N. Walters - Jackson’s Jewel

Every word was spoken softly, but still she flinched. She’d known as soon as the words left her mouth that they weren’t true. She’d not only hurt his pride, but she’d insulted the man too.

He was as still as a statue as he continued. “If that’s what you think about me, I want you gone when I get home. Rest assured, if you stay, I won’t be bothering you with my attention again.” Pushing away from the table, he turned on his heel and stomped out of the room. The door slammed shut behind him.

Emerald slumped back in her chair and took a deep breath. Her body broke out into a cold sweat. She’d thought for a moment that he was going to toss her out and she wouldn’t have blamed him if he had. She’d learned a valuable lesson about the man though. His word was obviously his bond and since he’d promised his sister he would, he’d give Emerald her ten-day trial, even if he didn’t want to.

Picking up her glass, she took a long swallow of the quickly warming tea. She also knew that there would be no more kisses in the kitchen. Not unless she initiated them. And if she did, she better be darned sure she was ready for an intense affair. Because once Jackson started, she was sure he wasn’t stopping until they were both sexually sated. She’d end up spread across his bed, just as he’d said.

Funny, but the idea wasn’t as frightening as it had been. Emerald had never indulged in an affair before. The two men she’d slept with each had been men she’d had a long-term relationship with. Her attraction to Jackson was undeniable and definitely something for her to think about.

Pushing away from the table, she gathered the dishes and piled them in the sink. Her appetite gone, she wrapped the sandwiches and put them in the refrigerator, along with the pitcher of iced tea.

Stopping, she leaned against the refrigerator door and took a deep breath. She was staying. Of that there was no doubt. She was going to have to apologize to Jackson too. What she’d said to him wasn’t very nice and she knew in her heart that it wasn’t true. There was no way he’d use sex to frighten her into leaving. He’d been just as caught up in the attraction between them as she had.

Pushing away, she decided to leave the dishes until she’d had a long, cool shower. She’d take the time to unpack and make up her bed with fresh sheets before tackling the rest of the house. She’d have to plan something special for supper. Jackson had barely taken a bite of his sandwich. He was going to be starving when he came home this evening.

She stopped in the laundry room long enough to haul one load of clothing out of the dryer and put the last load into the washer. From now on, she’d hang the clothing out on the line, but for today, there had just been way too much and she’d been in a hurry to get it all done. Helping herself to one of the clean facecloths and towels, she hurried to her room.

Feeling the heat pressing down on her, Emerald grabbed a change of clothing out of one of her suitcases before stripping off her sweaty clothing. Leaving them in a dirty pile on the floor, she headed for the shower.

Anger was his constant companion all afternoon as Jackson threw himself into his work. Physical labor helped him burn off some of his sexual tension and cleared his mind. Still, he was semi-hard all afternoon, his cock reminding him of the soft feel of Emerald’s body next to his.

Her breasts had been showcased to perfection in the tight red tank top she’d been wearing when he’d come in for lunch. Now he knew how supple and full they really were. Her nipples had been outlined against the fabric like two tight little berries. Fool that he was, he’d pulled away before he’d touched them.

“Damn it.” He yanked off his work gloves and shoved them in his back pocket. The heat was starting to get to him. His skin felt prickly and tight. He took a deep breath and exhaled. Then he took another.

His stomach growled, reminding him that he hadn’t actually eaten any of his lunch. A few bites of a sandwich didn’t count. He glanced up at the sky and then at his watch. It was almost five o’clock. Early for him to be calling it a day, but suddenly he didn’t care. His gut clenched as he climbed aboard the tractor and headed back toward the barn. Would she even still be there?

He honestly didn’t know. She’d been as shaken as him by the hot flash of desire that had burned between them. Her lips were soft and when they’d parted for him, inviting him inside, he’d felt a fierce sense of satisfaction. He shuddered as he imagined those lips on other parts of his anatomy. His cock stirred yet again, letting him know what it thought of the idea.

“Get a grip,” he muttered as he easily maneuvered the heavy vehicle. She was his housekeeper, his employee. That’s if she was still even here. The thought of her being gone left him feeling slightly bereft, as if he might have missed something special. Something important. That just made him angry again. He barely knew the woman. There was no way she could mean much of anything to him.

He forced himself to drive straight to the barn and park the tractor safely away for the night before heading toward the house. He knew he was delaying the inevitable, but he did the rest of his chores first, as if that would somehow prove that Emerald meant nothing to him.

Flinging his gloves onto the seat of the tractor, he spun on his heel and stalked toward the house. He stopped, his heart pounding, as he realized her blue Honda Civic was still parked in the yard. She hadn’t left. Relief flooded him even as he told himself not to read anything into it. She probably needed the job.

Still, he hastened his step, suddenly in a hurry to see her. He’d told her that she was safe from his attentions, and he’d meant it. But that didn’t mean he’d turn her down if she wanted to turn her sights in his direction. After all, they were both mature adults. Erin hadn’t told him how old Emerald was, but she was in her late twenties or early thirties for sure. More than mature enough to know her own mind.

Unsure of his reception, he quietly walked up the steps and eased the back door open. He could hear her voice as he stepped inside.

“I’m fine, sweetie. Really.” She was standing with her back to him, staring out the front window while she talked on the phone. Her long curls were piled on the top of her head and anchored with some kind of clip. It exposed the long, slender line of her neck and back. The red tank top and colorful skirt were gone, replaced by jeans and a blue tank top. She looked good enough to eat and he had a powerful hunger growing inside him. Jackson wondered who “sweetie” was and felt unaccountably angry that she could kiss him so passionately at lunchtime, yet sweet-talk some other guy a few hours later.

“No. I’ve got a job and a safe place to stay.” She paused and sighed. “I miss you too.”

His body quivered, his muscles all tensed as he stood there with hands fisted by his sides. Sweat made his shirt and jeans cling to his skin. He was jealous, he realized in a flash. And he had no right to be. Hanging his head, he rubbed the back of his neck, trying to loosen the tight muscles. Sure, they’d shared a kiss, but that was it. And he didn’t really believe a word he was thinking. There was something between them. What it was, he wasn’t quite sure. But it was powerful. And she’d felt it too. He knew she had.

“No!”

His head jerked up. Whatever the other person said had upset her.

“No.” Emerald softened her tone as she continued. “I don’t want Mom or Dad to know. There’s no reason to bother them with this. I’ve got a safe place to stay while the investigator looks into things.”

Relief surged through him. It wasn’t another man, at least not one she was romantically involved with. It was either a brother or a sister. Then the rest of what she’d said registered in his brain. Investigator? Safe? What the hell was going on with her?