Sweetest Mistake

by Candis Terry

Yet even in the firelight as his gaze licked up and down her body he formed the words, “I’m sorry.” His big hands went to his hips as he shook his head. “I don’t know what happens to me when I get around you.”

  “Jackson, I . . . umm . . .” Wait. Maybe he really didn’t know what made him grab her and kiss her every time they got close. Maybe she really was rowing the “Hey, I’m not just hot for you but I’m crazy about you” boat alone. Maybe all those signals she thought he’d been pitching her were lost in her own pathetic translation. Maybe all he really needed was a warm body.

  She was a warm body.

  And with the way he fired her up every time he kissed her, she was willing to help him ease that sexual frustration he kept denying.

  Heavy rap music blaring, a Jeep pulled up, with a teenage couple and threw a bucket of water over anything Abby wanted to say or do.

  “I’ve got to go take care of this,” he said.

  Dazed, Abby nodded.

  What were they doing?

  Where was this headed?

  Were they friends as in friends who call once in a while to see how you were doing? Friends as in it’s closing time, and you get a booty call because there was no one better at the bar?

  She glanced across the space to where he animatedly explained to the young couple that they were trespassing, and her heart went all crazy in her chest.

  She didn’t want to be Jackson’s booty call.

  Not that she didn’t like the booty. She just wanted something more.

  When he came back, they definitely needed to talk.

  They’d always been able to talk.

  About everything.

  Except how they might actually feel about each other deep down inside.

  But when the couple drove off, and he came back, he was too frustrated to do anything more than pick up the remnants of their meal, put out the fire, and drive her home.

  Chapter 8

  Sunrise shot a streak of gold across the treetops. On horseback, Jackson raced his brothers across the meadow. It had been a couple months since they’d all been together and doing the one thing they all loved—riding the ranch and taking care of the animals and the land their father had entrusted in their care.

  Jackson shifted his head and glanced at the men racing beside him. As boys, they might have beaten the shit out of each other at every turn and harassed each other at every opportunity, but he loved them. And if anyone ever caused them any harm, he’d take their heads off. Just one of the reasons it had been so hard to leave the Marines. He still felt like he had to even the score for what had happened to their big brother.

  Jared had always been the one with the most heart. The most intelligence. The most to offer the world.

  Not a day went by that Jackson didn’t feel it should have been him to die instead of Jared. They all felt that way. But none more than him.

  Beneath him, Ranger—the most stubborn horse on the planet—ate up the ground under his hooves. The gelding gave him nothing but a bad time unless it was time to race. The horse did love to compete. Something they both had in common.

  In mere seconds, they reached the giant rock that had been the established finish line. Reno got there first and took glory in rubbing it in their faces.

  “Ha!” Reno’s grin split wide across his face. “I’ve been gone for months, and I can still beat you lightweights.”

  “What are you, five?” Jackson turned Ranger in a tight circle to calm him down. “The damn horse did all the work, not you.”

  “Sore loser.” Jesse pushed his hat back on his head and looked at their older brother. “It’s good to have you back.”

  “Good to be back. Although being on an extended vacation and having Charli all to myself?” His broad shoulders lifted. “Not going to complain.”

  “Even if you had to put up with her silly poodle?” Jackson asked.

  “Even if.”

  While the horses settled, their riders relaxed.

  “So how’d you pop the question?” Jesse wanted to know.

  “She had a list of places in California she wanted to visit before she moved here, so we tried to hit up as many as possible in the length of time we had available.”

  “Didn’t figure you for the amusement-park type,” Jackson said.

  “The only two on her list were Disneyland and Sea World, so I lucked out. I managed to talk her out of the whole Small World thing, although she did make me stand in line with her so she could get her picture taken with some chick named Rapunzel. Charli kept saying “Best day ever!” whatever the hell that meant.”

  “It’s a part in the movie Tangled, where she finally gets out of her tower and—” Jackson noticed his brothers were staring at him as though he’d gone off the deep end. “Shit. TMI?”

  Jesse scratched his head.

  Reno laughed. “Now that you mention it, I do remember watching that movie with Izzy a time or two myself. So you’re off the hook.”

  “Am I the only one who doesn’t watch princess movies with her?” Jesse asked.

  “Yeah, but your time is coming.” Jackson swiveled his attention back to Reno. “And you proposed how?”

  “In the garden at Hearst Castle. I’d been waiting for the right place and moment, then I just couldn’t wait any longer. The tour moved ahead of us, and I think I said something totally dopey like “Will you be my queen? Or maybe it was, marry me, and I’ll make you feel like a queen. I don’t know. All I cared was that she said yes.”

  “Dude.” Jesse laughed. “You are whipped.”

  “I know.” Reno grinned again. “And I’m good with that. Just don’t forget, I can still whip your ass.”

  There were moments in life where you didn’t have to work at feeling good, Jackson thought. This was one of them. “Big brother,” he said. “It’s good to see you smile again.”

  “And you’re up to what, with Abby being back?”

  Jackson never liked it when the focus drilled in on him. He shrugged. “Not much.”

  “I call bullshit,” Jesse said with a grin as he lifted his hat and ran his fingers through his now-too-long hair. “I saw the way you were looking at each other at Mom’s the other night.”

  “Sorry to disappoint you, but that was just a result of Mom’s entrapment methods. Abby thought she was coming over to help go through the stuff in the barn. She had no idea she was about to be thrust into another situation to be judged or come face-to-face with the choices I’ve made in life.”

  “Yeah,” Reno said. “I sensed her distress when she tried to escape. I kind of intimidated her into staying.”

  “She did kind of fly out of there pretty quick,” Jesse said. “I noticed you followed her out the door.”

  “Hell, he ran,” Reno said.

  “Happy to know I can still entertain you two yahoos. But before you get any ideas, I followed her out to apologize for her being put on the spot. She’s got a lot of crazy thoughts that everyone in town is talking behind her back and judging her about the divorce.”

  “They are talking about her divorce,” Jesse said.

  “People are curious as hell as to why she’d walk away from a sweet deal like that,” Reno added.

  The comment rubbed Jackson the wrong way because he knew the truth, and he’d defend her all day long. “Maybe people should mind their own damned business.”

  “Agreed.” Reno glanced away, and when his dark eyes came back, they were filled with compassion. “My guess is there’s a whole lot of story there nobody knows.”

  “Yep.” Jackson’s chest tightened. “So I’d appreciate it if y’all would go easy on her.”

  “I’m a little surprised to hear you defend her,” Jesse said.

  “We talked.” Jackson shrugged. “We’re cool.”

  “And that leaves you where with her now?” Jesse asked.

  “Just friends.”

  “That’s where all the trouble started to begin with,” Reno reminded him.

  “Ain’t that th
e truth,” Jesse added.

  “Older and wiser now, boys.” He gave his stubborn horse a nudge with his heels. “All that is past tense.”

  Unless he couldn’t learn to keep his lips off hers.

  Then he was in for a whole mess of trouble.

  Abby stumbled from bed and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She did her business, then went to the sink to wash her face and hands. Unfortunately, she looked up into the mirror.

  “Oh Lord.”

  Her reflection revealed every toss and every turn she’d taken in her little full-sized bed after Jackson had brought her home. Her hair stuck out at freakish angles, and she had pillow creases on both cheeks. She looked like ten miles of bad road and a hairpin turn.

  When she came out of the bathroom she was greeted by her new little bundle of fur. “Well, hello, Miss Kitty.” She reached down, picked up the kitten, and drew her close for a nose nuzzle. “And I guess that also means you now have a name.”

  The kitten gave a tiny meow, then she turned on her motor. Abby took that as an indication that the name set right with her.

  “Yep. Miss Kitty, it is.”

  They went downstairs, and Abby opened the bag of kitten chow she’d bought from Jackson. Which brought her thoughts full circle to the dreams she’d had last night. If only life were as easy as falling asleep to get what you wanted.

  Not since she’d been snuggled with Jackson beneath a blanket back in the day and they’d watched Nightmare on Elm Street had she ever known dreams to be so intense. But hers had been vivid—only in a nonnightmarish way. The color and images had been so clear and crisp and real, Abby woke in a sweat and thought she could still feel Jackson’s strong hands on her skin. He’d held her. Caressed her. And she’d taken him into her body—gasping at the memory of what all those hard muscles felt like. So much so that when she woke, she burned for his touch.

  Last night he’d kissed her.

  Again.

  And she still had no idea why.

  Other than the brief moments when his lips were on hers, he seemed cool and definitely reserved. But when he kissed her, the lid blew off the passion meter.

  Not that she minded.

  The only thing she did mind was that he’d apologized. And that left her in a whole state of confusion she’d be happy to never visit again.

  While Miss Kitty nibbled her grilled-chicken-flavored kitten cuisine, Abby fixed herself an egg and piece of toast. While she sipped her cup of coffee, she made a to-do list and had to force herself not to put Jackson’s name at the top.

  In the past, when she’d been organizing charity events, she’d start with a mile-long list of what must be done and a mini wish list of what she’d also like to accomplish to up the game. She wasn’t always successful, but when she hit a home run, the joy that spread through her had been incomparable.

  So she’d become a list maker if only to stay focused and feel like—in a world she couldn’t control—she had at least one foot on solid ground.

  Today’s number one to-do was to take Miss Kitty to see the vet, who also happened to be Jackson’s older brother. So after a shower, a splash of makeup, and a sweep through her closet for something to wear that fit her old personality and not the uptight Junior Leaguer she’d become, she put the kitten in the cat carrier and off they went.

  As pet clinics went, Sweet’s version was nothing fancy. Just an old converted house off Main Street. The stucco was light pink, and the trim was mint green. It was an old-time combination that reminded Abby of something you’d see in an episode of The Andy Griffith Show. Outside the building a hanging sign announced DR. JESSE WILDER, DVM. On the lawn another sign read DOG AREA. YOU POOP. YOU SCOOP. Attached to the post was a box that contained plastic disposal bags.

  Genius.

  She grabbed the cat carrier from the passenger seat and went inside for the appointment she’d made yesterday. The waiting area was small, with a linoleum floor and spotless. Near the door sat a woman Abby didn’t recognize holding a quivering Chihuahua in a pink sweater with sparkly silver pom-poms. Abby gave her a smile as she came through the door, went to the reception desk, and waited for someone who worked there to appear.

  Moments later Mrs. Orville, a high-school friend’s mother, came out from the back room, where various barks and meows could be heard echoing loudly.

  “Abby! When I saw Morgan on the appointment books, I wondered if that could be you.”

  Abby smiled. “How are you, Mrs. Orville?”

  “Oh, fine and dandy.” For several minutes the older woman told her exactly how she was from the corns on her toes to the arthritis creepin’ up her spine to the fact the Mr. Orville had taken to wearing a CPAP so she could get some reprieve from all the snoring. Except now she had to tolerate the hum of the machine. She quickly moved onto how Abby’s old friend, Lila Sue, had just had her second set of twins and how Abby should give her a call. When the woman sailed into explaining that she was there helping the handsome doctor out because he just couldn’t seem to keep his pretty assistants for more than a month or two, Abby had to interrupt before her ears started to bleed.

  “I have an appointment at eleven.”

  Mrs. Orville didn’t even bother to look at the appointment book. She grabbed some paperwork and escorted Abby into one of the exam rooms.

  “Looks like you’ve got a cute little kitten there,” she said. “You can take her out of the carrier. Dr. Wilder will be here in just a few minutes. While you wait, go ahead and fill out the forms and give them to the doc when he comes in.”

  “Thank you.”

  Abby filled out the forms and was nuzzling Miss Kitty when Jesse walked into the room, wearing a white doctor’s coat over jeans and a light blue shirt. With his longish blond hair, dark blue eyes, and killer smile, he looked more like a Hollywood god than a man who took care of pets.

  “Hey there, sparkplug.” He flashed the smile that no doubt brought women to their knees—for various reasons. “Who’s your friend?”

  “She showed up at my door. Arlene Potter says the neighbors won’t get their cats fixed, and, from what I could find out, nobody wants to claim her.” She gave the kitten a stroke down her back, to which two little paws came up ready to box and play. “So I did.”

  Jesse lifted the bundle of fur in his capable hands and Abby had to admit she was surprised at the gentleness with which he held and talked to the kitten. “Then she’s a lucky cat.” He looked at Abby and nailed her with laser focus. “Thought you were putting the house up for sale and moving on.”

  She shrugged. “I don’t really have an exact plan.”

  “So does that mean there’s a possibility you might stay in Sweet?”

  “Maybe. When I first thought of it, I pretty much shot the idea down as soon as it flew through my head.”

  “Why?” His head tilted as he set Miss Kitty down on the exam table and took her temperature, to which the kitten voiced her disapproval with a loud meow. “This is your home.”

  “It was. But everything changes. And sometimes you just find you need to move on.”

  “How’d that work for you last time?”

  “Wow.” His bluntness shocked her down to the bone. Not that it wasn’t warranted. “That was harsh.”

  “We grew up together, Abby. You were at our house as much as you were at your own. And you had a very close relationship with my brother. So I’m not saying anything to you that I wouldn’t say to Reno, Jack, or Jake if they were in your situation.” He inspected Miss Kitty’s eyes, ears, and teeth. “I’m not trying to be mean, just trying to figure out where you’re coming from and where you’re going.”

  If she were pushed to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, she’d admit that she had two lists of where she was going. A reality list. And a wish list. She’d give him extra points for guessing who was at the top of the latter.

  “And how it involves my brother,” he added.

  Bingo.

  “Your broth
er and I are trying to find a way to be friends again. That’s all.”

  “Uh-huh.”

  The kitten batted at the stethoscope as he pressed it to her little body.

  “I’m not saying it will be easy,” she said. “After all, I did . . .”

  “Pull a pretty shitty stunt cutting him off like that?”

  She cringed. “Yes.”

  “Then why’d you do it?”

  Hoo boy. “I couldn’t even begin to tell you why, Jesse. It would take hours.”

  He looked up. “I’ve got time.”

  “Well . . .” She scratched her head. “I don’t really . . .”

  “Don’t sweat it, sparkplug. We all know why you ran.”

  “We?” She took a breath, hoping it would slow her racing heart. “Who’s we?”

  He grinned. “Everybody except Jack.”

  She folded her arms, trying to play it cool. “Exactly what is it you all think you know?”

  “That you’ve probably been in love with him since you learned to tie your shoes. I just don’t know why you two never got together.”

  Because Jackson didn’t feel the same way. Apparently, he just liked to kiss her without knowing why.

  “We all figured you got tired of waiting for him to make his move.”

  “You’re too pretty to be so smart, Dr. Wilder.”

  He laughed. Gave the kitten a stroke down her back and she arched in pleasure. “You got poop?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Poop.” He pointed at the cat. “To see if she has worms.”

  “Oh. No. I didn’t know I was supposed to bring any in. I’m not even sure she’s done that in the cat box yet.”

  “When she does, bring in a sample, and we’ll check it out. You squeamish?”

  “For?”

  He reached around and held up a hypodermic needle.

  “Oh. No. That stuff doesn’t bother me.”

  “Great.” He gave the kitten the injection so fast and smooth she didn’t even flinch. “You looking for a job?”

  “A job?”

  “Yeah. I can’t seem to keep the vet-assistant position filled. Thus the reason for Mrs. Orville. She used to work for old Doc Michaels back in the day. She agreed to help me out until I found a replacement for Sherrie. Or Lana. Or Lisa. Or whatever her name was. But only if I kept my hands to myself.”