“You look cute with a ponytail. It suits you. You worry too much. You’re beautiful just the way you are.”
The way Jackson stared so deeply into her eyes made the rest of the world fade away. In that moment, it was as if just the two of them existed. He was staring at her like—like he wanted to kiss her.
Her gaze lowered, taking in his very tempting mouth. The thought of once again being held in his very capable arms and feeling his mouth pressed to hers was quite tempting. Was it possible that he was the first man to like her just the way she was?
Her father had always been disappointed in her. It didn’t matter if it was her choice in movie roles or if it was the style of her haircut. She’d never gained his approval and then he’d died on her before anything could be resolved between them. One minute he was giving her a hard time about not aligning her romantic relationship with her career. And the next, he was lying on the floor, dead, from a massive heart attack. That was it. No time for “I love yous” or “goodbyes.” It was just over—in a heartbeat.
Maybe that was why she let herself become involved with her leading man. Shawn was great-looking and he could say all the right things, but she soon learned that it was all a show. He was constantly acting, being whoever he needed to be to impress people—to get a leg up in the Hollywood world.
But Jackson didn’t want anything from her. Not even an interview. He was the first man who’d ever been comfortable with who he was without having to put on a show for the public, which surprised her. After all, Jackson’s career was about projecting a certain image for the public, but here he was with scruff on his jaw and his hair a little ruffled by the breeze and he wasn’t the least bit worried about his appearance.
She liked being treated like a real person instead of a star. A smile lifted her lips. She liked Jackson. He was so different from the other men who had passed through her life.
“I don’t know what’s going through your mind,” Jackson said, “but whatever it is, I approve. You should smile more often.”
Just then Gizmo saw another dog. Being the friendly sort, he wanted to go visit. He started to run, but after walking in a circle, his leash was now wrapped around Jackson and herself. So when Gizmo ran out of length, the leash yanked them together.
Her hands pressed upon Jackson’s very firm chest. She had to crane her neck to look into his eyes. It was then that his gaze moved to her lips. He lowered his head and immediately claimed her lips.
His kiss was gentle and sweet. It made her wish that they were back at the cabin where the kiss didn’t have to end—where they could see where it would lead. Because she realized that their time together was almost at an end. Jackson would have to get back to the project that he’d flown to Austria to do, and she needed to add some serious word count to her screenplay if she wanted it ready for her agent when she returned to Hollywood. It would hopefully give the paparazzi something to talk about besides her scandalous love life.
“Arff! Arff!”
Their lips parted and they turned to Gizmo. He jumped up, placing his front paws on Jackson’s good leg.
“I think someone wants to be picked up,” Serena said.
“That might be easier if he hadn’t wrapped us up in his leash.”
“Maybe someone shouldn’t have released so much of his leash.”
Jackson’s eyes widened. “You’re blaming me for this?”
“I’m not blaming anyone. I certainly don’t mind being tied up with you.”
His brows rose. “Oh. You don’t, huh?”
When Jackson leaned in for another kiss, Serena pressed her hand to his chest. “How about you hold that thought until later?”
“Later?” He started to frown but then his eyes widened as he caught her true intention. A broad smile lit up his face. “I think that can be arranged.”
More and more people continued to arrive at the market. No wonder Gizmo had changed his mind about wandering off and instead wanted to be held. He was not used to such a crowd. The Christmas market really drew in the people. But who could blame them? This was the most wonderful time of the year.
Jackson quickly untangled all three of them. “There. Now shall we go explore?”
“Are you sure you’re up for this? The doctor did say that your leg will tire quickly with that boot on.”
“Stop worrying. I’m fine. I’ll let you know when I get tired.”
“You promise.”
“I do.”
“What about Gizmo?”
“Let him walk for a bit. That pup has more energy than anyone I know. And then when we get home, he’ll sleep instead of getting into more mischief.”
“That sounds like a good plan.” She smiled up at him. “I like the way you think.”
“Well, if you like that wait until you find out what I have planned for later.”
She couldn’t help but laugh at his outrageous flirting. Things between them were so much different now—so much easier since he knew the truth about her. If only she had known how good it could be between them, she would have told him sooner.
They strolled through the Christmas market locally known as Christkindlmarkt. The thing Serena loved most was sampling all of the local delicacies—from sipping mulled wine to devouring kiachl, somewhat like a donut with cranberry jam. Serena had never tasted anything so delightful. Jackson enjoyed the raclette brot, a type of bread with warm cheese. And of course Gizmo had to sample most everything, too. So much for her rule about not feeding him human food. After all, it was the holidays. Everyone deserved a treat.
“Are you enjoying yourself?” Jackson asked.
“I am.” In the background a brass band played holiday tunes. And overhead, strands of white twinkle lights brightened the night sky. “This place is amazing. And I can’t bring myself to stop sampling all of the delicacies.”
“I know what you mean. I’m full, but I just have to try one more thing.”
They both laughed. The evening was perfect. No one recognized her with her strawberry blonde hair pulled up in a ponytail and lack of makeup. Here in Austria, she was just another person on the arm of a very handsome gentleman.
And then he reached out and took her hand in his. His fingers threaded through hers quickly and naturally as though they’d been doing it for years. Her heart leaped in her chest.
This man, he was something extraordinary.
And Serena knew in that moment, in the middle of the Christmas market, that her life would never be the same.
* * *
He couldn’t stop smiling.
Jackson sat in the passenger seat as Serena pulled into the driveway of the cabin. She’d chatted the whole way home from the Christmas market. He was glad he’d suggested they go. Not only was it a scouting mission for his segment for his morning news show, but it also had been their first official date.
Serena put the vehicle in Park and turned off the engine. “And we’re home.”
“Hey, what happened to your smile?”
She shrugged. “It’s just that all of the magic of the evening disappeared.”
“Ouch.” He grasped at his chest.
“What’s the matter? What hurts?”
“My ego. You just pierced it. I’m wounded.”
“Oh.” She smacked his shoulder. “You had me worried. I thought something was seriously wrong with you.”
“There is. You just said the magic has ended.”
“You know what I meant. The music. The festive mood. The amazing food. I loved the evening.”
“And you don’t think my company can compare?”
Serena’s green eyes widened. “What exactly are you implying?”
“Forget twinkle lights, I’m thinking of setting off some fireworks tonight.”
Her mouth lifted into
a smile that made her eyes sparkle. “I don’t know. Do you think you’re up to it?”
“Let me give you a preview.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.
His kiss was gentle and restrained. He wouldn’t push her, but he needed to extend the invitation. It’d been a very long time since he was with a woman. His gut tightened at the thought of living up to Serena’s expectations.
But he didn’t have long to contemplate because she kissed him back with undeniable desire, which soothed his worries. As their kiss deepened, a warmth flooded his chest. The cracks and crevices in his heart filled in. In that moment, he no longer felt like a shell of a man. He felt complete and eager to step into the next stage of his life. Whatever that may be.
Serena pulled back. “We should go inside. It’s getting cold out here.”
They both turned to find out why Gizmo wasn’t whining to go inside. The pup was sound asleep in the back seat. Jackson couldn’t help but smile.
“So he really does run out of energy once in a while.”
“It’s hard to believe, but it does happen. Isn’t he so cute?”
“He is...when he’s sleeping.”
“Hey.” She swatted at Jackson’s arm. Then a worried look crossed over her face. “You do like Gizmo, don’t you?”
He knew by the serious tone of her voice that him bonding with her dog was nonnegotiable. Someday she’d make a good mother. Unlike his mother who’d taken his dog away from him.
“Oh, no,” she said. “You don’t like him.”
“What? No. I mean, yes, I do.”
“But you frowned when I asked you about it.”
“That wasn’t why I was frowning. I swear. I didn’t even realize I was frowning.”
He was going to have to do better to keep his thoughts from being so obvious on his face. Considering his job, he was normally quite adept at it. But either Serena could read him better than most or he felt so at ease around her that he didn’t think to hide anything.
And now he had no choice but to share with Serena that painful moment in his childhood. He’d never told anyone about it—not even his wife. It was a part of his life that he’d blocked out—until he’d met Serena and Gizmo.
“I was just thinking about the past. I had a dog once. He was rambunctious and I was young, about seven years old. Long story short, he got in lots of trouble and a week later, my mother took him back to the pound.”
He remembered clearly how his mother had told him to stop crying. He wasn’t a sniveling wimp. If he was strong, if he was a man—unlike his father who ran off at the first sign of trouble—then Jackson would be fine. He didn’t need a dog.
He’d been so young at the time that his priority was not letting his mother down. He wanted her to be proud of him more than anything else in the world—even more than having his puppy.
“I can’t believe it,” Serena said. “Your mom took your dog away.”
He nodded. “But it’s okay.”
“What’s okay about it? She got it for you, but seven days later she took it back to the shelter.”
“It was my fault. I didn’t take care of Rover like I’d promised.”
“You were only seven. How responsible can a seven-year-old be?”
Jackson shrugged, realizing that even after all this time he was protecting his mother. “It doesn’t matter. It was a long time ago.”
“But it still bothers you, so it matters.”
He pulled back and reached for the door handle. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
Serena didn’t say anything as he walked away. By the rigid line of his shoulders, she knew the evening had been ruined. And it had held such promise.
CHAPTER TWELVE
WHAT HAD HAPPENED?
Serena had been trying to make sense of what had happened to their perfect evening ever since Jackson had withdrawn from her. That had been last night and now, not quite twenty-four hours later, he was still unusually quiet.
Had she misread everything last night?
Impossible. There was no way she’d misread his kisses—his very stirring kisses. Those kisses had left promises of more to come. Oh, he had been into her just as much as she had been into him. So where had it all gone so wrong?
Or was it for the best to put a halt to their desires? After all, every man that she’d let get close had hurt her. Why should Jackson be any different?
But the truth was, she wanted him to be different. She wanted him to be the exception to everything she knew about men—that they were critical, careless with their words and didn’t believe in love for love’s sake but rather for what it could do for them and their careers.
“Hey, what has you so deep in thought?” Jackson’s deep voice stirred her.
At last he was talking to her. A smile came to her face. Maybe she was making too big a deal of things. Perhaps he’d just been tired last night. After all, the doctor did say that the boot on his ankle would tire him out.
“I was just thinking about what I’m working on.”
“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Jackson had a mug in each hand and held one out to her. “I just thought you might like this.”
“Oh, coffee. I always like coffee.”
“It’s not coffee.”
“It isn’t?” She accepted the mug and glanced into it to find little marshmallows and hot chocolate. “Thank you.”
“I just thought that with it snowing again this might be fitting.”
“It is.” She took a sip of the milky chocolate. It was perfect. “This is the best hot chocolate I’ve ever had.”
He smiled proudly. “Thank you.”
“Is this from a packet? If so, I have to make a note to buy some when I get back to the States.”
He shook his head. “It isn’t from a box. I made it.”
She took another sip and moaned in pleasure. “How did you make it?”
He eyed her up as though trying to decide if he should divulge the information. “Can you keep a secret?”
“Definitely. I just have to be able to make this again. It’s that good.”
“Well, while we were at the Christmas market yesterday, I bought some chocolate.”
“Why don’t I remember this?”
“Because you and Gizmo were at the stall with the gourmet dog biscuits. Anyway, that’s my secret.”
“So you melted chocolate into milk.”
“Not just any chocolate but dark chocolate. However, you can’t tell anyone. It’s our secret.”
She smiled, liking the idea that they shared confidences. “I can’t believe you are so good in the kitchen.” And then she realized that he might not take her words as a compliment. “It’s just that you are so busy. I don’t know how you find the time.”
“I don’t have a busy social calendar, not anymore. Anyway, once you learn how to cook, it’s like riding a bike, you never forget.”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“You mean you can’t ride a bike?” The look on his face was one of unimaginable horror.
“No. I mean, yes, I can ride a bike. It’s the cooking that I never conquered.”
“Did you ever try?”
She nodded. “I’ve attempted to teach myself without success. My mother can’t cook, so she obviously didn’t show me. And my father thought that cooking was a waste of time. That’s what he paid people to do. So he forbade me from spending time in the kitchen when instead I could spend the time taking voice lessons as well as dance and acting classes.”
“Sounds like you had a very busy and educational childhood.”
She shrugged. “It was what it was.” Her childhood was a mixed bag of extravagance and neglect. She was certain she wasn’t the only Hollywood child to have the same experience
. “How did you become so good in the kitchen?”
“Come to the kitchen with me and I’ll tell you.”
“The kitchen, but why?”
“Because you’re going to have your first cooking lesson.”
She struggled to keep her mouth from gaping. After she recovered from her surprise, she said, “You don’t want to do this. I’m pretty sure I can burn water if left alone.”
He smiled. “I think you’re better than you give yourself credit for.”
“I wouldn’t be so certain.”
“Come on.” He reached out and took her free hand. He tugged until she got to her feet. “After all, you can make chili.”
“You know that it was out of a can.”
“Still, you didn’t burn it. That’s a start.”
“I must admit that I can handle a microwave.”
“Good.” They moved to the kitchen. “Now you have to pick—red or white?”
“Wine?”
“No. Sauce.”
She liked them both. “Paired with what?”
“Pasta and...” He opened the freezer and searched inside. “How do you feel about shrimp?”
“I love it.” She was so thankful that he’d given up on the idea of teaching her to cook. She was hopeless. But with Jackson cooking, this was going to be a delicious dinner.
“Good. Now what sauce would you prefer?”
“White.” She couldn’t help but smile. She’d never been in the kitchen with a man where his sole interest was in preparing her dinner. In fact, no man had ever cooked her dinner. Her smile broadened.
“Well, what are you doing standing over there. Put your hot cocoa down and wash up. You have work to do.”
“Me? Cook?” This was not a good idea. Not at all.
“Uh-huh. In fact, you can do it all yourself. I’ll supervise.”
Her stomach plummeted. So much for the delicious dinner that she’d been envisioning. “Are you sure you want to ruin dinner? I’m good with watching.”
“You’ll never learn to cook that way. Trust me. This will work.”
She had absolutely no illusions about this cooking adventure turning out to be anything but a disaster. Still, it was sweet that Jackson wanted to help her. She just hated the thought of disappointing him.
Snowbound with an Heiress Page 10
