Living in this town’s first luxury condominium project has been a learning experience. When I found out they hadn’t finished the entire top floor, I used all my savings and bought it. The mortgage payments weren’t as hefty as I thought they’d be with my down payment, and I’m thankful that being a tight saver, and smart investor paid off.
But right now, I’m self-conscious about how it might look to Jackson.
Simple, farm-boy Jackson, who likes to sit by the campfire and read books about gardening. Welcome to my super fancy penthouse!
He’s going to hate this.
The elevator opens into my private foyer and Jackson steps out. Fuck. In a pair of tailored dress pants and a short-sleeved button-down shirt, he’s a dream. His lips tilt in an easy smile as he takes the few steps towards me at my front door.
“An apron? You’re cooking for us?”
“Well,we’recooking. I never fully explained the task to you.”
Jackson’s smile falters. “Did I overdress? When you said you wanted to invite me over for fine dining, I thought it sounded like more than jeans and a T-shirt were needed.”
“No. You’re perfect. I mean…what you’re wearing is.”
Jackson smiles wide as he raises the bag in his hand.
“You can’t take that back. You said I’m perfect.” He winks and my mouth goes dry. “I brought something for you.”
Closing the door after he’s inside, I notice the way Jackson focuses on me. He’s not once done the gawking around thing or commented on how the entire top floor is mine. It’s like I’m all he cares about and that’s a dangerous thought for me to have.
“Oh? You didn’t have to bring me anything.”
I open the bag, and for a moment, I’m confused, but a bubble of laughter bursts out.
“You brought me baby carrots?”
“It’s kind of our thing.”
Jackson shrugs like it’s not a sweet gesture, and I gawk at him like he’s a prize pig at the fair.
“Rye?”
“Oh, yeah, let me just…put them in the fridge?”
Jackson nods as I turn to the kitchen, clutching a bag of baby carrots to my chest like it’s my favourite teddy bear.
“You can have a seat at the kitchen island.” Behind the open fridge door I duck my head, hoping the cool air takes away the flush I’m positive sits on my cheeks right now. “I’m sorry to have called you on such short notice. When you mentioned you had a long stretch of rodeo travel coming, I thought…”
Honestly, I just wanted to see him after I spilled about Chase over the phone. It’s gnawed at me all week. Making a cake is just a convenient excuse to invite him here. To maybe see if what Gabe said was right.
“No! It works great. You’re right. I’ll be away for almost three weeks. Then you have a few events you’re busy with, so if we didn’t meet up tonight, it might be awhile before we could again.”
“Wow, three weeks is a long time to be away from home.” Holding up a bottle of wine, I offer him a glass. “Do you drink wine? If not, I have herbal tea. The same kind you had at your house.”
Jackson laughs softly. “Maybe I should have brought you that, too. Sure, I’ll have a glass if you are.”
After pouring us each wine, I settle on the stool next to Jackson.
“When I told you about Chase the other night, I hope you understand why I said I don’t date cowboys.”
Jackson sips his wine and his knee touches mine as he bounces it. Even with my nerves, it makes me smile that he’s still nervous around me.
“I do and I’m sorry you had to meet someone like that. We’re not all bad though, you know.” Jackson shifts his gaze and his warmbrown eyes lock with mine. “Sometimes we don’t acknowledge the signs in people because we truly are blind. Other times, we don’t believe we deserve better. But you deserve more than what he did to you, Riley.”
Jackson means it. I know he does, and it’s difficult for me to accept his words as truth.
