A Slippery Slope
Page 25
I let Jackson take the box of supplies from my arms and follow him out to my car. As he loads it in my trunk I take another glance around the Swan’s Hollow town center—at the bookstore with its wide, smiling face; at Holy Grounds, shuttered and dark for the night. I rest my hand on the top of the car before I climb inside, and it’s still warm, a living thing ready to take me to the next stop on my journey.
“You want to go home?” Jackson asks, and I nod.
“Absolutely.” For the first time in a while I know where that’s supposed to be. Right here. With him.
I climb in the car and turn on the ignition. The night is balmy, the sun long since gone, and I’m the kind of happy and tired I haven’t been in a long, long time. Jackson rides in the passenger seat with a smile on his face and his hand on my knee. I don’t know if Penchant will sink or swim, if the memoir in my mind will ever become a breathing thing. But I’m okay with not knowing. I’m okay with one day at a time. I love Jackson Wirth, and he loves me. Right now that’s all that seems important. We’ll figure out the rest together.
The truth is, in life we don’t have too many of those moments where we look at something and say, “This is going to change my life.” But this business, it did that. It changed my life. It brought me back my confidence and my drive and my fun, passionate side. And so did Jackson.
We sweep around the next bend in the road, slowing to go down the treacherous hill in front of Wirth & Sons General Store. The store is closed for the night, by now, but Christmas lights still twinkle around the door, seasonless and pretty. I almost don’t notice the sign posted near the entrance, but just before I take the right-hand turn toward home, I catch it.
Under New Management.
A lump slides into my throat and I almost can’t breathe. “You did it,” I say, and it’s bittersweet. This has been coming for a long time, and it’s what he’s been working toward. Seeing it printed on a sign makes it real, though, and somehow after everything that’s happened with Penchant I still didn’t expect it.
“What’s that?” Jackson asks.
“The store is yours again.”
He cocks his head to the side. “What exactly did you see in that email?”
I squirm, my face heating. “That you did some sort of deal with Jim Boyle.”
Jackson chuckles. “You really need to stop assuming things and just start talking to me.”
I huff out a breath. “I will. I promise. But was I wrong? There was no deal?”
“No, there was. I came to an arrangement with Jim.” He gives me a sly grin. “I gave up my share of the store.”
My foot comes off the gas at that one, and I pull my car to the side of the road. “What?” Have we been fighting for the same thing all along? My heart skitters in my chest and I try to read his face. “You’ve wanted this forever.”
He shrugs then, slow and casual, all Jackson. The boy and the man, rolled together as one. “Sometimes the things you want stay the same.” He reaches for my hand and squeezes. “And sometimes you want a crazy new job being a lube mogul. That is, if you can still use a partner.”
I picture it—me and Jackson and the little lube business that could—working and growing together and enjoying the crazy, ridiculous life we’ve built. Something in my chest loosens. The world feels big and full of possibilities, and this possibility might be the best one yet.
On the back road of our little hometown, I lean over the emergency brake and kiss him. Jackson isn’t just my past, he’s my future, too. “I do want a partner,” I grin. “And I’m pretty sure you’re the man for the job.”
“Pretty sure?” Jackson asks, lifting his eyebrows.
I touch the scar above his left eye and smile. His pulse pounds under my hands and it’s the same one beating in my veins. A little erratic, a little wild, and more excited for tomorrow than words can say.
“Okay, super sure,” I tell him. When it comes down to it, there are just some things you know.
THE END
Coming Next
From Tanya Gallagher
His Distraction (X Enterprises Series Book 1)
Jeremy Glass, CEO of Seattle’s hottest sex toy company, has a fantastic life: he’s single, rich, and has a parade of “product testers” to help him warm his sheets at night. He’s about to land the deal of a lifetime and finally prove that his untraditional business is more than valid. The only problem is he just fired the one woman his client insists handle their account. He knows if he hires her back, Vanessa Reese will only be a distraction—after all, she’s gorgeous, sweet, and witty. Jeremy knows better than to mix business and pleasure, but he suddenly finds himself chasing after a woman for a change, and this one’s determined to keep him on his toes.
When Jeremy asks Vanessa to come back to X Enterprises, she isn’t interested in what he has to offer—not his pretty face and sculpted body, and certainly not his arrogant attitude—until Jeremy makes her a deal: spend ten weeks in his employment, and then he’ll help her land the social work job she really wants. When Vanessa agrees, she finds herself plunged into a world of sin and indulgence she never imagined. Despite the attraction between herself and Jeremy, Vanessa is determined not to give in and hand over her dignity and her chance at a steady paycheck. Probably. Because the more time she spends with Jeremy, the more she uncovers the kind, charming man hidden under his cocky exterior.
Lines blur, and soon the handsome CEO and bleeding heart begin a passionate affair. But Jeremy hasn’t told Vanessa the real details about his business deal, and when the truth comes out, it threatens to tear them apart.
Your Opinion Matters
Thank you so much for reading A Slippery Slope! If you enjoyed spending time with Natalie and Jackson, it would mean so much to me if you’d leave a review wherever you purchased this book (and maybe on Goodreads, too!). Reviews from readers like you help more people find this book and help me continue writing more stories. Your thoughts are so appreciated!
Warmest wishes,
Tanya
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Acknowledgments
Goodness gracious, it takes a lot of work to make a book come together! That whole saying, “it takes a village,” is completely true. And I might be a little biased, but my village is simply the best.
First and foremost, thank you to my readers - you’re such a huge part of this incredible journey I’m on. Thank you for spending time with my characters and for rooting for them just as much as you’ve rooted for me. I’m forever grateful for your support and encouragement.
To Jenny - Simply put, this book would not have happened without you. Thank you for the long walks and the many read-throughs, for listening to me babble about fictional characters and for loving them as much as I do. Your wisdom and input have been priceless in shaping this book. Thank you for pushing me and sharing in my excitement, and most importantly, thank you for your friendship.
To Katie - Thank you for making sure I was on the right path with this story. Your insights mean the world.
To Nikki - Thanks for helping me polish this book to a shine and for being such an important part of making this happen. You are incredible.
To Ian and Lily - You are my true-life love story. Thank you for understanding my particular brand of crazy and for loving me and encouraging me to keep going. Thanks for letting me spend so much time in my fictional world and pulling me back to the real world when I needed it. I love you always.
To my amazing bloggers and ARC readers - My heart is so much bigger thanks to you. Thank you for being so generous with your time and energy, for helping me spread the word about this book, and for every kind comment. You’re seriously amazing.
To you, if you’re still here reading this. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I’m so grateful you’re here.
Much
love,
Tanya Gallagher
About the Author
Tanya Gallagher is the Seattle-based author of contemporary New Adult and Adult romances about smart, strong women and the sexy men who love them. She traded pencil skirts in the boardroom for stories in the bedroom and hasn't looked back since. You can find her traveling the world in search of beautiful scenery and delicious cake, and at penchantforpleasure.com, where she happens to sell one of the most popular brands of personal lubricant for your naughty bits. True story.
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