“Shit.” Jackson scrubs a hand over his face. His eyes are sleepy as they meet mine. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to sleep over.”
I sit up and practically launch myself from the bed. I gather our clothes from last night and throw them onto the mattress. Anxiety courses through my veins, panic growing as I retrieve a pair of clean pajamas and yank them on.
Jackson’s movements are much slower, and I try not to stare at his gorgeous body as he pulls on his boxer shorts.
“Is it really the end of the world if he finds me here?”
“Yes!” I practically hiss.
I check my reflection in the mirror and wince. Why can’t I wake up looking like a sex god the way Jackson does? My hair is wild and my makeup from last night is smudged, giving me the darkest shadows under my eyes.
Jackson frowns as he steps into his jeans and pulls them over his hips.
“Why don’t I just pretend I’m here to take you to breakfast?”
“You can’t.” I hand him his shirt, still whispering.
“Why not?”
“Because I have plans.” My stomach aches.Shit.I didn’t get to tell him about my date with Clint. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk?—”
“Mama?” The door handle to my bedroom jostles aggressively. “Mama, why’s your door locked?” Edward pounds on the door.
“Coming, baby! Give me a minute!” I call to my son. My mind races as I frantically look around the room. “You have to go.”
I push Jackson toward the window, feeling slightly guilty. I hope he understands I’m not prepared to have a conversation with Edward about why Jackson’s in my bedroom. Especially when we haven’t even defined our relationship.
Jackson opens the blinds, his movements unhurried. He slides the window open easily and braces his hands on the edge.
“Give me, like, five minutes and I’ll leave your wallet andkeys on the porch,” I whisper, as he jumps up and over the windowsill. “Hide in the bushes until then.”
“Hide in the bushes?” He turns back and leans inside to steal a kiss. “You’re really gonna make me do the walk of shame? What will the neighbors think?” There’s a hint of a smile on Jackson’s face.
“Mama! I’m hungry. When can we have breakfast?”
“Go!” I wave Jackson away and slide the window closed behind him. I’m relieved he’s being so good-natured about this. I put the blinds back then hustle to the door, but my toe catches on the edge of my bedpost.
Pain shoots up my leg. “Fuck!”
“Mama, we’re not supposed to say that word.”
“I’m aware!”
I hop on my good foot, and ignore the tingling sensation that tinges with pain. The skin around my baby toe is already swelling. I really hope I didn’t break it. The last thing I have time for today is a trip to urgent care. Right now, I need to focus on what’s most pressing. Forcing a smile in place, I open the door to greet my son and start the day.
Some days area mess from the start. Today is one of those. From smuggling a grown man out my window to Edward having a meltdown when he couldn’t find the remote to the mini drone Jackson bought him the day before, nothing goes right.
It’s one thing after another, and by the time I shower and dress, I’m rushing to drop Edward off at Maeve’s to make it to my date with Clint. I consider calling Jackson, but I don’t have more than a few minutes to myself in the car, and besides, I’d much prefer to have that conversation in person.
Which is why I decide I’m driving straight to the ranch as soon as I sort things out with Clint. My belly is a bundle of nerves as I pull into the diner parking lot. I take the first empty spot, which happensto be next to Clint’s truck. He’s waiting outside, leaning against the bumper with a kind smile on his attractive face.
Guilt tumbles inside my gut as I exit my vehicle to join him. I walk slowly as not to aggravate my bruised and swollen toe. I picked comfortable closed-toe shoes, thinking they’d offer better support, but I’m not sure whether it’s helping or hurting.
“Hi, Rosalie!” Clint steps forward to greet me as I come around my parked car.
“Hi, Clint.” I lift my hand to wave in case he tries to go in for a hug. I don’t want to give the wrong impression, especially when I’m about to break things off before they start. “How are you?”
“Good. I’m really glad we could do this again,” he says as we walk to the diner. “I’ve got to be honest. I’ve been looking forward to it all week.”
