Chapter 9
Jackson glared in frustration at the laptop screen. He was no closer to making the story work to his satisfaction since he had deleted the scene the first time. He’d rewritten it a total of five time and yet the words seemed stale and uninspired.
Unfortunately, the hotels in the area were booked solid with some set of conferences going on so Jackson and Katie were lodged in the same room. Fortunately, there were two queen sized beds available. It was still too close for Jackson’s liking.
“Are you still working on that?” Katie brushed her wet hair and leaned over his shoulder to read the screen. She smelled like shampoo and something uniquely her. “I like that part.”
“Yet not the rest,” Jackson growled in frustration. “I have two more days to get this right and then it will be late. I’ve never been late for a deadline.”
Katie frowned as she read on. “It’s not your best.”
“I know,” he said dryly.
She bit her lip. “I have an idea.”
“What?” he was ready for anything that might help. He needed to get this done.
“Get up,” Katie put down her brush. “Come on.”
Jackson stood. “What are we doing?”
“Well, the characters are dancing right?” Katie grabbed his phone and had it play a popular slow song before setting it on the desk. She stood directly in front of him and put her hands on his shoulders. “You be him and I’ll be her. Maybe we can figure out what they would say and do.”
He reluctantly put his hands on her waist. “Katie, I’m not sure this is a good idea.”
“Why not?” she looked up at him curiously.
They were three feet away from one of the two queen sized beds in a hotel room, that’s why. Jackson didn’t give voice to the thought.
“Just give it a try. You be Monroe and I’ll be Sara,” Katie cocked her head to the side. “Jackson, this doesn’t work if you don’t dance.”
Knowing that he was probably going to regret this somehow, Jackson gently pulled Katie a little closer and started to move to the music.
“What did you think of the house?” Katie asked, repeating what the female main character was supposed to say.
“I think it’s a big place for one person,” Jackson dutifully said Monroe’s line.
“A lot of people buy a home while planning for the future. Maybe someday you’ll have a wife and family,” she said softly, leaning a little closer.
“Maybe,” he said a little huskily. “Are you applying for the position?”
“Maybe,” Katie held her breath, waiting for what was next.
There were too many ‘Maybes’ Jackson’s brain foggily catalogued as he moved his hand to cup her cheek. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against hers. She was intoxicating. He kissed her again, threading one hand through the hair at the back of her head and the other hand going to the small of her back so that he could press her closer to him. She gave a breathy sort of moan, pressing herself against him.
Jackson wasn’t sure he’d ever felt this level of desire for another person before. Kissing Katie was explosive. She fit him perfectly and suddenly he felt a fierce ownership of her. He didn’t know who the other guy was but wanted him out of the picture. He allowed his hunger for her to be reflected in their kiss and she matched him. He backed her up to the bed, gently lowering her and following her down. She lifted up his shirt, her hands exploring and he realized rational thought was about to leave the building.
He kissed her along her jaw. His stupid conscience making him ask, “Do you have a boyfriend?”
Katie’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Are we adlibbing?”
It was like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him. She thought this was still playacting for the book.
“I need to think. I’m going to take a walk,” he spoke probably a little more harshly than he should have but he needed to get away from her for a while. He pushed himself away and off the bed, heading straight for the door, not looking back. An hour in the cold snow outside might be in order, he thought as he shut the hotel room door behind him.
Katie lay in bed. After she’d gotten her heart rate down from the inferno that Jackson had caused, she’d analyzed everything that he had said and couldn’t come up with any answers. The only thing she knew is that nothing would ever compare to what she had just experienced.
She decided to wait for him and ask questions when he returned. What had he meant when he’d asked if she had a boyfriend? Did he mean her or was he still in character? She hoped he’d been asking her. Suddenly, she felt more nervous of Jackson Davis than she had her entire life.
