Jackson exhaled. “I will discuss it with you, I promise.”
“The way you promised to tell me what’s going on with your business? Why you had to return to Seattle?”
Wow. “Okay, I earned that, but I honestly have to make it quick.” He did his best to encapsulate the basics of the situation.
“That sucks.”
He didn’t chide the boy. “It does. Now I’ve got a million more lines of code to look through tonight, and I’ve only had a nap since I left. Could I have a rain check on the other discussion?”
“Yeah.” Disappointment rang in his tone. “I know I’m just a kid.”
“No.” He had to make this important point. “You’re not just a kid. We will discuss why I left Sweetgrass, but not tonight. Tonight, you’re a high school student who needs to finish his homework so you can go kick butt again tomorrow. I have to do the same, just not in school.” Then he sweetened the pot because God knew the kid needed something to look forward to, some reminder that he was a boy, not a man with a whole family’s welfare on his shoulders.
“Tomorrow I’ll ship you a sat phone on my account, so you can fix your crap bandwidth problems. Because you are so going down when we play next.”
“Seriously?” Ben was all kid now. “My own sat phone? For real?”
“Not just yours. For your mom, too, whenever she needs it. That way she can always reach me.”
“Dude, that totally rocks.” The smile could almost be seen over the ether. “As far as the game, though, don’t let your hummingbird mouth overload your—”
Jackson laughed. “Good night, young man. Tell your mom I’ll call her after everyone’s in bed.”
“I will.” A pause. “Thanks, Jackson. Seriously. For all of it.”
If he had a son, he’d want him to be exactly like this one. “Talk to you tomorrow night.” Yeah, might as well admit the door he’d tried to close on Sweetgrass had a lock that had vanished into thin air. Dissolved by these children’s voices.
“You got it.” He cleared his throat of emotion he couldn’t afford right now. The call ended, and Jackson reset his alarm on his phone. He had no time for this.
But the fresh breath of air that had blown through his night was something he wasn’t prepared to sacrifice.
He set a second alarm for an hour from now, so he could call Veronica.
Then he went back to poring over code.
The next night when the phone rang, Veronica was ready for his call.
More than ready. “You sent a sixteen-year-old a sat phone?”
“Hello to you, too.”
“I’m serious, Jackson. What were you thinking?”
“I sent it to you. To the whole family.”
“Why?”
“I want you to be able to get hold of me anytime.”
The comfort of that made her feel like a traitor, so she played dirty. “Why would we?”
She heard his intake of breath. The resigned exhale. “I thought we were friends, at least.”
Yes, she was ashamed of herself, but… “I’m fine. We’re fine. We’ll be fine, Jackson.” We don’t need you was the subtext.
“Bad day?”
She wanted to feel insulted, but he sounded terrible. More exhausted than the night before. “Have you slept at all?”
“Not much.”
“No progress? You sound frustrated.”
A hefty gust. “I am. I keep hoping it’s an outside job.”
“But you don’t think so.”
“Nope.”
What she knew about the internet wouldn’t fill a teacup. “There are always stories about secure sites being hacked.”
“Not my sites. I’m good at this, V.”
“I’m sure you are. What I know is pretty much nothing, so ignore me. But I’m sorry you haven’t found the source.”
“It’s inside, I know it is, and it hurts, you know? I’ve worked damn hard to make sure I pay people well, and I treat them well. I want them to feel good about the work they do. To look forward to being there every day.”
“I’m sure they do,” she soothed.
“Someone doesn’t. It almost feels like…”
She waited but he didn’t finish. “Like what?”
“Like someone’s looking over my shoulder as I dig.”
“Could that be?”
“I don’t want it to.”
“I don’t understand enough to judge, but…why not? I mean, what does it matter if it’s one person or two?”
“Because one of them would have to have high-level access.”
“And that would be someone you trust.”
“Yeah. I didn’t want to think that, but…it has to be.”
“I’m sorry. But it’s not your fault.”
“Of course it is. It’s my company. I hired everyone in authority.”
“You don’t know why someone would do this. People aren’t that easy to read. You see what they want you to see unless you’re really close to them.” When he didn’t argue, she made the logical leap. “You are close to them.”
“Yeah.”
Another betrayal when his life had been too full of them. “What will you do when you find whoever it is?”
His laughter was not amused. “I have to proceed carefully so they can’t cover their tracks, and I have to get ahead of it so I can spin the news. I’ve worked for years to have my level of credibility. There are a lot of people who’d like to see me fall.”
That sounded so isolated. So…lonely. He was already the loneliest man she knew.
Since she could do nothing to fix his problem, she decided to switch his thoughts. “You do know that all I have to do is show Abby how to use the sat phone, and she’ll be calling you at inappropriate times.”
He chuckled. “Let her do her worst. Talking to Abby always reframes my day.”
“Yeah, but getting off the phone with Miss Abigail is another matter.”
Their shared laughter felt wonderful.
“I miss you,” he said. “I hoped I wouldn’t.”
“Me, too.”
“Miss me, or don’t want to?”
“Both.”
“I never forgot you, Veronica. However hard I tried after you—” He halted.
She frowned. “After I what?”
“Nothing.”
But she had to know. “After I married David?”
“Why did you—I’m sorry. It doesn’t matter now.”
But clearly it did.
There was no way she was explaining on the phone.
“I figured it out, anyway. You’d have been at your dad’s mercy, and you couldn’t wait for me to come get you. How bad was it? Did he find out about us?”
Oh, the lies upon lies weighed on her soul. At least she could answer the last part honestly. “He never knew, but… It wasn’t good around there. I had no way to know if you’d ever come back, Jackson.”
She heard his intake of breath, but the hurt was rising again, so she plunged into it. “You left me. Without a word. You wouldn’t let me comfort you, no matter how often I tried to tell you the accident wasn’t your fault. I mean, yes, you shouldn’t have driven drunk, but you would never have meant—”
“I wasn’t driving,” he interrupted.
“What?” She couldn’t breathe. “Who—Beth was driving? She’d just gotten her license, right? Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“Who was driving didn’t matter. I made choices that put us in that position. Then I walked away unhurt. She died.”
She was reeling from the news, and he must have been in hell. “Jackson, you should have told—”
“No.” His rejection was immediate and forceful. “It wouldn’t have helped anyone.”
She rubbed her forehead. She should have known that he was a hero.
She did know, actually.
But she’d managed to forget, in her panic over finding herself pregnant and knowing her father’s reaction would be terrifying. “I’m so sorry.
For all of it.”
“Yeah, well…I brought it on myself. I deserved to lose you.”
And his child. How long would she have needed to wait for him to contact her?
If only she had, if only he’d…
But she wouldn’t have her twins if she and David hadn’t married.
She wouldn’t have known that good man’s love.
But she could have had all these years with the man she’d been meant to—
“Hey,” he soothed as if he could hear her chaotic thoughts. “It’s over now. Done and gone. Life is what you make it.”
“I wish I believed that.” Sweet mercy. What had she done? You’ve missed your son’s entire life and both of you will hate me when you know.
Ben had loved David, and David had been so good and—
“Vee? What’s wrong?”
Her head was spinning. “I’m sorry. Nothing’s wrong.” Everything’s wrong. But she could not go there. Could not talk about this one more second. Desperately she sought a change of topic.
Her gaze lit on the handheld game console he’d given Abby. “Except that you’re spoiling my children rotten.” She needed something, anything, to lighten the mood.
“They’re too good. They’ll never be spoiled.”
The tightness in her chest eased a little. “But you’re going to do your best to try?”
“Are you upset, seriously? I only wanted to do something nice for them. I know things are tough and—”
She froze. “I can take care of my children, Jackson.” My children. She doomed herself more with every word.
“I know you can. You’re doing an awesome job. I won’t send them anything else, I promise.”
And who did that punish? Not the person who deserved it. “No, I’m sorry. They are beyond thrilled, and you’re very generous.”
“Want to run away to Bali with me as thanks?”
“What?” But it made her laugh. “Wouldn’t we run into Ian and Scarlett there?”
“Okay, Tahiti, then. Except I’m still trying to convince Aunt Ruby to let me send her there. I had a bikini shipped to her.”
Veronica couldn’t remember the last time she’d belly-laughed. “You didn’t.”
“I did. Go to the cafe tomorrow and check out the uproar.”
She laughed again. “You are incorrigible.” She’d forgotten his puckish sense of fun. “Mackey was never the only mischief-maker. I forgot that.”
“I remember…everything.” His voice was low and deliciously intimate. “I want to kiss you again, Vee.”
Her breath caught. She shouldn’t admit it, but… “Me, too,” she said softly.
“That’s it. I’m calling in the FBI. Hang my company’s reputation. I’ll be there by morning.”
She grinned. “You will not.” Then she got serious. “It’s too soon, Jackson. I shouldn’t want this.”
“He’s been gone more than a year. Even the Victorians didn’t wear black by this point.”
“I have to think.”
“Think fast, would you? I’ve been too long without you.”
A delicious shiver shook her. “I have to go now. We both need sleep.”
“Dream of me, sweetheart. You better believe I’ll be dreaming of you.”
His voice was husky and impossibly sexy.
“Go away, Jackson.”
“I’ll never be far, my love.”
That’s what she was afraid of, she thought as she hung up the phone.
And what she wanted more than anything.
Chapter Eleven
Early the next afternoon, Jackson’s cell rang. He was pacing his office, mentally putting pieces together, and he didn’t want to be interrupted.
He glanced at the display. Recognizing the number took a minute.
The sat phone. No one had used it yet. It would be mid-afternoon in Texas—
He grabbed the call. “Veronica?”
“Prince, you have to come!”
He could barely make out the words through the tears. “Abby? What’s wrong, honey?”
“Ben’s hurt. Mommy’s at the hospital, and I’m scared, Prince. Beebee’s crying. You have to come.”
“Where are you?”
“We’re at home.”
“Are you alone?” Had they come home on the bus and Veronica was gone? He couldn’t imagine her ever—
“Scarlett is here.”
“Let me talk to her, sweetheart. Everything’s going to be okay, I promise.” But how could he? He knew better than most that life didn’t offer a lot of happy endings. “Abby, honey, I need you to take a deep breath. We’ll handle this. You don’t have to be scared.”
“We need you to be here.”
Helplessly he glanced at his desk. Thought about all he yet did not know. All that was at stake here.
“Would you come, Prince? Please?”
“Yes.” Of course he would. He’d handle all of this…somehow.
He was never leaving Veronica alone to face whatever fate had thrown at her, not ever again.
You left me. Without a word.
“I’ll call my pilot. I’ll be there sometime very late tonight, but right now I need you to let me talk to Scarlett, okay?”
“Okay.” Perfect trust was in that sweet voice.
“Abby?”
“Yes?”
“Thank you for calling me.” He wondered if Veronica would have.
Or how she’d feel knowing that Abby had obviously figured out the sat phone on her own. He shook his head. What a kid.
“You’re welcome. Here’s Scarlett.”
“Jackson? How did you know?”
“I didn’t. Abby called me. Tell me what happened. Is Ben going to be okay?
“Let me move to another room. Just a second.”
How bad was it, if Scarlett didn’t want to talk in front of the kids? His heart thundered while he waited.
“Okay. I can’t tell you just yet. They’re doing a CT scan right now.”
“What the hell happened? Where are they?”
“They’re in the hospital in Johnson City. They haven’t decided about whether to fly him into Austin to a trauma center yet.”
“Trauma center? What happened, Scarlett?”
“He’s on the junior varsity. He’s the quarterback, and he’s really good, you know?”
Jackson hadn’t. Ben didn’t brag on himself, and he’d been in town too briefly.
“Anyway, the varsity quarterback was hurt, so the coach wanted to see how Ben would do against the varsity defensive line, and those guys are big. From what little we know, he took a hit in practice that left him with a concussion and an ankle they’ve decided isn’t broken but is really messed up.”
Concussion? “They hit that hard in practice?” Concussions could be so serious. “Is he conscious?”
“In and out.”
“I’m sending in specialists. I’ll have a chopper there to pick him up.” The thought of that bright mind being harmed by a fluke hit… “Who’s his doctor? I’m calling right now.”
“Jackson, wait. He’s not your son. You can’t take this out of Veronica’s hands. It’s being handled.”
And he wouldn’t know a thing about it if Abby hadn’t called. “Why didn’t you call me? Or Ian or…anyone?”
“Whoa. I don’t think I deserve that. It only happened two hours ago. We’ve been in crisis mode around here, and frankly, you left. Why should anyone think we should call you?”
His fury rose—but he wasn’t sure if it was directed at her or himself. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I—I just really like Ben.”
“And you’re more than a little stuck on his mom, right?”
He exhaled. “Is it that obvious?”
“Ian and I don’t keep secrets from each other—well, except for surprise weddings.” A smile crept into her tone. “And even if we did, I’m not blind. I saw how you watched her at Eric’s party. I’ll keep you posted, I promise.”
He glanced at his de
sk again. That should be enough. He could call in specialists from here.
We need you, Prince.
“I’m coming, Scarlett. Tell me what I can do before I get on the plane.”
“So…not just a flash from the past? You still care about her?”
“And it would be your business because…?”
The smile bled through her voice. “Because you’re my family, Jackson. And she’s my friend,” she chided.
“And the grapevine needs feeding.”
“No.” All humor fled. “I won’t gossip about you. I said you’re family. But Veronica is much-loved, and the whole town takes the welfare of her family seriously.”
“I hurt her, but I never meant to.”
“Maybe you both have a second chance.”
He wanted that, he realized. Badly. “I hope so.”
“Can you get calls on your plane?”
“Yeah.”
“Ian is on his way to Johnson City. I’ll get him to tell Veronica you called, and one of us will phone you when we know more.”
“I can get him better help than he’ll have in that small hospital.”
“I’ll tell her, but she’s his mother, Jackson. You can’t force this on her.”
He wished he could, though. “Ask her to call me. Please,” he amended. “I can persuade her.”
“I’ll try. She’s a fierce mother, and she’s already lost David. I can only imagine how scared she is.”
“Call me the first second you know anything. I’ll have my plane readied and let you know my ETA.”
“She has backup, Jackson. You don’t have to come.”
“Yes,” he said, jaw muscles flexing. “I do.”
Veronica was out in the hallway, talking to Ruby on the phone, when she felt someone behind her and turned.
Jackson stood there, watching her solemnly.
Every cell cried out in relief. She wanted to go to him, rest her head on his chest. Let him wrap his arms around her and tell her everything was going to be all right.
But life didn’t come with that kind of assurances. She was on her own. “What are you doing here?”
He frowned.
“Who’s that?” Ruby asked.
“Jackson.”
“Good for him. He made good time.”
“You knew he was coming?” She was overwhelmed by his physical presence. By how the world seemed to right itself suddenly.
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