Page 51 of Nashville Cowboy
On the first date, when he’d unexpectedly tried to kiss her, she’d literally recoiled. It was very difficult to come back after that. He’d been insulted, hadn’t bothered to try to understand, and dropped her off without indicating that there would be a second date. The same thing happened a couple of more times, and even when it went past one date, none were at all patient. If she stopped them from getting too handsy, they quickly lost interest. She eventually gave up dating.
Jackson had waited patiently for her to want more. Now, she made the first move with a kiss that wasn’t particularly tender. Their tongues and lips slanted across each other as he responded, eager, demanding more. He followed with deep and hot kisses.
They were both breathless when she broke the kiss. “God. Oh God.”
“Baby, you are killing me right now. You do know my brother and Sadie are in the next room?”
“And so are Daisy and Lucy.”
“I know I should go, but I don’t want to. We’re supposed to be watching dirty movies, smoking cigars, and getting tanked. I’m afraid I’ll go down in history as the worst best man ever.”
She snorted. “Hush. Lincoln and Sadie are right where they want to be right now. Together.”
“I would say that they’ve got a lifetime of that ahead, but somehow I don’t take anything for granted anymore.”
Eve framed his face and studied his lips so she could catch every word. “I’m tired of being afraid. Tired of feeling numb inside when I’m not afraid. Stay with me just a little while.”
Every raw emotion had been pulled out of her in the past few minutes. She just needed to sleep. And she wanted him right here with her.
“Come here and let me keep you warm, girl.” Jackson took off his boots and his jacket. Fully clothed, he laid on his side, pulling Eve’s back to his chest.
She lay there in the circle of his arms, content, drifting off after a few minutes. No waking nightmares chased her sleep this time. When she woke, it was dark, shadows of ambient light in the room. No sound. She hitched in a breath, and stiffened, for one moment not remembering. That old sense of urgency and fear tugged at her, but then she felt Jackson’s even breaths on her neck. His arms wrapped loosely around her waist. He’d fallen asleep, too.
The next time Eve woke, it was daylight and hushed voices were at the door. Jackson and Lincoln. She turned toward the sound and concentrated hard to catch every word.
“Bet I’m the only groom in history who spent his bachelor party with his fiancée.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Nah, I can never get enough of her, but we do need to get back to the guys. God knows what they’ve done to the place.”
“Be right there.” Jackson shut the door.
Eve closed her eyes, pretending to be asleep.
He pressed a soft kiss against her temple. “Bye, beautiful.”
She heard him as he made movements sitting on the bed next to her. Then he leaned close again and seemed to hesitate. “I love you.”
The words were nothing but a whisper in her good ear, and she caught every single word.
Chapter 18
“Dad, put the tie on, or don’t, but don’t let me hear another word about it,” Jackson said from his father’s recliner.
Hank continued to grumble and complain for thirty minutes straight, give or take. He didn’t want to leave the cattle. He didn’t want to leave his hill. There was work to be done that waited for no one.
But three days from the wedding, it was time for the wedding rehearsal followed by the dinner, on the old man’s dime. Jackson had kept busy around the ranch, helping Hank. Helping Lincoln as they both corralled the rest of the cattle to a second pasture and got the ranch ready to be without him while he was on his honeymoon.
Far from avoiding Eve, however, he continued to seek her out.
Sometimes if he woke early enough, he’d find her alone in the kitchen, packing breakfast. He’d come up behind her and put his arms around her hips. She had a great deal of patience with him, treating him to a few more kisses. He’d help her in the kitchen, which would earn him a few more kisses. But when his hand would slip under her shirt, she always stopped him.
“Not yet,” she’d whisper, and he was a teenager again, living on hormones, hope, and a prayer.
“Not sure why they picked a fancy place for the dinner,” Hank said as he looped his tie around. “Lincoln would have been happy with the Shady Grind.”
The Shady Grind was the place where he and Eve had their rehearsal dinner. A very affordable, reasonable bar and grill. But it was also a place a young couple tight on funds might choose.
