Rolling her head sideways, she saw what she already knew. He’d gone. Sneaked out some time in the early hours while she’d been snoozing, gathering her energy around her. For another round of exquisite sex? Turning to glance the other way, she smiled. A note lay on the bedside table.
‘Didn’t want to be around when Nicholas woke in case it caused trouble. See you at the medical centre. Hugs, J.’
Thoughtful as well as sexy. Great combination, Jackson. And I still love you. But you are going away again and I can understand why. Unfortunately.
Leaping out of bed, she tugged the curtains open. Yep, the sky was as blue as the lightest sapphire. The colour of love. Love meant letting go and waiting for him to come back.
‘Now for the weather forecast.’ Behind her the voice droned on. ‘Expect showers this morning and if you’re thinking of going out on the briny, maybe you should find something else to do. Forty-knot northerlies are predicted from around lunchtime.’
Showers? The day was light and sunny. ‘Get a new forecast, buddy.’ She clicked the pessimist off and headed for the shower.
Twenty minutes later Nicholas bounced into the kitchen and pulled out a chair at the table. ‘I want cocoa pops.’
‘Please,’ Jess said. Placing the bowl and box of cereal on the table, she did a double take. ‘What are you wearing?’
‘My fishing shirt. This is the lucky shirt. Jackson told me I should wear it every time I go fishing with him.’
So there were to be more fishing expeditions? ‘That’s fine, but you’re going to play centre this morning, not fishing. Take it off and put it in the washing basket.’
‘No. I’m wearing it so my friends can see it.’ The cocoa pops overflowed from the bowl onto the table. ‘I’m going to tell them all about the three fishes I got.’
Removing the carton from Nicholas’s hand, she put it back in the cupboard, out of reach. ‘That’s more than enough cereal. Let’s put half those pops in another bowl before you add the milk or there’ll be a big mess.’
Too late. The puffed rice spilled over the rim on a tide of milk. ‘Whoa, stop pouring now.’ She snatched the milk container away.
‘I want more milk.’ Nicholas banged his spoon on the tabletop. ‘More milk, more milk.’
‘Sorry, buddy, but you’ve got more than enough.’ She spooned coffee granules into a mug, added half a teaspoon extra, then two sugars. As she dropped two slices of wholegrain in the toaster the front doorbell rang.
Behind her a chair slammed back against the wall. ‘I’ll get it.’ Nicholas raced out of the kitchen.
‘Hello, Mr Fisherman.’ A deep, sexy voice echoed down the hallway before Jess had made it to the kitchen doorway. Her stomach turned to mush as she peeped around the doorframe and drank in the sight of this man who seemed to hold her heart in his hand.
‘Mummy, it’s Jackson,’ Nicholas yelled, as though she was already at the medical centre.
‘Morning.’ Jackson had somehow moved along the hall to stand in front of her. ‘You’re looking good enough to eat this morning.’
Corny. But nice. ‘Want a coffee?’
‘Please, ta.’
Nicholas jumped up and down in front of Jackson. ‘I’m wearing my fishing shirt. See?’
Jackson flicked a question her way. ‘Not your idea?’
She shook her head.
‘See, here’s the thing, Nicholas. Fishing shirts are special and we men have got to look after them. They need washing after you’ve caught fish, and then put away in the drawer until next time you go to the beach.’
Nicholas was nodding solemnly. ‘Okay. I’ll go and change.’
Jess stared after Nicholas as he sped out of the room. ‘How did you do that? I could spend ten minutes arguing myself blue in the face about that shirt and he’d still wear it to play centre.’
‘Hey. Solo parenting can’t be so easy. You’ve got to make all the calls.’ A friendly arm encircled her shoulders, tugged her in against a warm, strong body. ‘From what I saw last night, you have a good relationship with Nicholas. Don’t be so hard on yourself. It’s not like you have family here to support you or give you a break.’
The more she got to know Jackson the more talkative he got. ‘Thanks.’ Reluctantly she pulled out of his hold. ‘Have you had breakfast?’
‘Toast on the run. Sam’s sheep got into Mum’s orchard overnight. I helped Kevin round them up and get them back in their rightful paddock.’
‘Kevin’s turning out to be very helpful.’
‘Where’d he come from?’
Jess handed him a coffee as she answered. ‘He and Tamara had an unexpected baby, which Sasha and Grady delivered. There are some terrible family issues involving Tamara’s family. Seems the young couple got so much help when the locals heard about the baby and everything else that they decided to stay here. Your dad offered Kevin work on the orchard, helping Virginia, and since Sam’s accident he hasn’t been able to go back to driving full time so Kevin fills in for him as needed.’
‘That’s why they’re living in the orchard cottage.’
‘Yep. Sasha moved in with Grady after Melanie was born. Kevin and Tamara needed somewhere to stay. Simple.’
‘Is this shirt okay, Jackson?’ Nicholas bounded back and climbed onto his chair.
After silently checking with her, Jackson gave his approval. ‘You’d better get on with your breakfast, sport. It’s nearly time to go to play group.’
Jess held her breath. But the kitchen became quiet except for the steady munching of cocoa pops. She shook her head and turned to Jackson. ‘That’s a turnaround. You sure you’re not staying for good?’
His smile faltered then returned. ‘Can I take a rain-check?’
Her eyes must have been out on stalks. They’d certainly widened so that they were stretching. Her mouth dried. As she stared at Jackson he shoved a hand through his hair, mussing it nicely.
‘You are making it so tempting, believe me.’ His chest rose. ‘But I have to be very honest here. I can’t see me staying. For a start, there isn’t an emergency department for me to find work at.’
‘There’s one two hours away over the hill.’
His lips pressed together and she knew she’d gone too far. But this wasn’t a one-sided conversation. Was it?
‘Like I’ve already explained, I don’t see myself settling back into such a small community. I didn’t much like it the first time round.’ His chest rose and fell. ‘Not to mention my promise to Juliet.’
She couldn’t complain that he hadn’t given her the facts. He was more honest than she was. But she had no intention of telling him she’d fallen in love with him. Not when she knew deep down she couldn’t start a serious relationship. Her son was more important than her love for any man. So that meant keeping her mouth shut and enjoying whatever happened between her and Jackson. ‘Thank you for being honest.’
‘Jess,’ he called softly. ‘Am I asking too much if I say I’d like to carry on with what we’ve got? Is that selfish?’
‘It would only be selfish if you were the only one getting something out of it.’ Even to her, the smile she made felt lacklustre. Trying again, she came up with something stronger, warmer. ‘I...’ I’m stuck for words.
‘It’s okay. You don’t have to say anything.’
But I do. I want to. ‘Until Saturday night I never expected to meet a man I’d feel so relaxed and comfortable with. You touch something within me, and—’ Oh hell, why wasn’t this easy? Maybe she should come out with it, tell him she loved him. Except she had to remember that she carried her parents’ genes—she would never be able to trust herself to be a good parent when she was in love with someone else. Mum and Dad were devoted to each other, to the point she’d always felt like a spare part in their lives. She’d never do that to Ni
cholas. ‘Jackson, you’re special and you make me feel the same way. So, yes, let’s carry on with whatever it is we’ve got.’
Did that sound like a business arrangement? Nah, who had hot sex with their business partner? She started to giggle. This really was an oddball situation, and she had no intention of dropping it. Her giggles turned to laughter.
‘What’s funny, Mummy?’ Nicholas tapped Jackson on the arm. ‘Mummy doesn’t like laughing.’
Jackson’s eyes widened. ‘Must be my fault. She laughs a lot around me.’
‘That’s because you’re funny,’ Nicholas told him as he got down from the table.
‘Funny ha-ha or funny strange? No, don’t answer that, either of you.’ Jackson grinned at her boy.