“Morning, babe.” Jackson wrapped his arms around me as I stood at the stove. “What are we trying for breakfast today?”
I smiled up at him. “French toast.”
“Sounds good. Want more coffee?”
“Sure.”
He kissed my neck before letting me go and grabbing my mug. He went to the other side of my kitchen to refill it, delivering it with another kiss, then he got out his own coffee cup from the cupboard. After he filled it, he leaned against the counter to watch me cook.
He was wearing nothing more than a pair of navy boxers, his muscles on full display. His eyes were still heavy with sleep as he sipped his coffee. The longer strands of his hair on top were disheveled.
It was my favorite time with Jackson.
Had I known how handsome he was in the morning, I would have worked harder to get his attention all those years ago.
Not even the view of the lake in the spring with the flowers in bloom after a long winter, with the grass neon green and the mountains royal blue in the distance, was as beautiful as the sight of Jackson Page standing in my kitchen drinking coffee.
It had been over a month since the first night we’d had sex, and Jackson hadn’t slept at his own house once. He’d settled into my tiny loft apartment so quickly it was hard to remember what it had been like here without him.
“Want to get out the syrup and butter?” I asked. “These are about done.”
“You bet.” He took his coffee into the living room along with our supplies and put it all down next to the plates I’d already set out.
I didn’t know how he could sleep through the noise I made in the kitchen each morning, but I figured it was because he was simply dog-tired. He’d gotten here late last night after closing down the bar.
I’d opted for a night at home instead of keeping him company, and I’d been surprised that he’d had to stay until closing for an early-October Thursday. When I’d called down to the bar to check on him around midnight, he’d told me there’d been a group of bow hunters who’d come in looking to unwind after a long, unsuccessful week of hiking in the mountains. I’d been dead to the world when he’d climbed into bed sometime around three.
Luckily, neither of us had anywhere to be this morning so we’d slept in and were having a late breakfast.
I took the final pieces of french toast out of the pan and shut off the stove. Then I gathered it all up and took it into the living room, setting our food on the coffee table, which doubled as my dining room. I settled into the couch next to Jackson and served him up five pieces.
I’d made ten because I knew he’d be hungry. That, and because I still hadn’t figured out exactly the right egg-to-bread ratio for two people.
“Well?” I asked after he’d slathered his toast in butter and syrup and shoved a huge bite in his mouth. “What do you think?”
He grinned, his mouth full as he spoke. “Love it.”
“Good.” I smiled, cutting up my own bite.
I’d been on a mission to teach Jackson about breakfast over the last month. One morning, not long after he’d started sleeping with me, I’d asked him about his favorite breakfast foods. He’d just shrugged, saying that breakfast had never been a big deal and he mostly ate cold cereal.
I didn’t do cold cereal. And breakfast was a big deal.
Everyone deserved to wake up to the smell of bacon and warm syrup.
So I’d taken it upon myself to make breakfast a special meal for him. I didn’t make us feasts every day, mostly just eggs and some kind of meat—his muscles required protein. But once a week, I’d make something new. So far, his favorite was my biscuits and sausage gravy. He’d loved my crepes too.
There would be no more granola bars, Pop-Tarts or Frosted Flakes if I had anything to say about it.
“Are you working today?” he asked.
“Yeah. I need to go in for a little while and pay some bills. And I want to make sure everything on my checklist is done for winter.”
We’d had a few cold nights this past week where the temperature had dropped to nearly freezing. The last thing I needed at camp was a broken water pipe, so I was going to triple-check that we were prepped for snow.
“You don’t have to be at the bar until four, right? Want to come with me?”
He shook his head, swallowing a bite. “I can’t, babe. Sorry. Thea wants me to come down to talk about a few things.”
“What things? Is she okay?”
“She’s good. I’m sure she just wants to go over some numbers. She likes to bore me to death with the bar’s finances at least once a month.”
I giggled. “Don’t ever let my mother know how much you hate accounting, okay? It would crush her.”
Jackson laughed too, forking another bite. “Nah. Betty loves me no matter what.”
He wasn’t wrong. Mom was overjoyed that he and I were dating. Dad was too. They were both trying to let us have our space, but I’d definitely noticed a change in their routine.
Our weekly dinners, the ones that had always been on Saturday nights, were now more fluid. If Jackson was working on Saturday, they rescheduled to a night when he was free, even when I’d offer to just come over alone. And those two had eaten more meals at the bar over the last month than they had in the past year combined. One or both had a constant “hankering” for pizza these days.
I actually thought it was kind of endearing how much they loved spending time with Jackson. I loved spending all my time with him too.
“After I get done at the camp, I’m going to do some cleaning and laundry. But then I’ll come down and keep you company for dinner.”
“Sounds good,” he said. “I’ll be there whenever you come down.”
Thea was scheduled to work all morning and afternoon, but Jackson had been spending extra time at the bar this month, even if she was on shift. Logan had been spending a lot of his time there too. After what had happened last month, neither of them wanted to leave her alone for long stretches of time.
The night Thea had been attacked had left its mark.
Jackson and I learned all about what had happened the night we’d frantically walked to the cottage in search of Thea. The next day, he and I had gone down to Hazel’s cottage and gotten the scoop.
Thea had been receiving harassing emails from Ronny, one of the bar’s regulars. Things had escalated and he’d come after her that night. Luckily, nothing bad happened because Logan got to her in time, and the man who’d been harassing her was now facing time in prison for criminal stalking.
The threat was gone, but Thea was under a near-constant watch. I think Jackson and Logan had worked out some kind of secret system where one, if not both, was at the bar with her. Which meant even if it was Jackson’s night off, he was more often than not still at the bar, taking on more and more.
Now that the camp was closed, it didn’t bother me. I spent my nights there with him, eating dinner, visiting and helping him shut down before we came back here to bed. But I was worried that he was getting burned out.
He needed some time for himself too.
“Will you take me fishing?”
“Fishing?” He swallowed the last bite of his breakfast. “You want to go fishing?”
“Yeah. I want to see your boat. And pretty soon the lake will freeze. What if we went next week?”
He looked down at me with an odd expression in his eyes. I’d seen it many times over the last month, usually when I said something he wasn’t expecting, and it always tied my stomach in a knot.
His gaze held a strange mix of wonder and pain. It had taken me a while to read the look, but I’d finally put my finger on it.
He stared at me like he was trying to memorize my face. Like he was already preparing for me to walk away.
I gave him a soft smile, trying to ease some of his fears. In time, he’d see I wasn’t going anywhere. We just needed more breakfasts together and more nights spent in each other’s arms. We needed more mornings where he’d wake me up with a kiss before sliding inside me.
Maybe we needed five or fifty fishing trips, just the two of us, but eventually he’d see.
I wasn’t letting him go.
“So? What do you think?”
He blinked out of his stare, then ran his hand down my back. “Yeah. I’d love to take you fishing.”
“Goodie.” I smiled, then stood to clear our plates. “Do you want me to go over to your place and get your laundry? I’d be happy to toss it in with mine.”
“You don’t have to do that.” He followed me into the kitchen with the syrup and butter.
Jackson hadn’t let me into his place much. He had a nice house, though it was a little outdated. It was definitely a bachelor pad without much for decoration.
I’d actually only been there twice, both times in and out quickly, stopping only so he could change clothes. Every time I’d asked him if he wanted to stay the night there or hang out and watch a movie on his much bigger TV, he’d find a reason to keep me away.
I was trying not to make a big deal out of it since we’d only been together a short time. But the whole situation was bothering me.
I’d let him into my home completely, even giving him his own key. All I’d seen of his home was the entryway, living room and kitchen. I wasn’t sure if he was ashamed of his house. Or maybe it was a mess and he didn’t want me to see—though I doubted it because he kept the truck immaculate.
Whatever the reason, I was determined to break through.
“I don’t mind,” I told him. “Once I’m done at the camp, I have nothing else to do all day. I can certainly tackle my boyfriend’s laundry.”
“Don’t worry about it, Willa. I’ll do some this weekend.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
He didn’t trust me to wash his jeans yet, but he would.
Things would get easier.
We needed more time, just the two of us.
After breakfast, Jackson and I both left my apartment. I went to the camp while he went to the bar.
I finished my work in an hour, then returned home to do laundry and clean, which didn’t take me long. With Dad teaching, I stopped by my parents’ house in hopes that Mom would be up for an afternoon visit, but she was busy working on bookkeeping for Bob’s Diner. So I went down to the bar much earlier than I’d planned.
It was empty except for Thea standing behind the bar, dusting the shelves and bottles along the mirrored wall.
“Hey, Willa!” Thea smiled as the door closed behind me. She looked beautiful today, with her dark eyes and thick hair. She looked beautiful all the time, but lately, she’d had an extra sparkle in her eyes.
She and Logan had gotten married a couple of weeks ago in a small celebration in the backyard of their sprawling lake house, and she’d had that sparkle ever since.
“Hi! How’s it going?”
“Good. You?”
I slumped into a stool at the bar. “Good. But I’m going kind of stir-crazy. This time of year is always tough. I miss the camp and it takes me some time to adjust to the slower pace.”
“Yeah.” She set down her duster and came to stand across from me. “It’s hard when Charlie starts school. It’s so . . . quiet.”
I nodded. “Exactly.”
“Jackson said you were thinking about getting a part-time job this winter.”
“I was, but I haven’t found anything yet.”
“I think the gas station was looking for an evening clerk.”
“No.” Jackson’s voice came from the back hallway before he emerged. “She’s not working at the gas station.”
Thea rolled her eyes and spun around. “Why not? Wait. Let me guess.” She held up her hand before he could speak. “It’s not safe.”
Jackson grinned at the sarcasm in her tone, walking right past her. “You know? Willa never argues with me about stuff like this. She just knows I’m looking out for her. So why do you have to bust my balls every time I say something that’s just for your own good?”
Thea winked at me. “It’s fun. Busting your balls is one of my hobbies.”
I giggled as she and Jackson went into one of their stare-downs. Seeing them together reaffirmed what Thea had always told me: they were siblings of the heart.
All the moments when I’d been jealous of Thea had been silly. The way Jackson looked at her was nothing like the way he looked at me. There was no attraction between them, only affection.
It made me wish I had a brother or sister of my own.
Jackson broke the staring contest first, shaking his head as he came closer. He leaned across the bar to softly kiss my lips. “Hey, babe.”
“Hi,” I whispered. Just one little kiss and I was nearly breathless. “So did you guys have a good meeting today? I see she didn’t bore you to death with the accounting.”
Thea scoffed. “Is that what you told her? That my monthly update is boring? Rude. I spend a lot of time putting that together so you know what’s happening.”
“Traitor.” Jackson tried to hide a smile as he glared at me. “And yes, it was good. The best review of those damn spreadsheets I’ve ever had.”
“I’m taking them home to Logan,” Thea declared. “At least he’ll appreciate them.”
“I’m sure he will,” Jackson agreed, getting a glass out to fill it with Coke. He set it down right in front of me with a napkin.
“Thanks.” I loved that he didn’t ask me anymore what I wanted to drink. He knew I’d stick to Coke until dinner and then have a beer. Sometimes two. Then I’d switch to water until it was time to go home.
“We do have some news, though.” Jackson looked to Thea, getting a nod of approval to share. “Thea’s going to step back a bit. Not work as many nights. She’s cutting back on weekends too.”
My heart sank. This was exactly the opposite of what I’d hoped for today. Jackson needed some time for himself, not more long nights at the bar.
“So we’re going to hire another bartender.”
“What? Really?” I perked up. “That’s great!”
Thea smiled. “I think so too. It’s been a long time coming.” She turned to Jackson. “And we’ve earned a break.”
“Damn right.”
I wanted to ask if they could afford to take on a staff member, but I held my tongue. I trusted that Thea—and Jackson, for all his complaining—knew the business well enough to make the decision.
They wouldn’t do this if it would put their financial futures in jeopardy. Or Hazel’s. She was still technically the owner of the bar and they paid her a portion of the profits each month.
I guess none of that really mattered anymore. Logan would take care of Thea and Hazel no matter the financial situation at the bar. The man had more money than I’d ever see in my lifetime. Thea and Charlie, if they’d ever gone without before, would never be without again.
Logan Kendrick would make their dreams come true.
Even if that meant letting Thea work her dream job managing this bar and living a simple life here in Lark Cove.
Much like Jackson, Thea didn’t need or want fancy. She just needed her family, their love and a happy home.
Maybe if Jackson wasn’t here all the time, he’d get to settle into a home too.
“Any leads on an employee?” I asked.
“No, but we’re not in a hurry,” Thea said. “We’d rather keep things as they are and wait for the right person.”
“That’s smart. I’ll keep my ears open for anyone looking for a job.” Well, other than myself.
Thea smiled and changed topics. “You’re friends with Leighton, right?”
“Yeah.” I nodded. “We’ve been best friends since we were kids. Why?”
“I ran into her at school yesterday when I was dropping off Charlie. She invited me to one of those kitchen party things she’s hosting next weekend. I’ve never been to one, but Logan thinks I need more ‘me time.’ I was thinking of going but was hoping you’d be there too.”
“Yes, I’ll be there and my mom will too. You should definitely come. There won’t be a lot of us, but it will be fun. I’m making my famous wheat chili.”
“That sounds delicious.” Thea leaned her elbows on the bar top. “I was thinking about expanding our bar menu this winter. Wheat chili could be a huge hit with the tourists. Is it hard?”
Before I could answer, Jackson cut in. “While you two swap recipes, I’m going to go change out the keg of Bud Light.”
He leaned over the bar again, giving me another kiss before disappearing into the back.
I got a healthy dose of his backside as he walked away. I’d long admired his behind, but now that I knew exactly what it felt like beneath my hands, how firm his ass was when he was on top of me, it made admiring it so much better.
Thea was grinning when I looked back to her. “You two are so cute.”
I smiled, blushing a little before launching into my recipe for the chili. I was just explaining how I prepped the wheat berries when the front door opened.
Thea looked over my shoulder with a smile to greet her customer. “Hi, there.”
I turned to see a woman walking across the room. She looked to be about as old as my mom, likely in her late fifties, judging by the fine lines on her face and the gray sprinkled through her dark blond hair.
She was wearing skintight jeans with black cowboy boots, the stitching on the toe a bright red. Her black leather jacket was covering an old Rolling Stones tee, one that looked as if she’d gotten it from an actual concert.
“What can I get you?” Thea asked as the woman came to stand at the bar.
“I’m actually lookin’ for someone. Heard he worked here.”
There was only one man who worked here. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as Thea’s face changed. Gone were her easy smile and sparkling eyes. A fierce, protective look settled in their place.
“And who’s that?” she asked.
The woman didn’t get a chance to answer as Jackson stepped out from the back. His entire body went rigid except for one arm that lifted and pointed right toward the door as he bellowed, “Get the fuck out of my bar!”
