“Thirty-seven. I did my twenty, but I was the old guy on my team. The younger guys had speed on me… and better knees.”
She giggles at that. I grin, loving that I can make her laugh.
“What are you doing now? Or is pointless wedding security the new gig?”
“No, I’m not sure what I want to do now. I took this job to help out a friend, but I don’t think I want to do it full-time. What about you?”
“I’m a wedding planner full-time. I stay pretty busy.”
“I can see why. You’re the best at it.”
She blooms under my praise, and I wonder how long her family has been treating her like shit. No one thanked her at breakfast, the bride barked orders at her, and it seemed like no one has ever told her how proud they are of her. They all take advantage of her.
That’s going to change now that I’m in her life.
“Where do you live?” I ask as we take the highway toward the airport.
“It’s this little town called Wolf Valley, up in Oregon.”
“You like it there?”
“I love it,” she sighs, smiling happily. “Everyone knows each other. I’ve made friends and contacts for work.”
She’s sold me. I’m already making plans to move out there as soon as possible.
“Plus, it’s on the other side of the country from your family,” I blurt.
She stiffens, shooting me a nervous look. “Yeah, that helps.”
I reach over, squeezing her hand, trying to show her that it’s all right to admit that they’re terrible.
She brushes a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder and squeezes my hand in return. “What about you? What’s your family like?”
“Wouldn’t know. I was a foster kid.”
“Oh, Jackson. I’m so sorry.”
“It wasn’t so bad. I made my only family in the Navy, you know.”
“Good.”
She squeezes my hand again, and I take a deep breath, relaxing under her touch. She seems to have that effect on me.
I pull up to the airport and park. I hate to let go of her hand, but I know we have a lot to do today.
We climb out, and I fall into step beside her as we head to cross off the first item on our to-do list today.
FIVE
Fern
With Jackson’s help,we’re done with all the vendors by noon.
“Want to stop for lunch?” he asks me as we return to the car.
“I should get back to the hotel and see if anything else needs to be done,” I say, but even I can hear the dread in my voice.
“We’ll be quick,” Jackson promises.
