The Love Experiment (Stubborn Hearts 1)

He ran a finger inside her shirt and under her bra strap and snapped it against her skin. Oh, gosh. She could call home later. She took his hand and brought it to her breast. He squeezed, his other hand pressing down on her tailbone so she could feel exactly what mood he was in. They were almost lip-locked again when Martha reappeared on the couch arm.

“Marah. Merrow. Yip.” She was dragon-less and not happy. “Marah.”

“About moving in,” Jack said, looking at Martha. “Did I mention I own a cat who’s a boner killer? You can have the whole closet. I only need a hanger or two.”

“I like the way you’re thinking. I am a dog person, after all.”

“I taught her to fetch just for you.”

“No lying in journalism.”

He shrugged. “How about gross exaggerations?”

“In my limited experienced that gets more eyeballs.”

“Go call your mom before I eyeball you into bed.”

She stole one more kiss and climbed off Jack’s lap, looking around for her purse.

“Derelie.” Cell in hand, she looked back at Jack. “I’m in love with you.” Never going to get tired of hearing that, whether it was in the pet food aisle, or on the street, or in his arms. “But maybe do some buttons up before you call home.”

She was in love with Jackson Haley and it made her dizzy enough to forget she was half-dressed. Buttons done, hair brushed and tied back, she called home.

“Mom.”

“Hi, honey. How was your week? Are you at your friend’s place again?” She got all silly saying the word friend, rolling her eyes and grinning.

“His name is Jack.”

“Can he hear us?”

“I can,” Jack said from his place beside her on the couch.

“Well, that’s not fair,” Mom said, before Derelie angled her cell so Jack was in the picture too. “Oh, look. Hello there, Jack, I’m Karen.”

“Hello, Karen, nice to meet you. Your daughter is a very special person.”

“Oh, she is, she is. I told her she’d make friends in the city, but she hasn’t mentioned you—”

“Mom.”

“Okay, okay. Is that, what is that?”

“Yip, yip.” It was Martha walking across their laps in front of the screen.

“Nosy cat, sorry.” Jack said, lifting Martha away. “I’ll take her and leave you so you can talk.” But not about me, he mouthed over his shoulder as he carried Martha into the kitchen.

“Bye, Jack, nice to meet—has he gone?” Mom watched for her to nod. “He has a cat. He’s very cute with the glasses and the shoulders.” She made a “the fish was this big” gesture, her face was out of the shot for a second, and Derelie got a glimpse of kitchen cupboards. “Where did you meet?”

“At work, he’s a colleague. You’ve read him. Jackson Haley.”

“Oh. The one who does the, with the, I see. He’s very accomplished.” Accomplished was the word Mom used when she was impressed but also suspicious. “Is it serious, you and Jack?”

She nodded. She wasn’t ready to tell Mom she was in love; it was such tender knowledge. She could hear Jack in the kitchen running water, banging about. “It’s serious. He asked me to move in with him.”

“Oh, honey.” Mom put her hand to her throat. “Do you love him?”

Another nod. Mom could smell a lie in a raindrop and see one in an eyebrow. “I do. It’s only new, but I do love him.”