I furrow my brow. “No.” My voice is firm even if I’m not as convinced myself. I’m seeing Jackson often and in a lot of different positions.
Oh, and I’m having his baby in four months.
“Rosalie, there’s far too much butter in this, no wonder it looks like you’ve gone up a size,” Mum scolds, barely looking up from her dish.
I suck in a breath as Cleo grins into her drink.
“This table is wobbly,” Dad announces, shaking the table and causing the bowls to rattle on the wood. “Youshould fix these things before they get too loose, it’s a hazard.”
“I can’t believe you can even fit a six person table in this kitchen,” Cleo says, leaning back in her chair and glancing around. “It’s so…quaint.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out under the table.
Jackson
Proof of life please
I can’t help the smile that pulls at my lips.
I type before I can help myself.
ME
glitterba
Before I can finish typing, Mum snaps, “Rosalie, get off the phone at the dinner table.”
My thumb nudges the screen as I hasten to lock it.
I turn back to my food, pushing it around my plate.
Then, the handle turns on the front door and Jackson Harper walks into my kitchen with a smile.
“Hello, Taylors.”
18
JACKSON
It’sa good thing dinner is already served because you could cut the tension in this room with a knife.
Four shocked faces stare back at me and I let my gaze brush over the three strangers until I reach Rosie.
“Smells delicious,” I say with a wink. That gets Rosie on her feet.
She rushes over to me. “What are you doing here?” she asks in a low voice.
“You say Glitterball, I come running.” Well, I received aglitterbalddghts, which I interpreted to meandear God come and help me now. I smirk as Rosie takes a deep breath, curving into me slightly as if I’m holding an umbrella that can shield her from her guests. “You good, pretty girl?” I whisper.
She nods. “Better now,”
I gently clasp her shoulders and step around her. “Jackson,” I say, extending my hand to her father. He’s tall and slim, with Rosie’s blue eyes behind his glasses. He warily clasps my hand in his.
“Rosie didn’t tell us you were coming.” Rosie’s motherstands with a simpering smile.Rosie didn’t knowyouwere coming, I think. “I’m Andrea.”
Andrea is slim with neat blonde hair around her shoulders and looks almost nothing like Rosie. I gently place a kiss on each of her cheeks and flash her a winning smile. “We all hate an unexpected surprise.”
Andrea stares at me. “Has anyone ever told you you lookjust likethat guy from those superhero movies?”
