Page 74 of Nashville Cowboy
As expected, there were no trucks, clear evidence that no one was back at the main house yet. Now he could get Eve to bed without any questions from anyone about the streaks down her face and her pink nose.
“Maybe you should change and take a warm bath,” he suggested.
“That does sound good.”
“I’m going to bring you some hot chocolate,” Jackson said, pulling off his jacket and hanging it on a hook in the mudroom.
She didn’t protest and a few minutes later he heard the sound of the water rushing as the tub filled. Jackson busied himself locating the cocoa mix and sugar. He pulled out the cold milk from the fridge. There were few things he could make, and this was one of them. Really great hot chocolate. He still remembered how.
Taking care of someone wasn’t new to him, it had just been a while. Far from taking care of Eve in the past, she’d been the one to take care of him. But long ago, there was someone Jackson had taken care of as well as he could. For as long as he could.
“Bring me some hot chocolate, Jackie, baby,” his mother would say when she’d been laid up in bed, which was often. “Your father doesn’t have time for me.”
He was probably only seven when he learned what a “rat bastard” and “selfish man” his father was, straight from his mother’s lips. He believed her, too, because Hank was mean as the devil some days. Other days, not so much, and Jackson tried to figure out which dad he’d get when he walked in the door every evening. It was anyone’s guess.
He heard the door open and close down the hallway and figured Eve had finished soaking. Pouring the hot chocolate into a large mug, he carried it to her bedroom and knocked once before coming inside. She turned to him wearing a white bathrobe tied at the waist, her long hair loose and falling over her shoulders. Face scrubbed clean of any trace of makeup, she looked younger. Her eyes shimmered, and he was hit with a pull of longing so strong it nearly brought him to his knees.
“You made that for me?” She grinned as she accepted the mug.
“It’s the best comfort food I know.”
“Mm,” she said after taking a sip. “It’s really good.”
“Real chocolate. Real sugar. Real milk. Can’t fail.”
“It should be a commercial. The simple things. Thank you for taking such good care of me,” she said.
“You would do the same.”
“I would,” she said. “But I’m still sorry you had to see me fall apart like that.”
He leaned against her dresser, crossing his arms. “I’m not. I want you to do something for me. From now on, if you ever need anything, you let me know. No pride. Zero bullshit.Promiseme, Eve.”
“Okay. But what if…what if I needyou?”
“Not a problem. I think I’ve made it pretty clear how I feel about you.” He came to her bed and pulled the covers back for her, an invitation for her to climb in.
She set the mug on the nightstand and obliged, getting in still wearing her bathrobe. He’d have thought she’d remove it, revealing pajamas, but when she didn’t, he tortured himself with the knowledge that she might be naked under that robe. She’d probably get dressed when he left the room. Unless she slept naked.
Lord, please let her sleep naked.
He was about flick the lamp off when she reached up and touched his forearm. “Wait. Don’t go, please.”
Desire spiked through him. He wouldn’t make it another few minutes in this room without ravaging her. “I should. I have to.”
“Don’t leave me.”
He squatted beside the bed and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Guess I could sit here until you fall asleep.”
“No,” she said, still holding his hand, bringing it to her chest. “I’m ready.”
He actually heard his heart slam against his rib cage and swallowed hard. “Are you sure?”
She nodded, laying her head on the pillow, her long dark hair fanning out to the side. “I’m falling in love with you.”
Her eyes shimmered, and desire had replaced pain. It felt good to know he’d been the cause of that switch. Though he couldn’t change her past, he could be a part of her future. And damn if he wasn’t determined to do that from this point forward. He didn’t know what that future would look like, or how he would get them there, but he wouldn’t give up.
She rolled to her side and stood to help him off with the rest of his clothes. “Let me.”
