***
Jackson closed the door to his room and let his head fall back against the wood. It had taken a solid thirty minutes to calm Chris down enough to sleep and Jase had gotten out of bed five times after that. When he’d emerged, the door to the guest room was closed.
He changed into sweatpants and sat on the edge of his bed. It had been an eventful day and he was tired. But the idea of climbing into his bed alone didn’t appeal at all.
He hadn’t known how intensely personal it would be to play her one of his songs. Especially something that she’d inspired, not that she knew that. Something had happened back at the studio. It had felt like baring himself in a way he wasn’t sure he was ready for.
He yanked the covers back angrily and got into the bed. A week. She’d only been here a week and it felt like she was already intricately woven through every area of his life. He couldn’t get in his bed, put his children to sleep, or go to the studio without feeling as though she was with him in some way.
After ten minutes he got back up. Ridley was surely already asleep and he wasn’t enough of an ass to wake her, he just wanted to see her. He walked down the hallway to her door and knocked lightly before he opened it.
Ridley lay on her back, her long hair splayed out on the pillow like a curtain. One of her hands was flung out to the side and the other was resting on her stomach. He kissed her gently on the forehead and breathed deeply of her scent.
Could he ever get enough of her?
Before he knew what he was doing, he’d crossed to the other side of the bed and climbed in. As soon as he slid beneath the covers, Ridley turned toward him and opened her eyes.
“Jackson. You’re here.” She blinked at him sleepily before scooting closer and burrowing next to him.
Was it possible that he was falling for her?
He was already uncharacteristically possessive around her, as though no one else should ever hear her laugh or see her beautiful smile. It was ridiculous, but he wanted to be the only one who made her happy and the only one who brought that smile to her face.
He watched as she took a deep breath and tucked her hand beneath her cheek. Warmth and something he couldn’t identify rose in his chest. This was the first time they had spent the night together without making love and somehow he felt closer to her than ever before.
Although he had long felt the need to stay clear of women in general, with Ridley it was different. He didn’t feel the need to prove himself when he was with her. She was honest and loving, and he knew he could trust her with his life. He found himself wanting to do things for her, for no apparent reason. He wanted to make her feel special and cherished. He just felt at home.
When he was with her, he felt he was where he belonged.
He eased the covers down so he could see her in the dim light of the moon. Her pouty lips and long lashes made her seem so innocent, but he knew a tigress lurked beneath the seemingly docile exterior. She was everything a woman should be—strong and determined, but sweet and thoughtful. Just the kind of woman he needed in a wife.
Wife—what am I thinking?
They’d only known each other a week and he’d already learned the hard way that he was a bad husband. But somehow, when he looked in her eyes, trying again didn’t seem so impossible.
“I love you,” he whispered.
He wasn’t ready to buy a ring just yet, but he also wasn’t willing to let her just walk away. Once Elliott found out who she was running from, they would be closer to resolving the demons of the past and building the perfect future he wanted to create for her. As he looked at her sweet face, gentle with sleep, he made a promise.
I will keep you safe.
Even if it took everything he had.
Chapter Nineteen
Jackson slowed as he neared the office and turned into The Rush, a popular café on the corner. The small restaurant had been around for as long as he could remember. He’d have to hurry because Mac was probably already in the office waiting for him. His assistant knew he had an addiction to The Rush’s sweet potato fries, because he came just about every Saturday for an order of them and a sandwich. Rubbing his stomach, he resolved to hit the gym an extra day this week.
Entering, he grabbed a spot at the counter and waved to the petite, copper-skinned woman behind the counter. She slung the towel that she was using to wipe off the register over her shoulder and came over to kiss his cheek.
“Hey, sweet stuff, I been expecting you. I got your fries on order already and your sandwich should be ready in a few.” She moved quickly behind the counter, ringing up orders and shouting back new ones with easy efficiency.
“Thanks, Miss Doris. I can always count on you.” She threw him a lazy grin as she counted out change for a portly man with graying hair. Once done with the customer, she came around the counter and hefted herself up onto the stool next to him.
“Are you gonna stay here by yourself or go eat with your friend?” She blew out her breath and swiped a few stray hairs behind her ear. She nodded her head toward the back of the restaurant.
“One of my friends is here?” He craned his neck to see over the head of the woman sitting at the bar next to him. There was a young couple in one of the booths on the back wall. An older man read the newspaper at a center table. A teenaged girl sat in the corner booth, texting.
“I don’t see anyone.” He turned back to Miss Doris and shrugged.
“That’s odd. He was just here a few minutes ago. Same guy came in yesterday looking for you, too. Said he was in town on business and asked if I knew where you lived. I told him I can’t remember the name of these fancy communities. Haven’s Port. Haven’s Peak.”
Jackson smiled. “Havensbrooke.”
She waved her hands. “Whatever. Oh, there he is!”
He turned and looked out the store’s front window. A dark-haired man stood outside on the curb, about to get into an older-model Cadillac. The hair on the back of Jackson’s neck stood up.
He’d never seen the guy before.
“He specifically asked for me?” Jackson asked.
Miss Doris thought about it before saying, “Yeah, he definitely said Jackson Alexander. Why? Is everything okay?” She glanced over his shoulder worriedly.
He pulled out some cash from his wallet and put it on the counter. “Can you wrap up my lunch for me? I’ll be right back,” he said as he rose from his barstool.
He pushed open the front door, the tinkle of the door chime loud in his ears. The man was in his car, backing up.
“Hey! Wait,” he called out.
The man lifted his head and their eyes met. He couldn’t see clearly between the car’s slightly tinted windows and the blinding noon sun, but he was sure the guy saw him. Only he didn’t stop. He gunned the engine and whipped the wheel, his tires spinning in the gravel lining the parking lot.
“What the hell!” Jackson jumped back as a cloud of dust spun from the wheels and enveloped him. He watched the car drive away until it turned right at the closest streetlight.
It never slowed down.
He pulled his cell phone from his pocket and hit one of the speed dials. “Elliott? I need your help.”
“Whatever you need.”
He looked back at the diner where Miss Doris stood in the doorway watching. “A security detail for Ridley and the kids. I’m not sure why, call it paranoia, but I want to make sure they’re protected.”
***
Jackson led Ridley through the entryway and into the family room at his parents’ ranch-style home. After a lazy Saturday with the boys in the park, he’d finally convinced her to come to Sunday dinner. He hadn’t told her about the guy he’d seen the previous day. It was probably nothing and he definitely didn’t want to worry her, but there was no way he was leaving her alone.
“Come on, I’ll give you the grand tour.”
He knew she was uncomfortable with the idea of being around his family again. He was, too. A little. If his parents saw him with Ridley
again and heard from the boys that they’d been spending so much time together, they would assume they were serious.
He loved Ridley. There was no point hiding from it just because it seemed so sudden. There was no way he’d let her go back to Florida without a fight. But in his parents’ opinion, there was only one point to a serious relationship. Marriage. Which he wasn’t even ready to think about yet.
Was he?
“The style is similar to your house.” Ridley pointed to the draperies and furnishings in the family room, all various shades of blue. The old-fashioned armchairs were passed down from his mom’s parents, Jackson knew. Most of the rest of the furniture had been replaced in the past few years.
“Yeah, my mom helped me decorate the house. She’s really into all that stuff. I’m practically color-blind.”
He and Nick both had been adamant that their successes would give their parents access to whatever they wanted. The only thing his mother had wanted was to redecorate because the family home had pretty much looked the same since he was a child. His father had yet to allow either of them to buy him anything.
Jackson was itching to replace the old pickup truck his father drove. He would have just done it without asking but he secretly thought his dad might have a fondness for the beast. He’d been threatening to replace it for years but never had.
He held in a groan as Ridley crossed to the mantel. His mom still kept all their high school graduation photos displayed.
“Oh my god, you were so cute!”
“Cute? I had a curly mullet thing going on in that photo.”
Ridley moved down the line, looking at the other pictures. Bennett had the worst photo of them all—hunched over, his face almost obscured by the massive glasses he’d worn up to college. Eli looked sullen. The only one who looked decent was Nick, who’d been a playboy even then. His hair was cut short and slicked back and he was smiling widely.
“Nick looks exactly the same. Why am I not surprised?”
His chest tightened, thinking of Nick. Despite the circumstances, part of him was still pissed that his brother had kissed her. Especially since he still seemed determined to make trouble for them.
“Do you mind if I use the bathroom? Before everyone gets here?”
“Sure. There’s one right here.”
She followed him as he walked down the hall leading to the bedrooms. He pointed her to the hall bathroom.
“I’ll just go check on the boys. My parents should be back soon.”
Jackson continued down the hall to the room his parents kept for the kids. Inside he found toys already strewn across the floor. The room consisted of two sets of bunk beds—which his mother insisted on just in case any of his brothers had children—a dresser, and a desk. His parents doted on their grandchildren and liked to keep the kids’ bedroom well-equipped for whenever they visited.
His thoughts strayed to his parents. They had been together for almost thirty years and still seemed as in love as ever. That was the kind of relationship that he wanted. Someone he could trust with his whole heart and whom he could respect and admire in return.
His mother and father had been through many ups and downs while raising him and his brothers, but they had always been a team. He hadn’t thought he’d been looking for that. He’d had it once and it hurt too much to lose it. But what if the perfect woman passed him by because he had his eyes closed? What if Ridley left him because he was too scared to let himself ask her to stay?
At the sound of footsteps, he turned and was encased in a strong hug. Laughing, he embraced his oldest brother, Elliott, just as warmly. The two had always been close, but lately his hectic work schedule and Eli’s constant travel for his job gave them less time to hang out. He missed the time they used to spend together and resolved to make it up in the future.
“Hey, bro, where have you been? I came by yesterday but you weren’t home.” Elliott smiled warmly as Jase and Chris launched themselves at his legs.
“Oh, Ridley and I took the boys to the park yesterday afternoon.”
“You and Ridley, huh? You guys are turning into a regular little family.”
He stopped at the speculative look in Eli’s eyes. Despite being a confirmed bachelor, Elliott seemed to think that what Jackson needed was a wife. His position was the exact opposite of Nick’s, who seemed to think that what he needed was sex—with as many women as possible.
“Hey, don’t look like that. Mom is bad enough with all the matchmaking. Where are they, anyway? I would have thought Mom and Dad would be here to meet us.”
“They went to pick up a few last-minute necessities for dinner. You know how they insist on cooking everything themselves. I don’t know why they don’t just buy the food already cooked.” Eli shook his head at the baffling idea of doing unnecessary work if you didn’t have to.
“Now Elliott, you know that one of the ways I show my love to my family is by preparing the meal with my own two hands.”
Eli doubled over with laughter at Jackson’s imitation of their mother.
“Ooh, I’m gonna tell Grandma. I’m gonna tell!” Chris laughed and skirted away when Jackson playfully swiped at him.
“Let me just check on Ridley before the rest of the family arrives.”
“You brought her with you today?” Eli raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I brought her with me.” Jackson narrowed his eyes.
Eli raised his hands in defense. “I didn’t say anything. You’re going to get more than enough from everyone else. I’m sure Mom will be planning the wedding by dessert.”
***
Ridley dropped her purse and hurriedly applied lip gloss and a touch of eyeliner. Although she felt very clichéd doing it, she couldn’t help wanting to make the best impression she could on the rest of Jackson’s family. Judging from the relatives she had already met, everyone in the family had hit the genetic lottery.
Looking at her outfit, she smoothed the front of her dress until the pleated skirt hung just right. She was glad she’d changed into the brightly patterned sundress. It showed off her legs but was still casual.
None of her past boyfriends had been serious enough to warrant a meet-the-parents scenario. Yes, technically, she’d already met them but that was as Jackson’s neighbor.
Now she was his girlfriend. Sort of.
Hurrying back out to the hallway, she ignored the quizzical glances she received from Jackson. She hardly ever wore makeup and he was probably wondering why she’d bothered for a simple family gathering. Luckily he didn’t comment, he just pulled her to his side.
“Hey, there you are.”
Ridley couldn’t help admiring again how well Jackson pulled off the weekend-casual look. Instead of looking unkempt, he looked rumpled in a sexy, tousled sort of way. Her thoughts stalled when she saw Jackson wasn’t alone. She recognized the DJ from the Memorial Day party. Since she had already met Bennett and Nick, she had to assume this was Elliott.
“I didn’t realize that you weren’t alone. Hi, I’m Ridley.” She extended her hand to the silent man and felt herself melt when he gave her a shy smile. She could tell this one was a heartbreaker.
“Well, hello. I’m Jackson’s older brother, Eli. I’m starting to see what all the fighting has been about.”
“Um, thanks, I guess.” She was surprised into laughing when he refused to let go of her hand.
Jackson scowled at them both.
“Okay, Elliott, if I’d known you were going to hit on her I would’ve never introduced you. Can you believe the nerve? That’s family for you, I guess.”
Ridley and Eli chuckled at Jackson’s overly dramatic expression and finally Jackson joined in. Gesturing with his head, he motioned for Ridley to follow them.
“We were just going to find everyone. Are you ready or do you need more time?”
“No, I’m done. We can go.”
As they walked back to the family room, she was immediately struck by the sheer number of people who had arrived in the past
ten minutes.
“Where did all these people come from?” She hadn’t meant to speak out loud and hoped she hadn’t come off as hopelessly rude. Eli and Jackson just laughed, however.
“Cousins, church members, friends. Sunday dinners around here are kind of a free-for-all. Don’t worry if you can’t remember anyone’s name, they won’t expect you to.”
Ridley gulped and allowed Jackson to pull her into the middle of the fray. After meeting at least five different cousins, she gave up any hope of ever keeping names and faces straight.
“Let’s take a walk. I’ll show you some of the property.” He led her outside onto a huge back porch. His parents stood next to the railing, looking out into the fading sunlight.
“There you are, son. We’ve been waiting for you.” His father slapped Jackson on the back before turning his bright smile toward Ridley.
“Hello again, Ridley.” Julia pulled her into a warm hug. “Jackson never brings anyone home to meet us, but I had a feeling we’d see you again.” Beaming, she ran an affectionate hand over Jackson’s face.
Ridley could only stare as Jackson blushed and turned away. She had assumed Jackson brought all his girlfriends home. A warm feeling flowed through her as Jackson hugged her to his side.
“Jackson told us about your troubles. We’re so sorry to hear that, but glad you’re here with us safe and sound. We are both delighted to see our baby has finally met his match.” Hooking her arm through Ridley’s, she pulled her toward the house. “So, tell me about yourself, Ridley. Do you have family here?”
“Mom, we’ll have time to talk later, okay? I was just going to show Ridley the farm.” Jackson sent a beseeching look to his father, who luckily seemed to get the hint.
“Come along, Julia. Let’s give the lovebirds some time alone.” Draping an arm over his wife’s shoulders, he silenced her with a kiss before pulling her into the house, the screen door banging shut behind them.
“Sorry about that. Sometimes my parents can get a little carried away.”
“Don’t be. They’re absolutely charming. I can’t wait to talk with your mother later and find out all your dirty secrets. Did you suck your thumb like Jase? Maybe she’ll show me some of your embarrassing childhood photographs.” Ridley couldn’t contain her laughter at the stricken look on Jackson’s face.
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