Now she knew where Jackson got all those hard muscles. His work was incredibly physical. “What are you doing now while you’re waiting for the harvest?”
“Watching for pests and disease, mowing the orchards, checking on the other crops.” He shrugged. “There are always a million things to do.”
“You love it, don’t you?”
A slow smile slid across his face. For the first time since she’d met him, Jackson appeared relaxed and happy. “Yeah, I do. There’s no other life for me.”
She nodded. She’d already known that, sensed it, but now he’d confirmed it. If she got involved with Jackson it would be a short-term affair. His life was here and hers was back in New York with her sisters. But it would be an affair to remember for a lifetime.
“What about you?”
She shook off her thoughts. “What about me?”
He chuckled and the sound made her stomach clench. “Tell me about your work. About Sisters’ Jewels.”
She picked up her glass and took a sip of iced tea, wondering where to begin. Laying her glass on the table, she made a decision. “Maybe I can show you instead.” She pushed away from the table and disappeared into her room for a moment. When she returned, she had a box in her hands. “This came day before yesterday. I didn’t go outside,” she hurried to reassure him when he frowned. “The mailman left it on the back step and I got it after he left.”
“Good,” he nodded. “We can’t take any chances.”
Her heart stuttered when he said we. “Well, in any case, my sister sent along a few things.” She opened the box and pulled out some of the items inside. There were journals covered in ornate designs, including their signature jewel ones. Each journal cover was designed around the birthstone of that month. The color of the ink and the design itself were all focused on the birthstone and the corresponding flower. There was even a semiprecious birthstone set into each journal cover. These were one of their most popular sellers.
Emerald pulled out greeting cards with figures of ancient goddesses and some with Middle Eastern designs. There was stationery in various colors, including a perfume collection they’d done. The scented paper filled the air with the smells of rose, vanilla, jasmine and lavender.
There were also a few pieces of jewelry that Sapphire had designed. Emerald planned on giving one of the necklaces to Erin.
Jackson was just staring at the mound of merchandise she’d piled on the table. “Well, what do you think?” She hadn’t been this nervous since the first day they’d opened the doors on Sisters’ Jewels. For some reason, Jackson’s opinion was very important to her.
He pushed his chair back and stood. Coming around the end of the table, he reached out and touched one journal, then another. His long fingers gently traced the designs on all the items. Emerald almost groaned. She wanted his fingers on her, touching her skin. Her nipples tightened almost painfully as she watched him flick one of the stones set into the cover of a journal. Between her thighs, her sex clenched and her panties dampened.
“I think,” he began huskily, “that you’re an incredibly talented lady.” He picked up one of the journals and turned it over. His eyes widened at the discreet price tag on the back. “People must really like this stuff.”
The butterflies in her stomach settled a bit and she laughed. Only a man would call these amazing items stuff. “We do okay.”
He laid the journal back on the table and rubbed his hand over the back of his neck. He seemed tenser than he had been. She could almost feel him pulling away from her even though he was standing right next to her.
“I had no idea you were so talented.” He cupped the side of her face in his hand and she swayed forward, wanting to be closer to him.
“Thank you,” she whispered as his mouth moved closer to hers. She went up on her toes, unable to wait. She moaned when his lips touched hers. It had been too long and she’d missed this, wanted this with all her being.
Jackson forgot all about the worry gnawing at the pit of his gut as his mouth brushed against Emerald’s. He’d been dreaming of kissing her again, ever since that first explosive night. Truthfully, he’d been doing more than just thinking about kissing her. His imagination had run the whole gamut from slow to fast, from gentle to rough and everywhere in between.
He wanted to peel off her clothes piece by piece and savor every inch of her sweet flesh. He wanted to tear her clothes from her body and fuck her until they were both screaming with release. She had him so wrapped up in knots he didn’t know what he wanted. The one thing he did know was that he wanted Emerald and he’d take her any way he could get her.
His tongue stroked across her upper lip and then he nibbled on her plump bottom one. She whimpered and he wrapped his free arm around her back, urging her closer. His cock was thick and full as he pressed it against the soft swell of her belly. He groaned as she pressed against him. He’d hardly slept this past week, his nights spent lying awake, thinking about having Emerald beside him, on top of him and under him. His testicles ached they were so full and tight.
She’d pulled back and he’d respected her wishes, even though it had almost killed him. But now she was here and she wasn’t trying to get away from him. If anything, she was trying to get closer. Her hands fisted in his hair, tugging his mouth closer. He slid his tongue past her lips and barely stifled a moan when she sucked on it.
He forgot about the remains of their supper on the table, forgot about the fact that she wasn’t here to stay. His daydreams about her remaining with him were shattered the moment he’d seen her work and what people were willing to pay for it. She was too talented to bury herself in the middle of nowhere on a small family farm. But still, he could have her. If only for the time she was here.
His heart beat heavily and he ignored all the warnings in his brain. This woman was already under his skin. It would hurt when she left, regardless, so he might as well take whatever he could get, whatever she would give.
He pulled back and stared down at her. Her face was flushed, her lips red and pouty from his kisses. Her hair was piled on her head, but several long, black tendrils had come free of the knot. He hooked his finger in one of the curls, watching in fascination as it wrapped around him. Her dark brown eyes were wide and uncertain, but beyond that he saw the need, the same deep need that filled him. She wanted him. His body clenched and he lowered his head again.
The phone rang shrilly, shattering the moment. Emerald jumped back so quickly that she would have fallen if he hadn’t caught her. She stumbled against him and then smacked him in the nose with her head when she jerked away.
Swearing, Jackson reached out his hand and snagged the phone. “Connors,” he barked into the receiver. He turned to Emerald and barely swallowed another curse. She had her arms wrapped so tight around herself that her knuckles were white. She was once again closing herself off to him. “It’s your investigator.”
She stumbled forward and took the phone. “Dane?” She stood there listening and nodding for a minute and then hung up the phone.
“Well?” Jackson was in no mood to be pleasant. His dick was as hard as a spike, his balls throbbed and there was no relief in sight. And on top of that, he wanted to know what Hatcher had to say. No matter that Nathan had investigated Dane Hatcher thoroughly, Jackson didn’t trust the man. In this profession, he knew what to do to hide his tracks. The fact he didn’t trust the man had nothing to do with the fact that Hatcher had asked Emerald out.
She shook her head. “There’s no news. He’s still working, but so far, everyone on the list is checking out okay.”
Jackson nodded. It was no more than he’d expected. Unless the stalker was Hatcher himself or he was stupid, and he hadn’t been so far, he wouldn’t have left any obvious clues. They might never find him unless he made some mistake or came after Emerald, either here or when she went home. She couldn’t stay away from her life indefinitely and Jackson was afraid that the stalker was counting on that, waiting patiently for he
r to return home.
That got him to thinking. “Do you know anything about self-defense?”
She appeared startled by his abrupt change of subject. “Not really.” She started to pile the supper dishes. “I mean, I know as much as most women. Don’t walk in the shadows or on sparsely populated streets, keep your keys between your fingers as a weapon, don’t wear your purse slung over your shoulder if you can avoid it.” She laid the dishes on the counter and faced him. “Why?”
“Because this might not be over before you have to return home.” She paled, all the color leaching from her face. Jackson didn’t want to scare her, didn’t want to be the one to frighten her, but he was also realistic. “This stalker might just wait until you return.”
As he watched, she squared her shoulders and nodded. “I’ve considered that.”
“You need to learn some basic self-defense. It can’t hurt and might help.” He paused and then plowed ahead. He’d started this so he might as well finish it. “I can show you some moves.”
“Really?” He could tell from the look on her face that she was intrigued. He was just glad to see some of the color returning to her cheeks.
“Yeah. Nathan’s had a lot of training over the years and I’ve sparred with him out in the old barn. He can probably give you a few more pointers than me, but I could get you started.” His mind was sorting through what he knew, what would be of the best use to Emerald.
“You’d do that for me?”
He crossed his arms over his chest and frowned. “Of course.”
“Of course,” she repeated, shaking her head.
The room was closing in around Jackson. He’d almost swear he could smell her arousal even though that should be impossible. His body ached, his mind was racing and his heart was pounding. He had to get away before he did something they both might regret. “I’ll be out in the barn if you decide you want some pointers.”
Shoving the door open, he stepped out into the night. The air was still thick and the sun had a few hours before it sank below the horizon. Ignoring the pair of robins that flew past him, Jackson stalked to the old barn, thankful for the punching bag that hung from the rafters in one far corner. He’d set up the workout area years ago when he and Nathan were still in their teens. He’d never needed it as badly as he did tonight. If he didn’t work off some of his tension, he’d explode.
Chapter Ten
Emerald watched Jackson retreating through the screen door. She leaned against the doorframe, admiring the way his long legs ate up the distance between the house and the barn. Realizing that she was just standing there ogling his fine butt, she made herself turn away and finish clearing the dishes from the table.
Both Jackson and her investigator were right about one thing—the stalker might just decide to outwait her. Dane was working hard, but there were no obvious clues pointing to any one person. Several of the men were being more rigorously investigated, including her ex-boyfriend and Fred, the delivery guy, but that was mainly due to their proximity to her and their skills at computers. In the meantime, Abel and Nathan were still investigating Dane and the rest of the men on the list.
As she thought, she washed and dried the dishes by rote, her mind wandering. It really wouldn’t hurt for her to learn some basic self-defense moves. She probably would have taken a class or something if she’d stayed in New York. It had absolutely nothing to do with wanting to spend more time with Jackson. Really, it didn’t.
Grimacing, she hung the dishtowel up to dry. Who was she trying to kid? She wanted to be with Jackson. She was more drawn to him than any other man she’d ever met and it wasn’t just because of his exceptional good looks, although they certainly didn’t hurt. She loved the way he was with his family. If he didn’t see them, he at least talked to them on the phone every day. He was responsible and hardworking and there was no pretension about him. What you saw was what you got. Her parents and sisters would like him.
“Don’t go there,” she muttered to herself as she wiped her hands over the legs of her jeans. She was nervous, which was ridiculous. She’d just go out to the barn and get a few pointers from Jackson about self-defense and that would be that. If they happened to share a kiss or two, all the better.
“You’re losing it, Emerald.” Pushing the door open, she hurried down the steps and across the yard before she talked herself out of this. She had to make a decision, and soon. She couldn’t keep pulling him toward her and then pushing him away. That smacked of being a tease and that wasn’t something she was particularly proud of. Her emotions were just so all over the place.
“Maybe physical release is what you need,” she told herself as she neared the barn. She snorted as her mind immediately jumped to picturing her and Jackson locked in a tight embrace that had little to do with learning defense techniques.
Grunting sounds followed by the rhythmic thud of fists assailed her as she crept to the opening of the barn. She hadn’t been in here yet, but she admitted to being curious. It was a large building, older than the newer ones that Jackson had told her were used to store the apples during the harvest. This older one was used mostly as temporary storage for alfalfa and hay.
Making her way inside, she inhaled deeply. The scent of fresh-cut hay assailed her nose. It tickled her senses and made her smile, but that smile quickly faded as she strolled to the far end of the structure. The area was more like a large stall, but it had obviously been set up as a gym of sorts. There were free weights as well as a bench with a bar and more weights. But that wasn’t what Jackson was doing. No, Jackson had his shirt stripped off and was pounding on a punching bag that hung from a heavy beam.
He hadn’t noticed her yet, so she was free to watch and admire him as he feinted to one side, his fist shooting out to strike the bag. She swallowed hard as she leaned against the wall. She’d seen men that were more handsome, but never one who was so elemental. Testosterone practically oozed from his pores as he continued to work the heavy bag.
A bead of sweat trickled down her spine and her breathing deepened. The muscles in his back rippled and shifted with every move he made, reminding her once again of just what a large and powerful man he was. The waistband of his jeans dipped just below his navel, exposing his bellybutton. His lightly furred chest was glistening with perspiration and she wanted to run her hands over the hard ridges of muscles in his abdomen.
She must have made some kind of noise because he dropped his hands suddenly and spun around. His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed, but he made no move to come toward her. Jackson swiped his forearm over his forehead and then sucked in a deep gulp of air. Rolling his shoulders, he stepped away from the bag.
“You come for a lesson?” He grabbed a towel that had been laid over the top rung of the stall and rubbed it over his face.
Emerald took that moment to compose herself. Or at least try to. Her heart was racing, her body all but shaking with a growing need that she could no longer deny. “Yes.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “I came for a lesson.”
His head snapped up at the double entendre, but he was all business as he strode to the center of the small room. “Come here.”
The roughness in his voice made her nipples pucker and she almost groaned aloud. Now was not the time for this. But her body ignored her and she could feel her panties getting damp as she walked toward him. “What do you want me to do?” He seemed to freeze at her husky whisper, but then he shook himself.
“Stand in front of me with your back to my chest.” She did as he asked. His large frame dwarfed hers, but she didn’t feel afraid. No, what she was feeling was just as basic but totally different. Rather than wanting to get away, she wanted to lean against him. She wanted him to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. She wondered if she’d spoken her thoughts aloud when his muscled forearms came around her waist and across her collarbone.
“Now,” he instructed, tightening his grip on her. “If a man grabbed you like this, what would you do?”
“That’s no good.” His voice was brisk. “I’m much larger than you and stronger. We have to assume that your attacker will be too. You can’t beat him or me in a battle of strength. You have to go for the weak points.” He kept up a steady commentary as he continued to hold her almost effortlessly, her puny attempts to escape him having absolutely no effect.
“What weak points?” Frustration was giving way to anger. Her life had been turned upside down by some unknown man. She had done nothing, yet he was systematically trying to destroy her life and her.
“If you can get a hand free, go straight for the eyes. Don’t hesitate or think about it, just do it. The throat is vulnerable as well.”
She gritted her teeth. “That doesn’t help me at the moment.” If she were facing him, she would have gladly taken one of his suggestions. “Let me go?”
“No. You have to get free. Use your head, Emerald. Your hands are locked down around your waist. What can you reach on a man that’s vulnerable?”
Without thinking, she fisted her hand and drove it backward. Jackson jerked away, and her hand grazed his thigh, barely missing his groin area. She spun around, panting hard with anger only to find the idiot grinning at her.
“That’s my girl.” Pride filled his face as he circled her. All her anger dissipated under the warmth of his smile and she suddenly felt inordinately pleased with herself.
“You could have head-butted me as well.” He danced from side to side like a boxer as he reached out and tagged her on the shoulder. “So, you want to try it again? I’ll grab you from the front this time and you try to get away.”
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