Page 56 of Nashville Cowboy
Eve’s wanted a lot more than kisses from Jackson, but her mind hadn’t yet caught up to her body. Her thoughts were reminding her that, for her, being intimate was a huge step in a relationship.
Jackson pulled the truck past the entrance to Holiday Lake, which was less a lake than a large pond. But when he drove the truck straight out into the field, past the trees, she remembered why she’d loved it here. The clearing gave way to the best view of stars in Stone Ridge. Jackson helped her out of the truck, taking her hand and leading her to the tailgate.
The June night was warm and there seemed to be no sounds at all in the quiet of the night.
They both hopped on and sat, their legs swinging over the edge, holding hands.
“Tell me about the last eight years,” Jackson suddenly said. “I know about two of the worst things that ever happened to you, but I have a feeling there may have been some good stuff I missed.”
“Eight years? That’s a long time.”
“A recap.”
Touched that he’d want to know what she’d been doing, what he’d missed, she didn’t quite know where to begin. She told him about Marisol, her roommate and good friend, about her dorm room, and later the apartment they shared.
“Tell me about this dude you almost married.”
“I didn’t almost marry Bobby!”
“You said you might have married him someday.”
“Wow, that’s not at all the same thing.”
“What was he like?” Jackson pressed, squeezing her hand.
“Nice. Bobby was good to me, very sweet.”
“But not as sweet as me, right?” He grinned.
That made Eve laugh. She couldn’t remember laughing as much as she had recently. “I probably wasn’t really in love with Bobby.”
“Good.” He nudged her. “Keep going.”
For the next hour, Eve shared the life she’d had so far. She told Jackson about her veterinary program, how hard she worked, and how she’d excelled. Whenever she came near anything to do with the attack, or the setbacks she’d had, she glossed over that. She took him all the way to her graduation, with honors, to coming back to Stone Ridge with no money and a pile of student debt, and later joining Annabeth’s practice.
“I should meet her.” He’d pulled Eve between his long legs and as she talked, from time to time he’d rest his chin in the crook of her shoulder.
“You will,” Eve said, leaving out the part where Annabeth didn’t think Eve had any business rekindling something with Jackson. “Annabeth loves country music. She’s from Austin.”
“Did you ever think of staying in College Station to work as a vet? Or any larger city?”
“No,” Eve said. “This is home.”
“I’m beginning to realize that.”
“Good, because we’ve missed—I’ve missed you.” Sitting up, she turned in the circle of his arms to face him.
“Yeah?” He grinned and his face took on a positively boyish look.
They were nearly nose to nose, so close they couldn’t tuck a breath between them. His mouth came crashing down on hers in a long, deep kiss that had her fisting his shirt, moaning softly. When his hand slipped under the skirt of her dress to glide up and down her leg, she let him. That seemed to heat things up and he groaned when he dipped a finger inside her panties and touched soft flesh. The delicious touch filled her with a sweet ache. She arched her back, wanting, needing so much more.
“God, Eve,” he breathed. “Baby.”
He covered her with hot, wet kisses. Up the column of her neck, his tongue darting in and out of the shell of her ear. But when he rolled on top of her, his big body pinning her, Eve froze. She hadn’t seen that coming, but he was so strong. So much bigger than her. She almost couldn’t move and her mind went to a dark place.
“What’s wrong?” He took some of his weight off her, pulling back to search her eyes.
“Nothing, I’m…” She fought for composure, worried she’d offend him. “I’m sorry.”
