Jackson claps his hands. “I think that’s everything, pretty girl.”
“I just want to take another look around.”
“You got it.”
I wander through each room, checking under corners and inside cupboards. Nothing. I’ve hired a cleaner to come in and do the final deep clean. I know my landlord will dockmy deposit for even the slightest mark, but I don’t have the patience to get on my knees and inhale bleach fumes just for a tight, scumbag landlord to squeeze the last few pennies our of me to pay off his third mortgage. Screw that.
By the time I meet Jackson at the front door, I’m ready to leave. “I’m ready.”
I send him an exhausted smile and reach to swipe my bag from the kitchen counter.
“I’m not,” Jackson says, before his lips capture mine and my head empties.
My bag drops to the floor as my hands come around his broad shoulders until they fist in his dark hair. His hands cup my behind and pull me closer. I want to be closer. I want to meld our bodies together until there’s nothing that exists in the world but this moment.
He effortlessly slides his hands under my thighs and I gasp as he lifts me onto the counter.
I should protest more, that I’m too heavy, that it’s too risky but I’ve never felt more safe than when I’m in his arms.
I let my thighs open and hook my feet behind his back. His erection rubs against my center, and I moan with pleasure.
“Are you guys—whoa, okay, never mind.” We break apart at Anya’s voice as she slams the front door behind her.
I drop my head to Jackson’s chest with a embarrassed giggle.
“I’m ready now,” Jackson says with a smirk, pressing a kiss to my forehead.
I press my fingers to his smile. “Help me down.”
He effortlessly lifts me until I’m back on my feet.
“I would like to give you guys a minute or an hour or whatever, but we only really have the van for another few hours before it closes and I refuse to pay extra,” Anya says,sticking her head through the door with her hand over her eyes.
“We’re coming, we’re coming,” I laugh.
“In that case, I can give you five minutes at least.”
“Freckles,” Danny’s scandalized voice shouts from the hallway.
30
JACKSON
I’mgrateful for our friends, grateful that they dropped everything to fly across the world in a crisis, grateful that they spent a weekend helping us move into our new home. But I’m mostly grateful when they leave.
“We’ll be back at seven to pick you up,” Anya says, hovering on the doorstep. “Is that enough time?”
Rosie nods, resting her hand on her belly. “I’m going to nap, but it’ll be fine.”
“Okay, see you later.” Anya presses a quick kiss to her cheek and waves at me over her shoulder before the door closes behind her.
Rosie sighs. “I think I’ll make a start on the kitchen before I go lie down.”
I cradle her shoulders with my hand, gently pulling her long hair off her shoulder and pressing a kiss to the warm skin at the nape of her neck.
“Or…” I trail my hands down her arm. “We could lie down right now,” I whisper against her skin.
I’m rewarded with a breathy laugh as she spins in my arms. “We have to leave in four hours.”
