by Tasha Jones
“I’d be happy to as soon as I help Becca clean up from dinner.” He frowned at her and before he could tell her no she gathered up the remains of the food and carried it into the kitchen. She could tell he was a man used to getting his own way, but she refused to be bullied into changing her ways. She didn’t come here to be pampered she came for a purpose. After she helped the fluttery Becca clear up from dinner, she made her way into the study where he was waiting. He had a frown on his face and she ignored it as she took a seat in a chair near him.
“So tomorrow I have an appointment for us both with Dr. McCann. She just wants to discuss the process and procedure. Can you be ready at 10? I figured we could have lunch after and discuss the plan for the remainder of your time here.”
“Tomorrow? Yes, that sounds good. I am sure you are anxious to get the process started.”
She saw him hesitate before he said what was on his mind. “Jasmine I want… need this to be a painless and quick process. The staff here are well paid to do their job. You don’t have to help them. You are here for other reasons.”
She felt the anger rise up in her immediately. She hadn’t felt like part of his employees until now. She supposed his good looks weren’t going to carry his bad personality.
“I appreciate the clarification on my position, Mr. Jackson, I wasn’t trying to do more than…required of me, I was simply helping. I am not use to having people wait on me.” She stood to leave. “I’ll be ready at 10.”
***
The day came too quickly for her. She was still trying to get used to her surroundings and the heat of the Texas summer.
She was surprised at herself last night. It usually took much more than that before she got upset, but there was something about him that sets her on edge. She dressed casually for the day ahead and met him in the front of the house. He seemed to be brooding over something and she decided to let him. It would do no good to try and understand him, he didn’t want her to get that close to him that much was obvious.
They made their way into town where they met with the doctor. She was a sweet woman and took care to explain everything about the process. They decided to set the date for next week for the first try. She assured them it may take more than once and she knew Parker wanted it done as soon as possible.
“I just want to make this clear to you both that this may take more than a couple rounds before we have any real results. Some things take time, and all of the conditions have to be just right for things to work. My best advice to you is to be patient.” She smiled down at Jasmine who blushed slightly.
***
Lunch was a much different affair. He seemed to be watching her more than before. She wished she could get inside his head and see what he was thinking. They chatted about the house and touched on his father for a moment.
“What about your mother? I don’t mean to pry, if you don’t want to share that’s fine.” She took a sip of her water.
“She died when I was a kid, I remember how she smelled more than anything else, like lotion and lilacs.” He gave her a smile.
They both sat lost in thought for a moment. She saw him watching her again and felt something start to burn deep down inside. She would have to be very careful around him.
They made their way to the lawyer’s office in town. He was all business, but a nice man and had all the necessary paperwork drawn up.
As soon as they signed off on everything, Parker took her hand, giving her a reassuring squeeze and they made their way over to City Hall. It was quaint and cute, they stood in a room and she brushed off something on his shirt.
They spoke their vows and it was as if time had suddenly slowed down. She saw him smile at her as he said the final “I do.” It wasn’t until an hour later when they were back in the car that it occurred to her that she was married.
It all had happened so fast. She had always thought she would marry for love one day, but saving a ranch and helping her family was reason enough. She was still thinking about it when she heard a knock on the door before dinner. She opened it and Parker stood there with a small box.
“I know this isn’t traditional in any sense of the word, but, I thought this was a necessary part of it. In case anyone asks I don’t want to seem like the guy who didn’t at least make it official.”
She opened the box and found a solid gold band that he slipped on her finger. It was a perfect fit and she smiled up at him as he flashed the matching one on his as well.
“I suppose we will get used to the feel of it.” He gave her that half smile of his that drove her crazy.
The days went by quickly, Parker would be at the house for meals and to check on her. He always seemed to have some quick second to give her grief about something and she would give it back to him. He would often touch her hand as he went by or her arm and the same feeling would consume her again. She refused to let herself feel anything for Parker Jackson.
He was, by all accounts, dangerous. She was about to carry a baby for him, and eventually, leave it. Sometimes it would do her well to remember what she was here for. She sat waiting at the doctor’s office for Parker to come out. He went in first for his part in the process and she noticed the blush on his face when he sat back down in the lobby. He squeezed her hand lightly before she went back and she smiled at him. They could be creating a life this afternoon.
The idea was powerful and she took a moment to get a drink of water as she made her way back to the room. Dr. McCann talked her through every step and there was only some slight discomfort. Before they made any move to leave the doctor came back in to discuss their options.
“As I mentioned before, this rarely works on the first try, though it’s not impossible. I understand you’re in a unique situation Mr. Jackson, but let’s check in next month and see where things stand.” She shook hands all around. Parker looked almost nervous and he helped her out to the car.
The ride home was quiet, he would glance at her from time to time and she closed her eyes to rest. She was on bed rest the next two days and the idea of it was torture. She had never had so much down time in her life. As they made it to the house he opened the door and helped her to her room. She gave him a smile as he tucked her into bed. He was gentle as he did it and she started to give him grief right away.
“As an employee, will I be allowed to have food today, I am starving?” He frowned before realizing she was joking.
“I guess I’ll have to feed you then.” He left and she laughed at him as he went.
He returned with a small feast of chunks of ham and cheese and some soft bread. They ate together and talked about the upcoming rodeo. She could tell he felt strongly about it.
“Why aren’t you going? It’s obvious you love it?” She took a long drink of water.
“I wish I could, it’s just the ranch. I need to oversee things here. Plus there is so much to do, to get ready for the baby.”
The reality of what they were doing was brought to the surface and they both stopped for a second.
He knew an opportunity like this may not come up again and he leaned in and kissed her soft at first then deeper.
Her head was spinning as she felt his lips on hers. She had thought about it more than once, despite trying her best to ignore it. They broke apart and her heart was still fluttering wildly. This was a bad thing and something she had wanted to avoid. Someone would get hurt, there was no denying that. She watched him take a step back and her body reacted to him leaving as if she was missing something.
“I’ll… leave you to get some rest. I know I should say I’m sorry Jasmine, but I’m not. I don’t know what this is with us but, there is something there and I know you feel it too.”
He left her then and she laid her head down on the pillow lost in thought. She usually had a firm handle on her emotions and her body. She hadn’t reacted like this to someone in a long time. She thought about their situation until finally she fell asleep.
The bed rest seemed to drag on until, fin
ally, on the third day she was able to get up and move around.
Parker had missed dinner the last two nights and was working long hours on the ranch doing one thing or another. She missed him, she couldn’t deny it. There was so much to consider in every step they took and it was all a jumble now. Nothing made sense and all she thought about was the kiss they shared. Finally, a week after their appointment Parker made his way into the kitchen for dinner.
“I’m not pregnant. I thought you should know it didn’t work.” She looked over at him and saw his scowl. “I’m sorry, Parker. I know that’s not what you wanted to hear.”
“I should apologize to you, Jasmine. I think when I kissed you I felt a lot of different things about it.” He glanced over at her.
“I’m sure you have a lot of emotions going on about all of this Parker, it can’t be easy. I’m sure you were just excited about the possibilities, that’s all.”
She gave him a smile and the atmosphere in the room changed.
***
The next month went by quickly.
Jasmine was enjoying her time there, more than she thought possible.
She and Parker would have dinner and walk the paths in the garden, both talking about their day. It was increasingly obvious that they were getting closer, but neither wanted things to end. So they never brought up how they were feeling. By the time she had been there for 6 weeks or so she had adjusted to her new surroundings.
She had found a way to tame her mane of hair, and she would spend her mornings with Becca in the kitchen before she would walk the gardens. She loved the feel of the sun on her face and Texas had plenty of that. Parker was gone most days and she was left to find her own entertainment. She did a lot of reading and over time even that left her feeling as though she was wasting her days. Finally, she decided to try and find a job in town. It would give her something to do, something to help keep her mind off of Parker, and what she was doing here.
She eventually found something, helping coordinate activities at a senior center. She loved it, it gave her a sense of purpose and it was only part time. It left her plenty of time to go home and walk the gardens in the afternoon, and be there to help with dinner.
It also gave her some extra money to spend on the day to day things she needed, she didn’t want to ask Parker for money for those things. It would only bring her purpose here in focus, and although she was very aware of it, she would much rather enjoy being in the fantasy world she was in currently.
Dinner was becoming a strained affair every night he was there, which was increasingly less and less. He would laugh and smile with her and yet keep her at arm’s length. As the days turned into weeks she rarely saw him and even her job couldn’t occupy her enough, she missed him and his tall tales.
She missed his face, his presence. He made her feel safe and protected and yet she also felt empowered by him. Maybe he was having second thoughts about their arrangement? Maybe she had done something wrong. She couldn’t address it, couldn’t fix it unless he told her something. She decided to give him some space, until the next time he was here, then she would get some answers and make the best decision for herself. If he had changed his mind she needed to know, she wouldn’t stay here, living in his house because he felt sorry for her. It was probably because the first two rounds of invitro hadn’t worked. Maybe he had lost faith in her ability to give him what he needed. She knew he had a deadline to meet, time was of the essence. It wasn’t for lack of trying. Every time she went in she hoped it would work, for Parker. She would be lying to herself if she didn’t want the honor of carrying his child. She had grown to care about him a lot over the last few months.
Chapter Eight - Parker
He wanted her.
He’d thought about little else in the two months she had been there.
In his mind, they had been on the longest date of his life and he wanted to hold her in his arms. She had to go back for round three of invitro soon, she would be on bed rest again, something he liked far more than she did.
To be honest, she was driving him crazy. Whenever he was at home all he itched to do was kiss her and wrap his arms around her. If he crossed that line again, or worse, it went further than it had before, it would complicate the situation in a way he couldn’t take a chance on. He didn’t have time to fall for her, or have her in his life permanently. He had to stay focused on the task at hand. He had decided not to make a problem where there wasn’t one and he started putting some distance between them. He found one project after another that needed his attention. He rarely came home for dinner now, he was overwhelmed by work. He rested his arms on the fence he had just repaired and looked out over the fields. This ranch was his father’s pride and joy, he had worked it until he bled. Even as a boy this place was the foundation for every story his father told him.
Maybe he felt the way he did because she was in this with him. She had his back and often tried to make him feel less alone. She, in some ways, was saving this ranch for him. Without her, there would be no baby to be had. It was that gratitude, perhaps, that made him want to touch her, and hold her so badly. What else could it be? He hadn’t been with a woman in a long time too, that surely played a part in it. Maybe it was one of those situations that needed to happen so they could both move on. He knew she felt it too, every time they were in a room together the air was charged and full of electricity. He made his way towards the house, he needed to be home tonight. It was going to rain and he needed to give his space in the outbuilding to someone else. With a deep breath, he opened the door and headed down the hallway.
He came around the corner and saw her there. She was in all white the light from the fading sun streaming through it and leaving very little to the imagination. Apparently, she didn’t want things to be like this anymore so she had waited up for him and she stood there. The air was electric as they looked at each other. Becca walked into the hall to tell them dinner was ready, breaking the silent tension and they both went inside. Something had to be done and soon. She sat near the door, almost guarding it somehow, to keep him from ignoring her. Dinner was strained, both of them having too much to say, but neither of them strong enough to start. Finally, when they were finished, she broached the subject, neither had been willing to talk about.
“Parker, why have you been avoiding me?” She saw him raise his head at her question.
“It’s not that I’m avoiding you. Things on the ranch have been busy, that’s all,” he said and gave her a once over before he moved towards the hall.
Chapter Nine - Jasmine
She was angry, she hated being dismissed more than anything else and she had been practically alone for days, she wasn’t going to let this go on like it was. She followed him into his study and shut the door with a bang. She watched him lean against the desk as if he were in pain and she continued on.
“If you have changed your mind, or I did something wrong then I need you to tell me. I can take it, I’ve been through worse than a headache before. Just stop shutting me out all of the time. Every time I am around you seem to disappear, it doesn’t makes sense. I thought we were getting along fine, getting to know each other. Even now you won’t look at me, you won’t face me. Just tell me what’s wrong!”
She felt the tears well up, despite her efforts to stop them.
“Do you really have to ask Jasmine?” He stood and turned towards her before he headed for the door.
“Stop running and talk to me. Do you know what it’s like being in this house all day everyday with no one to talk to? I wait for you… did you know that? I wait for you hoping you’re going to come, at least to dinner so I can have some companionship and you never show.”
She was exhausted and her chest heaving she waited for him to respond.
“So don’t wait, Jasmine. Don’t wait any longer.” He drew her to him in one swoop.
He pushed her against the closed door, leaning his body into hers.
She felt his heart beating under her hands a
s she pressed them against his chest. He kissed her wildly, barely allowing her to breathe as he trailed kisses down her neck and nibbled the area under her right ear. She whispered, his name, at least she thought so as he swept her up into his arms.
He carried her to his room, kicking the door shut behind him. He carefully placed her on the bed and started his slow decent on her aching body. Her breath was coming in little gasps now as he unbuttoned the front of her shirt, kissing after each one. She looked up at him and he paused only for a moment.
Instead of words she reached up for him pulling his mouth back to her and it was the only answer he needed. He undressed her quickly and stood back looking at her naked form.
“You’re so beautiful, Jasmine.” He traced his finger down over each breast watching as each nipple hardened to attention with his every move.
He followed with his mouth kissing and loving every inch of her along the way. She loved his hands the firmness of them on her skin. She reveled in the way he moved and in turn, how she moved with him. They fit together like missing halves of each other. He moved with her and felt her tremble beneath him. He had made love to many women, but it had never been like this. Both wanting to please the other their only focus was feeling the way they moved and loved.
Nothing had prepared her for this. She had wanted to talk… to make things better, but this was much more than that. He slowed down, tasting and loving every part of her and she arched her back meeting his mouth. She looked up at him and he stopped, only long enough to gently move her hair back from her head and lower his mouth to hers, crushing her with a kiss. Every movement was frantic, as if they only had this moment.
Her breath came in gasps and the liquid heat coursed through her. She felt him explore her more with his hands and her eyes flickered up at him as he moved lower, and lower still until he pushed first one finger into her and then two. Her legs opened for him and her hips arched against his hands, he moved against her, feeling her and watched her face as she climbed higher and higher until finally she felt the glorious climax shudder through her body. Even then he still moved against her rubbing, and grinding into her. Her legs were like jelly and she missed his assault on her as he moved his hand away.
