by Tara Mills
“I am, I really am, but I miss you, too. Maybe you and Pete should come over tonight, bring your suits, and we’ll hit the pool and hot tub. I’m sure my leg is going to need a good soak after all this walking.”
“Sounds good. Let’s run it by the guys.”
****
Sabrina and Tanya stopped keeping track of their strokes after the third hole. They were laughing nonstop by the sixth, and everyone was falling apart by the eighth. Jackson did his best to rally them for the ninth hole.
“It’s a par three, straight shot. Come on, people, I know we can do this.”
“You guys can,” Tanya snorted, giving Sabrina a nudge.
Sabrina nudged her right back. “Well, I’ll try if you will.”
Jackson looked over at Pete. “And this is without a bar cart. I can only imagine what kind of lunatics we’d have on our hands if they were three sheets to the wind.”
“But we’re having fun,” Sabrina said defensively.
“Yeah!” Tanya said.
“Forget I said anything. Last hole, can you at least try to be a little serious now?” Jackson asked them.
“I said I would,” Sabrina said.
“Me too.” Tanya nodded and turned to Peter. “If I beat you on this hole, you have to be my slave tonight.”
“And that would be different from every other night how?”
“Good point.” She grinned.
Sabrina glanced over at Tanya when they reached the men’s tee. “Don’t say it.”
“Come on. It’s the last time,” Tanya whined like a teenager with an early curfew.
“Oh, fine.”
Tanya beamed. “Jackson, you’re on her.”
Sabrina rolled her eyes. “That’s so stupid, so sophomoric.”
Tanya shrugged and sashayed away, impervious to the criticism.
Jackson simply ignored her while he placed his tee. He shifted on his feet, looked down the fairway, and squinted into the bright sun. He stepped back with a sigh. “Babe, can I please have my hat back?”
“I suppose.” Sabrina smiled and pulled it off. She walked over and placed it on his head.
“Thank you.” He readjusted it himself, then caught her hand and pulled her over for a swift kiss.
Sabrina backed up beside Peter, attributing the dazzling stars in her eyes to the kiss and not the direct sunlight. She sighed as she watched her lover reposition his feet and shift his broad shoulders and hips. She loved his fantastic ass.
Jackson lowered his head, eyes on the ball, and said calmly, “Tanya, shut up.”
“Wha’?” she gasped in surprise but there was a guilty grin on her face. She’d been taking liberties at inopportune moments for the last several holes.
“Shh,” Pete said with his finger over his lips. She made a face at him and he smiled.
Jackson’s swing was a thing of beauty. Pete actually wandered up to Jackson’s side, his eyes following the ball as it bounced onto the green and rolled toward the cup.
“You suck,” he said. “You almost got a hole in one.”
Jackson grinned and whipped his hat off. He walked over to Sabrina and pressed it onto her head, then turned to slip his club into his bag.
“That was very pretty,” she said, brushing against him.
“Thanks. I’m pleased with it.” Jackson draped his arm across her shoulders.
Peter set his ball, squinted into the sun, and rose to the occasion, proving he was no slouch at sports either. His club was still coming back down when Tanya leaped on him, attaching herself like an alien creature and sucking the breath right out of him. She slowly drew back and slid down to her feet. There was a dazed look in his eyes and he swayed a little, but what really amused Sabrina and Jackson were his bright red ears. The man was toast.
On their way to the women’s tee, Jackson watched Sabrina for telltale signs of pain or strain. “How’s the stiffness?”
“About the same.”
“I told you not to bother with the white lies. I can tell you’re slowing down.”
“Maybe just a little.”
“How about a soak in the Jacuzzi when we get home?”
“Mmm. I’m thinking you’re too good for me.”
“Being good to you and too good for you are two different things. You always get them mixed up.”
“Do I?” she asked with a smile.
He tugged her close and kissed her temple. “Yes, you do,” he whispered.
“I think I love you.”
“I know you do.”
She laughed. “And I think you love me.”
“Babe, I was a goner the second I saw you.”
“The second time you saw me.”
“Checking out my boys.”
“How many times do I have to tell you I was staring at your butt? You just happened to turn and catch me with my eyes in the same vicinity.”
“You’ve got a strange fixation.”
“Not from my angle, and you like my butt.”
“I love your ass.”
“There you go.”
“I’m getting better at this,” Tanya said brightly after her ball landed right where she wanted it.
“That wasn’t bad, not bad at all,” Jackson said, acknowledging her effort.
“I can still surprise,” she said, strutting away.
Peter hooked her around the waist and spun her against him. “You don’t have to convince me.”
She stretched into his kiss and grinned over at Sabrina. “Bionic woman, you’re up.”
“Bionic woman,” Sabrina muttered and bent to plunge her tee into the grass. She looked over at Jackson and smiled. “Do it. Hit me with it one more time.”
“Keep your head down,” he said, smiling back.
Even Sabrina felt how right this swing went. She turned back with a huge smile and asked, “Did that look as good as it felt? It felt fantastic!”
Jackson tugged her club out of her hand. “That was by far your best yet.”
When everyone was finally on the green, Jackson walked over and lifted the flag. He turned to Sabrina. “Sweetheart, would you go into that pocket on my bag and get me a marker so I can move my ball out of the way?”
“Sure.”
She bent and drew down the zipper. A red velvet jewelry box tumbled right into her hand. Sabrina’s mouth fell open and she turned in shock—to find all three smiling at her.
Chapter 33
Sabrina looked at Tanya. “You knew about this?”
“Just for a couple of weeks.”
“A couple of weeks?”
Tanya shrugged. “Give or take.”
Jackson slowly wandered over, the flag lying on the ground behind him. “Aren’t you going to look at it?”
Sabrina stared at the box in her hand, her tears distorting her vision. It was pretty, a deep glossy red with gold trim. “Is this what I think it is?” she asked, with a hitch in her voice.
Jackson smiled. “Quite possibly.”
“You’re asking me to marry you?”
He stepped directly in front of her and scrunched down so they were eye level. The love in his eyes was so deep she could have drowned in it.
“I know we talked about this. Consider it an engagement, if that makes you more comfortable. It can last however long we want. Accepting my ring doesn’t mean we have to set a date right now. We don’t need to rush the rest.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, just a little confused. For a guy who thought the future hurtling toward him was going to give him a serious windburn, he was certainly throwing her off guard. But then he always did.
Jackson took the box out of her hand and spun it toward her. Tanya and Peter moved in on either side as he flipped the lid open. All three gasped at the beautiful ring with the starburst pattern of diamonds and rubies around a brilliant center diamond.
“To the moon,” he whispered with a strange little smile.
Sabrina could feel her heart hammering away under her palm. “Jackson, it’s b
eautiful. Are you sure about this?”
His eyes were soft, his smile warm. “It’s a one-of-a-kind. I had it made especially for you, so yes, I guess you could say I’m sure.”
Sabrina’s eyes flickered to Tanya, who was nodding desperately back at her.
“I’m sure, too,” Sabrina said with a helpless laugh and drew it out of the box.
“Wait,” Jackson said. He tossed the box to Tanya and snatched the ring back. “Let’s do this right.” He took Sabrina’s hand and slid the ring over her finger himself, kissing her knuckle as it settled into place.
“It fits perfectly,” she said in surprise.
“It better. I borrowed your pearl ring to make sure it was sized right.”
“Sneaky.” Sabrina wrapped her arms around his waist and held tight.
Jackson kissed her hair, her forehead, then eased back and tipped up her chin. “I really love you,” he said, his lips brushing hers before deepening into a full-blown kiss.
Sabrina was lightheaded when they finally came up for air, with no comprehension of how much time had passed. All they knew, all they understood, was that everything was better when they were together.
She laid her cheek against Jackson’s chest and laughed when she realized that Tanya and Peter had made themselves scarce.
“I suppose we better bring them back,” Jackson said with a laugh and waved them over. “Now sink your putt, because we’re all waiting on you.”
Sabrina couldn’t take her eyes off the ring on her finger. It was so distracting it took her three putts before she finally got her ball in the hole.
They turned in their clubs, visited the restrooms again, and headed back to their cars. As the women embraced, Sabrina realized something.
“We forgot to ask the guys about tonight.”
Tanya shook her head and smiled. “Forget it. I already knew Jackson wanted you all to himself, but I couldn’t exactly say anything, either.”
“That’s right,” Sabrina said with a laugh. “You know, I never thanked you for making me play that stupid Dating Game.”
“It wasn’t me. You would have gotten your man on your own.”
Sabrina looked over at Jackson and her heart melted. “I don’t know. I think you helped it along. That situation forced us to sit down and hold peace talks. We were practically enemies, hostile on sight.”
“Come on, there was a whole lot of lust rumbling around between you, too.”
Sabrina blushed. “Yeah, pretty hard to deny that.”
“That’s a beautiful ring. I’m so happy for you.”
They hugged again, and as Sabrina stepped back and right into Jackson, she turned with a laugh.
He smiled. “Are you ready?” He reached out to open the car door for her.
“Willing and able,” she said and waved good-bye to the other couple.
****
They made out in the elevator. Why break with tradition? Sabrina swayed and danced behind him as he unlocked the apartment door, and he took advantage, whisking her into his arms as the door swung open and spinning her inside. With a little tip of their bodies, they sent the door swinging closed.
“Hey!” She gasped at the music, the flowers, the candlelight, and the amazing aroma in the air.
Jackson grinned. “I know how you like candles.”
“Among other things. This is so romantic.” Her eyes took everything in and she smiled with delight. “What if I’d said no?”
“You weren’t going to say no.”
“You were that sure of yourself?”
“No. Just pretty sure I knew you.” He kissed the tip of her nose, then moved down to brush across her lips. She moaned and pressed against him, obviously eager to take it deeper, but he moved back, shaking his head. “Not yet.”
Sabrina was on her way to a perfect pout when she noticed there were two strangers working in their kitchen, discreetly looking away.
She stepped back with a blush. “We’re having a catered dinner?”
“Surprise.”
He took her hand and drew her over to the counter. A man and woman in white jackets looked up now and smiled at them.
“Welcome home,” the woman said. “Champagne?”
“Please,” Sabrina said, leaning into Jackson. He looped his arm around her and squeezed.
The woman popped the cork and poured out two glasses. Jackson picked up the first flute and handed it to Sabrina, then took up his.
“Thank you,” he said and coaxed Sabrina out of the kitchen.
“Did you see the table?” she asked as they wandered out to the balcony.
“Stunning.”
“I can’t get over how good it smells in there. Tell me what we’re having.”
“It’s a surprise.”
“You’re full of those today. How did you pull all this together?”
“Ah, here’s where having an incredible secretary comes in handy. Marjorie is amazing. I told her what I wanted to do, and she got on the phone with Simon and Chloe’s favorite caterers and, voila, just a few questions about the menu and they pulled all this together.”
“But how did they get in here when we were gone?”
“I asked my mom to hang around.” He grinned. “Don’t look at me like that. She’s never abused her spare key. The last thing she’d want to do is drop in on us while I’m busy making a woman out of you.”
She crinkled her nose at him. “Ha, ha.”
“Anyway, someone had to be here for the flower delivery. She was more than happy to set out the arrangements and light the candles.” He cocked his head and frowned. “Sounds like she picked the music, too.”
Sabrina laughed. “It’s beautiful. Leave her alone.”
Jackson smiled and looked deep into her eyes. “How about drinking to the future with me?”
“I’d drink to that.”
They gently tapped their stemware together, and he added, “Thank you for saying yes.”
“Thank you for asking.” Sabrina took another sip, then wandered over to the railing to look out across the river and the city. “I still remember my first time here like it was yesterday,” she said, reminiscing.
He joined her at the railing. “I remember it too.”
She scanned the horizon, a soft smile on her face. “What do you remember?”
He chuckled. “I’m afraid that’s privileged information.”
“Oh, no,” she said, turning to face him. “Nice try, but I’m on the inside now, babe, so you better dish.”
His eyes were dancing over the rim of his glass as he took a drink. “Okay. I remember thinking that with you down for the count I was probably the safest I’d ever be around you.”
Sabrina laughed, and he winked at her.
“I was completely wrong, of course. I had to go and undress you. I blame that sexy-as-hell underwear of yours.” She blushed. “You looked so good in my bed. I could barely walk I was so damn hard.” Sabrina shook her head, laughing at the picture he was painting. He went on. “I remember sneaking a peek at your luscious naked bottom in the mirror the next morning when you asked me to set up the shower for you.”
“You didn’t!”
“I did. I remember you singing in the shower.”
“I don’t sing in the shower.”
“You sing in the shower.”
“I thought I was quiet.”
“Nope.”
She smiled. “My turn.” She looked past him as she relived that morning. “I remember waking up in this incredible bed, in this amazing room, and feeling seduced by everything. Then I ambled into the bathroom and thought it couldn’t get any better than that.”
Her eyes came back to him and there was an astonishing amount of love and tenderness in them. “But then you walked in and caught me with my head in the sink. Do you remember that?”
He chuckled. “I remember.”
“You blew your room, the bed, even your fantasy shower out of the water. They couldn’t compete. I couldn’t take m
y eyes off you. Seeing you in the doorway wearing nothing but silk boxers was more than I could ignore or forget. I didn’t want to leave. I didn’t want to keep my hands to myself, and I really wanted your hands on me—bad.”
He leaned in and kissed her. “Anytime.” He lifted her hand to look at the ring. “This looks good on you.”
“I love it. I love you.”
A sudden motion in the apartment caught his eye and Jackson turned, acknowledging the man’s wave with a nod. “I think dinner is ready. I hope you’re hungry.”
Jackson pulled out Sabrina’s chair for her before choosing the chair on her left for himself. He didn’t want to be any farther away than that, and it was enjoyable to be able to watch the two professional cooks busy in their kitchen. Rob would be so jealous, being the total foodie that he was.
They were served fresh green salads first, with light balsamic vinaigrette on the side. When that was finished, fresh seared asparagus followed.
“This isn’t even in season yet,” she said excitedly as she cut through a spear.
Jackson grinned and enjoyed his own.
Their empty Champagne flutes were moved aside and a bottle of Chardonnay was uncorked and poured into fresh glasses.
“Mmm,” she said with a happy wiggle. “I can hardly wait to see what’s next.”
Jackson looked over her shoulder and smiled as the two plates were brought over.
Sabrina gasped. “Oh, my god.”
“Be careful, ma’am, this is right out of the oven,” the woman warned her.
Sabrina was tearing up at the split lobster in front of her. “Is this what it looks like?”
Jackson squeezed her hand. “Lobster Thermidor.”
“I’ve always wanted to try this,” she said, her emotions getting away from her. “It just seemed like way too much work.”
“It is, but you’re worth it. Try it.”
Sabrina pressed the back of her hand to her damp eye, then picked up her fork with a soft sniffle.
“Oh,” she said, groaning. Her eyes rolled back in ecstasy. “This is sooo good.”
Jackson leaned over and asked softly, “Do I need to send them away?”
She gave his arm a gentle swat. “Cut it out. I’m in heaven here, so don’t mind me.” Then she took a sip of wine and her eyes popped.