Page 46 of Nashville Cowboy
“I tried to save it, but it was a lost cause. At least now Jackson knows, and I don’t have to find the right time to tell him. Or think about whether he has to know at all.”
“What did he say?” Sadie’s eyes went wide with anticipation.
“He…he said he was sorry and then he held me. For a long time.”
“Oh.” Sadie patted her heart. “That’s the Jackson we all know and love, isn’t it?”
Eve thought back to that moment of incredible warmth and comfort, feeling herself enveloped in his big arms, his tall body dwarfing hers. He’d been so close she could feel his heartbeat. She’d longed for that moment and yet when it came, she hadn’t been prepared. She couldn’t handle the emotions that came rushing back. The memories. He happened to be a part of her best ones.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do. Now that all the anger is behind us, I can’t help the way I feel.”
“How do you feel?”
“I like him…a lot.”
It would be more, were she ready for that. But she wasn’t in the position to trust anyone. Not even him.
Sadie grinned. “That’s a good start.”
Chapter 16
Jackson glanced at his watch. He and the guys were fishing all day, and Lincoln caught enough bass to feed a wife and four children for a year. He hoped Sadie liked a good fish fry.
“Don’t know about y’all, but I’m about ready to head back to the cabin and start drinkin’. Maybe hit the hot tub.” Jackson hooked one last line and threw it in the waters of Medina Lake.
“I’m going to agree with you there,” said Wade. “I’m zero for ten here.”
“Stick to the rodeo,” said Lincoln. “There’s a trick to fishin’. You need the right bait.”
“I need the rightworm?” Wade narrowed his eyes. “What’s one damn worm to another?”
“Here, let me show you how it’s done,” Lincoln said, and spent the next thirty minutes lecturing Wade on hooking a line.
They’d wound up with a warm and perfect summer day. Rain was predicted for weeks but kept passing them. One thing you could say about Texas: if you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. The sun beat down and Jackson scrubbed a hand down his face. This was the last fishing trip with Lincoln before he got hitched and he should enjoy the time with his brother. Instead, he couldn’t get Eve off his mind.
“Yeah! Uh-huh. That’s right!” Wade shouted when he caught one. Reeling it in, he turned to Lincoln. “Give me some more of that bait, yeah?”
“Give the fish a break,” Jackson said, annoyed. “We’ve all caught enough.”
The men looked at him as if he’d lost all good sense. Not exactly the words of a rancher’s son.
“You gone fish-soft on me?” Lincoln asked through squinted eyes.
“Eat or be eaten,” Wade said and everyone chimed in with “uh-huhs” and “that’s rights.”
He took off his Gone Fishin’ cap and scratched his head. “No, I’m just saying give them a sporting chance…or something.”
He had no idea what he was saying anymore. His brain had been hijacked by Eve. He wanted this party to be over so he could get back to the ranch and spend time with her. Fortunately, they all thought he was kidding given the raucous laughter that rang out over the shimmering lake moments later. Finally, almost an hour later, they were all back at the cabin relaxing around a plasma TV nearly as big as the wall behind it. Jackson wasn’t drinking. He needed a clear head now more than ever.
He had a bone to pick with Lincoln, but he’d wait until they were alone. So far, this week meant back-to-back events scheduled so tightly a sheet of paper wouldn’t slide through. But Lincoln, more than anyone, could have told him about Eve. Remembering how she’d been frantically searching the ground for that hearing aid…his chest was too tight. Holding her close hadn’t helped. He wanted to do a lot more than hold her.
He wanted tofixit.
Wade held up a DVD and wiggled his eyebrows. “Brought a dirty movie or two. And a bunch of cigars.”
The doorbell rang, and Jackson rubbed his hands together. “Alright. Dinner has arrived.”
Jackson accepted the ten pizza boxes and handed them out.
