A throat clearing interrupted their conversation, and he looked up to find Jeff, one of Ethan’s friends, standing next to the table.
“Hey, Jeff. How’s it going?” Jackson asked.
“Going well. About to head over to the resort for the first crew going up the mountain.”
Jeff worked with Noah on the ski patrol. During the spring, summer, and fall, they manned the first aid tent to help with anyinjuries or search and rescue operations that happened when someone was injured or lost on the mountain.
Jeff’s eyes shifted over to Mia. “I actually came over here to talk to you, Mia. I was wondering if you’d like to go out on a date with me. Maybe on Monday night if you’re free? We could head over to the Italian place, Antonio’s.”
Jackson stared at Jeff blankly before looking over at Mia, who was blushing. She smiled brightly up at Jeff and nodded.
“Yes, I’d love to.”
What the fuck is happening?
“Great. I’ll call you later.” Jeff gave her one last smile and a nod at Jackson before walking out the door, coffee in hand.
Mia looked at Jackson, a blush still covering her face, before she ducked her head and took a sip of her drink.
“Quite a few dates coming up,” Jackson said. He tried to push down the jealousy that crawled up his back, but it was hard. He knew he shouldn’t be jealous, but suddenly all these other men wanted to encroach on his time with her.
No, he couldn’t be jealous that she was with another guy. He was just jealous that he didn’t also have a date to go on.
Yep. That was it. It couldn’t be more than that.
And that he could fix.
Mia caughta quick nap that afternoon after finishing the book Jackson got her. It was her favorite by Lillian Taylor thus far. She put it on her bookshelf with her other favorite books and got ready for her date with Jimmy.
It had been a while since she had gone on a date, so she decided to have fun with it. She put on black leggings that made her ass look good and paired them with some black heels and a red tank top. She curled her hair and put on some large hoop earrings before finishing the look with red lipstick.
Jimmy had texted her that they were going out for drinks, so she ate a quick dinner before meeting up with him at The Range Bar and Grill. She would have found it odd that he asked her to meet him, but since she knew it was a setup to make Jackson jealous, she played along. What she didn’t know was that Jackson was also going to be at the bar with his brothers.
When she stepped inside the bar, she immediately spotted him sitting at a table with them. Ethan saw her and winked. Jimmy sat at a table within eyesight of Jackson, but out of hearing distance, and she knew it was by design. There was no way everything was a coincidence.
She walked by Jackson’s table and smiled and waved at them before stepping over to Jimmy. He stood and opened his arms to give her a tight hug. She could have sworn she felt Jackson’s eyes burning into her.
“How are you?” Jimmy asked as he pulled out Mia’s seat for her.
She sat down, and he went around the table to take his own seat.
“I’m doing well. And you?”
“Good.”
With the way they were seated, Jackson could see the sides of both of their faces. Jimmy’s eyes flickered Jackson’s way before landing back on Mia.
“He can’t hear us if we talk at a normal volume,” he said.
Mia smiled. “You didn’t have to go through with a date just to make him jealous. I honestly don’t think it’ll work.”
Jimmy laughed. “Oh, trust me. It’ll work. Plus, it’s fun and our drinks are on Ethan tonight.”
Mia giggled. “Well, then. Let’s get some drinks.”
The server walked over a few minutes later and they both ordered. Mia tried her hardest not to look at Jackson, but she caught her eyes straying occasionally. Would she be thrilled if he fell for her? Of course. But did she expect it? Not at all. This was just an experiment his brothers wanted to do, but in the end, Mia knew it was likely they wouldn’t end up together.
Because if he hadn’t realized his feelings for her yet, he never would.
