“Good morning, ladies. Perfect timing, as always.”
“Get in, we’re about to make your day.” Naomi motioned to the backseat.
Jackson complied. His mood lightened considerably. He tried to settle back in the seat as Denise’s erratic driving took them through the downtown area, heading north.
“We’re taking you to where our girl works.” Denise spoke to him, as she caught his gaze in the rearview mirror.
“I’m grateful for your help.” Jackson couldn’t believe his luck kept. “I’m curious, though.”
“Yeah.” Denise shot him a glance over her shoulder.
“Why are you all so intent on helping me with Sara?”
“Call it an intervention. But, the truth is that only one of us pushed for this,” Naomi clarified. “I was the one in your corner. The twins, especially, wanted the life squeezed out of you.”
“Always knew they were vicious,” he tried to joke, but couldn’t muster a laugh.
“Remember before I pledged with Sara, you’d talk to me about her in science lab. You left those trust-fund babes to talk to the shy little girl from Ohio. My sorors didn’t know you until much later, but I got to witness that first blush of romance. I got to see how your face lit up when you talked about her. Even your boys couldn’t shake your lovesick attitude with their constant ribbing.”
Jackson recalled some of those cherished memories of Sara, as Naomi talked. Sarafina had captured his interest when she’d modeled for an art student. Her body cut a graceful portrait, with its elegant lines and soft expressions. Draped along a reclining chair, she looked like a queen of any continent. Posed in front of an assortment of clay pottery, her skin had gleamed its own shade of bronze with a hint of cinnamon coloring.
“What I want to know is what you plan to do if she doesn’t want you,” Denise’s voice intruded with harsh practicality.
Jackson shrugged. “I have two weeks to convince her otherwise.”
“And you think that you’re the man to do that,” Denise mocked. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you. We’ll all help you because my soror’s heart is weak enough to still want you.”
“She said that?” Jackson stared out of the window. He sounded pathetically hopeful. Hope was all he had. “What has she been up to? I can’t imagine that there isn’t someone in the background.”
“There was—” Naomi began.
“That’s for Sara to tell.” Denise turned to Naomi, not hiding their exchange of looks.
Sara with another man sickened him. But why should she stick around for him? Did this man still play a role in her life?
They rode the rest of the way in silence. Jackson didn’t mind. He wanted time to focus on what he wanted to say. The change from the busy downtown area to the more residential landscape quieted his mind from the unpleasant scenarios about Sara’s personal life.
Denise turned on to a university campus. The landscape had a New England quality with old English-style buildings and a backdrop of golden-and-brown hues heralding the incoming fall foliage. Jackson read the simple sign for Dickenson Women’s College. So this was where Sara worked, on a quiet campus nestled on the edge of an expansive field.
The layout of the campus provided an open setting with low-lying buildings dotting the tree-populated area. Several walking paths crisscrossed the acres, connecting buildings, like a busy beehive. Students milled around in various groups or as solitary figures sitting on benches or reclining under trees.
Denise pulled into a staff-only parking area and pulled up next to the curb. “Hop out, big man. Head down this path and make a right into the Clarendon Building. That’s where she teaches.” Denise stared at him in the mirror.
“Is she teaching at this minute?”
“Yep, but the class lets out in five minutes. Then she’ll have a two-hour break,” Naomi answered. “Jackson, she’s gone through a lot, but the girl you fell in love with is still in there.”
Jackson nodded, although he didn’t understand the cryptic advice.
“Give me a buzz when you’re ready.” Denise scribbled her number and handed it over to Naomi.
“Thanks.” Jackson took the note from Naomi and then stepped back onto the curb. He watched Denise head out of the parking lot, leaning on her horn as a few girls took too long to make their way through the crosswalk. He shook his head and then turned to face the unknown.
Jackson entered the building, scanning the lobby in case Sara stood among the students. No one paid him any attention as he slowly walked through the lobby. Although Denise had given him good information, he didn’t know what class Sara taught. He looked at his watch. Two minutes left before class ended.
Jackson opted for the right wing of the building. Afraid that time would sabotage his efforts, he ran down the hall, peeking into the small windows in the middle of each door. He made it toward the end of the hall with no sign of her. Which way to go? One option was to take the stairs to the next upper level, or stay on the current level and head down the left side of the building.
Undecided, he remained stuck pondering the pros and cons with little time left before classrooms emptied of their students. A group of young women approached one of the classrooms that he’d checked.
“Excuse me, have you heard of Sarafina Lovell?” Jackson asked.
“No,” the women responded in unison, barely giving him a glance.
“Thanks.” Jackson hated to have to call Denise so soon to tell her that he was ready.
“Were you asking about the professor?”
Jackson nodded at the woman who poked her head out of the room.
“Check room two-oh-two.” The woman pointed upward. “She’s my colleague. Check the second floor.”
“Gotcha. Thanks.” Jackson spun toward the stairwell and took the steps two at a time.
He hurried down the hall, running and slowing at each door. There was one room left with an open door. He ran forward, skidding into the doorway.
Sara looked up at him. Her expression went from a quiet blandness to shock. Dare he hope that a small smile crossed her lips before sternness descended, tightening her face into a formidable scowl.
“Oh, my gosh, Jackson, why do you keep popping up?”
“Again, I got a little help.” Jackson smiled sheepishly.
“The party is over. There’s no need to hang on,” Sara stated. She busily stuffed papers into her briefcase.
“My partying days are long gone.” Jackson plunged ahead with his request. “How about coffee?”
Sara didn’t want to think about coffee. More important matters came to mind…like Jackson invading her space again. Whether he came in peace or as conquering hero, he dominated her senses.
“Coffee would be fine,” she said after a moment. She approached him, but stopped at the doorway. “Let’s head to the food court. You first.” Sara waited until he pushed off the door frame and walked from the room.
Now, it was official. Jackson looked good, coming as well as going. His height at six-one turned her on. While her friends went for the pretty-boy, metrosexual, clean-perfection types, she liked the rugged physique that Jackson sported. The thin, faint scar along the side of his face—from a polo accident—gave him character. She remembered teasing him that he needed to lay off multitasking on a horse.
Sara maintained her silence on the way to the coffee shop. Occasionally she caught Jackson looking at her, but did her best to keep her expression muted. He certainly didn’t need to know that his presence short-circuited what little sense she had. Just the tilt of his head when something intrigued him or a raise of an eyebrow when he was trying to get a point reminded her of how much she knew Jackson. He was supposed to be her one and only friend, lover and husband. He’d claimed to be her protector in life. But she didn’t know that she’d need protecting from him. Armed with this thought, she strengthened her resolve to stay firm against his efforts.
“Hear me out before you jump to a decision,” Jackson offered.
He nodded, then frowned. “But you kissed me.”
“Yeah, I used you for my own selfish impulses. Kind of like what you did to me.”
“No other motivation?”
Sara looked up at the ceiling, biting her lip as if pondering the question. Then she gave him her undivided attention and shrugged. “Nope. No other motivation.”
“That kiss reminded me of old times.” Jackson reached for her hand.
Sara pulled her hand under the table and immediately placed her other hand around the coffee cup. She could lie about the kiss, as long as she didn’t have any physical contact with Jackson.
If he held her hand, and said anything remotely complimentary, she might swoon and be a weak mess. Regardless of whether she wanted to allow Jackson into her life, her body lobbied for more instances when their lips could touch in a sensual reunion.
“You talk about our past as if we parted friends,” Sara said with deliberate harshness to her tone.
“I’ve always kept a soft spot for you.”
“I suppose this soft spot varied depending on the woman you were courting. You see, I figured that I was your test case for dumping any future unwanted women. You know, kind of like a starter wife.”
“I thought that I was doing what was right at the time.”
“And you were because we saved having to go through our eventual breakup. Your family and all their demands have enslaved you totally. I couldn’t compete from my side of the tracks.”
“After a couple of years, I know better. I’m here in Chicago because of you and no one else. There is no one back home waiting for me. I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t date. But I couldn’t move past you. I even bought a house with you in mind, remembering what we’d discussed about our family home.” Jackson drained his coffee and set down the cup with a sharp tap. “We have unfinished business. Tell me that you don’t feel something. Tell me that it’s all in my head, Sarafina.”
This man didn’t play fair. Saying her name in a soft voice reminded her of their past, when their youthful ideals had them planning a long, happy life together in love and in marriage. But her heart had been hurt, not once, but twice.
“Jackson, let’s not whitewash the issues that stood between us. Your family didn’t want me in your life and most certainly not as part of the clan. I’m sure that you have remorse, otherwise, you’d truly be a coldhearted dog.”
His body flinched with the impact of her words. He remained silent.
“But in your zeal for a reunion, I don’t want you to mistake regret for anything like love. I’m still looking for that elusive thing called love. And in the meantime, I’ve had my heart trampled. I’m taking a breather, but I’m not ready to give up.” Her voice wavered slightly. “Make no mistake though, I’m also not planning to settle on your version of love and honor, as substitutes.” Sara pushed back her chair, rose and stuck out her hand. “Goodbye, Jackson.” She shook his hand, keeping her gaze on his wide hand, which dwarfed hers.
He hadn’t responded.
She grabbed her pocketbook and left the shop to head back to the campus building. No more than a few seconds later, she had to reach in her bag to retrieve a tissue for the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
Chapter 3
Two days later, Jackson still couldn’t accept the current state of affairs of being frozen out of Sara’s life. Denise and Naomi were no help in providing him with information about Sara’s other “bad experience.” The fact that he led the list rubbed him raw.
His way of dealing with his guilt was to bury himself in work with exhaustive ten-and twelve-hour days. Dating and hanging out with friends didn’t happen frequently. Three years after that fateful day, he’d emerged a more successful businessman backed by a powerhouse of a family business. And yet, he yearned for only one woman.
He popped open a can of soda and settled back in the driver’s seat. The word stalker popped into his mind, but he rationalized that unlike those degenerates, he meant no harm. With the late afternoon hour, he expected the campus to be empty of most students. Instead, the area resembled a shift change in a factory. There was always a large number of students going to and from the campus library, even on Saturdays.
Not too long afterward, Sara emerged from the building, her arms laden with books. She looked like one of the students dressed in jeans and a college sweatshirt. A pencil stuck in her ponytail completed the image. Jackson hesitated briefly before getting out of the car.
“Need help?” He opened his arms for her to transfer some of the load. Instead, she pulled the bundle closer to her chest.
“Stop this, Jackson,” she said.
“Last time, you had your say. I want a chance to have my say,” he challenged.
“That’s childish.” Sara stopped abruptly. “I don’t have time to deal with you. I’m heading out of town on a research assignment. You can drop me an e-mail.” She veered off onto another path where the sidewalk split, and walked toward the staff parking lot.
Jackson allowed her the comfort of walking ahead of him. With the view from behind, he had no complaints. The sweatshirt hung loose on her frame. The jeans, however, hung low on her curvy hips. And he loved a woman with a little meat on the bones, he thought.
He observed her awkward maneuver to open her car door and throw her bundle into the backseat. Since assisting her would draw more heat, he didn’t try. Instead he hovered, just in case. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Where are you headed?”
“I’m not telling.”
“Then I’ll follow.”
“You’re being extremely stubborn and annoying.” Sara ran her hand over the strands of hair that had gotten loose with her exertions.
“I seem to remember that trait, in particular, made me adorable,” he teased.
“Yeah, well, I’m no longer a wide-eyed, college coed waiting for her man to swoop her off her feet. There’s nothing adorable about you.” Her nostrils flared, as anger underlined her words.
“I’m not buying that. You used to think I was adorable because the color of my eyes reminded you of toffee crunch. And I’ve long eyelashes that you’d kill for. One particular night of passion, when you were on top, you said the slight slant to my eyes gives me an exotic edge. Do you want me to recite your further admiration for each of my body parts?” He offered a wide, mischievous smile.
“Be quiet, Jackson.” Sara shook her head. Her eyes traveled the length of his body before she turned away.
He recognized a blush when he saw one. Mission accomplished. His smile widened and he was suddenly full of confidence.
“I see you haven’t lost your arrogance,” Sara accused.
Jackson shrugged. “Ready to tell me where you’re going?”
“I’m heading north to interview a reclusive author for a project. I’ll be out of town for a few days. I’ll probably miss your departure.”
He noted her lack of remorse. “I hope that I’m not running you out of town.”
Sara leaned against the car door and folded her arms across her chest. “Unlike you, I have to work for my living. I don’t have time to play the reunion game with you any longer.”
Jackson ignored the jab. He walked over to the passenger side, noting the unlocked doors, and got in.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Sara jumped in the driver’s seat. Her brow furrowed deeply.
“I’m going with you. I figure it’s more cost-effective and efficient if we travel together.”
Sara stared at him for several seconds before sighing heavily. She started the car and reversed out of the parking lot. “Jackson, where is your car?”
He pointed to the rental in the other general parking lot. He was unperturbed when she drove and stopped next to his car.
“Out!”
“Okay.” He placed his hand on the door handle. “I’ll go, but only if you let me kiss you.”
Sara turned her head
toward the window. “I don’t believe you.” She exhaled and turned to face him. “Fine. If that’s going to get you to move on, go ahead—kiss.” She offered her cheek, her lips drooped quite slack and her gaze fixed on an unknown spot beyond the windshield.
Her affected disinterest didn’t matter. If she’d have objected, he wouldn’t have pushed it. But he knew when to spot an opportunity and take the plunge. For now, he wanted to be near her.
Jackson leaned forward until he was millimeters away from the gentle, vanilla-scented lips. He was feeling a bit cocky. “If I kiss you and make you moan, then I get to come with you.”
Sara’s neck snapped back. “Have you lost your mind?” She shook her head, and the frown hadn’t left. “I’m not playing games with you. Get out, Jackson.” She pulled out her lip balm, increasing the vanilla scent. She ran the balm over her lips. “You’ve got a lot of nerve if you think that you can change my mind with a kiss.”
“Prove me wrong.” Jackson didn’t believe in the power of a kiss, but heck if he was going home without feeling her in his arms once more. Playing dirty was his only option.
“Fine.”
Jackson slowly brushed aside her hair. He wanted to admire her perfect, oval-shaped face with its small, delicate features. Her beautiful brown skin matched the color of hot chocolate with a hint of cream. Gently with his thumb, he touched her soft lips, which had shifted into a pout, like Cupid’s bow.
Her lips parted under his ministrations. For a few seconds, she held her breath, before exhaling a rush of warm air. Cupping her face, he shut out any space between them with the crush of his lips upon hers.
He paid homage to her mouth, kissing her small, luscious bottom lip before honoring her equally full top lip. Damn the cup holder between the car seats separating them. He wanted to pull her onto his body so that his hands could fully embrace her.
His pulse leaped when Sara’s muted reaction stirred to life with gentle enthusiasm. When she finally proffered an invitation for him to enter her mouth, he followed her bidding with an eager tongue to honor her.
No One But You Page 3