First Kiss

by Sophie Bright

  I shot him a confused glance and he flexed his fingers on the steering wheel before letting it go. “That’s absurd. Why would anyone think to go after your brother’s business? We contacted the police and they’re going to investigate to see if a competitor’s slandering us.”

  I bit my bottom lip as I listened to him. It made sense for them to jump to the conclusion of a competitor. But they didn’t know about the attack or the letter Trina found on my car which was still resting in her glove compartment.

  I felt horrible not telling Jackson about the back lash I was still receiving for my stupid mistake.

  Could Karen be as unstable as Trina said she was?

  “Have the police found anything?” I couldn’t make eye contact with him. Jackson had a way of reading my thoughts and I didn’t want him to pull anything out of me.

  “Meredith’s checking it out and she said she would get back with me today or tomorrow.”

  “My Meredith?” I asked.

  “Yeah, once she got away from your bad influence she joined the police force and has been making her way up the ranks pretty quickly.”

  A real smile lit my face. Just thinking of my old high school accomplice laying down the law seemed poetically perfect. “Do you think she will be able to do anything?”

  “We will see. Dean wanted to go rage at every competitor until he found out who’s talking bad about our business. Meredith was the only one who was able to calm him down.”

  “How did she do that?” I asked wondering how meek little Meredith had the gall to talk to an angry Dean.

  “She threatened to handcuff him to his bed until she could figure it out.”

  We both laughed thinking of Dean being threatened with bondage to keep him from doing something stupid.

  “Are you ready?” Jackson didn’t wait until I answered him.

  He shoved out of the truck and went over to my side and opened the door.

  “Ready for what?” I asked Jackson’s back.

  He was strolling away toward the large Farmhouse.

  “Jackson, Jackson,” I jogged to catch up to him.

  He glanced over at me and winked still not answering my question. Jackson unlocked the decorated wooden door and snapped on the lights.

  My breath caught. I knew Jackson had been working hard on renovating his parent’s old farmhouse but to see it first hand was awe inspiring.

  “Jackson, this is magnificent.”

  The walls had an old barn finish and the interior matched it. There was a beautiful rock fireplace on the far wall with a matching mantle.

  Big comfortable brown couches and recliners were in the middle with a gray rug in the middle over the shining wood floor. The stairs were on the right side leading up the top floor. An open floor space showed the gleaming new appliances in the rustic kitchen. The dining table looked like an old refurbished wooden picnic table.

  Jackson’s cheeks were hinted with red and he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He surveyed the room as if he was trying to see the house through my eyes.

  “Come on.” Jackson grabbed my hand and led me into the kitchen. He grabbed a bottle water for both of us and he picked up a tool belt and paint brush.

  He handed me a brush and walked back toward the porch. I stared down at the paint brush in my hand and stood their frozen in his perfect kitchen.

  “Are you coming?” he yelled at me through the screen door.

  I stomped out of the house and slammed the screen door. Jackson didn’t bother to look at me as he pried the lid off the paint bucket open and poured it into trays.

  Jackson dipped the brush in the bucket and began working the porch railing. I stood behind him waiting for him to pay attention to me.

  After five minutes I planted my foot in his ass and pushed. He chuckled and turned around his eyebrow quirking up at the still pristine brush in my hand.

  “Are you waiting for an invitation?”

  “Did you really bring me here for free labor? I could have stayed home and worked on my real work.”

  “You need to get out of that damn room. Go hit the other side and we will meet in the middle. The sun and work will be good for you.”

  Realizing that he wasn’t going to change his mind I grabbed my paint tray and started on the opposite side of the porch. We painted talking back and forth as I let the sun soak into my skin.

  “So are you going to admit I was right?” Jackson asked when we neared each other.

  I wiped the sweat off my forehead and didn’t answer him.

  “Okay, can I ask you something else?”

  Without taking my eyes off the porch railing I nodded. “How did you get involved with a married man? How did it all go down?”

  I knew he was going to ask me that but it still felt like a shot to my system when he asked.

  “It was dumb and I should’ve realized. I would like to think I didn’t know. I don’t know if deep down I did. It started in such a whirlwind. One night I was working late and he bought me dinner and we ate while we worked. It became our thing. Eating dinner late at night when it was just the two of us.

  I never mentioned it to my coworkers. He made me feel special and I didn’t want to share it with anyone. We didn’t do anything until he helped me get my apartment. With the money I was making I wanted a better apartment and he said he had a hook up.

  He helped me move in and then we moved our dinners to my place. Now that I think about it seems so obvious. One day I was working and his son, Daniel came in.”

  Jackson’s head snapped over and his green eyes were like lasers. “What the hell Lucser. Father and son?”

  “Shut up, Jackson. You know I didn’t do it. Daniel hit on me and I turned him down. Daniel was talking to me in my office when Richard came over. When Daniel told Richard how beautiful the people who work for him were, Richard went nuts. His face went molten red and he curtly shut Daniel’s admiration down. We got in a huge fight after that and we were out to dinner as an apology for the way he acted. That’s when his wife walked in clocked me in the face and rest is history.”

  With great care I painted the railing refusing to acknowledge him. I felt Jackson piercing eyes bore into me but I wouldn’t give him my attention.

  I was saved by a police cruiser pulling on the gravel driveway. A bright red head popped out of the car and an actual smile lit my face. I dropped my brush in the paint tray and ran to Meredith.

  Meredith hugged me and we held onto each other long enough for Jackson to slowly walk to us.

  Meredith looked the same but different. Her hair was still beautifully lit. Her body was slim but muscular and it showed off her figure in her uniform.

  “Hey Meredith.” Jackson hugged her and we went into the living room.

  We sat on the couch and recliners both of us anxious to hear what Meredith had to say.

  “Do you want anything to drink?” Jackson asked and Meredith waived it off.

  I got up and grabbed another bottle of water and handed one to Jackson.

  “Did you find anything out?” Jackson asked leaning forward on the couch showing just how nervous he was.

  “Nothing yet.”

  Jackson exhaled loudly and Meredith held out her hand to stop him.

  “I said yet. There are some leads we are working on. I can’t tell you but there’s some interesting events we have discovered. I promise you Jackson I’m giving this case my full attention. Give me a little bit longer and this will be resolved.”

  I could read the disappointment on Jackson’s face but he rallied and gave Meredith his perfect smile. “I appreciate you doing this for me, Meredith. I will do my best to keep Dean in check.”

  Meredith gave a half smile and got up. “So when are you going to move into this dream house?”

  “Almost I still have some more things to do,” Jackson answered Meredith. She raised her eyebrow and looked at me.

  I just shrugged wondering the same thing. The house was perfect and it didn’t have me or Dean living
in it. It didn’t make sense to me why he was procrastinating moving in.

  We hugged and promised that we would get together soon before she left. Jackson leaned back on the couch and closed his eyes. I watched him before coming over and sitting next to him.

  He cracked his one eye opened and put his arm around me pulling me close. Tiredness seeped into me from the physical exertion but having his arm surrounding me had my exhaustion disappear.

  “It will be okay.” I told him needing to say something.

  Jackson looked down on me and before I could guess what he was doing his lips landed on mine. Energy exploded inside of me Jackson tasted like salt and man.

  Our lips molded together as his hands pulled me across him. My legs straddled him and I pushed against his erection letting it rub on the inseam of my jeans.

  I moaned and Jackson’s tongue snuck out to taste my lips. I sucked on it welcoming it with excitement. Jackson groaned and his hand pulled me closer. My breasts smashed against his rock hard chest. We couldn’t get close enough our tongues met and refused to separate.

  Jackson’s phone rang in his pocket. Disappointment hit me when Jackson moved me off of him and answered it. I panted next to him my face burning with embarrassment being forgotten so easily. Jackson finished his call and stood up reaching out a hand to help me stand.

  “Are you going to feed me?” I asked when we were driving away.

  “I can get you something on the way but I have a date tonight.”

  Anger pulsed through me and I put my hands under my legs so I wouldn’t hit him. How the hell could he kiss me like I was his last dying breath and now he was going on a date? I snapped my mouth shut and grabbed my food and went into my room closing the door refusing my urge to slam it.

  9

  Dean whistled when I made my way downstairs.

  “Look at you all dressed up in something that isn’t pj’s.”

  I rolled my eyes as I poured a cup of coffee and leaned against the counter sipping it. “Any news from Meredith?”

  Dean shook his head and anger took over his face before he pushed it away. “Meredith says she has some leads. I just wish I could figure out why someone has it out for us. Jackson and I went through all of our previous jobs wondering if it was a jaded customer from the past. I don’t know what the hell is going on.”

  Guilt hit my solar plexus. I opened my mouth to tell Dean about the threats I had gotten but chickened out at the last second. “Meredith will figure it out.”

  I hadn’t had anything related to my affair since the masked beating, so I was hoping things were finally fading away. Maybe Karen felt I had got what I deserved and was done with me. I could only hope Dean and Jackson figured out who was trying to sabotage their business and things would go back to normal.

  “I know. Jackson went out early to talk to our next big project. I’ve never had to handle a client with as much care as we’ve been doing with this one. So far they have shrugged off the anonymous calls bad mouthing us and haven’t fired us yet.”

  I wasn’t surprised to hear Jackson was already gone. He had been avoiding me for two days since our kiss. At night I’d relived the kiss over again and I held onto the anger of him blowing me off for another girl after such a mind shattering kiss.

  Trina had set me up with an interview and today was the day. I’d been working hard on getting my freelance stuff done but also getting out more. Instead of sitting in my room working, I got out going to my old coffee shop and other places.

  I was sick of living in my pity party and it was up to me and me alone to pull me out of it. No more being the victim I was going to preserver and this interview was my start.

  “Wish me luck,” I said grabbing an apple and moved toward the door.

  “Good luck. Tell Trina I will see her tonight. Oh and Lucy.” I opened the door and turned to look at Dean. He had a wicked smile on his face showing he was up to no good. “Stay away from the boss.”

  I flipped him off and slammed the door behind me his laugh hitting the back of neck.

  Trina met me outside while I was getting out of my car.

  “You look sexy,” she announced hugging me after she looked at me.

  “Thank you for setting this up, Trina. I appreciate it. I think having a job where I’m forced to get out of the house is exactly what I need.”

  “My boss is going to love you.” Trina keyed us in and led me through the building.

  She left me with the receptionist giving me another hug and laughing when I told her Dean was excited to see her tonight.

  The interview went amazing. With all the insane work I’d forced myself to do with my freelance jobs I felt like I was on the top of my game. And from the quick acceptance of Trina’s boss Mr. Ranazzi he seemed to think the same thing.

  Mr.Ranazzi was a tall man with copper hair. He had an infectious attitude of enthusiasm I couldn’t escape. You could tell he loved his business and embraced anyone who would help it expand.

  “Do you have any plans later today?”

  Anxiety enveloped me. Reminiscent of how my last relationship with my boss started. “I do have plans later tonight.” I lied.

  Mr. Ranazzi frowned and I could tell he was confused at my attitude change. “Well, if you could spare an hour I would love you to meet my advertising team. I’m excited to see what you can come up with using their ideas.”

  The knot in my stomach unraveled and internally I rolled my eyes as my silliness. Not every person wanted to have sex with me. I needed to get a hold of myself.

  The exuberance Mr. Ranazzi felt toward his company rubbed off on his employees. I was accepted in the advertising department immediately. Trina checked in with me later in the day whispering in my ear telling me how much Mr. Ranazzi loved me. She left right after to get ready for her date with my brother.

  My stomach growled loudly and Brandi the girl I was working with stretched her back. I glanced at my phone surprised at how fast the time had passed.

  “It happens to me all the time,” Brandi admitted.

  I glanced around and noticed we were the last two stragglers in the room. Having been denied social experience for so long I didn’t realize how much I was craving it.

  “Get out of here. I can’t wait to start working with you. I love your ideas,” Brandi gushed getting up and shutting down the computers.

  “I had fun today. I’m excited too.” I admitted.

  We walked out together. Brandi jumped in her uber waving at me as I walked to my car. The parking lot was dark only the lot light were shining against the black pavement.

  Because of the darkness I didn’t realize that something was wrong until I was right on my car. A horrified gasp rushed out of me as I assessed the three flat tires my car was perched on.

  As I circled my car I noticed that not only were my tires flat they were slashed. Hot angry tears burned down my cheeks. I climbed in my driver’s side and collapsed on my steering wheel and cried defeated tears. It felt like I kept going two steps forward and one step back.

  My phone rang and I ignored it. The silence caught me sniffling deeply frustrated at my situation. I grabbed my purse and fished for my phone. It rang before I could dial a tow truck. Jackson’s name flashed across the screen I breathed an annoyed breath and answered it.

  “Hey, lucser where are you?”

  All the anger and frustration I had felt reached its breaking point. “Where am it?” I screamed into the phone. “Why the fuck do you care?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Jackson yelled back.

  I started crying again. “I have a flat tire. I’m stuck in a fucking parking lot and I’ve had a shit two days.”

  I didn’t mention the shit two days had to do with the extreme confusion of having a magical erotic kiss and then to be ignored right after.

  “Lucser, stop being such a drama queen. Dean and I taught you how to change a tire. Put your big girl panties on and change it. I’ll even be a nice guy and have dinner here
when you’re get here.”

  I bit my bottom lip trying to decide if I should tell him it was more than just one tire. He was right, when Dean and Jackson both got their cars they made me learn everything they knew on car maintenance. It made me feel strong and independent and Dean realized how much I hated needing help.

  “It’s more than one tire,” I murmured in the phone hoping he didn’t understand what I said and would let it go.

  Stupid me of course he wouldn’t.

  “What do you mean you have more than one flat tire?”

  I rolled my eyes my helplessness making my anger flare. “Just what I said.” I yelled into the phone.

  “Did you call a tow truck?”

  “I was about to asshole but you called before I could dial one.”

  “Why are you being a bitch to me?”

  “Do you really want to go there? Maybe you should put your tennis shoes on so when it starts to get hot you can run away.”

  “Call a tow truck, Lucy.” He hung up and I flipped my phone off using as much energy as I could muster to push that middle finger through the phone so he would feel it. Hopefully he would feel a twinge in his asshole and know I hated him so hard at the moment.

  Lights sliced through the parking lot and I climbed out of my car to greet the tow truck driver. The thought of kicking off my high heels and just take off ran through my head as Jackson’s truck pulled up next to me.

  Jackson didn’t say anything when he did the same thing I did when I noticed my tires were pressed against the pavement. “These aren’t just flat tires, Lucser. These are slashed with anger.”

  “Thanks for that Mr. Obvious.” I had my hands on my hips so I didn’t strangle him.

  Jackson walked up to me and put his hands on my shoulders stopping me from turning away from him. “Have you been keeping shit like this from me?”

  “No, this is the first time my tires have been slashed.” The sarcasm I was hiding behind was the only thing keeping me from sinking into his chest and letting him hold me up.