by Amy Lyon
Considering what she’d been through, based on the small amount of history he knew, he had no intention of complicating her life.
Quite the opposite, actually.
Jackson was a sucker for a damsel in distress and even more of a sucker now that he saw this particular damsel was a lovely brunette with a tousled ponytail and tender, emerald green eyes. He cautiously pulled her into a loose side hug, moving slowly so she could stop him if she wanted to.
She relaxed into him and when she tipped her head to look up, he had to fight the urge to pull her into a full bear hug. He could soothe the wrinkles from her forehead in seconds if she’d let him.
But Sara Shaw needed a friend. Stability. Not some ex-Army guy overwhelming her with affection and insight into her personal life. He knew about pain and loss, too, but he’d managed to push the pain aside and move forward.
Albeit clumsily.
She unraveled the last bit of toilet paper and shoved the empty cardboard roll into her purse.
“I’ve got real tissues next door if you want me to grab them,” he offered, holding the front door open so she could enter the cottage when she was ready. “And a strong air freshener.”
She blew her nose and made a joke of sniffing the air as she stepped through the threshold. “The smell’s not bad,” she said and took a slow 360-degree turn around the living room[J357]. “In fact, this place is really cute.”
He was glad she thought so. With the help of Andi and her fiancé, Matt, Jackson had gutted the ’70s-style cottage Bob’s Bait Shop had used for storage and miscellaneous junk and turned the small space into a beachy oasis.
The cottage was cozy, and the concrete structure had strong bones and a chance at a new beginning, something he supposed Sara could use.
The project was good for him, too. Focusing on making someone else’s dreams come true helped him forget how his own life had taken a massive route change.
“Andi said you had a few items, dishes and things, and that you’d go shopping for the rest.”
“I’ll get them out of the truck tomorrow. I left most of my old stuff behind.”
Jackson tried to imagine the cottage through her eyes as he followed her across the living room and into the galley-style kitchen.
“I love the countertops,” she said, running a hand along the smooth surface.
“A friend of mine on the island makes countertops from recycled glass bottles.” He leaned against the refrigerator, the stainless steel helping to cool the sudden desire he had to learn more about her. “I have the same ones in my house.”
Sara bent over and examined the floating shards of glass encased in a clear epoxy. From his vantage point, the emerald green of the piece she ran her finger over perfectly matched her eyes.
She moved through the kitchen and stopped in the doorway of the large bedroom, where a blowup bed had been set up. She slipped off her sandal and ran a bare foot across the floor.
“This flooring is beautiful. Is it wood?”
“Tile,” he said and stepped around her to walk to the center of the large space. “It’s made to look like white-washed wood. Very durable and helps keep the place cool when Mother Nature turns up the heat. This is the same tile I have in my house.”
When Sara looked up at him, her eyes were filled with tears again.
“Oh, look,” Jackson said hurriedly, trying to ward off more tears. “This closet is huge. Girls love huge closets, right[J358]?”
Sara tried for a laugh, but the breath she let out quivered. Without thinking about his words, Jackson muttered details about the baseboards and the white shiplap paneling on the walls in an attempt to distract her from whatever emotional firestorm swirled inside of her.
“And look over here,” he said, gently pulling her in his direction. “There’s a full bathroom and one of those stackable washer and dryer sets. You don’t have to go to the laundromat.”
With something that sounded like a smothered sob, she nodded and tried for a smile. “You did all of this for me?”
Jackson pushed his hands into his pockets. “Well, yeah. I guess. I mean, I didn’t do it all myself. Andi and Matt were here almost every—”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why did you—” she looked out the bedroom window where a sliver of the ocean was visible through two palm trees. “You even have a bed ready for me.”
He held up his hands. “That was Andi’s idea. We thought you could use a little goodness in your life.”
She drew back into the doorway to the compact kitchen and leaned against the frame. “You have no idea how much I don’t deserve this,” she whispered and crossed her arms over her chest.
Jackson took two steps toward her, feeling an overwhelming urge to hold her in his arms. He stopped, though, when she added softly, “But even in death there is life, right?”
He let out a sigh. “Hey, I’m sorry I said that.” He crouched slightly to look into her eyes. “I know you’ve been through a lot and I just wanted to do what I could to make this transition easier for you.”
She shook her head and tears flowed more freely, glistening on the cheeks of her heart-shaped face. “It’s not what you said.” She shoved her hand into her pocket. “Well, it is what you said, actually.”
“Dang it,” he muttered.
Sara pulled her hand out of her pocket and unfurled her fingers to reveal a large silver coin.
He took the medallion and ran his thumb over the familiar butterfly emblem. He flipped the coin over and read the inscription: Even in death there is life.
To read the rest of Divine Connection, click HERE
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Acknowledgements
Behind every book is an amazing team. Special thanks go out to cover designer Robin Ludwig Design, and editor/proofreader Raina Toomey.
My wonderful family is the support system that helps me create Stories That Inspire, particularly my son, Wyatt, the most inspirational of them all. I love you to the moon and back and all around Disney World!
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[J351]If you mean Magic Eraser, te cleaning product, it should be capped.
[J352]Describe him a bit more here, other than handsome.
[J353]How does she know he isn’t a real customer of the previous bait shop, and she may have just offended him?
[J354]Since Jackson is best man for her cousin’s upcoming wedding, and a good friend to Andi and Matt, Andi would have presumably told Sara all about him. Even if she didn’t tell Sara “all” about him, she would have at least mentioned the name of Matt’s best man. It wouldn’t be out of place for Sara to compare the real Jackson to the mental picture she’d built of him, based on what Andi told her, or for her to know at least some basics about him – he’s a local business owner, he helped get the cottage ready (although that could be explained away by saying he’s been very helpful and welcoming to Andi, and the cottage is a surprise), he’s ex-military … he’s single, sweet and hunky …
[J355]Take care of it makes it less of an out-and-out lie for Jackson, more of a deflection.
[J356]How does he know? She should question that. Since he mentions Andi below, it needs to be made clear up here that he knows Andi and Matt.
[J357]When did they go inside?
[J358]:lol
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