“It’s okay, Dave! This is a friend,” a voice full of sunshine and rainbows called out, and I caught sight of her a split second before my lungs seized. Rae waded through the tall grass of the prairie and wore tight yoga pants—or something like them—a fitted plain white T-shirt, and a baseball cap. She came from the direction of my plot.
I swallowed both my surprise and a rush of chaotic sentiments, taking a step back at her approach, my brain telling me to turn around, go home, eat some food, and check on the plot next weekend. But the rest of me rebelled. I stood rooted in place, ensnared by the vision of Rae.
“Hi.” She walked right up to me and gave me a big hug. “I—uh—I missed you.”
I stifled a groan, closing my eyes and bracing too late for the impact of her. Even surrounded by the earthy smells of the grasses, trees, and prairie, her scent enveloped me. I breathed in, my lungs hot and aching, my arms coming around her body, holding her.
Jackson, if you are photographed with her, it will be—
Worth it. So, so worth it.
“Hi,” I said, breathing past the spiky heat in my chest and relaxing into her embrace. Since the hug was already happening, I might as well surrender to it.
We stood there like that for a time. I honestly have no idea how long. She readjusted her head, placing her cheek against my heart and pulling in a deep breath just to let it out on a big sigh two seconds later.
“Sorry I smell like bug spray. It’s good to see you,” she said, her voice quiet and shaded with sadness.
“You too.” It was good. Too good, my surly brain warned.
I pulled back, releasing her completely and stepping out of the circle of her arms. “What are you doing here?” Turning my head to glance at her guard, I gave him a short nod which he returned. I couldn’t see his eyes, but I wouldn’t have been surprised if they’d been narrowed to threatening slits.
Her eyes moved over me, her stare feeling somehow heavier than before, weighted with something I couldn’t place. “I’m supposed to meet Charlotte and the kids for a picnic here. Or, not here, but over there.” She twisted at the waist and pointed behind her.
Right at my plot.
Chapter 18
*Jackson*
“A sex symbol? A symbol of sex? I don’t think that I am a sex symbol, although it’s very flattering. I’m 59, now, so I think I’m possibly past my sell-by date. I think I am.”
Liam Neeson
“She sent me GPS coordinates and said it was important we meet precisely there because she had something to show me, but now she’s late.” Rae pulled her phone out of some unseen pocket and scrolled through a few screens. “She hasn’t texted, but I’m wondering if maybe my reception is spotty. Except my phone has full bars. I don’t know.”
“I see,” I drawled, my attention snagging on her second guard. He wasn’t as conspicuous as the first guy, turning his head this way and that as though scanning the horizon, but I felt his attention on me.
Perhaps discerning the direction of my thoughts, Rae gestured to the big guy first and the smaller guy second. “Jackson, this is Dave and Miguel. Dave, Miguel, this is Jackson.”
“Oh. You’re Jackson,” Miguel said, his posture immediately relaxing.
I walked over to Dave first since he was closest, extending my hand. “Yep. I’m Jackson.”
Dave took it, gave me a firm shake and another head nod. “Nice to meet you, man. Charlotte talks about you a lot.”
Miguel called over, “She’s not the only one.”
I looked between the two men, my eyebrow raised in question. I wanted to thank them for looking after Rae and keeping her safe, but I wasn’t certain how my expression of gratitude would be received. She wasn’t mine to fuss or worry over. Even so . . .
“They’re hilarious,” Rae said. I found her blushing but not smiling. “And they’re both under an NDA, so they shouldn’t be volunteering any unnecessary information.” Unless I was mistaken, this last part sounded like a legitimate threat. I’d never heard her voice so stern.
Bemused, I walked over to Miguel. He grinned widely at me. Or maybe he grinned widely at Rae’s threat.
As we shook hands, he leaned close and whispered, “I’ll tell you later.”
“I heard that!” Rae marched over and grabbed my arm. “Ignore them. We’re ignoring you!” she hollered.
Chuckling at this exchange, I allowed myself to be pulled behind her toward my plot and a red and white checked tablecloth spread on the ground. To one side of the circle sat a giant picnic basket.
“I’m so sorry about them,” she said on a rush. “They like to gossip.”
“Hey, Raquel,” Dave called over.
“I said we’re ignoring you!”
“We got company. Do you want me to stop them?”
We both turned and searched the prairie for newcomers. It took me about three seconds before I recognized the four women, all of whom were waving gleefully at us.
“Jackson!” Darlene Simmons—a tall redhead with whom I’d spent more than one enjoyable evening many years ago—sing-songed my name. “Yoo-hoo! Jackson! Didn’t you hear me calling your name in the parking lot?” Darlene was a medical doctor now.
Next to her were three more of my—ahem—conquests. Although, in retrospect, an argument could be made that I’d been a conquest for each of them, not the other way around. I’d never pushed, only taken what they’d freely offered.
Regardless, none of the ladies had been left unhappy by our arrangements, nor had they been left with a broken heart. I’d never shied away from greeting any of them if we’d happened to run into each other. Until now.
This cannot be happening.
I felt Rae’s eyes on my profile as she called to Dave, “It’s okay. Don’t stop them.”
“Right-o,” he said, sounding cheerful.
“Friends of yours, Jackson?” Rae moved like she was going to drop my hand.
I squeezed her fingers tighter, some base instinct within me not letting her withdraw. My eyes slid to hers. “From a long, long, long time ago.”
“How long?”
“Before we met.”
“That long?” She stepped closer, her voice dropping, “Anyone since me?”
“Not that I can recall at this moment,” I whispered, my brain telling me to shut up as my heart egged me on. “But that might be because, when I’m with you, all I see and can think about is you.”
She stared at me, unsmiling. “You say pretty things.”
“I say true things.” My thumb moved over the back of her hand but, despite wanting to, I didn’t bring her knuckles to my lips for a kiss.
Dave’s “Hellooo, ladies. Having a nice day?” met my ears, and I released a silent sigh, remembering that four of my ex-flings were at this very moment parading a path through the prairie to say hi.
Rae unleashed a dazzling smile as they approached. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
“You won’t have to,” I grumbled, turning to face my past. “They’re here.”