‘Her words were, “Maybe there’s enough of an attraction here to keep Jackson from returning to Hong Kong.”’ Sasha locked her eyes on Jess’s, looking right inside her. ‘It’s okay, you know. In fact, I wholeheartedly approve.’
The air in Jess’s lungs whooshed across her lips. ‘I’m glad it isn’t going to be an issue between us. But you and your mother are getting ahead of the game. One night doesn’t automatically lead to a wedding.’
‘Got to start somewhere.’ Sasha grinned again.
These lovesick grins were getting tiresome. But, then, hadn’t she been smiling and laughing more than normal this morning? ‘Great sex does the trick every time.’
‘Excuse me?’ Sasha’s eyebrows rose and her brow wrinkled.
‘You and Grady, going around like those clowns at the show with big grins that won’t close.’
‘Oh. Like the one on your face right now? Bet there’s one on my brother’s mug, too.’
Jess couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing, and grabbed Sasha into another hug. ‘Guess we should get these pavlovas done.’
‘You always change the subject when it gets too hot for you.’ Sasha resumed hulling the bowl of strawberries on the bench beside her. ‘By the way, thank you for that painting you gave us. It’s fabulous. How does the artist do such intricate work? Looking at that gull on the post with the sea in the background makes me feel the sun on my face and the salt air in my nostrils.’
‘He’s very good, no doubt about it.’
‘Yeah, well, we love it and thank you so much. Of course, I could say you shouldn’t have spent that kind of money but then I’d have to give the painting back and I’m not parting with it.’
‘Damn. My cunning plan failed.’
They talked about the wedding as they worked, reminding each other of everything that had happened from the moment they’d started getting ready early yesterday morning.
Loud masculine laughter reached them through the open kitchen windows and Jess stopped to stare out at Jackson as he stood talking with Grady and Ian. Those butt-hugging jeans and a T-shirt that outlined his well-defined muscles made her mouth water. Her heart bumped harder and louder than normal, and those pesky butterflies in her tummy started their dance again. ‘Sasha, what does love feel like?’ she whispered.
Sasha came to stand beside her and looked in the same direction. Slipping her arm through Jess’s, she answered softly, ‘It feels like every day is summer, like the air is clearer, and at night the stars are brighter. Love feels as though nothing can go wrong. As though everything is bigger. It makes you laugh and smile more.’
Jess bit down hard on her lip. I’ve fallen in love. Overnight. Or did it happen the moment I saw Jackson standing beside Grady as they waited for us to arrive and the wedding ceremony to start? Does it even matter? It’s happened. And it’s not going anywhere.
Sasha nudged her gently. ‘The sky’s very blue today, isn’t it? Sparkling with sunlight.’
‘Yes,’ she whispered. What the heck do I do now?
‘The colour of love, I reckon.’
CHAPTER FIVE
‘WHO’S LOOKING AFTER Nicholas while you’re working all these extra hours?’ Jackson asked Jessica, as she folded the towels just back from the laundry and stacked them in the storeroom. It was Wednesday and he’d missed her every minute since the weekend. At least working here at the medical centre he got to see her occasionally but most of the time they were both too busy for more than quick snatches of conversation.
‘He’s at day care until Andrea picks him up after she collects her little boy from school. Bobby started school on Monday and Nicholas is so jealous. June can’t come quickly enough for him.’
‘I bet. It must be hard to leave him while you work.’ She doted on her boy.
‘It is. His little face turns all sad, which hurts to see. But it only happens a couple of days a week unless I’m covering for someone here.’ Her face was turning sad now.
‘You wouldn’t think of not working at all?’ What was her financial situation?
‘Thanks to my parents...’ she winced ‘...I could afford to stay at home, but not having a partner I need some adult contact. The brain needs some exercise, too.’
‘I can understand that. It won’t hurt Nicholas to be mixing with other kids his age either.’ Do not wrap her up in a hug. Not here at work. ‘Do you like doing Sasha’s job as well as your own?’ From what he’d seen so far, she coped remarkably well. Nothing seemed too much for her. It made him wonder if people took advantage of that.
Jessica shrugged. ‘Two weeks is nothing. And I get to keep my other nursing skills up to date.’
‘Do you often do the nursing job?’
‘First and foremost I’m the midwife, but if either nurse wants time off I cover for her. I like the variety and there are times when I’ve got no babies due and need to be busy.’ The face she lifted to him was beautiful. Those big brown eyes were shining and her mouth had been curved in a perpetual smile all day.
‘That chicken dish you dropped at home yesterday was tasty. When did you find the time to make it?’ He and Dad had come in from the orchard late to find that Jess had dropped by with the meal. ‘Mum was grateful, though, be warned, she’s not likely to tell you.’
‘I know. Not a problem. The wedding took its toll on her.’
‘Which is why I haven’t had time to call round to see you since Sunday.’ Not for lack of trying. ‘Dad’s had a lot to do, clearing away everything and getting on with the orchard needs.’ He’d ached to visit Jess but knew his priorities lay with his parents for a few days at least. His guilt at not having been here for so long could only be kept at bay by working his butt off, doing chores for them. Leaving in April was not going to be easy. ‘My tractor skills have been in demand.’
‘I understand.’ The hand she laid on his arm was warm, but the sensations zipping through his blood were red hot. ‘Virginia’s worked nonstop on wedding plans since the day Sasha proposed to Grady. She had to crash some time.’
Jackson grinned. ‘Sasha proposed to Grady? Are you sure?’
Nodding, Jess told him, ‘Absolutely. She did it minutes after Melanie was born.’
‘That’s so Sasha. I’d have thought Grady would’ve been chomping at the bit to ask her to marry him. He’s besotted.’
‘Isn’t he? Sasha had been keeping him at a distance. Afraid he might leave her again, I guess.’
Jackson stepped back, away from the citrus scent, away from that body that he so craved. Otherwise he was going to haul Jess into his arms and kiss her senseless. Something he wanted to do every time he saw her. Something he very definitely couldn’t do while at work in the medical centre. But they could catch up out of the work zone. ‘I’ve been checking the tides and it’s looking good for a spot of surfcasting. How about we take Nicholas down to the beach when we’re done here and he can try some fishing?’
Her eyes were definitely fudge-coloured right now. ‘You’d do that? I’d love it, and you’ll be Nicholas’s hero for ever.’ Then the light gleaming out at him dimmed. ‘Maybe that’s not so wise.’
Jackson stepped back close, laid his hands on her shoulders. ‘I promise to be careful with him. And Grady will be back to replace me in my male role model position.’ He suddenly didn’t like that idea. Not one little bit. For a brief moment he wished he could be the man who showed Nicholas the ways of the world. But he wasn’t being realistic at all. It was not possible to be there for Nicholas for more than a few weeks. So having Grady in the background was good. He had to believe that, or go crazy, worrying about the little guy.
Under his hands her shoulders lifted, dropped. ‘You’re right. But just so as you know, I don’t want Nicholas getting high expectations of your involvement with him. Not when you’re not staying around.’
At least she hadn’t said anything about his involvement with her. While he hadn’t worked out where their relationship was headed, he didn’t want the gate closing before they’d spent more time together. ‘I understand, Jess.’
‘Do you?’ She locked her gaze on him, like she was searching for something. ‘I worry because I know what it’s like to have expectations of adults and never have them met.’
‘Your parents?’ He held his breath, waiting for her to tell him to go to hell. To say it was none of his business.
But after a moment she nodded. ‘Yeah. I’m sure they loved me. But they never needed me. I was a nuisance when all they needed was each other and their busy life outdoors, studying native flora and fauna, and how to protect it for generations to come. They tried. I’ll give them that. I always had more money than even I could spend. Occasionally they took me on trips to places in the world most people aren’t even aware of. All far away from civilisation, from the fun things a kid likes to do. I guess growing up I never wanted for anything. Except hugs, and sharing girl talk with my mother, and being able to brings friends home for sleepovers.’
When she started spilling her heart she didn’t stop easily. The pain in her words cut him deep. No one should ever feel that they came second best with their parents. No one. To hell with being at the medical centre. He wrapped his arms around her, held her tight, and dropped kisses on the top of her head. ‘You already give Nicholas far more than that.’
‘I hope so,’ she murmured against him, her warm breath heating his skin. ‘It’s a work in progress.’