Page 76 of Nashville Cowboy
“I didn’t think you’d have the patience.”
“You don’t make it easy, walking around looking the way you do.”
She laughed. “Thank you for waiting for me.”
“What changed your mind?”
She thought about that for a moment and had the answer. “Once I realized I’d fallen in love again. Your song, which I love, by the way, ripped something open inside my heart. And I realized I was holding myself back because I felt stuck. But I don’t want to lose you. Not again.”
“Let’s get this straight. You won’t lose me. I would have waited another…” He hesitated. “At least another two weeks.”
She laughed and swatted him on the butt. “Really? Two weeks? That’sit?”
“Well, two weeks before I tried to seduce you again.” He brought her hand up to his lips to kiss it. “Just kidding. Forever.”
“Jackson?” she whispered. “I trust you. With my life.”
“You don’t know what that means to me, baby.”
The next words were harder for her to say out loud and she swallowed back a sob. “I know it seems like I’m broken. Like I’ll never be whole, the girl you loved. But—”
“No. You’re better. Baby, if you’re broken, then I love your pieces. Every one of them.” He braced himself above her.
She felt him grow hard against her, smiled, and stroked his cheek. “Eight years older, but some things never change.”
He made love to her again, this time slow and sweet.
Afterwards, they lay arms and legs entwined until Jackson suddenly sat up straight and rushed to turn off the light.
“What is it?” she whispered, realizing he’d heard something she hadn’t.
“They’re back,” he said, pulling her with him under the covers. “If we’re quiet, they won’t look for us.”
“This is embarrassing,” Eve said. “I feel like I’m sixteen again.”
Eve turned her ear toward the door and the voices grew louder as they got closer.
“Sadie’s father was hilarious,” Daisy said.
“The man can certainly cut a rug,” Mima said.
“If that’s what horrible dancing means, then I agree.”
“Whereisyour brother?” Mima said. “I didn’t see him leave but he took the truck.”
“Probably somewhere with Eve,” Daisy said. “You ought to be happy.”
“I would be if I knew where they were.”
“Considering they’re grown-ups, why don’t you let it go?”
“You’re right. Daisy, let me tell you a thing or two about rodeo cowboys, while I have you alone for a minute…”
The voices drifted as they moved away, and Eve cringed. “I feel like I should save Daisy from that talk.”
“Never mind. She just saved us, and I’ll thank her later. You didn’t see that self-sacrificing move of hers?” Jackson’s hand glided up and down her spine and came to rest on her behind.
“We have all night.”
