She nodded, tipping her face toward the palm of his hand. “It belongs to you. Eight years didn’t change anything.”
Every part of her was beautiful to him, from her soft pink lips to the way her blonde hair was picked up and tossed by the breeze. She was made for him to love, that much he was sure of.
“But you have to promise me that, no matter what, you won’t run again. Dad’s not too lucid, and he may say or do mean things, but you have to know that’s not how I feel.” She brought up her hand and pressed it against Jackson’s heart. His skin tingled from her touch. “You’re in my heart no matter what.”
Jackson took his free hand and wrapped it around her waist, pulling her toward him. His body warmed from the feeling of her pressed against him. It was like they were two puzzle pieces that were once lost. Always and forever made for each other.
He drew his lips closer to hers, eager to rediscover the love and passion he’d once found there. Isabel responded by tipping her face up and inviting him in.
He held back, wanting to utter those three little words. The sentiment that he hadn’t been able to utter to anyone else. Not since he’d walked out of Honey Grove eight years ago.
Because those words uttered to anyone else would have been a lie.
“I love you,” he whispered as he drank in her gaze.
Isabel’s eyes glistened with tears as she nodded. “I love you.”
Hearing those words coming from Isabel’s lips was all Jackson ever needed. No amount of success would ever take the place of the pure love he felt from Isabel.
Not wanting to wait another second, Jackson dipped down and pressed his lips to hers.
Fireworks. Electricity. A roaring fire. None of those could describe the heat that exploded through Jackson as he lost himself in her. Her lips were familiar, yet new. Years had changed the two of them. They were mature. More able to love completely and wholly.
It took their kiss to a level that Jackson had never experienced.
Love, when given and received, is the most powerful thing in the world. Finally, Jackson realized what those Hallmark movies had been talking about. What his brothers were experiencing.
And he’d found it, once again, in Isabel.
Wanting to look into her eyes and get lost in her gaze, Jackson pulled away and rested his forehead against hers. His lips were tipped up into a permanent smile.
“Wow,” Isabel whispered as she rested her hands on his chest and met his gaze. “Where were kisses like that when we were younger?”
Jackson chuckled as he cradled her cheek and ran his thumb over her lips. “I promise never to go anywhere. I’m yours. Forever.”
Isabel studied him and then tipped her lips to his hand and planted a kiss on his palm. “I know.”
Jackson wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to his chest. He finally had her back, and he was never going to let her go.
“So, things are fixed?” Sondra asked, appearing next to them.
Jackson pulled away and glanced down at Isabel, who smiled and nodded.
“Yes.”
Sondra got a disgruntled look on her face.
Jackson shot her a confused look. “What’s the matter, Ma? I thought this was what you wanted.”
Sondra nodded. “It is. I just…well, I didn’t get the chance to intervene like we talked about.”
“Intervene?” Isabel asked, shooting Jackson an incredulous look.
Jackson chuckled as he pulled his mom into a hug. “She was going to play interference with Bobby while I pulled you to the side and confessed my love.”
Isabel raised her eyebrows. “There was a plan?”
Sondra nodded as she pulled back from Jackson and wrapped her arms around Isabel. “Only because I already love you like a daughter. Ask any of my other children. I interfere when I love you.”
Isabel laughed. A light, joyful sound. It filled Jackson’s ears and made him feel like he was home.
“Well, Mrs. Braxton, I’m honored,” Isabel said as she hugged Sondra back.
Sondra turned so she could wrap an arm around Jackson. “Since you were in such a hurry to marry Bobby, does that mean I hear more wedding bells in the future?”
Jackson shot his mom a knock-it-off look, but as he brought his gaze over to Isabel, he saw her smiling at him. Relief flooded his body as he realized that she felt the exact same as he did. He loved her and had no intention of ever letting her go.
But proposing to her right now, in front of his mom, wasn’t the way he saw it going.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and find out,” he said, dropping his arm from his mom and gathering up the woman he loved, dipping her as he pressed his lips to hers.
Through the cloud of complete joy he felt in holding the woman that would become his wife, he heard his mom laugh.
“Those are the kind of surprises I love,” Sondra said.
Isabel pulled back and met Jackson’s gaze. “Me, too,” she whispered and then kissed him again.
Epilogue
Jenna sat at the head table, alone. She was leaning forward, her arm wrapped around her stomach. Loud music boomed from the speakers on either side of the dance floor. Family and friends were dancing around, laughing and having a good time.
Something that Jenna couldn’t seem to make happen for herself.
Coming home to Honey Grove had seemed like a good idea. Especially when Jackson had agreed to be there for her. Now, he had his arms wrapped around Isabel Andrews, and he looked as if he had no intention of letting her go.
Jenna was happy for her brother, she really was. It was just that if he’d been around, there was a good chance she wouldn’t have made the huge mistake of kissing Dean.
Her foster brother.
She groaned and grabbed her fork. After pushing the food around on her plate, she stabbed a piece of chicken and slipped it into her mouth.
Only she would mess up this royally.
She cared about Dean, she did. But when it came to relationships, she stunk. Dragging her brother’s best friend into her life was a mistake. She wasn’t even sure she knew how to have a real relationship.
Realizing that she just wasn’t hungry, Jenna set her fork down and leaned back in her chair.
Her gaze wandered over to Dean, who was sitting on the other end of the table with his arms crossed and his jaw set. He was staring—probably a bit too hard—at the dance floor.
Her trip to Honey Grove had been going so well. Because Jackson was MIA, she had found something in Dean she hadn’t known existed. He’d been her friend when she needed him. And then she’d messed things up.
Realizing that Dean deserved some sort of explanation for her going radio silent, Jenna gathered her courage and stood from the table. All she had to do was tell Dean it had been a mistake. That she wanted to take back her stupid kiss.
Then things could return to normal.
The walk over to Dean felt like it took a lifetime. By the time she got there, her resolve had wavered. After all, she was never good at the whole “feelings” thing. Many stunted relationships were the proof of that. What if she messed this up, too?
She didn’t want to lose Dean.
So she stood there, behind his chair, staring hard at the back of his head. Ways to start the conversation rolled around in her mind, but none of them seemed to work.
Just as she forced herself to step forward and speak, Dean shifted in his seat, moving to stand. Suddenly, he was inches from her face and looking quite startled.
“Jenna?” he asked, shifting back to look at her.
Embarrassment flooded her body as she stepped away from him. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”
Dean held her gaze for a moment before he moved to lean against the table. Once he was settled, he folded his arms. “Are you okay?” he asked. His voice was deep, and she could hear the concern there.
Jenna swallowed as her throat suddenly went dry. “Yes.” Then she stumbled to say, “No.”
Sighing, she gathered her courage and faced Dean. She could do this. She could. She was an adult, and Dean deserved to be treated with respect. “Listen, about the other night…” Her voice drifted off as the memory of Dean’s lips on hers flooded her mind. Emotions coursed through her, and she was pretty sure her cheeks were as pink as the flower girl’s dress.
Dean was studying her when she returned her gaze to him. She couldn’t quite read his expression, and fear filled her mind. When had she become such a blubbering idiot?
Suddenly, Dean rested his hand on her arm. Warmth from his fingertips rushed across her skin. She pulled back, as if his touch had burned her.
“I wasn’t in my right mind. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to drag you into my crazy life.” She kept her gaze on the ground in front of her, too afraid of what his expression said.
“Jenna, it’s okay.” Dean’s voice was soft and understanding.
Jenna looked up to see his smile matched his tone. He had his hands in his pockets, and he was leaning forward to meet her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Dean shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It was a one-time thing, and if you want me to forget it, I will.”
Jenna pinched her lips together as she nodded. “Thanks.”
Dean’s smile faltered for a moment before it came back in full force. He glanced around and then back to Jenna. “If that’s what you need to move on, then I’ll give it to you.”
Jenna wrapped her arms around her waist and nodded. Even though her stomach was in knots, she knew herself. Every one of her relationships or attempted relationships ended in pain. And she was a fool to think things would be different with Dean.
“It is,” she said.
Dean held her gaze for a moment longer before he nodded and excused himself. Jenna watched as he made his way over to the bar and ordered a drink.
Relief and sadness contrasted themselves inside of her stomach.
She was grateful that Dean was willing to move forward as if nothing had happened. It really was the right thing to do. After all, if she tried to have a relationship with Dean and it fell apart, what would happen then?
Whose side would her family choose? And would she even be able to ask them to do that?
No. Kissing Dean had been a mistake. One she was determined to never make again.
It should be easy to do. After Jonathan and Tiffany’s wedding, she was headed back home. Away from Dean.
And away from the feelings that lingered inside her heart.
***
I hope you loved book 4 of the Braxton Brothers series. It was fun to dig into Jackson and Isabel’s story.
I can’t wait to write Jenna’s story and I can’t wait to write a Braxton Christmas!
Make sure to grab your copy HERE!
Her Foster Brother is Off Limits
And if you haven’t read the other Braxton Brothers romances, make sure you start at Her Boss, HERE!
Her Boss is Off Limits
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She's an IRS auditor desperate to prove herself.
He's a cowboy trying to hold onto his ranch.
Love was not on the agenda.
Other Books by Anne-Marie Meyer
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Forgetting the Billionaire
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Forgiving the Billionaire
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About the Author
Anne-Marie Meyer lives in MN with her husband, four boys, and baby girl. She loves romantic movies and believes that there is a FRIENDS quote for just about every aspect of life.
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Her Ex: The Braxton Brothers Series Page 15