Grand Parade (Show Time Fever Book 1)

by Lilliana Rose

  “Oh.” Megan pressed the okay option in the pop up window.

  “Go and see him. Either way, maybe it works, maybe it doesn’t but you’ll know for sure and can move forward. Or at least get on with the work you’re hired to do.” Her tone was light and Megan knew that Helen wasn’t having a go at her with the last comment.

  “I’ll just pick a few photos for you, then I’ll… ” She let her voice fade away.

  Jackson walked past the window of the office. She followed him with her gaze, soaking in his image. He looked as hot as he had this morning when they kissed. Maybe even hotter, if that was at all possible.

  “Exactly,” said Helen.

  He pushed open the door to the office. Megan couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her pulse increased as he approached. What do I say? She’d spent at least an hour going over what she should or shouldn’t say to him and now her mind seemed to melt at the first sight of him.

  “Hey, Megan.”

  “Hi.” She managed to squeak out.

  He stood in front of her. Awkwardly, twisting his hands together, before shoving them in to his tight moleskin jeans. Megan quickly looked up into his blue eyes before getting distracted with the wrong part of his body. Well the right part, but it wasn’t the right time. They needed to talk first, but the words had evaporated on her tongue, and she blamed the heat that surged through her body at the sight of him.

  “I’m sorry about before.”

  Megan could see he looked more than uncomfortable. Her mouth dried and she couldn’t speak.

  “How about we go for a drink?” He glanced over to her boss. “I mean a coffee.”

  “I’ve got some photos to sort first.” Megan clamped her mouth shut. She was so used to putting work first.

  “Oh, okay then–“

  “Take a break. Come back after and you can look at the photos,” interrupted Helen.

  “Thanks.” Megan stood up and grabbed her bag, and followed Jackson out of the office and out into the noise of the show.

  “I wanted to apologise for earlier,” said Jackson as they walked over to the Agricultural shed where they had coffee the other day after her accident with Bruce. “Julie is a friend. She wants more, but I don’t.” He stopped and looked at her.

  Megan almost felt his ardent gaze. She believed him. Her mouth dried. She was relieved to hear that. The pull towards him was as strong as ever, even after the interruption with Julie this morning.

  “I know you’ve just met me, and have every right to be angry, because of Bruce, then Julie this morning, but please believe me when I say that there’s no one else. I want to know you more.” He reached out and took her hand. Warmth flooded over her skin, sending a bolt of pleasure through her body. “Nothing more for now, just to get to know you.”

  Megan wasn’t sure whether to be disappointed or not. She wanted more. Especially now as he held her hand politely. He was such a gentleman, even though every nerve in her body screamed for more than simply getting to know this guy. “Well, I can only take your word for it.”

  It was what her mum would’ve advised her to do. If he was worth anything further, he’d wait patiently. Even though she burned for him, and wanted to rip open his shirt and feel his chest muscles, she wasn’t about to sleep with him. Not yet. The tension she’d felt before Julie interrupted them this morning was beginning to return. It was his gentle eyes, and cheeky smile that melted her heart, and flamed her desires until she found it hard to resist.

  Jackson nodded thoughtfully, dragging his thumb over the top of her hand softly. “I know it didn’t look good with Julie this morning. I don’t know how to convince you otherwise.”

  Megan didn’t need convincing but she wasn’t about to make it easy for him. Especially because she felt like this towards him and the longer she stood here with him, the more she wanted him, in all ways. Both her heart and mind was made up. First, she needed to be sure before giving herself to him.

  “Let’s have a coffee, then see how things go.” She stopped herself from going up on her toes and kissing him. “I’ll not make any promises.”

  “Thanks, that’s real kind of you giving me another chance.” He held her hand.

  Megan didn’t pull away. Instead, she enjoyed the feel of his rough working hands on her soft skin, arousing deeper lustful feelings inside of her. She didn’t need to tell him that she’d made up her mind, because if things didn’t go well over coffee, she had the strength to walk away. Her world had already been disrupted enough by Jackson, and she wasn’t about to make it easy for him.

  An hour later, any worry she had eased. Jackson had her laughing and talking, and forgetting about the bumpy start between them.

  A horn sounded from her phone. Megan took it from her bag. “Is that the time? I should get back and finish work.”

  Jackson leaned over and touched her bare arm. His fingers sent little sparks of pleasure up her arm. “Come and see me afterwards?”

  The hesitation in his voice made her warm even further towards him. He’s so polite, so unassuming. Megan was sure he would have to feel the tension that was buzzing between them. She did, and it was sending her crazy not to act on it.

  “Sure.” She stood up from the table, and slung her bag over her shoulder. “I’m not sure how long it will take to edit the photos.”

  “That’s fine. I’ll be around the cattle shed.”

  Megan smiled. “Okay then. I’ll come by.”

  “Good.” He stepped towards her.

  Megan’s pulse spiked. She stood still. He leaned forward, placing his lips on hers. His heat eased into her mouth as he gently massaged his lips on hers, once, twice, then pressed his tongue tentatively at the entrance of her mouth, as if testing her taste. Then he pulled away, grinning ear to ear. “Maybe more of that.”

  Hell, yeah! Megan smiled back at him. And more than that. “I hope so.” Then with the last of her remaining self-control, she turned away. “See you later.”

  Chapter 8

  Megan found him lying back against one of his cows asleep. The cow, which was scarily huge, creamy color, flappy ears, legs folded underneath, chewing hay as if completely happy about being used as a pillow. She didn’t know how he could sleep beside an animal that could easily squash him.

  Jackson looked peaceful, chin dipped down to his chest. Light stubble on his jawline made him even more appealing. His hair tussled, his Akubra hat now on his belly, rising up and down slowly and deeply as he slept. His light blue-striped Wrangler shirt, looked freshly ironed and clean–even though all she could smell in here was cow manure with a hint of what she assumed was rotting damp hay from days of owning a rabbit when in primary school.

  The rabbit, Mr Wings escaped from his cage. She’d cried for a week and her parents refused to allow her any more pets. It was the extent of her animal handling experience. That and being kicked in the head by Bruce. She couldn’t see how it would work between them, but it was a more animal instinct that was drawing her to him, and right now that was driving the beat of her heart, the heat between her thighs, and ache in her breasts.

  Megan stepped forward, torn between wanting to watch him a little longer, sleeping peacefully, to waking him up and spending time with him. The show would end in four days. He’d go back to his farm where he belonged, and she’d stay in the city.

  She took a deep breath. She could tell he was totally into the farming lifestyle by the way he casually nestled into the body of the cow, head on her belly, legs extended forward, feet crossed, not caring about the noise around him, or the filth that had to be under him. That was another thing she couldn’t do, sleep in all situations. She was a restless sleeper all the time.

  Waking him up because she wanted to spend time with him, and because she wanted to kiss him, and see where that led to, wasn’t something she’d ever expected. How do I wake him? What she wanted to do was to kneel down and kiss him. But, they weren’t quite at that point of familiarity and she was accurately aw
are of how forward such an action would be viewed.

  Suddenly, she was oddly jealous of the cow. Megan moved closer and cleared her throat hoping to wake him gently. Instead, the cow jumped, startled from the sound she’d made, bumping Jackson and jostling him out of his sleep. She stepped back, fearful of what the cow could do to her.

  He looked at her with a startled expression. His blue eyes darted around as he took in his surroundings and then rested on her. He smiled. She felt her heart kick-start with a heavy thud as she looked into his eyes, which reflected calmness to her.

  “Hey, you found me.” His voice deep and soothing without a hint of anger at being woken so abruptly.

  “Sorry.” She couldn’t believe how suddenly hot it was.

  He reached forward and grabbed her hand, tugging her closer to him. “Come sit here.”

  The softness in his eyes convinced her to trust him. Her pulse pumped harder. Megan knelt down and went to sit close to him.

  “Not there,” he said as her backside rested on the hay.

  “Why?” Megan looked at him questioningly, confused by the mixed message. Then something wet soaked through her jeans. She turned to look at what could be the source.

  “Oh.” She sat in fresh manure.

  Jackson stifled a laugh.

  “It’s not funny.” Megan scrambled to get up.

  “It is, well sort of.”

  Megan twisted her body around to see the damage on the back of her jeans. A brown smear went almost the length of her thigh. Then there was the smell.

  “It’s not that bad,” said Jackson.

  “I’m going to have to go home now.” Disappointment slowed her pulse. This wasn’t what she was hoping how things would unfold with Jackson.

  “Here turn around and let me see.” He sat up on his knees, put his hands on her hips, and pushed her to turn.

  “Hey.” She didn’t have time to resist him, besides the placement of his hands on her hips sent neurons firing in her mind, and heat thundering through her body. She was embarrassed about having manure on her and the smell, and then this guy who was hot, checking out her arse. Heat flushed on her cheeks.

  “You’ve not really looked at the shit I sat in, have you?” Megan twisted to look at him. He pushed on her hips with the right amount of pressure so she couldn’t turn.

  “Now, that you mention it, your arse is pretty damn sexy.”

  Megan clamped her jaw shut, as more heat filled her face. “I stink, am covered in poo, and you think my arse is sexy?”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Her breath caught in her throat at the unexpected compliment. His hands relaxed on her hips, and she turned around. She glanced down at him. Jackson was on his knees, looking up at her.

  “I didn’t think you’d be the type to get on your knees so quickly.” Megan raised her eyebrow. The cheeky comment resulted in Jackson’s cheeks reddening.

  “You’re providing good motivation for me.” He squeezed his hands on her hips, sending an ache of wanting through her body.

  “Well, sorry but the motivation is gone. I’m a mess and have to clean up, so I’m going home.” Megan went to move away, but his grip tightened.

  “No, you’re not.”

  “You can’t want me like this …”

  “I do.”

  “No.”

  “Well, not quite like this.” He stood up and pulled her body against his. “You’re wearing a few too many clothes, and now I’ve got the perfect excuse to get them off of you.” He pressed his lips on hers.

  Megan welcomed his softness as he kissed her, pulling away for a second, then pressing forward again, soft and sweet, fueling the yearning within her. The next kiss she opened her mouth a little, letting him in. His tongue pushed tentatively on the tip of hers.

  His taste tingled on her taste buds, hot and sweet with a touch of salt. It made her want him more. His lips slipped off hers, sucking softly, before returning to hers with a more forceful intent. She received him willingly, using her own tongue to taste him further. Each time she wanted more. She rested in his embrace, allowing the kiss to transport her to that place where it was only them. A sound of pleasure escaped her lips.

  Jackson pulled away, keeping his arms strong around her. “I should get you cleaned up.”

  His kisses had primed her. Her body quivered with anticipation. “Yes. And you’re wearing too many clothes yourself.”

  She tilted her head up and stole a quick kiss from him. He groaned, pressing himself into her, hard against her. She responded by pushing herself into him, enjoying the feel of him, wondering what it would feel like to touch, and suck more of his body. Her cheeks flushed with the thoughts that were mounting in her mind.

  She didn’t care for him cleaning her up. She wanted hot passionate sex. With the electric buzz between them, she was getting weak in the knees because this was something that was going to happen. Soon. Very soon. The muscles low in her abdomen squeezed tightly, contracting with anticipation, sending a rush of moisture between her thighs.

  “We better get somewhere quiet before I take you here and now.” He closed his eyes, kissed her. Then as if it were a chore to do so, pulled away from her. “This way.”

  Jackson took her hand in his. Again the mix of roughness and softness of his hands aroused further desire. She let him guide her down the aisle, past the cattle that no longer frightened her. Walking reminded her of the dampness on her jeans. The smell she couldn’t detect, because of the earthy smells of animals and manure in the shed. She giggled.

  “What’s funny?” Jackson glanced at her.

  “Just that I fit in here because I smell like animals.”

  “Hey, I take offense to that. I don’t smell like animals.” Jackson put on a hurt expression.

  “That’s not what I meant.” She squeezed his hand. “I meant that I couldn’t smell myself because I blend in with my surroundings.”

  “Oh.” Jackson looked a little confused. “You want to smell like animals?”

  “No. I’m not as self-conscious because I smell like everything else in the shed.”

  “You want to leave on your jeans?” He stopped walking, turned, and looked at her. His confused expression was endearing.

  “Hell, no.” She reached up and kissed him. Hard. Flicking her tongue over his.

  “Good,” he mumbled between kisses.

  “And you smell like spice, with only a hint of animal.”

  “What?” He pulled away laughing. “No more kisses for you.”

  She pouted in mock disappointment. “No?”

  “Well, only for a second because I can’t keep my hands off you.” He kissed her once more. “We’re getting distracted and I want to get you naked.”

  Megan’s words caught in her throat. Her abdomen contracted again. She struggled to focus enough to walk with the anticipation coursing through her body.

  “Just a sec.” He let go of her hand and stopped at the end of the aisle where there were a number of bags and fold-up chairs. He rummaged through one of the bags.

  “What are you looking for?” His mum, Mary strolled over. She wore blue jeans and a brightly colored ruby top, making her look very much like she was from the country.

  Megan felt a sudden heat take over her cheeks as she looked at Jackson’s mum.

  “Where are those wipes you always have?” Jackson kept taking things from his mum’s bag.

  “Stop. You’re making a mess.” Mary pushed him gently out of the way. “Honestly, Jackson, they were right here at the top. What do you need them for?” She held up a white packet of baby wipes.

  Megan didn’t think she could go any redder, but she was pretty sure she did.

  “Megan sat in cow manure,” he said matter-of-factly.

  Mary turned to look at her. “You’ll need more than these.”

  “They will be a start at least,” said Megan. She wanted to get out of here.

  “Your head looks better,” said Mary.


  “Thanks.” Megan had forgotten about the bump. Jackson had that effect on her.

  “I think Julie would be a similar size to you. She’ll probably have a spare pair of jeans you could borrow.”

  Megan nearly choked. “Thanks.” There was no way she was going to put on a pair of Julie’s jeans.

  Mary’s face changed with recognition. “Oh. I mean … well did you want me to take your jeans and give them a bit of a wash under the tap. I’ve got some detergent here somewhere to wash the dishes, it would be enough to get you home without the stains on your jeans.” She stepped forward to look in the bags there.

  “Mum, can I have the wipes?” Now, it was Jackson’s turn to go red.

  Megan put her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. She’d missed this nurturing side of having a mum around. “I’ll be fine with the wipes.”

  “Okay, okay, I was just helping.”

  Jackson took the wipes. “I’ll see you later.”

  He quickly took Megan’s hand and dragged her away.

  “Thanks, Mary,” Megan said quickly, not wanting to seem rude. It was his mum after all.

  Chapter 9

  “Where exactly are we going?” Megan suddenly realised the show was a very public place. While there was a certain appeal of pushing the boundaries she wasn’t about to do anything that would land her in trouble. No matter how hot her blood was pumping.

  “My sleeping quarters,” answered Jackson.

  Megan pulled to a stop. “Here?” She didn’t believe him.

  “Yeah.” He turned back looking surprised at her sudden reluctance. “You do want to … I mean if you don’t then that’s cool … well … I’ll be disappointed of course … you know I like you … God, I sound stupid.”

  “I haven’t changed my mind.” Megan put her hand on his arm. “I wasn’t aware people actually slept at the show. And to be honest, I would’ve thought you’d sleep with the cattle.”

  Jackson grinned, exhaling with obvious relief. “It’s nothing special, just down here.” He pointed, packet of wipes in hand.

  Megan looked where he directed. She couldn’t see anything that could possibly be classed as sleeping quarters. It was too noisy, too busy, and there were trucks lining up, cattle being unloaded, and a real background buzz from the noise from the sideshows that were about five hundred meters away.