I was surprised to say, the man had a way with words.
The truth was, he was getting to me.
I stepped out of the bathroom and smiled half-heartedly at Casey. She was sketching in the living room. It was starting to really come together nicely. We'd painted the fireplace white. The first thing I'd done when we moved in was close the flue and seal up the front. We had our sectional couch from New York and a colorful cotton rug along with two easy chairs and ottomans. Nothing too fancy but we liked it.
Now, the room was cheerful, bright and soot-free for my sister's sake.
I took one look at her and stopped short.
She was scowling. I teased her, trying to lighten her mood. Maybe I shouldn't go out tonight after all...
"Case? Do I look that bad?"
She glared at me and shrugged. Then she went back to her sketching.
"What's wrong? Do I have a third eye or something?"
"You look fine. Have fun on your date."
Great. Even Casey was depressed about my date for some reason. I watched in surprise as she sullenly wheeled herself out of the living room.
"Elle will be here soon. I won't be gone long sweetheart I promise."
"What do I care!"
"You are the one who wanted me to date!"
"Yes but NOT HIM!"
She slammed the door to the kitchen, making me stare after her in shock. Casey never got angry. I had no idea what had gotten into her.
I shook it off and grabbed a light jacket. I'd have to talk to her later. Explain that I was just trying to make her happy. She'd calm down and we would have a good laugh about the whole thing.
I was waiting by the door when Elle came in.
"She's in the kitchen. She's mad at me."
Elle's eyebrows shot up.
"Why?"
"I have a date."
"So?"
"Apparently it's with the wrong man."
Elle smiled at me knowingly.
"Yes, so I heard. Where are you going to?"
"Some local rib place. I don't know why I'm even going."
"Don't you?"
I shook my head.
"Well if you wanted to drive Jackson out of his mind with jealousy, it worked."
"Wait, what?"
I heard Pete's truck pull in out front but all I could do was stare at Elle.
"Elle, what do you mean?!"
"I mean he's on a tear. Drinking. Cursing up a storm. I've never seen him like this before."
I must have looked terrified because she touched my shoulder softly.
"You don't have to be afraid of Jackson. He can be stern, but he's the most loyal man I've ever met. All three of them are."
"It's not that-"
"He would never hurt a woman. Those three loved their mother more than most. She brought them up right. He's just untamed."
I snorted at that description of Jackson. Untamed was exactly right.
"More like not housebroken."
She laughed and winked at me.
"The best ones always are."
Elle laughed and gave me a quick hug.
"Have fun on your date. But not... too much fun."
I nodded.
"I have no intention of having too much fun with anyone. That's the problem. That's all Jackson is after anyway."
Her smiled widened.
"We'll see."
I went outside as Pete was unloading my supplies from his shiny new pickup truck. He stacked everything neatly on the far side by the cellar door. I smiled at his consideration. That way everything would be out of sight from the front of the house. He smiled at me and opened the door to his truck for me.
I sighed as he drove me into town. He was very nice. He deserved better than to be used. And that's exactly what I was doing.
I decided to stop lying to myself. I was doing this to make Jackson jealous. It wasn't my proudest moment, but Elle said that it was working. Did that mean he wasn't giving up on me?
It was crazy, but that's exactly what I was hoping for.
The restaurant was nice, though they didn't have a lot of vegetarian options. Pete was very attentive. I cringed at the way he hung on my every word. He obviously had a crush on me. I did my best to keep the conversation light and impersonal.
I was sipping on an iced tea when I felt a funny tickling on the back of my neck. I looked up and froze.
Jackson Delancey was sitting at the bar.
He stared at me with a cold look on his face. I inhaled sharply, feeling butterflies in my stomach. He smiled at me then. But it wasn't a friendly smile.
Oh no. It was the kind of smile a wolf gave a deer, right before they tore into it.
"You alright?"
I swallowed my tea and coughed.
"Yes. I just-excuse me a moment."
I practically ran for the ladies room.
Chapter Thirteen Jackson
I stood in the hallway outside the ladies room, cooling my heels. My whole body was tense from watching Pete fawn all over Angelina since they'd walked into the place. It took every ounce of my will not to walk across the room and punch his stupid face.
Just for looking at her.
Just for thinking he even had a chance in hell of touching her.
Just for breathing.
If he laid so much as a finger on her, I was going to have to break it.
She was mine dammit.