Looking for Trouble (Jackson: Girls' Night Out 1)

“Who?”

“My mom. My brother. They’re family. I’m supposed to know them better than anyone in the world, but they’re strangers. I don’t remember my mom any way except sick. And my brother... We both grew up after I left. I don’t know what kind of man he is. He doesn’t know me. I feel like I just met him.”

“So stay,” she whispered. “Stay and get to know them.”

He frowned at the bottle, not looking convinced.

“I’ll make you a deal,” she said.

That caught his interest. He turned to meet her gaze.

“If you stay here for three weeks, if you get to know your family again and stop running so far and fast...I’ll plan my first trip.”

His eyebrow rose.

“A big one,” she said. “California. The coast. Maybe I’ll even go all the way up to Seattle.”

“Yeah?”

She smiled at the surprise in that one word. “Yeah,” she answered. “You learn how to stay, and I’ll learn how to go, and maybe we’ll actually figure out how to deal with life.”

“That seems like a big leap.”

Sophie laughed. “I guess I’m a dreamer.”

“It also sounds like we’d be moving in opposite directions.”

Did he say that because it would bother him? “I won’t be leaving right away.”

“But I’m going to Alaska afterward. I’d miss your California trip, and I already promised to show you my favorite cove.”

Relief made her eyes sting. “Maybe I could wait a little longer, then. Until you’re back from Alaska. If you wanted that.”

“Shit, Sophie.” He reached out to touch his fingers to her jaw. His thumb brushed her cheek and she felt the wetness there. “Yes, I want that. I’d love to see the ocean with you.”

Her smile was a little wobbly. “I thought I was never going to see you again.”

“I can’t imagine not seeing you again,” he whispered, then he leaned slowly toward her.

Sophie closed her eyes and waited for his kiss. When it came, it was gentle and slow and sweet. The hand on her face didn’t hold her still or pull her closer, it just touched her, his fingertips sliding over her jaw and then her neck until she shivered and pulled back.

The kitten jumped down and shot them a look of irritation before walking toward the bedroom.

“She’s jealous,” Sophie said.

“But I’ve been cuddling her all day.”

“Now I’m jealous.”

He chuckled as she got up on her knees to straddle his lap. She kissed his smile and felt his hands settle on her hips. She took her time tasting him, first his lips, then the seam of his mouth, then his tongue. His hands tightened. She eased her hips back, just to force him to pull her closer.

Yes. She liked that. When she tried to pull back again, he held her tight to him, his fingers digging into her. Sophie’s heart sped as she kissed him more deeply and ran her hands down his arms, feeling his hard muscles flex as he held her still.

He moved one hand lower on her hip and pushed her black skirt up until he could slide his fingers around her hip and under her panties. She was almost innocent today. Cotton panties and no stockings. But he didn’t let that fool him. This time, when she tried to slide back, his whole hand cupped her ass cheek and gripped her.

“Oh,” she gasped into his mouth. She needed this so much. His other hand pushed into her panties and slipped between her legs to touch her. She jerked against him and tore her mouth from his to cry out.

“Why do you like to make me rough, Sophie?”