“Is this the disposal side?”
“No, but do you think I should turn it on and see if that works?”
“No need. I’ll take care of it.”
“Thank goodness. We really can’t be down to one sink in the peak of the after dinner rush.”
As he peered at the water backed up in the industrial sized metal sink, he was happy to see it was clear. Over the last few years, he’d had his hands in some pretty nasty stuff, but that didn’t mean he liked it.
Jackson shone his flashlight in the water and frowned.
“What is it?” Adrianne asked.
“It looks like there’s something in the drain.”
Leaning forward, he slid his arm down the drain. His fingertips touched something that felt like a dish towel. Jackson grabbed it and pulled.
As soon as it was freed, the water in the sink began to spin and empty down the drain. Jackson watched for any sign of trouble, but it drained freely. Setting the sopping dishtowel on the counter, he turned on the water and waited. After several seconds of watching it drain with no problem, he shut it off.
Turning toward Adrianne, he indicated the dish towel. “I’d say that was your problem.”
“I can’t believe I called you out for something so simple.” Adrianne laughed. “I could have done that myself, no offense of course.”
“None taken,” Jackson said, grinning. “I’ll have to charge you extra for an after hours call of course.”
Adrianne laughed again. “You’re tough.”
“I learned from the best.”
“I don’t suppose letting you take anything you wanted from the bakery case would knock off a few bucks, would it?”
“Are you sure about that, Mrs. Riley? Between me and Dad and Gramps, we can eat quite a bit, especially your muffins.”
“Oh, God, don’t call me Mrs. Riley. It makes me feel old.”
“Sorry about that,” Jackson said, smiling as he washed his hands.
“It’s fine, just don’t do it again,” Adrianne teased. “Now, come on and you can pick whatever you want.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Jackson said and followed her to the front of the shop.
Jackson’s good mood dissipated the instant he spotted Jillian and Garrett. The two of them sat across from her parents, and the group was laughing about something.
It wasn’t enough he’d run in to Jillian everywhere he went lately. Now, he was seeing her all over town, hanging off Garrett’s arm. From the way she was always smiling and laughing around the guy, it did not look like she was still hung up on Jackson.
If anything, she seemed ready to take the ring Garrett had offered her a few years ago. The thought of Jillian marrying Garrett made Jackson’s stomach turn.
Adrianne stepped in front of him, a pastry box in hand. “What would you like?”
Jackson wanted to tell her thanks anyway and get the hell out of there before Jillian noticed his presence, but his grandpa would tan his hide for turning down Scott’s Sweets.
Forcing a smile, he said, “Whatever you want. I’m not picky. I like it all.”
“Great, just give me a few minutes and you’ll be all set.”
Their group laughed again, and Jackson slid his gaze to Jillian. The red sweater she wore made her skin glow. Or maybe that was Garrett’s attention making her so radiant.
Jackson was being a prick. Though he didn’t know Garrett well, the guy seemed solid. If Jillian’s bright smile was anything to go by, he would treat her well. He could give her something Jackson had never been able to.
Adrianne held a box toward him. A white bag was perched atop it. “Here you go. There are plenty of pastries and candy for the best plumbers in town.”
“We’re the only plumbers in town,” Jackson said with a sly smile.
“Details,” Adrianne said, waving her hand. “Thanks again, Jackson. I don’t know what I would have done if Wilder’s Plumbing hadn’t ridden to the rescue.”
Jackson frowned at how loud she’d gotten. “Like I said, it was no problem.”
“Well, then, you have a good night. I’ll see you at the festival.”
“Thanks, you too.”
With his toolbox in one hand and the Scott’s Sweets loot in the other, he headed for the front entrance. There was no way he could avoid Jillian and her family, but he hoped they would be too caught up in their conversation to notice him.
As soon as he passed their table, Sophia Somers shot to her feet. “Jackson, I thought that was you!”
Though he wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard her, Jackson stopped.
“It’s good to see you, Jackson,” Sophia said. “It’s been far too long.”
Jackson didn’t have to look at Jillian to know that she was glaring at him. He could feel it.
“How have you been?” Sophia asked.
“Fine, Mrs. Somers, keeping busy with work. What about you?”
“It’s the opposite for me. I’ve been enjoying my retirement.”
“That’s nice.”
“It is, and it’s even nicer that my daughter took over my teaching. I’m sure your father can understand something about passing on the family business.”
“Um, yeah, he can. Listen, it was nice talking to you, but I should go.” Jackson nodded at the goodies he held. “Gramps is waiting for this stuff, and he’s not really patient if you know what I mean.”
“Of course, dear, we won’t keep you,” Sophia said as her smile grew bigger. “Do you have plans tomorrow night?”
Jackson frowned. “What?”
“If you’re not busy, I thought you could join us for dinner,” Sophia explained. “It would be lovely to have a chance to catch up.”
Jillian made a choking sound, and everyone turned to look at her.
“Are you all right?” Sophia asked.
“I’m fine.” Jillian gave Jackson a defiant look. “You don’t need to worry about making an excuse to miss dinner. I’m sure you have better things to do.”
“I would love to have dinner with you and your family,” he said, not taking his eyes from Jillian’s.
“That’s wonderful!” Sophia clapped her hands. “Dinner’s at six.”
“Should I bring anything?”
“Just your sparkling personality.”
“Guess he’s coming empty handed then,” Jillian muttered, and Garrett cracked up.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Jackson said and winked at Jillian. “You guys enjoy your evening.”
Jackson strolled out of the shop as if he didn’t have a care in the world. It wasn’t until he got behind the wheel of his truck that he deflated.
What the hell had he been thinking, agreeing to have dinner with Jillian and her family? There was a reason he’d avoided them for more than ten years.
“Unbelievable!”
Jillian’s shout, accompanied with the slamming of her front door, sent Mufasa skittering backward.
“What’s wrong?” Shelby asked from where she sat on the couch watching TV.
“Mom invited Jackson Wilder to dinner with us tomorrow,” Jillian huffed as she stomped to the couch and dropped down.
Shelby frowned. “We’re having dinner with Mom and Dad tomorrow?”
“Yes, we are,” Jillian answered. “Garrett and I ran in to them at Scott’s Sweets, and Mom asked if we wanted to have dinner with them tomorrow. And yes that includes you so don’t even try to weasel out of it.”
“Why would I weasel out of having one of Mom’s home cooked meals?”
“I don’t know. I’m still too pissed to think straight.”
“Yeah, how did Jackson end up getting an invite to this little shindig anyway?”
“He was at Scott’s Sweets, and Mom just couldn’t resist inviting him too.”
“Oh, that makes sense. Hey, where are my goodies?”
“I forgot, sorry.”
Shelby looked stricken. “You forgot?”
“I was a little busy trying not
to kill Mom for inviting Jackson to dinner and not kill him for saying yes,” Jillian said.
“I have to admit, I’m a little surprised he said yes.”
“I’m not. He’s probably just doing it to make me uncomfortable.”
“Are you sure you’re not being paranoid?”
Jillian glared at her sister. “No, I am not. Did you know that last night when we were dancing, he came over just to tell me that my dancing could use a little help?”
Shelby’s mouth flopped open. “He did not!”
“Yeah, he did, the bastard.”
“That is unbelievable.”
“Not really,” Jillian said. “Ever since high school, Jackson’s thought he was better than everyone else. Now I have to spend the whole night putting up with him and his giant ego.”
“You could always skip it.”
“No, I can’t. Mom made this big deal about how good it will be to see her girls again because we’ve been so busy lately.”
Shelby rolled her eyes. “Okay, yeah, I guess we’re due to check in.”
Jillian let out a frustrated groan. “What am I going to do, Shell?”
“Ignore him, I guess.”
“Like that will happen. Jackson Wilder doesn’t let people ignore him.”
“You could be the first then. It’ll probably drive him crazy.”
“As much as I’d like to take the high road, I know myself. I’m not going to be able to keep from stooping to his level.”
“You do have a temper,” Shelby agreed with a nod.
Jillian couldn’t argue, not when she was sitting there throwing a tantrum over the thought of having dinner with Jackson.
Somehow, and she had no idea how yet, she was going to have to find a way to get through dinner without smacking that smug smirk off his too handsome face.
The drive home did nothing to improve Jackson’s foul mood. If anything, he was even more pissed off by the time he pulled into the driveway.
What the hell had he been thinking agreeing to have dinner with the Somers family? He hadn’t been thinking, otherwise he would have found a gracious way to turn down Sophia’s invitation. Instead, he’d risen to the obvious challenge in Jillian’s eyes.
As he emerged from the truck, Jackson schooled his features. There was no way he could avoid telling his grandpa about the dinner invitation, but he didn’t want Gramps to pick up on his anger.
His grandpa sat on the couch, engrossed in the Game Show Network. When Walt turned to greet him, Jackson smiled at the way his eyes lit up when they landed on the goodies Jackson held.
The old man wasted no time diving into the bag of candy that Jackson set on the coffee table. “You’re back sooner than I expected. I take it you didn’t have any trouble fixing the sink?”
“Nope, it was nothing more than a dishrag dropped in.”
“That’s good.” Walt took a bite of candy and groaned. “That Adrianne Riley can sure make the hell out of candy.”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah, she can.”
“Did you want some?”
“Not now, thanks.”
“So, do you want to tell me what’s wrong?”
“What?”
“You heard me. Are you going to tell me what’s got you so tied up in knots or make me beat it out of you?”
Jackson grinned in spite of himself. “You wouldn’t really beat it out of me, would you?”
“Don’t tempt me,” Walt joked. “Now then, what’s going on in that head of yours?”
Jackson could have lied and said it was nothing. In fact, he thought about it for all of two seconds before he realized that he was fighting a losing battle. Gramps always did have a knack for being attuned to his moods.
“I ran in to Mr. and Mrs. Somers at Scott’s Sweets,” Jackson answered. “Jillian was with them, and so was Garrett Nash. Mrs. Somers invited me to have dinner with all of them tomorrow.”
Walt nodded. “Makes sense you’d be upset about seeing Jillian with Garrett since you’re in love with her.”
Jackson reared back as though Gramps had just cuffed him. “I’m what?”
“You heard me.”
“Yeah, I heard you, but I think you’re going senile in your old age.”
“Is that so?”
“Yeah, it is. I’ve never even been on a date with Jill. How the hell do you figure I’m in love with her?”
“You remember that necklace you got her for her fifteenth birthday?”
How could he forget with everyone bringing it up every time he turned around? “What about it?”
“You spent weeks trying to figure out what to get her before you found that necklace,” Walt reminded him. “And do you remember what you said when you told me about it?”
“Nope,” Jackson said, but it was a lie.
Not only did he remember what he’d said, but he remembered the pride he’d felt when he’d said it.
“You said it was the perfect present for the perfect girl.”
“That was ten years ago.”
“Ten minutes, ten years, it doesn’t matter,” Walt insisted. “You don’t just get over feelings like those, and if you’re as smart as I think you are, you’ll get that girl to the Ferris wheel and kiss her before old Garrett beats you to it.”
Jackson shook his head, but he finally had to laugh. It was no secret that every woman in town thought a kiss on the Ferris wheel was the first step to living happily ever after with the man who’d kissed her.
It was a nice idea, one that had worked out for quite a few couples in town, but it wasn’t in the cards for him and Jillian.
Chapter Six
Sweat poured down Jackson’s face as his feet beat a steady rhythm against the clay track.
It wasn’t until after his mom’s death that he’d taken up running. The timing of his new hobby wasn’t a coincidence.
Every moment of the night his mom died was burned into his brain. The sheriff stood at their door, a somber look on his face as he told them his mother had passed away; an accident on the freeway on her way home from the city.
The driver in the other lane had drifted into her lane, and his mother had swerved to avoid him; swerved into an oncoming eighteen wheel truck.
Jackson’s heart had dropped into his belly while his father had dropped to his knees right there on the porch. His dad was still crumpled on the porch when Jackson ran. He didn’t know where he was going, but he needed to get out of there, get away from what he didn’t want to be true.
It had worked for a little while. As long as he’d run, his mom hadn’t been dead.
As soon as he’d stopped running, reality caught up to him. His mother was dead, and his father was falling apart while his grandpa tried to pick up the pieces.
From that day on, Jackson had been running. Running cleared his head and kept reality away. At least it always had before.
Today, he couldn’t seem to keep his mind off of Jillian and the years of history between them. Their parents had been best friends, making it impossible to avoid each other.
As a child, Jillian had been a fearless tomboy. She didn’t let a little thing like being a girl stop her from climbing trees or wading into the river to look for crawdads. Once, she’d even jumped her bike over a makeshift ramp Jackson had set up in his backyard.
The only time he remembered she was a girl was when she played piano. Jackson took piano lessons from her mother because his mother forced him to. Jillian took piano lessons because it was in her blood.
When she sat at the piano, the music seemed to flow from her fingers as though it was an extension of her soul. Even as a kid, she’d played with the confidence of a well practiced adult, commanding the room and forcing those around her to listen.
It had certainly worked on Jackson. No matter what he was doing, every time he heard her playing, he stopped to listen. The way she played made him wish that he could play better. Trouble was he didn’t want to play better. He didn’t want to play at all, and he finall
y got to stop when his mother died.
So many things stopped when his mother died.
His father stopped caring about life for a while. The Somers family stopped being a daily part of the lives of the Wilder family. Jackson stopped being friends with Jillian, stopped talking to her for the most part. There was no gradual drifting apart. The end of their friendship was as abrupt as his mother’s death.
Jackson picked up the pace as he remembered one of the last times he’d spoken to Jillian when they were kids. They’d been at his grandpa’s house, the house he and his dad had moved into after his mother died. Everyone was there. That’s what people did after funerals. They had a party as if they needed to cast off the sadness of the service.
Jackson hadn’t wanted any part of that stupid party, and he’d hidden in his room. Jillian had found him, pushing the door open and standing over him where he’d been stretched out in his bed, staring at the ceiling.
‘Are you okay, Jack?’
‘My mom’s dead. What do you think?’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘So, what?’
Jillian clutched the charm dangling from the necklace he’d given her a few days earlier. ‘Do you want me to bring you some food?’
‘No. Just go away.’
‘I could sit with you for a while.’
‘Are you stupid? I told you to leave.’
Jillian winced. ‘I don’t want to leave you alone while you’re so sad.’
‘Yeah, well, guess what? I don’t want you here, not now, not ever again.’
Jillian took a step closer to him. ‘You don’t mean that.’
‘Yeah, I do mean it. Get out, Jill. Get out of here, and don’t ever come back. I don’t want to see you ever again.’
Tears slipped down her cheeks. ‘I’ll leave now, Jack, but I’m not going to give up on you. One day, you’re going to need me again, and I want you to know I’ll be there.’
‘Great.’ Jackson snorted. ‘Until that happens, get the fuck out.’
Jillian tried to touch him, but he moved beyond her reach. Then she walked out of his room. Not long after that, he made sure she walked out of his life.
Jackson grimaced at the unwelcome memories. Running was supposed to be his sanctuary.
Sapphire FallsGoing for Wilder Page 5