Hannah shrugged carelessly but glared at him. “That can be arranged.”
Billy laughed at Ben’s disgruntled face. “Let’s call the state police to come and get James so we can put this mess behind us once and for all. All this running around has made me tired. Too much excitement around here, I might just go and reenlist.” They all laughed heading to Jackson’s truck.
“What about Kelly?” Grace asked, not wanting to see her. She still couldn’t believe Kelly hated her enough to help James.
Jackson’s face hardened with a cold look she had never seen before. “Deputy Warren took her to jail before I could kill her. I was so tempted.”
Billy hung his head in shame. “I can’t believe Stan and I fell for that stupid ploy. She really fooled me with those fake tears.”
Jackson grunted in agreement and patted Ben on the back in sympathy. “She sure does cry well and had a lot of people in this town fooled as to her true nature.”
* * * *
Once they were back at her apartment, Jackson made her a cup of hot sweet tea while she showered and dressed in a long baggy T-shirt. He sat on the couch watching Grace sip her tea, feeling tired from the stress of the night but glad it was all over once and for all. Now they could concentrate on the future without any worries. Grace grabbed his hand and smiled at him. “Jackson, I love you.”
He shook his head but she interrupted him before he could talk. “I knew I was falling hard for you already from the moment I looked into your eyes at dinner that first night. I’m sure of how I feel. I wanted to wait until everything was calm again to tell you but after all that happened tonight I need to let you know. I love you, Jackson Hawthorne, and you are stuck with me. I’m not leaving Bear Creek.”
Jackson scooped her up and put her on his lap, so thankful the nightmare was finally over. He kissed her lovingly, opening her mouth with his tongue and exploring her, feeling the excitement start in the pit of his stomach whenever he touched Grace. He knew Ben and Billy were at the station dealing with the state police so he might have time to make love with his woman and celebrate having her in his arms for good. He removed her T-shirt and grinned rakishly when he found her naked underneath. “You’re all I want in life. You’ve been my saving grace all along.” He carried her in his arms to the bedroom, ready to show her how much he loved her.
Jackson set her on the bed and stood over her by the bed as if waiting for an invitation.
“I need you tonight, Jackson. I want to make love knowing that we both love each other,” Grace whispered and opened up her arms to Jackson in invitation and watching his face.
Jackson grinned, needing no encouragement to make love to his woman. He was ready for her twenty-four seven. He took off all his clothes in a hurry while she sat up on the bed and stripped happily for her sexy cowboy.
As soon as Jackson laid on the bed Grace straddled his hips and looked down into his grinning face.
“I want to ride my sexy cowboy tonight.” She teased him, licking her lips and cupping her breasts, rubbing her fingers over her tips until they hardened into little pebbles. She could feel his stare burning through her.
“Well who am I to deny my lady what she wants?” Jackson grabbed her by the hips and lifted her and then lowered her onto his hard cock groaning at the feel of her tightness.
She leaned down putting her breasts in his face until he took the tip into his mouth increasing the pressure until she was moaning his name.
“Oh, Jackson, you’re driving me wild.” She moaned loudly as he nipped her nipple lightly with his teeth. Grace was feeling like she wanted to explode already. She held on to Jackson’s shoulders as he grabbed her ass cheeks and drove his cock up and down into her while she rotated her hips and threw her head back with pleasure at the feel of him thrusting into her over and over.
“Oh it feels so good, baby,” he mumbled going faster. She couldn’t hold it in anymore, the pleasure was burning inside of her building up until she screamed and let the fire inside her burst until she could see spots in front of her eyes. She didn’t even have the strength to lift herself off him and move so she just laid on top of him.
“I love driving you wild with passion. It excites me knowing that all that fire burning inside of you is just for me,” he whispered lovingly while rubbing her back up and down with his hands.
“Wow.” Grace sighed when she could talk again, kissing his chest softly. “I thought I was dying.”
Jackson chuckled. “Yeah, but what a way to go. I hope Billy takes a while ’cause I’m not sure I can even walk to the living room right now and unlock the door. You are an amazing woman and you’re mine, Grace, forever.”
Grace yawned, snuggling into his warm body feeling replete and satisfied. “Always, my sexy cowboy.”
Chapter 16
Grace stood in front of her mom. “Are you sure I look okay in this dress, Mama? Maybe I should wear a sweater?” They were at the Walters’ house, ready to go the fair together. It had been over a week since the night James had kidnapped her.
Grace stood wearing the red-and-white spaghetti strap sundress Jackson had bought her to wear to the fair with white sandals and her hair up in a high ponytail.
Laura Henderson looked at her beautiful daughter and wanted to cry with happiness at her obvious glow of happiness.
Grace felt a little self-conscious about her scar but she was getting better. Even though the ordeal was over she had started having nightmares again. Between Jackson and her parents, she had finally agreed to start seeing a counselor in Austin, and she did feel better talking it out and understanding what she was feeling. Jackson insisted on taking her to each appointment, and she loved him for taking such good care of her and she knew her parents did, too.
“You look beautiful, honey,” Laura replied in an emotional whisper. “Jackson’s right. One little scar doesn’t matter to anybody, especially to him. I am so glad you found your true love. It’s plain to see how much he loves you.”
Grace’s dad, Ken, came into the room with Bill and Flo and all the supplies they needed for the firework display tonight.