Page 24

“Okay, well, it’s actually an interesting story. I’m helping Maggie out while she’s taking time off to rest and am supposed to be working with—”

Before Jill could continue, the door chimed. Jill felt the hairs on her arm stand on end.

“Well, if it isn’t the prettiest woman on this side of the Mississippi.”

The playful baritone wormed its way under Jill’s skin, making it itch. She knew that voice. Her stomach flipped—the power that voice had over her, despite her efforts to the contrary.

She turned to see who Jax meant. He kissed Mae on the cheek, and embarrassment flooded any other emotion Jill felt. Why would he have been talking about her?

“Oh, Jackson. You silly flirt,” Mae said. “Jill, honey, I’ve got to get back to the kitchen, but you come by later and tell me about that boy who’s giving you those frown lines. Jackson Marshall, you be nice to our guest, you hear?”

“How can I say no to you, love?”

“Jackson, you—” Mae wagged her finger as she headed behind the counter, but her flushed cheeks said she didn’t mind the attention from the attractive rancher.

Jax set his gaze on Jill, and she didn’t agree. His attention was like standing on the surface of the sun in plastic flip-flops. A distinct layer of sweat formed on her brow.

“Jill Henley. Fancy seeing you here. I was under the impression you were avoiding town.”

“Jackson.” She nodded a greeting, ignoring his cheek-to-cheek grin. “Why would you think that?”

“You told me country living wasn’t for you. Thought you were set on avoiding getting to know the locals, but”—he knelt beside her, his voice low—“that local there is the one who’ll get you into trouble. She’ll make you join all kinds of clubs and committees and stuff, so you secretly fall in love with Deer Creek.”

“Not likely,” she said. Was the blush on her cheeks visible? “But thanks for the warning.”

“My pleasure.” He dipped his ball cap, even though it was on backwards. Gosh, was this man fourteen or closer to forty?

Shut it. He can pull it off.

He could, sure, but that didn’t mean he should.

He rubbed his chin, then leaned in close. Jill’s body betrayed her by inhaling deeply. Of course, he’d come in smelling like the desert after a good rain. She tucked the scent away where it couldn’t be responsible for letting her give in to more bad ideas where Jax was concerned.

“You know,” he whispered when Mae went to the kitchen. She shuddered at the liquid heat from his breath on her bare neck. “A man might get a bit of a complex if you kiss him and then don’t call.”

She leaned back, desperate to get away from this man’s hold on her body. Her mind saw through the trickery.

“We just went out last night. I was going to get in touch when I’m back from San Antonio.”

“San Antonio? You’re taking off already? Man, now I’m really gonna develop a complex.”

Was that a hint of regret in his question?

“No, I’m just picking up my stuff. And it wasn’t a kiss. It was just my way of saying thank you for a nice business dinner.”

“Well, in that case, can I take you for dinner again? I could use some more thanks in my life.”

She gasped. “Jackson Marshall, you—”

“Now, I’m going to stop you before you say something not so nice. I’m being friendly, and I’m excited to work with you on whatever we need to keep these companies afloat, but you can’t go from kissing me to throwing insults. Especially not if we’re gonna be spending the next month together.”

A deep sigh escaped. He was right. “Okay. I won’t. But that doesn’t mean I want to be teased for my little slipup last night.”

“That’s all it was?” he asked.

The thing that got her, that snuck past the indignation he induced in her, was the brief flash of hurt that crossed like a shadow across his face. And just like that, it was gone.

“Wasn’t it? Jax, you’re … you. And I’m me, which—”