by Tara Mills
“My pleasure.” She gave him a shy flirtatious smile. “Maybe you could give me your number, and if I think of anything else, I can call you.”
“I know how to find you,” he said, shutting his pad and sliding his pen into his shirt pocket.
To Sabrina’s amazement, Tanya tugged it out again and gave it a click. How she managed to look coy while turning over the pad in his hand to write her phone number on the back Sabrina would never know, but it was a stunning accomplishment.
Tanya smiled sweetly as she slid the pen back into his breast pocket. “That will help.”
The police officer gave her a bashful smile, cute dimples and all, and tipped his head at them both. “Ladies.”
They watched him get into his car and break into a chuckle as he drove away.
“Think he’ll call me?” Tanya asked, strutting back to the building with a satisfied smile.
“If he doesn’t, it’s not from lack of trying on your part. I’m blushing for you over here.”
“Ooooh, I like him.”
“You don’t even know him.”
“You know how you can sometimes get an instant impression of a person?”
“I suppose.”
“There you go. I like him. He’s got this wholesome, decent vibe that just pulled at me.”
“Wholesome? You actually want wholesome?”
“Who knew?” Tanya giggled. “Wonder if he’d be open to the cuffs.”
Sabrina laughed and followed her back inside.
****
By the end of the week, the most trying part of Jackson’s transition to GM was floating but not exactly fitting in anywhere. It made perfect sense for Van to take over Jackson’s office, since he was already doing the bulk of the news director’s job without a whole lot of input from Jack, and of course Simon was still on the premises so that office wasn’t free, either. That left Jackson moving from desk to desk, table to conference room, never able to organize his work. His personal possessions were stashed in the conference room in boxes.
He was ready for Yeager to leave.
Looking over at the box in the corner, he got a glimpse of Crush under the flap of cardboard. He sighed and turned back to the man across the table.
“Programming,” said Jackson. “Here’s what I’m looking at, Neil, Joanne—a Saturday line-up geared toward teens through twenties and early thirties. We’re going to kick it off with that big skateboard expo coming up in two months. It’s an excellent way to get Justin and Tom out among the younger audience, get them recognized, and hopefully transition that interest into expanded viewership of the station itself. I think we could focus on locals—show what they’re committed to. Justin and Tom will start us off by doing the features on two of the skateboarders, and then every week after that we’ll introduce someone new, show what makes them click. Get it? We need to start auditions for a permanent host right away.”
“How about motocross?” Neil asked.
“Sure,” Jack said, his pen racing across his tablet as ideas came to him.
“Wait, are you thinking sports, primarily?” Joanne asked, looking up from her notes.
“No, not at all. Musicians, singers, actors, designers, vets in training—whatever rocks their boats. We won’t simply be introducing area kids each week but showing their peers what they’re truly passionate about. We might conceivably open up a whole new world of possibilities for a lot of these kids watching, if we do this right, maybe help them plug in and get engaged.”
“Still, there’s probably going to be more sports,” Neil said. “Competitive swimming, mountain biking, equestrian jumping.”
Joanne frowned. “Dance, photography, cooking, moviemaking, all kinds of musicians,” she countered.
“Start by looking at everything. Don’t rule anything out. We’ll refine as we go. Just keep me informed. Maybe we should plan on meeting once or maybe twice a week at first, to see where we are. I’ll clear it with Marjorie. We can drop back to as-needed basis once we find our groove.” Jackson swung his attention around to the last two at the table. “Jim, Ty, it’s up to you to chase down new revenue to feed this beast. Be creative. Go after stores where the kids spend their money, find local sponsors that always get overlooked. Bike shops, board shops, dance studios, bookstores, electronics. We could be pulling in some major cell phone revenue. I want to see creative, catchy advertising. It doesn’t have to be expensive to be edgy and effective. Any questions?”
“No.”
“Uh-uh.”
“Okay. Good luck, everyone.”
Jackson leaned back in his chair and sighed. That felt good. He was psyched now and happy to say there was a marked improvement in the energy level in the room by the end of the meeting.
Simon peeked in the door. “How’d it go?”
Jackson smiled. “Well, they didn’t shoot it down.”
“I was listening in at the end. I might just steal a few of your ideas when I go.”
“As long as we’re not competing with each other, go for it.”
Simon wandered in and sat down across from Jackson. “I think your ass is parked in the wrong chair.”
Jackson sat up. “What are you saying?”
“You don’t need me here and they do need me in Tampa. I’m cutting out this weekend. Marjorie is here and she can steer you right, but I’ll only be a phone call away, so if you need to, or just plain want to, pick it up and call me.”
“You sure about this? What about the owners?”
“It’s all arranged and I’m ready to go. Chloe has our house all packed up, and she’s driving me nuts with how ready she is to go. It’s time.”
They both stood and reached across the table to shake hands. That’s when the group of people waiting outside the door came in carrying party favors, bottles of Champagne, and a beautiful cake. Marjorie, that model of competence and efficiency, had pulled the entire celebration together at the last minute without breaking a sweat.
Twenty minutes later Yeager glanced at Jackson’s boxes in the corner and made his way over to his replacement, drawing him aside.
“My personal things are already in my car. There’s no reason why you can’t move into your new office tonight.” His twinkling eyes cut to the corner and back to Jackson. Then, reaching into his pocket, Yeager pulled out a set of keys and handed them to Jackson. “You’ll need these.” He leaned in and added confidentially, “And the spirits remain.”
“Even the Cognac?”
“I added an unopened bottle, too—a gift to launch your new career.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Seeing yet another employee making his way over to pay respects to Yeager, Jackson said, “We’re going to miss you around here.”
“Of course you will,” Yeager said with a cocky grin.
Jackson slipped away from the party to give Sabrina a call. By the tone of her voice he could tell she was surprised to hear from him.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
“It’s all mine.”
“Already?”
“Yep. Guess I’m a quick study.”
“Who would have thought?”
Jackson laughed. “What’s going on with you?”
“Our numbers are back up and higher than ever. I’m thinking I might need to add a bouncer because we’re almost to capacity every night now.”
“Good for you.”
“You free tonight?”
“I’m moving in and I want to organize my office, but how does tomorrow sound?”
“You have free time tomorrow?”
“Looks that way. I’m not going to know what to do with myself.”
“I might be good for a few ideas.”
“I was hoping you’d say that.”
“Here’s the deal. My parents found a good fare, so they flew in from Santa Fe a couple of days ago. There’s a big party at Andy’s tomorrow and I have to go. Could I talk you into going with me?”
&n
bsp; “Meet your entire family?” he asked, feigning horror.
“They’re nice,” she said helpfully, hopefully.
Grinning, Jackson blew a heavy sigh. “Yeah, I suppose.”
Sabrina smiled. “Good, because it wouldn’t be any fun without you.”
“So I’m the cheap entertainment. Great.”
“Wear something you can get dirty. We usually play games outside.”
“Why do I see myself buried under a pile of your brothers, with dirt and grass stuck between my teeth?”
“We play tag football, not tackle. You’ll be fine.”
“Right,” he said dubiously. “You’re going to guarantee my safety.”
“Now, I never said that I wouldn’t tackle you.”
He laughed. “Well at least put a mattress under me first.”
“Definitely.”
“And Sabrina?”
“Jackson?”
“You still owe me an explanation for Monday night.”
“Who says?”
“I do, and I have ways of making you talk,” he said with a sinister voice.
She laughed. “Hmmm, we’ll see.”
“Tomorrow then. What time?”
“Eleven?”
“Why is everything at eleven?”
“I was just wondering the same thing.”
“I’ll pick you up at eleven.”
“Can’t wait.”
****
There was a soft smile on Sabrina’s face when she hung up.
Tanya looked at her from the doorway. “I take it our movie is off?”
“Nope. Still on. Jackson’s moving into his office tonight. Believe it or not, he agreed to go to Andy’s with me tomorrow.”
“Sucker.”
Sabrina grinned. “I think my family is going to love him. They’ll probably fish his medical history out of him a little at a time so he doesn’t suspect they’re fantasizing about our future offspring.”
Tanya snorted. “They wouldn’t do that.”
“They would too.” Sabrina stood and pushed in her chair, then shut down her monitor. Catching the strap of her purse off the corner of her desk, she walked out with Tanya.
****
Jackson turned up at Sabrina’s the next morning wearing her favorite running shorts and an official station T-shirt with the sleeves missing. The man looked stud-muffin hot, but then he put on his shades and she had to fan herself or combust.
“I guarantee you’ll be a hit with my sisters-in-law,” she said as they pulled out of the parking lot.
“Think they’ll like me?”
He glanced over and she saw her reflection in his lenses.
“Oh, yeah. They’re going to want to eat you up.”
Too bad, because Jackson was already spoken for, and she’d batter any woman to death who made a play for him. Not that she expected her brothers’ wives to do anything like that, but she was silently giving every other woman out there fair warning. Hands off, bitches! She would be vicious.
Emma opened the door with a happy squeak. “Brina!”
She threw her arms around Sabrina, and Jackson stood back, shaking his head at the resemblance between them. It was startling and perfectly understandable that he’d mistaken them for mother and daughter.
Emma launched herself at Jackson next. “Jackson!” He wasn’t expecting it, but he certainly didn’t mind, either.
He was just patting her on the back when someone who could only be Emma’s father walked around the corner and came to a dead stop at the sight of his daughter clinging to a strange man.
Catching Aaron’s dark look, Sabrina walked forward and gave her brother a swift one-armed hug. “Aaron, come meet Jackson Murphy.”
Jackson held his hands up innocently as Emma stepped back and smiled at her dad.
“Aaron,” Jackson said with a wary nod.
Aaron looked at all three, sizing up the situation. “Jackson. I see you’ve already met my daughter Emma.”
“A couple of times.” He smiled down on her, and she beamed right back.
“Well, come on in.” Aaron backed off and waved them down the hall ahead of him.
Jackson leaned over and whispered to Sabrina, “I thought you said this house belongs to your brother Andy?”
“It does.”
There were so many people in the kitchen they seemed to be spilling out the patio doors and onto the two-level deck outside. The counters and indoor and outdoor tables were laden with a wide variety of foods, both hot and cold, and everyone seemed to be snacking on something.
Jackson was struck by déjà vu when he and Sabrina appeared and all conversation suddenly stopped and every face turned to stare at them. It was like walking onto the Mary Belle all over again.
Sabrina laughed at their reception and grabbed his hand. “Hey, everybody, this is Jackson Murphy.”
There was a collective greeting, then conversations resumed and Sabrina towed Jackson outside to meet her parents.
“You okay?” she asked with a sympathetic grin.
“No bloodshed, so I’m good.”
They found her parents standing on the lawn chatting with Sam and his wife Candace. To Sabrina’s surprise, Sam was munching on a celery stalk.
“What are you doing?” she asked him.
“It came in my Bloody Mary,” he said with a shrug and dipped it again before taking another crunchy bite.
Candace laughed at him. “It’s the only way I can get Sam to eat raw vegetables.”
Mr. Eckhart opened his arms and Sabrina stepped into them for a long hug and a kiss on the forehead.
“Honey, I’m so glad you made it.”
“Me too, Dad.”
She kissed him on the cheek, then moved into her mother’s embrace. Finally stepping back, she reached for Jackson’s hand and drew him forward.
“Jackson, these are my parents, Audrey and Walt Eckhart. And this is the youngest of my big brothers, Sam, and his wife Candace. Everyone, meet Jackson, Jackson Murphy.”
Walt shook his hand, then Sam slid his celery back into his glass, wiped his hand on his thigh, and offered his hand to Jackson as well.
“So you’re seeing my daughter,” Walt said with a smile.
Sabrina cringed. “Dad.”
Jackson simply winked at her. “It certainly looks that way.”
Sam eyed his sister suspiciously. “You never mentioned it. How long has this been going on?”
Sabrina turned to Jackson, giving him a significant look. “What’s it been now, two months?” Since they’d met, anyway.
Without missing a beat, Jackson slid his arm around Sabrina’s waist and pulled her against him intimately. “Give or take,” he whispered, nuzzling into her neck. Then he turned and smiled at Sam, enjoying his reaction so much that Jackson decided to throw a curve ball next. “So where’s my buddy Wyatt?”
Candace brightened. “You know our Wyatt?”
Sam frowned, but Jackson simply beamed back. “I sure do. He’s a cute little kid.”
“He’s over there playing t-ball with Kipp,” Sam said, pointing the boys out. After a considered beat, he asked, “Are you a Bloody Mary man, Jackson?”
“I’ve been known to indulge.”
“Come with me. I’ll fix you up.”
Jackson gave Sabrina a light kiss. “Be right back.”
As the two men walked up onto the deck, Sabrina turned and caught both her mom and Candace staring after them, their eyes so wide it was comical. Neither woman blinked until Jackson finally disappeared inside. Only then did they turn to Sabrina in silent awe.
“I know—it’s fantastic, isn’t it?” Sabrina said with a laugh.
“Buns of steel,” Candace said, slightly dazed.
“Honey,” her mother ventured carefully, “where did you meet this man?”
Sabrina grinned. “You two might actually believe this. Come on, let’s get something to drink. Then I’ll tell you all about it.” She nudged her dad. “Are you coming?”<
br />
“No,” he said, looking around for an alternative. “I think I’m going to go play with the boys for a little bit. You girls go have fun.”
A sensible man knew when it was time to make himself scarce.
Chapter 27
“Time out!” Jackson yelled, tossing the football underhanded to Sam. He pulled Sabrina aside and asked with labored breath, “What was that?”
“I broke a nail.” She thrust her hand in front of him.
He snorted. “Deal with it.”
“But it bent way back, and now I’m going to lose it. It really hurts.”
“So you can’t pass. You can’t catch. You can’t run.”
Sabrina scowled. “I can too run. I’m the best runner out there, next to you.”
“Then what’s this?” he asked, doing a limp-wristed impression of her running.
“You suck! I can’t help that.”
Jackson laughed. “Strong wrists and loose fists, okay.” He demonstrated.
“Don’t blame me. I’ve got three brothers and no sisters, so I got hit with the entire dose of estrogen in our family.”
He grinned and cupped the back of Sabrina’s head, hauling her in for a kiss. “Forget I said anything. I prefer it this way.” He looked at her thoughtfully. “Think you can block?”
“I can trip.”
“Play to your strengths, honey.”
They high-fived, then rejoined the game, but the outcome wasn’t exactly a big surprise. They got creamed by Andy, Aaron, and their twenty-three-year-old cousin Cody. Afterwards Jackson, Sabrina, and Sam went to sprawl in the shade with cold beers, licking their wounds. They weren’t alone for long. A crowd slowly grew around them, kids and adults, men and women, and there was laughter and jeers, insults and affection in abundance.
Toni leaned close to Sabrina and asked softly, “Did you hear? We’re trying again.”
“You’re really doing it, huh?”
“Nice choice of words,” Toni laughed. “But yes, we both want one more, though I’m told it probably won’t happen right away. With Kipp, Andy just looked at me and I was pregnant, but I’ve been on birth control so long it needs time to leave my system. Doesn’t mean we’re not having fun trying, though. At least we were until your parents showed up. You wouldn’t take them off my hands for a couple nights, would you? After watching Andy play today, I’m about ready to pounce on him. My man is seriously hot.”