Under My Skin (Skin Deep #2)

I hit the reply button and typed: What’s wrong with your fingers, Jensen? Forget how to push the dial key?

No, but I figured you must have been busy if you’d forgotten to call your best friend. Who is trying to plan her wedding. AND NEEDS HER MAID OF HONOR!

I rolled my eyes at her. I didn’t forget that I was supposed to meet her at the bridal store on Saturday to try to find a wedding dress for her, and bridesmaid dresses for me, Leah, and Jenna, and a flower girl dress for Hayden. Emma had already bought her shoes, and the girls and I had ordered ours finally. We’d managed to find shoes that were similar to Emma’s, only ours were studded down the stiletto heel, and the shoes themselves were black with white skulls wearing hot pink bows on their heads, instead of the hot pink of Emma’s.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You’re just fishing for details.

My phone chimed again with her immediate reply.

No shit, Sherlock. So????????? Spill it, woman!

I laughed before replying. I think we need a special sundae night for this one! How about Sat. after we do the dress thing? My place or yours?

Yours. No guys allowed, so you better tell them to get lost now. Lol!

I shook my head at her, smiling to myself. I have missed Emma, even though it’s only been a few days since I’d seen her last. But what could I say? Jacks and Brandon had been keeping me busy ever since they finally got it through their heads that I was serious when I said I’d give it a shot.

Things have been going great; they go do whatever they need to do in the morning, come back to me in the evening and, more often than not, wear me out completely before we finally all fall asleep.

We all went grocery shopping together the night before last because Brandon kept whining that he’d waste away if I didn’t get some food in my fridge. Jacks and I could only laugh as he filled the cart with more food than I’ve ever bought at one time in my life. I can’t complain, though, because he actually has cooked up a couple great dinners for us. Jackson, surprisingly, doesn’t do too bad in the kitchen himself. I get by, but I’m no Paula Deen.

Yet, even though things are going so well, there’s still that niggling doubt in the back of my mind.

Dragging myself out of my thoughts, I grabbed the duster and started around the store, dusting and straightening shelves and displays as I went. I stopped here and there to greet customers that wandered in, and I even sold the quilt hanger my mom had brought in the other day.

When six o’clock rolled around, I went through my closing routine and headed out the door, stopping in surprise when I saw Jackson leaning against my car. I look around, searching for Brandon, but didn’t see him anywhere.

I quirked my eyebrow as I walked toward him, leaning in and giving him a brief kiss before asking, “Where’s Brandon? And where’s your car? How’d you get here?”

Jackson smiled and kissed me again before answering. “Brandon actually dropped me off. He’s got some late appointments at the shop, so I figured I would take my girl out on a date.”

Huh. Wasn’t expecting that one!

“Sure…that sounds good?” I said, though it sounded more like a question. It did sound good; I was pretty stoked to spend some time with him, but I was just surprised, pleasantly so. We’d never been on a date; nor had Brandon and I.

He smiled at me again. Gah! That damn dimple…I swear it makes my stomach drop and my lady parts moisten every time! The corner of my mouth kicked up in a half-smile and I handed him my keys wordlessly. He took them with a wink and, taking my elbow, actually walked me around the car and opened my door for me. His momma must have raised him right!

I settled in the seat of my car and put a hand to my stomach. I mean, I’ve had this man rubbing his naked body all over me, I’ve had his penis in my mouth, he’s been inside me…why am I suddenly nervous? I have no idea why, but I was. It felt like I swallowed a pound of butterflies, and my heart was pounding out of my chest.

I looked over and then quickly away as Jacks got in and started the car, pulling out of the lot and taking me to wherever he wanted to go, and I was okay with that. I didn’t think I could make a decision like that to save my life at the moment.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed that he kept glancing my way, his beautiful lips curved in a smile that looked like it was permanently plastered across his face. Which didn’t help my nerves one bit.

He reached over and grabbed my hand, lacing his fingers through mine and stroking my hand with his thumb.

“Did you have a good day at the store?” he asked.

I nodded at first, then cleared my throat and replied. “Yeah, it was okay. Sold an antique lamp that I got at an auction and someone brought me in some kickass old records.”

“Nice,” he said. “My mom actually had a huge collection of records at one time. She used to get them out and play them on this old record player…then she’d grab us up and start dancing around the living room. It was great…” His voice trailed off and he didn’t say anything more.

“Does she still have them?” I asked.

He shook his head no, but didn’t offer any further information.

“So, who’s us? You and your sister?” I asked him. I knew he had a sister and it was just the two of them with their mom. He never mentioned his dad, and I didn’t know how he’d take my asking about it.

“Yeah,” Jacks replied. “That was after the divorce. Mom always seemed to be a lot happier after Dad left. I think we all were, you know?” he asked, glancing at me before turning back to the road.

I looked out the window, furrowing my brow in confusion as we pulled into a long gravel drive that looked a lot like the one beside Brandon and Luke’s house. I turned to look at Jackson, the question evident in my eyes.

“I wanted to show you something, so I figured I’d surprise you a little. Yeah?” he asked, his voice husky.

I nodded at him and started to get out but stopped when he said, “Uh-uh…let me.” I sat back and waited for him to come around and let me out.

“Thank you,” I told him.

He smiled and leaned in, kissing me sweetly. He pulled back, but his hand came up to cup my cheek, his fingers caressing my skin tenderly. He was being so attentive I wanted to melt into a puddle right there in the drive. Instead, I turned my head and laid my lips against the palm of his hand, kissing it before I nipped it gently with my teeth. I smiled at his gasp and looked up to meet his darkening gaze.

“Allie, baby…God, you’re almost too much,” he whispered. Then he grabbed my hand and tugged me toward the structure coming to life.

I took in my first real look at what was going to be Jackson’s house. It was really big, but not over the top. They were a lot further along with it than I thought; they’d already started finishing the exterior with a gorgeous charcoal colored siding. The front porch was wrap-around, wide and inviting and I could picture some ferns and rocking chairs there, maybe even a swing. The front door was black with a large beveled window. It looked sophisticated yet inviting.

Jacks led me up the stairs and opened the door, ushering me inside. He closed the door behind me and took my hand, leading me through the house. He showed me where the kitchen would be, with a large walk-in pantry, the laundry room off the mudroom where the door to the large back deck area. He indicated that he’d be putting an in-ground pool and hot tub in back there, too, which I definitely could see myself putting to good use!