bedroom.
So much for talking the stubborn woman out of anything she didn’t want to do. Eve quickly pulled covered dishes out from the refrigerator one after the other. If she was fast enough, she could make it to her own bedroom with her dinner and just leave Jackson to fend for himself.
But he walked in the door just a moment later, Winston with him, the white border collie he’d raised from a puppy. Winston was an old guy now with arthritis, and Eve would be lying not to say she occasionally snuck him in with her on a particularly cold or rainy night. She figured he’d earned his keep over the years doing his part for the ranch. Two years ago, he’d retired to be a family dog but Mima still believed he belonged outside in their perfectly good barn with all the other pets.
“He’s sleeping with me tonight, and I don’t want any guff about it,” Jackson said without looking up, clearly believing he was speaking to his grandmother.
“She’s…she went to…” Eve stammered and then promptly dropped the glass covered dish filled with the leftovers of last night’s pork chops.
It shattered into pieces at her feet and within seconds Winston was salivating at the entrance to the kitchen headed straight for the meat.
“No!” Eve and Jackson yelled at once.
Jackson ordered him to sit and Winston obeyed, knowing that they were both deadly serious. He whined in desire to gorge on a chop, but he stayed put.
“What on earth is going on out there?” Mima shouted from her bedroom.
“Don’t worry,” Jackson shouted back. “Eve managed to duck just in time. She’ll be fine.”
Eve met Jackson’s gaze. She studied penetrating blue irises that shimmered with humor. His lips twitched, and a second later Eve burst into laughter. The thought of Jackson being angry enough to throw a plate at her struck her with the humor he’d obviously intended.
Still at the edge of the kitchen entrance, Winston cocked his head in curiosity.
“Do you think she believed you?” Eve said.
“We’ll know in a minute.”
Eve bent and started to pick up the holy mess she’d made. There were pieces of glass everywhere on the tile floor, the chops lying in the middle of it all. A real waste. Even Winston couldn’t benefit from this disaster.
“Let me do that,” Jackson said, staying her hand. “You’ll cut yourself.”
A sliver of electricity pulsed through her at his touch and she wouldn’t look at him, worried he’d see a flash of exhilarating desire in her eyes. She let him take over, and he found the broom and picked up large pieces.
“I’m sorry I ruined your dinner,” she said, getting the trash can from under the sink.
“My personal trainer says pork isn’t fit for human consumption. But hell, don’t tell Mima.”
