Page 54 of Nashville Cowboy
He cleared his throat. “Nothing. I forgot I already said you look beautiful. I hate repeating myself.”
“You charmer.” She glanced at the table, nearly everyone seated now. “We better go find seats.”
“Wait,” he said, getting tired of talking to her back.
He stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “We should sit together.”
“I-I have to sit with Mima,” she said. “She needs me.”
“Then I’ll sit on your left side. You don’t have to talk to me, but you have to know that everyone here is acting like they’re sneaking around landmines whenever we’re too close to each other.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying we need to show everyone that we’re gettin’ along fine. At least in private. Might as well let everyone else in on our secret.”
“Secret?”
“Face it. You like me.” He grinned.
“And you like me.”
Sadie rushed up to Eve. “You better come quick. They put a fancy bread tray out and Mima is trying to butter her bread with her left hand. She’s already dropped the knife twice and the pastor looks scared.”
“Excuse me.” Eve gave him the hint of a smile and followed Sadie.
Jackson took a few seconds to get his bearings, and then went to join the family.
Chapter 19
Oh, yeah so easy walking down the aisle with Jackson.
Frightening what a good liar she’d become. It would have been easier if there were no feelings left for him at all, but Eve obviously still had uncomfortable emotions that she couldn’t ignore. Deep feelings that went beyond anger and pain. Love. Desire. They were strings winding themselves around her heart until she couldn’t breathe.
He’d whispered that he loved her when he’d thought she was asleep. Some days, it was all she could think about. She didn’t honestly believe in second chances, least of all that she would ever be deserving of one with Jackson. But evenshewanted to believe in true love. In two people who were meant to be together, and no matter what obstacles stood in their way, nothing and no one could keep them from being together.
She’d been hardly able to draw in a single breath inside the chapel. But then she’d seen Sadie walking with her father, so filled with joy that the intensity threatened to blow the ceiling right off the rafters. Eve’s heart swelled for her friend, who deserved every kind of happiness. She’d never once taken Lincoln for granted. Not once.
Toasts and their dinner finally over two long hours later, Eve just wanted to go home, get in her jammies, and go to sleep. Morning always came too early at the ranch.
“I’ll be right with you,” Eve said to Mima. “Just need to visit the ladies’ room.”
“Go ahead, sugar. I’m fine.” Mima waited next to the entrance with Hank.
It was silly that they’d come in separate cars, but she and Mima weren’t sure how long it would take Jackson to prod Hank away from the cattle. Turned out to be not nearly as long as anticipated. Washing her hands, she took a glance in the mirror. The woman in the mirror thought she was putting on a good act, but it was all a show. She was a washed-up shell because the attack hadn’t just taken her hearing. It took her hope. Her spirit. But she’d been gradually getting her old self back. She was content to spend the rest of her life in Stone Ridge, for the most part, until the moment Jackson arrived.
She’dthoughtthere was no passion left in her. No desire. She’d certainly never felt a hint of it in years, even though Beau and many others had been after her for a long while. And Beau Stephens was as classically handsome as Sadie was beautiful, but he didn’t do a thing for Eve. She’d tried for a long time to feel something for him, or for anyone else. But she hadn’t felt the throb and pulse of desire again until Jackson strode back into the family kitchen and ordered her outside so he could fire her.
Then suddenly she’d experienced every emotion under the sun. Blazing hostility, paralyzing fear, and don’t forget deep regret. Desire. Lust. The emotions were too much, too intense, and she wanted to shut them all down. Go back to being numb again. If only he’dlether. But no, bit by tender bit, he was making her love him again.
Eve came out to a mostly empty restaurant. No one was where she’d last seen them, Mima and Hank included. What in the world. She was digging for her cell phone when Jackson came walking out from the back room.
“I hope everything was to your satisfaction, Mr. Carver,” Shula Velasquez, the manager, said. “Please do come again.”
“Thanks. Y’all did a great job.” When he noticed Eve, he stopped and slid her a half smile. “You’re still here?”
“Have you seen Mima? I drove her.”
“I was in the back. Told Hank to wait for me.”
