Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36665 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 183(@200wpm)___ 147(@250wpm)___ 122(@300wpm)
“It’s been slow.”
"Cole, can I take my girl home?” Jackson asks across the bar for everyone to hear. It makes me smile, but still, I hide my face in his chest, feeling shy. Jackson doesn’t try to hide the fact that we’re a thing. I’m not sure what that thing is, but right now, I’m his.
“Yeah, we’re dead tonight,” Cole says.
Jackson gives my ass a squeeze. “Go get your stuff, princess.”
“All right,” I agree. Before releasing his hold on me, Jackson drops a kiss on the top of my head. I do one last check on the tables I was serving before I head to the back to get my things. When I come out, Cole and Jackson are talking.
Jackson wraps an arm around me, leading me out of the bar. I don’t miss the few glares I get from some of the local girls.
“You know you’ve got a fan club,” I tell him on our drive back home. His home, I mentally correct. Well, one of his homes. Jackson doesn’t actually live here full-time. This place is just for when he’s in town.
That is probably something I should be thinking about. I need to find somewhere more permanent. I don’t want to go back to the motel whenever Jackson decides he wants to head back to the city. He hasn’t told me how long he’s staying. June said he never stays more than a handful of days. It’s well past that now. I’m sure he’ll be heading out any day now. A sense of loss fills me at the thought of his departure.
"Fan club?"
"There are girls in this town that are in love with you."
He flicks a glance toward me. "I've never dated anyone from this town."
"It doesn't mean they aren't in love with you."
"Is someone giving you a problem, princess?" His tone is tight with irritation.
"No!" I rush to say. "A few dirty looks won't hurt me. They do tip like shit, though."
"You should quit."
"What?"
"You don't need to work there."
"I can't just quit."
"You can." Jackson pulls down his long driveway. I fold my arms over my chest, not wanting to fight with him. The second the truck stops, I get out. "Princess." I can hear the warning in Jackson's tone, but that doesn't stop me. I ignore him and head for the front door. I know he always wants to open the door for me. I suppose it's my small act of rebellion. "You wanna fight?" Jackson calls me right out on it. Okay, maybe I do.
"How can you just say that?" I throw my hands up.
"Because I think you're itching for a fight." He shrugs, strolling up toward the front door. He doesn't look pissed now. If anything, he's relaxed.
"Saying I should just quit! Then what?" I stomp my foot. "I have to feed myself and Tigger, get a place to live, and pay for my medications." My eyes start to fill with tears. "I don't even know what they cost, but I know it can't be cheap.”
"Princess." Jackson closes the space between us, pulling me into his arms. "Everything is going to be all right."
"No, it's not." I sniffle.
"You're killing me with the tears." He lifts me up, somehow managing to get the front door open while caring for me. When we get into the house, he sets me down on the kitchen island. "Hey." Jackson's hand comes to my chin, tilting my head back to meet his eyes. "I've got you."
To prove his point, he walks over to the refrigerator and opens it. He motions to the inside of the door, where there are boxes of insulin.
"How did you—" I trail off.
"I saw you were running low. I made a call. I got it set up for delivery. It will come monthly along with your sensors." He closes the refrigerator door. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.
"Monthly?" Jackson keeps doing all these things for me.
"That a problem?"
"But—" Again, I trail off. Jackson comes over to me, placing his hands on either side of my legs, caging me in.
“Talk to me, princess.”
“I don’t know where to start.”
“Anywhere that you want.”
“I’m scared,” I admit.
“Of what?” Jackson’s whole body goes solid, as if there is a threat and he is readying himself to take it on for me.
“Of losing you,” I whisper.
Jackson lets out a low chuckle, his whole body relaxing now. “Princess, if you should be scared of anything, it's the fact I’m never going to let you go.”
21
JACKSON
Paisley doesn’t flinch at my words or try to pull back. Instead, a small smile pulls on those plump lips of hers. I feel myself relax. I’d been pissed on the drive home. Until she got mad at me.
Whatever anger I had went up in a puff of smoke. She’d even stomped her foot at me. She reminded me of an angry kitten. Not that I’d ever tell her that it was one of the most adorable things I’ve ever seen.