Page 60 of Jackson
Abby nodded. “Josh is Tim’s best friend, and we see him every Saturday, sometimes at our house and sometimes at Aunt Laura’s. He comes over during the week, too. We play outside when the weather is nice. Well, mostly Josh plays soccer with Tim, but I’m outside, too.” Paula made an encouraging sound, and Abby didn’t need more prompting. “And of course we play with the trains together, too. And— And Josh helped me with my geography last month. I got an A.”
Paula couldn’t suppress a smile. “That sounds nice.”
“Yes,” Abby sighed, her expression dreamy. “He’s very nice.”
Ah, young love, so beautiful and fragile.
“I agree. He is pretty great,” Paula agreed.
“Are you talking about me?” someone asked playfully behind them. Before Paula could answer, Abby jumped up and embraced the tall blond man behind them. “Mr. Chris!” she exclaimed in delight.
Chris swung Abby into his arms. “How’s my favorite girl?”
Paula felt her mouth curl up again. She hadn’t smiled this much in weeks. Yes, it was good to be here with friends and to see how happy the newly formed family was. Life had dealt Josh a rough hand, but now things were looking up. She glanced around the room again and felt paralyzed as magnetic blue eyes locked with hers.
Paula sucked in a shocked breath as Jackson’s heated glance skimmed her body and returned to her face. Was it hot in here, or was she having a hot flash? Paula tamped down the urge to fan herself, pulled her gaze away from Jackson, and started talking with Chris.
“Do you come here to eat often?” Her question sounded lame, but she needed something to say.
“This was always a good place to have lunch, but with Suzie baking and breakfast happening, it’s so much better. Those pastries in the morning are something else.”
“Trust you to have a sweet tooth, Chris.”
Paula didn’t hear his next comment as her thoughts kept drifting toward Jackson. Chris was nice and entertaining—and an incorrigible flirt—but he wasn’t Jackson. He didn’t have his magnetism. Paula forced her attention back to Chris. “I’m sorry did you say something?”
“You know, sweetheart, if I didn’t know you were Jackson’s sub, I’d be heartbroken.” He teased her with a wicked grin.
“I’m not Jackson’s sub.”
Chris let out a belly laugh, and she felt her face flush again.
Menopause, it has to be!
“The two of you can’t keep your eyes off each other.”
“Yeah, well I don’t deny we have great chemistry, but I’m not built for the kind of relationship Jackson wants.” Paula gave a noncommittal shrug, as if the admission didn’t tear her apart.
“What do you mean?” Chris cocked his head and frowned at her.
“I don’t like to give away as much control he wants to have,” she answered.
“Don’t tell me Jackson isn’t open to renegotiating if something doesn’t work between the two of you?” Chris asked in disbelief.
Paula blinked in confusion. Change the contract, but she?—
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think I’m submissive, after all.” She couldn’t talk about this any longer. Why had she picked Chris to divert her attention? She started to turn away.
“Stop.” The command in his voice, more than the word itself made her halt in her tracks. Chris invaded her personal space, and she stayed rooted to the ground, unable to pull away from his command.
“Not submissive, huh.” Chris brushed his knuckles over her cheek before stepping away from her, breaking the spell. “Sweetheart, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck.” With that, he tipped two fingers against his temple in a mock salute and sauntered off in the direction of the drinks table.
What the hell?
Paula watched Chris’ retreat and nibbled on her bottom lip, before shaking her head and looking away. Again, Jackson caught her eye on the other side of the room, and she took the only option she could think of.
Paula headed toward the door and exited the party like a burglar would run from a police officer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
