Page 29 of Nashville Cowboy
“You have a personaltrainer?”
It was something you didn’t hear much about in their area. A couple of years ago, a couple moved into Stone Ridge and opened a gym. It closed down within two months. Physical activity was part of daily life on a ranch.
Jackson threw the last of the glass and chops in the trash. “We hire one for the band. Being on the road means a lot of inactivity driving from city to city. The performance is my only real exercise. Not exactly what you’d call effort.”
“But what about bacon?” Eve asked, more than a little shocked. “You don’t eatbacon?”
“Don’t be crazy, girl.” He stood and slid her a smirk. “’Course I eat bacon.”
“Oh,” she said on an exhale. “That’s good. I was beginning to wonder if you had anything in common with the old Jackson.”
“I have a lot in common with the old Jackson. Happen tobethe old Jackson.” He said this a bit abruptly, his jaw tightening.
Apparently, he was sensitive about having changed so much throughout the years. She saw little of the man she’d loved. Leaner now, he carried a tension in his shoulders he never had before. He’d smiled only once since he’d arrived but then again, she might have something to do with that. She wasn’t exactly his happy place.
They stood nearly toe to toe, the air pulsating and crackling between them.
Two years into her life at Texas A&M, she’d discovered that what she’d felt for Jackson wasnotcommon. There were many handsome men at A&M. She’d met a few of them. Dated two. But not one of them was Jackson Carver. Had she known that truth on the day of their wedding, she’d have likely swallowed her pride and gone through with it. But she hadn’t been gifted with wisdom at the time. Or with psychic abilities.
Not then, and not now.
And she couldn’t help wondering where he’d be today if they’d married. Maybe ranching with Lincoln and Hank, hating his life. Hating her for keeping him here. Or maybe he’d be happy enough playing in local honky-tonks. Raising a family with her. There was no way of ever knowing.
“Did you hear me?”
She shook her head clear of the past, a dangerous tunnel she couldn’t afford to get sucked into. No, she hadn’t heard him. She watched as he used the broom he’d grabbed and bent to scoop the entire mess into the trash can. Wonder what his fans would think to see him now. To be fair, he looked just as irresistibly sexy sweeping as he did playing a guitar. Or riding a horse.
“Mima wants you to stay and I don’t like denying her what she wants. I think we can be at least civil to each other. You think?”
“Yes, of course. I don’t have a problem with that.”
“I noticed. Andthat’sa problem.”
“What do you mean?”
“The way you let me talk to you. You’re not fighting back, and that’s not like you. Want to talk about people who’ve changed? I’d say you have.”
The words kicked her in the gut, the pain hard and swift. “I d-don’t even know what you’re talkin’ about. I’m the same old Eve.”
“Yeah. Try again.” He gave her a sideways look before he went back to the trash can.
“Maybe I’m older and wiser. I know everything can’t always be my way. After going away to school, I know what it’s like to be one of many.”
“Doesn’t mean you change your personality. You’re skittish, like a scared barn cat. Half the time you won’t look at me. You’re not…not…”
“What?” she pressed, almost afraid of what he’d say. She didn’t much like the trajectory of this conversation.
He tilted his head for a moment as if considering it. “Difficult.”
She snorted. “Youwantme to be difficult?”
“I want you to be yourself, so, yeah.” He shrugged.
“I’mdifficult?” She crossed her arms, feeling an old flame of anger flash.
That wouldn’t work for her and she tamped it down quickly. She’d left all her anger behind. Too much anger had a way of spreading into every conversation and infecting every thought. She refused to go there again.
He slid her a half grin, dimples flashing, and he pointed. “Now see, that’s much better.”
