by Wendy Smith
“Sit on the bed.”
Her cheeks dimple when she smiles. “Why?”
“I’ve got plans for you.”
She sits on the edge of the bed. “Now what?”
Kneeling before her, I run my hands up her thighs and into her skirt, hooking my fingers into the waistline of her panties.
Her eyes widen. “Jackson?”
“I’ve been dreaming about this since the day you left Nettle Downs. Tell me you want this too.”
She nods. “I do.”
I drag her panties down, and she shuffles around to help. Peeling them off, I toss them on the bed.
“I’ve missed you, Miranda. I want to show you just how much.”
She touches my face, stroking my cheek with her long fingers. “I missed you too.”
“Good. You were supposed to.”
Miranda laughs, spreading her legs for me as I pepper her thighs with kisses. The scent of her drives me insane. It’s been burned into my memory since the night we spent together, and I indulge in it as I run my tongue up her slit.
She gasps when I lap at her clit, running her fingers through my hair and pulling me closer. “Jackson,” she cries softly.
“You taste as good as I remember.” I suck gently on her clit, sliding a finger into her. I want her to forget where we are and the pressure she feels from her family.
All I want is for her to focus on me and the here and now.
“Ohhh.” An anguished cry escapes her throat. She bucks her hips and I slip a second finger inside with one last lick.
I look up at her. Her eyes are closed, and as I thrust my fingers into her, she rides them like it’s the last time anyone’s going to touch her.
When I move my thumb to replace my tongue, she lets out a low moan.
“I’m so close,” she whispers.
“Let it go, Miranda. Give it to me.” I can’t take my eyes off her face. Her parted, puffy lips are just waiting for me to kiss them. I want to strip her bare and fuck her until she can’t remember her name.
She clutches at my shoulders, squeezing as she hits her peak. With another moan, she pushes down hard on my hand and opens her eyes to look into mine.
Her cheeks are flushed, her breathing’s hard, and if anyone else saw her now there’d be no way to hide what had just happened between us.
I pull my fingers from her pussy and stand. She watches me with wide eyes as I slide them into my mouth to get my last taste.
With my free hand, I cup her cheek, sliding my fingers into her hair. I claim her mouth. She surrenders to my kiss with a whimper, but her tongue tangles with mine as if she’s staking her own claim.
It’s day one of my three-day attempt to win her over, and I think I’m doing okay so far.
When we break apart, she’s still breathing heavily and her eyes give away her emotions. She’s in this as deep as I am.
“Jackson,” she says softly.
“Miranda. Want to have that nap now?”
She nods. “I think we need it.” Her gaze drops to my groin. “Do you need . . . anything in return?”
I shake my head. “No, darlin’. Just wanted to show you how much I missed you. Right now, I need to curl up with you in my arms and forget that your family could probably hear you from downstairs.”
Instead of the shocked reaction I expect, she laughs. “Alex’s room is to the right of mine; Katie’s is to the left. If either of them have decided to be nosey, they’ll have heard a performance.”
“Doesn’t that bother you? I thought you cared about what they thought.”
She shrugs. “Maybe I need to let go of that a little. No one’s ever done for me what you did today.”
“Give you a screaming orgasm?”
Miranda grabs my hand and pulls me closer. “Stood up for me in front of them.”
“Until me.”
She licks her lips. “Until you.”
I take a seat beside her on the bed. “Why me? I’m not complaining, but surely there were other male friends you could have invited.”
She nods. “Sure, but none of my family have ever heard of you before.” Linking her fingers with mine, she squeezes tight. “And maybe I wanted to see you again.”
“Oh did you now, Miss I-Only-Want-A-One-Night-Stand?”
Miranda laughs. “My life’s a little complicated, Jackson. My job’s become such a huge part of my life and it’s important to me. Romance has been on the backburner for a very long time despite my family’s obsession with it.”
“Your family’s not obsessed with romance. I don’t know what it is, but it’s nothing to do with that. They seem to put some higher status on being settled down with someone.” I sigh. “I’m probably shooting myself in the foot, seeing as I’m trying to convince you to be with me, but no one needs a partner to complete themselves.”
She squeezes my fingers again. “Do you want to hear something crazy?”
“What?”
“I love my life. It’s busy and it’s crazy, but it’s mine.” She stops and licks her lips. “I never thought I needed anything else until I met you.”
My heart lurches. “Really?”
She nods. “You just feel right. There was no one else I could have invited to come this weekend but you. My head’s been a little cloudy at work lately thinking about you, if I’m honest with myself.”
“Cloudy?” I smile.
“Molly thinks I’ve been a bit distracted with the wedding, and some work thing that’s going on, but I think it was the anticipation of seeing you again.” She pauses. “I’ve never felt this way. Not this quickly. We just seem to fit.”
I nod. “How I’m feeling terrifies me. I don’t mind telling you that. It’s more intense than anything I’ve felt, and I thought maybe not seeing you for a few weeks would let it die off. But all it did was intensify it even further.”
Miranda smiles. “So, maybe we just enjoy our weekend and see how it goes.”
I agree, but I don’t need time to tell me this is right.
I’ve known from the start.
Eight
Miranda
The atmosphere at dinner is completely different.
One by one, the rest of the family arrives. First, my brother, Brandon, and his fiancée, Emily. Alex and Katie’s husbands, Grant and Craig, show up with the kids who they’ve spent the afternoon with at the zoo.
It’s a full house, and that takes the pressure off because they’re all so busy with their own families that they ignore me.
“You weren’t lying when you said you had a big family,” Jackson murmurs.
“No, and I like them much better like this.”
He chuckles. “I’m sure.”
“We thought we might throw a few steaks on the grill tomorrow,” Dad says. “It’ll be nice to do something together before the wedding because you’ll all disappear once that’s over.”
I laugh. “That sounds good, Dad.”
“Leia and Barrett will be with us tomorrow too. It’s the first time in forever that the whole family will be together.”
“I’m looking forward to it,” I say.
Alex fixes her gaze on me. “Your dress had better be one hundred percent right or Leia will flip.”
“It’ll be fine.” I smile. “The dressmaker did an amazing job.”
“Yeah, but Leia is way over the top with this bridezilla thing. Just be prepared.”
Jackson nudges my arm, I give him a warm smile. While things are easier now than they were earlier in the day, I’m grateful for his support.
And I can’t wait to curl up in his arms tonight.
I’m one lucky, lucky woman.
We sneaked off to bed early, citing how tired we still were from traveling, and being cocooned with Jackson is exactly what I need right now.
I’m a hopeless cause when it comes to him. He’ll be lucky if I don’t pack him in my suitcase to take home.
He’s loving and attentive in bed, and always makes sure I come first.
It’s sad to say, but it seems to be a rare quality in a man. At least, the ones I’ve met.
Jackson runs a finger over my breast, circling it around my nipple. “Penny for your thoughts.”
I sigh. “I dreaded this weekend. I really did. But you made it so much better. And tonight was nice.”
“It’s funny how they back off when they have their own shit to deal with.”
I meet his gaze. “You noticed that, huh?” Stroking his bicep, I sigh. “Tell me about your family. I didn’t know about your parents until you told Dad about them.”
“I’m it.” He sighs. “I’ve got an uncle somewhere. My dad’s brother. But I haven’t seen him since I was a kid. Mom died when I was younger, and my grandparents are all gone now. It’s just me.”
His expression is unreadable. Does the thought of it make him sad? I can’t tell.
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
He shrugs. “I had a great childhood. Mom and Dad loved each other so much. My father was devastated when she died. He was never really the same after that. But he did everything he could to support me. The bar was his baby.”
I nod. “I heard it’s grown.”
“I added the restaurant. And I haven’t told anyone else this yet, but I’ll be opening another bar at the other end of Maine Street. I’m in the process of buying a property.”
I smile “Business is going that well?”
He nods. “Some days are quieter than others, but most nights we’re busy. And by the time we’re ready to open the new location, Molly will have more people in Nettle Downs. I want to be ready for an influx of her staff.”
“You’ll get that. I’ve got a list of people who are eager to move. We just want to make sure we balance it all at the start.”
Jackson licks his lips. “Is there a plan for you to move?”
I lean closer to him. “Not yet.”
“That’s a shame. I happen to have a position open for a bedwarmer.”
Laughing, I roll onto my side to face him. “I can take that position on a part-time basis.”
Jackson presses his lips to mine. His deep kiss leaves me sighing. “It’s yours. But I would be more than happy to extend it to a full-time position whenever you’re ready.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.” I lean forward and plant a kiss on his chest. “We should get some sleep. Tomorrow will be pretty busy, and it’s not even the wedding yet.”
“I’m looking forward to meeting the bride.”
“Leia is different to the others. I think you’ll like her.”
He nods. “Sounds great. The others aren’t bad when the kids are keeping them busy.”
I laugh, and study him closely. “Do you want kids?”
“Are you propositioning me?” He grins.
“No. I mean, maybe. I guess it depends on how thing develops between us.” Slapping my palm against my forehead, I laugh. “Even that sounds presumptuous.”
“I don’t think it does. And yes, I would love children one day with the right woman.”
Reaching over, I run my fingers through his hair. “This is way too serious a subject to talk about right now.”
“Really? Do you think we should be focusing on something else?”
I take his hand in mine and guide it down between my legs. “I don’t think. I know.”
“Is that right? You’re so bossy.”
“Bossiness is how I got my promotion.”
Jackson nods. His silly grin matches my own. “I’d better get to work, then.”
“Yeah, you’d better.”
Jackson fits in like he belongs here.
My sisters, although snarky about me, think he’s great. He gets on well with their husbands and my brother. Mom and Dad adore him.
Inviting him was either the best thing I could have done, or the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.
Because this can’t be a one-weekend deal.
He’s stolen my heart when I wasn’t ready for it to be captured.
I guess there was no way to plan for that.
The four kids are climbing him like a tree. He’s taller than my brother or my dad, and the children are full of squeals as one by one, he lifts them onto his shoulders. The way he’s so gentle with them makes my ovaries scream.
For so long, I’ve put everyone else in my life first. Maybe it’s time to seize the opportunity that’s right in front of me.
“He’s so good with the kids.” Alex walks up to me, looping her arm in mine. “They adore him.”
“They’ll sleep well tonight. Maddy already looks exhausted.”
She smiles. “Don’t fuck this one up, Miranda. He’s a keeper.”
My stomach drops as she lets go and walks away. It only takes moments for Jackson to appear by my side.
“What was that? What did she say?”
I stare at him. “What?”
“Whatever she said, you look like she slapped you.”
Stroking his arm, I cock my head. “It wasn’t important. I’m glad to see you’re having fun.”
“Don’t bullshit me, Miranda. What did she say?” His eyebrows rise. He’s like a dog with a bone, but I know why. I guess if I was on the outside looking in, I’d see things differently.
“She said you were a keeper.”
Skepticism crosses his face. “Are you sure that’s what she said?”
“Well, she told me not to fuck this up.”
His eyes narrow. “Why would she say that? For the love of God, do your family not know how to talk to each other?”
I shake my head. “Not really.”
“I would kill to have a family like yours. I mean, not the attitude, but having brothers and sisters, nephews and nieces. To see them being so mean is really pissing me off.”
I place my palm on his chest. “I can see that.”
“You’re worth more than your sisters put together. I hope you know that.” He gives me that look, the one that tells me what’s in his heart. He’s so open with me, and I love that more than anything.
“I’ve never been the best at relationships. I can see where she’s coming from.”
His brows knit. “But still. They all seem to open their mouths and stick their feet straight in.”
I laugh as he pulls me into his arms. “You’re right.”
Jackson kisses the top of my head. “You need to stick up for yourself. They’ll back off if you do. Trust me.”
“I know I do.”
“Just because you’re the oldest doesn’t mean you need to let your younger siblings get away with everything.”
I raise my face to look into his eyes. “You’re very wise.”
He shakes his head. “No. I just see all kinds of things working in the bar. People can love and still be horrible to each other. Sometimes, they don’t even know they’re doing it.”
“Uncle Jackson,” Maddy calls from halfway across the backyard.
“Uncle Jackson?” I cock an eyebrow at him.
“She started calling me that. It’s not my fault.” He beams.
“Of course not. Go and see what she wants.” I peck him on the lips and he jogs over to where she and two-year-old Joe are. Next thing, she’s on his shoulders, squealing while Joe’s in his arms.
My mother walks over to me, a big smile on her face. At least she won’t be as big an ass as Alex.
“He’s very good with the children.”
I nod. “They’ve really taken to him.”
“I remember when you used to say how much you wanted children of your own.”
Despite me still wanting that, it irks me when other people say it. “That was a long time ago, Mom. Before—”
“Before you became the huge success that you are in your work life. I just want to see you succeed at everything you want, Miranda. And Jackson adores you. It’s written all over his face. And the way he stood up to your sisters . . .”
Maddy squeals again as Jackson drops her off his shoulders and into his arms, spinning her around.<
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“He’ll make a great dad.”
No pressure.
I nod, but it’s all too soon to talk about this. We’re not even really a couple.
“Auntie Miranda.” Joe tugs on my skirt.
“Hey, buddy.” I bend and pick him up, moving him to my hip. “Are you having fun?”
He nods.
“Do you like Jackson?”
He beams, and doesn’t have to say anything for me to see how much.
I swallow hard when I meet Jackson’s gaze. Mom’s right. Jackson would be a wonderful father.
But I don’t know if that will be with me.
I need a drink.
Nine
Jackson
Miranda’s niece is full of energy. She’s so great. When I have kids, I want them to be like Maddy. She doesn’t hold back.
She sits on my shoulders, reaching up to touch a tree branch with no fear of being high off the ground. “Uncle Jackson. Higher.”
“That’s as high as it gets, little lady.”
She giggles.
Alex approaches me with the first real smile I’ve seen on her face since we got here. “Come on, Maddy. Let’s get you something to eat.”
“Mommy.” I hear the pout in Maddy’s voice.
“You’ll wear Jackson out.”
I’m not about to argue with Maddy’s mom, so I reach up and lift Maddy from my shoulders and place her on the ground.
She takes Alex’s hand, and the two of them walk back to the outdoor table the rest of the family’s gathered around.
I draw in a breath as Alex’s husband, Grant, walks toward me. He’s got a beer in his hand and a smile on his face, but given my wariness of his wife, I’m not completely sure about him yet.
“Your daughter’s a little whirlwind.” I take the initiative and speak up first. “She’ll sleep well tonight.”
He chuckles. “She’s full of energy, that one.”
I pick up on the incoming change of topic as his demeanor shifts to serious and he glances back toward the family. “So . . . you and Miranda.”
I nod. “Me and Miranda.”
“You’ve fallen on your feet there.”
