by Sandi Lynn
“What? But your mother always told you that she didn’t know who your father was.”
“That’s what I told him before I threw him out of my shop.”
Jackson led me over to the plush black leather couch in his office and sat me down.
“He said that he didn’t blame my mother for never mentioning him and that he had to live with the decision he made for the past twenty-seven years. He also said that she was the love of his life.”
“Do you believe him?” he asked.
“I don’t know. I kept playing the conversation over and over in my head on the way here.”
“Obviously, he has a reason to believe he could be your father. A man wouldn’t just go up to someone and say shit like that. Why did you throw him out?”
“Because I was in shock! It isn’t every day some stranger comes to you and claims to be your parent. What do I do?” I laid my head on his chest as he put his arm around me.
“Do you want my honest opinion? Or do you want me to tell you what you want to hear?”
“Does it matter?”
“No.” He gently smiled as he kissed my head. “I think you owe it to him and yourself to hear him out. Like I said, there’s a reason he believes it. I know you’re in shock and when the shock wears off, you’ll be able to process all of this better.”
What he said made sense. There had to be a reason or something as to why he would believe I could be his daughter. My mother never mentioned a man named Gregory and now I was beginning to question why.
“Thanks, Jackson.” A small smile crossed my lips as I lifted my head from his chest.
His thumbs gently wiped away the tears from under my eyes.
“You’re welcome. You’re hot when you cry. Did you know that?” He smiled.
“I didn’t but thank you.” I lightly laughed. “I should get back to the shop.”
“What time are you going to be home tonight?” he asked as I got up from the couch.
“Probably around six thirty.”
“Good. I’m coming over as soon as I leave here.”
“It’s not our scheduled night.”
He shrugged. “Then we’ll make it one. I’ll bring Chinese and we can just sit back, relax, and talk.”
“No sex?” I arched my brow at him.
“Now, now, Miss Wade. Is no sex ever an option when we’re together?”
“Just making sure.” I smiled as I kissed his lips and then walked out the door.
I had never run into the arms of a man when I was upset. But he was the first person I needed, and I was happy that I ran to him. He made me feel safe and I knew just by talking to him that he’d make me feel better.
Chapter 27
Jackson
Seeing Emily so upset really affected me in a way I didn’t think it would or could. When she stepped into my office and I saw the tears running down her face, I froze in fear that something bad had happened to her. This was the first time since I’d known her that I saw her that way. She crumbled before me and my first instinct was to put her back together. I wanted to be with her tonight, even though I had other plans. The encounter she had with Gregory wasn’t something she would forget about anytime soon and I didn’t want her to be alone.
After wrapping up at the office, I picked up some Chinese food and went over to Emily’s apartment. When I arrived, she answered the door and waved me in, as she was on the phone. I walked to the kitchen and set down the plastic bag with the food in it on the counter and reached up into the cabinet and took down two plates.
“Sorry,” she spoke as she set her phone on the counter.
“That’s okay. It sounded important.”
Taking the food from the bag, she brought it over to the table.
“I was speaking to Crystal, my mom’s best friend since high school. If anyone would know about Gregory, she would.”
“What did she say?” I asked as I took a seat.
“She’s planning on coming here next week and we’ll talk then. I got the impression she was shocked by my phone call and I could tell she knew something.”
“Maybe you should meet with Gregory before her so you can find out if their stories are the same.”
“Do you think?”
“I do. If you want answers now, I think that would be the best thing to do.”
“I don’t know, Jackson. I’m kind of scared to find out if my mother was lying to me all these years.”
“I know you are, sweetheart, but you can’t just ignore it. You’ll spend the rest of your life wondering. It will follow you unless you find out the truth.”
“Did you just call me ‘sweetheart’?” She smirked.
“I did, and you know why?”
“Why?”
“Because you have a sweet heart.”
She laughed as she took a bite of her chicken. The truth was that it just slipped out involuntarily. I sighed as I finished my dinner.
I arrived home from the office the next day and found Jules sitting at the island eating a plate of food that Terrance made.
“Hey,” I spoke as I kissed her cheek.
“Hi.” She smiled.
“On break?” I asked.
“Yeah. For the next couple of hours. I’m pulling a double shift. Mom called me today. She said she tried to call you, but you didn’t answer.”
“I’ve been in meetings all day. I was going to call her later. What’s up?”
“She wants to have dinner with the two of us tomorrow night.”
“I’m supposed to see Emily tomorrow night.”
“It’s the only night I have off this week. I think she may have some news for us.”
“Divorce news?” My brow arched.
“I’m thinking so.”
Rolling my eyes, I poured myself a glass of wine.
“Nothing new there. She can just tell me over the phone.”
“Come on, Jackson. You’re going to dinner. In fact, you can pick me up and we’ll arrive together. Twin support as always.” She pointed her fork at me.
“Then I’ll have to cancel my plans with Emily and I really don’t want to do that.” I threw back the rest of my wine.
“What is really going on between the two of you?” Jules asked.
“You know what’s going on between us.”
“Actually, the only thing I know is that you have some silly contract that dictates your relationship.”
“It’s not silly and it’s working out for both of us. Plus, it’s not a relationship. What Emily and I have is companionship.”
“For fuck sakes, Jackson. You two are in a relationship. Do you need me to look up the definition for you in the dictionary?”
“Be my guest.”
“Fine.”
Picking up her phone, her fingers typed ferociously as the word “aha” spewed with excitement from her mouth.
“‘A connection, association, or involvement. An emotional or other connection between people. A sexual involvement; affair.’ See, you and Emily are in a relationship, so I never ever want to hear you say that you aren’t.”
“There are two types of relationships, my dear sister. Ones like what you just read and ones that are what you and Carter have. There are romantic relationships, casual relationships, abusive relationships, etc. If you are so hell bent on saying that Emily and I are in a relationship, then fine, we are in a casual relationship.”
“No you’re not,” she spoke with seriousness.
“Yes we are.”
“No you’re not.”
“Yes we are!” I boldly exclaimed. “There is nothing more than friendship and sex between us.”
“Then why did you buy the buildings so she can expand?”
“For investment reasons and because she’s my friend and wanted to expand and Leon wouldn’t let her. I would have done the same for you.”
“That’s because you love me.” She smirked. “Admit it, Jackson, you’re in love with her.”
Waving my hand in
front of my face, I turned and opened the refrigerator.
“I don’t even know what the fuck it’s like to be in love. So, no, I’m not in love with her.”
“And if she just walked out of your life tomorrow, you’d be fine with it?”
“Actually, I would, and I’d wish her well.”
“Yeah, okay. That’s why you don’t want to cancel your date with her tomorrow because you’re looking forward to seeing her.”
“I don’t want to cancel my date because my time with her would be better spent than sitting across from a woman and hearing she’s getting divorced for the fourth time. It’s draining, Jules.”
She got up from the stool she was sitting in and placed her plate in the dishwasher.
“I know it’s draining, but we have to be there for our mother. Pick me up from the hospital tomorrow at six thirty,” she spoke as she pushed the button to the elevator.
“Whatever.” I sighed.
Pulling my phone from my pocket, I dialed Emily’s number as I walked up the stairs to my bedroom.
“Hello,” she answered.
“Hey. I have some bad news. I have to cancel for tomorrow night.”
“Why?”
“Listen, can you come over tonight? I’ll explain everything.”
“Sure. I’m just leaving the shop. I can be over in about thirty minutes.”
“Have you eaten?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
“Good. Terrance made some chicken thing with asparagus and red potatoes.”
“Sounds good. I’ll see you soon.”
“Bye, Emily.”
Throwing my phone on the bed, I took off my suitcoat and pants and changed into something more comfortable. A pair of black Nike fleece pants and a gray t-shirt. Having dinner with my mother tomorrow to hear about her pending divorce shouldn’t have bothered me, but it did, and I really wanted to see Emily. Normally, when something bothered me, I liked to sit in the comfort of my home, alone. But not tonight. I wanted, or actually, I needed her here with me, and I wasn’t sure which bothered me more.
Chapter 28
Emily
The elevator door opened and the moment I stepped into the kitchen of Jackson’s penthouse, I was greeted by the warm aroma of an amazing smell. One that made the hunger pains in my belly go wild.
“Hey,” I spoke as I set down my purse.
“Hi.” Jackson smiled as he set down two plates at the kitchen table. “Have a seat. Dinner is served.”
Taking my seat across from his, I placed the napkin in my lap.
“So what’s going on?”
“When I came home today, my sister was here. I’ve been summoned to have dinner with her and my mother tomorrow night. Apparently, my mother wants to have a little chat with us.”
“About?”
“Jules and I both agree that more than likely, she’s going to tell us she’s getting divorced.”
“Gee, I’m sorry, Jackson.”
“Don’t be. It was inevitable.” He pushed his half full plate away.
I could tell he was upset, and for the first time since I’d known him, I’d never seen the sadness sweep across his face as I did at that moment. Pushing my plate away from me, I got up from my chair and climbed into his lap.
“It’s always inevitable. We both know that,” I spoke as I ran my finger down his cheek.
“I know.” A light smile crossed his lips. “What was it your mother used to say?”
I let out a laugh. “Umm. She said a lot of things.”
“About happily ever after?”
“Oh. She always said that happily ever after is a myth and it doesn’t exist.”
“I think I would have liked your mother.”
“I know you would have.” I smiled as I ran my hand through his hair.
“Thanks for coming over tonight,” he spoke with seriousness as his hand stroked my cheek and his eyes locked on mine.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for calling and inviting me.”
“My pleasure.” His lips softly pushed into mine.
We lay in bed, his arm wrapped tightly around my waist as we lay on our sides. His head nuzzled so close to me that I could feel the warmth of his breath sweep across my back, for he was already sound asleep. Jackson Caine was a man not too long ago to whom I was incredibly attracted to, and now, he had become an addiction. I was beyond happy when he called and asked me to come over, and yet I was scared shitless for feeling that way. He occupied a large space in my mind, and I found myself thinking about him more than I should have. More than I ever had thought about anyone before. I was failing at the fight to keep him at a safe distance and I didn’t know what to do.
A few days had passed, and Jackson had to go to Chicago to see his father. It had been three days since I’d seen him and somehow, that put me in a mood. He was right about his mother. The dinner he was summoned to was to tell him and Jules that she was getting divorced.
As I was digging through my purse, trying to find my lip-gloss, I pulled out the business card Gregory had left on the table when he was here. Staring at it, I took in a deep breath at the indecision of whether to call him or not. I honestly didn’t have time for this. The expansion of the shop was near completion and I was busy trying to make sure everything was in its proper place.
“Are you going to call him?” Katie asked as she stood over my shoulder.
“I don’t know. I really don’t have time to deal with him right now.” I threw the card back in my purse.
“You have time, Emily. You just don’t want to deal with what he might tell you.”
“That’s not true.”
“I think it is. You’re scared, and you’re afraid that he’s your father and you don’t want to face the fact that your mother lied to you all these years.”
“She didn’t lie. Maybe she didn’t know he was the father.”
“Or maybe she did and for one reason or another, she never wanted you to know about him.”
Throwing my purse under the counter, I spoke, “Like I said, I don’t have time to deal with him.”
“What’s wrong with you?” she asked.
“Yeah. What is wrong with you?” Evelyn piped up as she walked into the shop. “You’ve been bitchy these last couple of days and this totally isn’t like you.”
“I’m just stressed with the shop and stuff.”
“I’ve seen you at your worst with stress and you’re never like this, so I’m suspecting it has to do with Jackson being out of town,” Katie spoke.
“Don’t be ridiculous,” I huffed as I walked away and straightened the scarves I had on display.
“I’m with Katie on this one, Em. I think you’re upset that you’re not seeing him for a few days, and you don’t know how to deal with it, because, my friend, you are in love with him.”
The sound of laughter escaped me. “I do not love Jackson. Maybe as a friend, yes. Just like I love both of you, but I am not in love with him. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to lunch.”
Walking down East 9th Street, I stopped at a deli and took a seat outside on their patio.
“What may I get you?” the waitress asked.
“I’ll have a Rockwood sandwich, please, on whole wheat.”
“Chips or fries?”
“Chips.”
“Very good. It’ll be up shortly.” She smiled as she walked away.
Pulling my phone from my purse, I dialed Gregory’s number and took in a deep breath as he answered.
“Hello.”
“Gregory, it’s Emily Wade,” I nervously spoke.
“Emily. It’s good to hear from you.”
“I gave some thought to what you said, and I think we need to talk.”
“Okay. How about dinner tonight?”
“That will be fine. Let’s meet at seven o’clock at Scarpetta on West 14th Street.”
“I’ll be there. Thank you, Emily.”
“I’ll see you then,” I spoke, deadpan.
<
br /> Just as I ended the call and set my phone down, a text message came through from Jackson. Instantly, my mood changed.
“Can you talk?”
“Yes. Just having lunch at a deli.”
Within a second, my phone rang.
“Hi there,” I answered.
“Hello, beautiful. How’s your lunch?”
“Pretty good.”
“Are you eating alone?”
“Yeah. I had to get out of the shop and be by myself for a while.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked in a concerned tone.
“Nothing. Just the expansion and trying to get everything set up.”
“Ah. Well, don’t stress yourself out over it.”
“I called Gregory and we’re meeting for dinner tonight.”
“Good. I can’t wait to hear all about it. I’m flying back tomorrow afternoon, so how about we meet up tomorrow night?”
“Sounds good. How’s your father?”
I heard him sigh. “He’s okay. I’ll tell you about it when I see you.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“Yeah. I’m fine. I miss my face between those beautiful legs of yours.”
A wide grin crossed my face.
“I miss feeling you buried deep inside me.” I must have spoken a little too loudly as an older woman at the table next to me shot a look my way.
“Ugh, Emily. I’m getting hard. We better end this call before I embarrass myself.”
Letting out a light laugh, I spoke, “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Bye, Emily.”
“Bye, Jackson.”
I finished off my sandwich with a smile and headed back to the shop. When I walked in, Katie and Noelle were standing behind the counter and instantly stopped talking.
“You didn’t have to stop talking about me on my account.” I smirked.
“We weren’t,” Katie spoke.
“You never were a very good liar.” I pushed her out of the way and grabbed a piece of chocolate.
“Fine. We were talking about you and Jackson.”
“I don’t care, but you don’t have to do it behind my back. Feel free to talk while I’m standing here.”