I had come upstairs to avoid talking to them. They were engrossed in their conversation, and I was not fit company for anyone, feeling the way I did. I was still angry after what had happened.
Enough so that I'd neglected to mention that Jackson was outside cooling his heels. I snorted. I was glad he had to wait outside. Maybe it would cool down his other... body parts as well.
He certainly wasn't welcome in here.
Not after what he'd done. He hasn't just kissed me, he'd manhandled me! The man flat out admitted he didn't like me and then he'd kissed me again! Three times!
I was beginning to think he had kissed me just to get a rise out of me.
The worst part was, it had worked.
I was annoyed, even as I felt myself responding to him.
He knew it too.
I forced myself to calm down and went downstairs to run Casey's bath. I laid out her evening meds and made her a cup of licorice tea to help her sleep. All of it was routine, which gave me plenty of time to think.
Out of everything I'd learned tonight about my new neighbors and this town, one thing kept circling in my mind.
Jackson Delancey was a real son of a bitch.
But damn, the man could kiss.
"So?"
"So what?"
"You like him."
I shook my head adamantly.
"No. No I do not."
"He's very handsome."
I shrugged.
"And he was staring at you all night. I could practically see the sparks."
"Trust me Case, there were no sparks."
"Uh huh. Sure. So where did you guys disappear to then?"
I looked at her, handing her a glass of water. She took it wordlessly and waited. I handed her her pills one at a time, using a little teacup so we didn't get our germs all over them. It was best to minimize her risk for infection. The damage to her body included a severely weakened immune system.
We'd learned that the hard way.
The best thing was to not wear shoes in the house, wipe down handles and doorknobs regularly and wash our hands. We had so many hand soaps and creams it would make your mind spin.
But it worked. Casey's body needed time to heal, not fight off every cold and flu that made the rounds. And she was getting better, slowly but surely.
"I'm waiting."
I handed her another pill.
"He took me on a detour."
"He did? What happened?"
"I asked him to take me back and he did. That's it."
"That's definitely not it."
"Take your pill."
She grinned and took her pill. Then she wheeled herself into the bathroom. I helped her into the tub and started to leave.
"Come on Ange. Sit and tell me. I never hear any gossip."
I sighed and perched on the toilet seat. After I wiped it down of course. We used a lot of wipes in this house. Most people would say we were neurotic. But it was so important to protect her as much as we could. That included keeping me healthy too, so I didn't pass anything onto her.
"Fine. He kissed me."
Casey squealed and splashed the water.
"I knew it! How was it? He's gorgeous Ange admit it."
"He's an oaf! He totally manhandled me!"
She was laughing as I frowned at her.
"I wouldn't mind being manhandled now and then."
"You are a bad girl, Casey."
She nodded happily.
"Yes I am. So, did you kiss him back?"
"Not the first time."
"The first time? How many times did he kiss you?"
I chewed my lips, thinking.
"Three times. And I slapped him three times."
"You didn't!"
I finally smiled. It was kind of funny when you thought about it. It had been like slapping a brick wall. Even his face had muscles.
"I did."
"That's not like you Ange."
I sighed. It really wasn't. I don't think I'd ever slapped a man before in my life. I was a pacifist. In the past I would have just avoided someone I didn't like. That's just what I would have to do with him.
It's too bad the man lived right next door!
"I know but he was so damn arrogant! He just grabbed me out of the blue. Then he suggested we sleep together so we could get back to disliking each other with that out of the way."
Now Casey was cackling like a witch. I watched her with a sour look on my face. Eventually I started laughing too.
"Well at least he's-practical!"
She leaned back and sighed dreamily.
"If only Prince Charming would come along and make an offer like that to me someday..."
I threw a loofah mit at her.
"You are an ass sometimes you know that."
She nodded sleepily. She'd only been in the water a few minutes, but I could tell it was time for her to go to sleep. Even just going out to dinner took a lot out of her.
"Okay, enough excitement for today, let's get you in bed."
A half an hour later she was settled and sleeping soundly. Meanwhile I was wide-awake. I didn't drink wine very often. You would think it would help you get right to sleep. Instead it was keeping me up for some God forsaken reason.
It wasn't just that either. It was him. Jackson Delancey was wreaking havoc with my peace of mind.
My fingers slid over my lips again and again. I could still feel him. For some strange reason I almost thought I could still smell him! He'd smelled like evergreen and leather. It was very manly and very appealing. I'd never smelled anything so delicious in my life.