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“I understand. I enjoy a pretty woman, too, but you need the right pretty woman. One with gravitas. Speaking ability. The right hobbies. Poise. Elegance. Position. A woman who can charm for donations and act concerned and interested when necessary.”

“You make this perfect woman sound like a computer in a nice dress.”

Harlan blustered right over Jackson’s smart-ass comment. “I’m sure if you contacted Anna you could work out your relationship issues and get back on track. Her father being a judge would be a huge help to you.”

Anna. The one from the Christmas muffin incident. How could I forget. I tried, of course, to block her memory. To not to see her perfect blond prettiness and the way she hung on Jackson’s arm. Meeting her ruined last Christmas for me.

My general grumpiness heated up. I hadn’t reached full-on-hostility level yet, but hovered right on the edge. Anger slipped through my defenses, drowning out my curiosity.

“I’ve listened to you. Heard you out and thought about your proposal to help me in politics, but you’re not listening to me. You’re not hearing what I want. I’m a lawyer and a good one. The law firm is where I belong.”

Harlan laughed and sounded smug doing it. “You wouldn’t be the first lawyer turned politician. It’s a logical next step.”

“It isn’t for me.” Jackson sounded done. Frustrated but still in control. “And let’s be absolutely clear. The relationship with Anna is over. Forever.”

I counted on Jackson’s even disposition. He worked under a lot of stress. We bickered back and forth but he never crossed the line or yelled or did anything scary. I joked that this was part of his boring side, but really, that consistency earned my trust from the time I was old enough to understand that many men operated under a very different set of personal rules.

“Are you really going to throw away all this progress, allthis potential, because of a woman who doesn’t even live in this state?” Harlan’s voice went in and out as he moved around the kitchen. “Again, she’s... sweet. But that’s not good enough for the life you can have.”

“We’re done talking about this.”

“You know I’m right. Kasey lacks her grandmother’s drive. Honestly, I’ve often wondered how someone as successful as Magnolia raised a granddaughter who is so unfocused.”

The conversation volleyed back and forth. Neither seemed happy and both referenced me. Forget listening and biding my time. I did not want to be at the center of this discussion. I didn’t want to be here at all. If I could slink out and slip away I would.

I put my hand against the door, ready to shove it open. Jackson’s stern tone stopped me.

“Enough.” The word echoed through the condo. “I’m not going to listen to you berate Kasey. I feel—”

“I know exactly how you feel about her. You haven’t been nearly as successful at hiding it as you think. And that mess at Christmas? A complete embarrassment and a forewarning of what life would be like with her.”

Jackson made a strangled sound. “I’m a grown man. I’m not doing this with you.”

“I hear you.” Like that, Harlan’s voice returned to normal. All the heat ran out of his tone. He spoke like they’d never disagreed. “I have a business dinner tonight, but we can meet for breakfast tomorrow. Let’s sit down and talk this through. No anger. No insults. No talk about Kasey. We’ll focus on you and your needs.”

“Can’t. I have a brief due.”

That sounded bogus. I couldn’t blame Jackson for putting off a future meeting with his dad, but he needed to up his excuse game.

“I know you’re angry and think I’m interfering, but you’re too close to this. You can’t see what’s happening. I really am doing what’s best for you.”

Correction, best for Harlan. Jackson had to see that. Right?

“We’ll find a time tomorrow.” Harlan walked toward the door. His expensive dress shoes clicked against the floor. “I know you don’t want to hear this and saying it doesn’t bring me any satisfaction, but she is going to leave town again. She can’t be part of your future equation.”

I really disliked Harlan. In that moment I hated him because he was right. My life wasn’t here. Jackson wasn’t mine. All of the sparks between us amounted to a quick, confusing fling that could derail our long-term relationship and drag in Celia and Gram as collateral damage.

I slipped out of the closet when the front door closed. Instead of turning and going to Jackson, I headed for the entry. I’d wait to avoid a run-in with Harlan, but I needed to get out of the condo before the walls closed in.

“Kasey, don’t go.”

The pleading. That voice. None of this was Jackson’s fault.

“I need some air.” Celia was right. Sometimes you needed a fresh breeze to restart your brain.

Jackson stood right behind me with his hand on the door. Heat radiated off him as his body brushed against mine. It would be so easy to lean back. To give in and pretend Harlan didn’t exist.

“Dad’s agenda is not my agenda.”