Page 42 of Just One Look

The final bursts of color fade from the sky, leaving behind a smoky haze. My eyes remained glued to Jackson. With my heart hammering against my sternum, I say, “Jackson?”

His expression hasn’t changed at all. For a split second, I panic that I’ve dropped the L-bomb too early. I have a way of misreading situations with him.

He swallows, turns to me, and grins.

“You’re freaking out right now, aren’t you?”

“A bit a lot,”

rushes out of me.

He runs his hands up my chest up to my face, holding it like it’s something precious. Even with his deteriorating vision, his eyes still hold that piercing quality that intrigued me from the moment I met him.

He smiles, and it lights up his face more beautifully than fireworks ever could.

“I love you, too, Maverick.”

I descend on his lips, my fingers digging into his coat as his fingers tangle through my hair. Our tongues collide, sending waves of heat pulsing through my body. Every press of his lips against mine feels so perfect, so right.

It hasn’t been easy—he made sure of that—but it sure as hell has been worth it.

He pulls away, pressing his palm to my chest.

“Can we go inside now? My balls are freezing.”

I soak up every little thing I love about his face. His cute, upturned nose. His freckled cheeks. His delicious lips. Then I trace my fingers along the length of his jaw.

“Well, we can’t have that now.”

I stand up first and scoop up the blanket under one arm, hand him his white cane, then take hold of his other hand.

We walk back to the new cabin in silence. Even with Jackson using the cane, I know he still likes counting out the paces in his head. His vision has faded into almost complete blackness. The past six nights, he hasn’t been able to see the color of the fireworks anymore. My heart breaks for him, and at the same time, I’m in awe of his strength and how well he’s adjusting.

My heart also breaks for Clancy and Grandpa Rick. Jackson and I, despite our many, many, many obstacles, found a way to be together. Clancy and Grandpa Rick never did.

Jackson’s been saying he thinks Pip and Ollie would be a good match if Ollie decides to leave Derek, but if we’re going to be interfering and playing matchmaker, I think we should focus our efforts on Clancy.

For now, though, I’m perfectly happy shutting the outside world out and enjoying every single precious moment I have with Jackson. We reach the cabin. I open the door for him.

“Thanks,”

he says, stepping inside.

“No problem.”

I follow him in and head straight for the thermostat.

“Don’t you dare,” he says.

My pointer finger hovers over the up arrow button.

“How do you know what I’m doing?”

“Because you’re that predictable. You’re cranking up the heat, aren’t you?”

“It’s freezing in here,”

I protest.

“It’s a sauna in here,”

he counters.

“Compromise?”

He sighs dramatically.

“I suppose so.”

“Thank you,”

I say, nudging the thermostat to a slightly warmer temperature.

“You ready for bed?”

“Yeah. I’m beat.”

“Can I help you with anything?”

“I’m fine. Thanks.”

His cane clicks softly as he navigates from the living room to the bathroom.

Jackson and I weren’t on speaking terms when I had to choose a design for the new cabin.

I picked the one that was closest to the layout of his old one, just a little bigger with a separate bedroom.

And a spare room on the off chance we managed to sort our shit out and I wanted to stay the night.

Never used that room yet.

I’ve unofficially moved in and always stay with him in his room.

I guess we can use it for when we’re saddled with inevitable uncle babysitting duties.

“Let me know if you need anything,”

I say, toeing off one boot, then the other.

It’s a fine line, wanting to help without overstepping and impeding his independence. And stubbornness.

So. Much. Stubbornness.

We’re making it work with lots of communication and me keeping a watchful eye over him…from a respectful distance.

“I was thinking.”

Jackson sticks his head out of the bathroom and leans against the doorframe, toothbrush in hand.

“Why don’t you just move in here already? Officially.”

I stop undressing.

“Seriously?”

“Yeah. Why not? Bring your CPAP machine. I’d like to get a proper sleep one of these nights.”

“That the only reason you’re asking?”

He smiles.

“Of course it is. Plus, we’ve said our I love yous. I think we’re ready to hear each other pee.”

I chuckle.

“Yes to the moving in. No to peeing in front of each other. I draw the line there.”

“Fair enough,”

he says, then starts brushing his teeth like it’s no big deal.

So there you go.

The guy who flipped me off twice when I first met him, who annoyed the living daylights out of me for months and stubbornly tried to push me away, who refused to tell me what was going on with him because he thought he’d be a burden or that I wouldn’t want to be with him, is now the guy I live with and love more than I thought it was possible to love someone.

If the past few months are any indication, I know I’m in for a wild ride with Jackson Hunter…

And I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Jackson

“How do you feel about having a half brother?”

Verity asks me across the table.

It’s the first family lunch since I lost my sight completely. Familiar sounds fill my ears—Sib bossing Tim around, Clancy laughing—as well as some new sounds—Evie crying, Sammy laughing when Pip does something silly, Wagner talking to Ollie, who I invited to come along when he popped into town for a surprise visit.

“I feel very conflicted,”

I answer my sister. The results arrived two days ago, confirming that Ridge Duporth and I share the same blood.

“For now, I’m focusing on getting used to not seeing and parking the whole Duporth thing.”

“Has he reached out again?”

Clancy asks.

“I unblocked his number the day I got the results. He called that night, which I ignored. Then he texted, saying he wants to meet up.”

“What did you say?”

Pip takes a break from playing with Sammy to ask.

“That I needed some time, and I’d reach out if I wanted to when I was ready. And to kindly fuck off in the meantime.”

“Jackson,”

Clancy scolds.

“Hey, he said kindly,”

Mavericks stops his conversation with Ollie and Wagner to defend me.

I grab his hand under the table. A few seconds later, I feel his warm breath fanning over my face, and then his lips lock onto mine.

“Get a room, you two,”

Sib teases.

“Why? So we don’t end up pregnant? I think we’re good there.”

“It’s good to see you smiling, son,”

Clancy says.

“It’s good to be smiling,” I reply.

And why wouldn’t I?

It’s such a surreal time in my life, but I’m trying this new thing—acceptance.

And I’m getting rid of another thing—being angry all the fucking time.

There’s no way to sugarcoat how hard losing my sight is. Despite all my planning and the gradual deterioration of my sight these past few months, being completely blind makes so many things feel unfamiliar. I’m doing everything I can to cling to my independence, but I rely on Maverick way more than I’d like to. And then there’s the growing realization that I’ll never see my loved ones’ faces again. I won’t see Evie grow up. Or Clancy’s boyish smile. Or Sib rolling her eyes when we banter. Or Verity’s beautiful hair. Or Maverick’s dimples.

There’s also the fact that I’ve acquired the world’s actual biggest rich asshole as a half brother. Future-me is going to have to deal with that at some stage. But for now, I’m focusing on the positives. Thanksgiving might be a few weeks away, but I’m not waiting until then to count my blessings.

I have a family who love me. A better best friend than I could have ever wished for. New people in my life who seem to tolerate me. An adorable four-year-old who is cool with me not knowing how to act around him. A beautiful cabin to call home. And the best guy in the world to share it with.

All things considered, I’d say I’m doing okay.

“How do you feel about the new horse handler starting next week, Maverick?” Pip asks.

“Well, he’s got impossible shoes to fill, but I’m glad we took our time and picked someone good. Right, Jackson?”

“Yeah. Corbin seems great. He’s got a lot of experience, and he’s cool with me transitioning to other areas where I can contribute at the sanctuary.”

As I feared, I can’t continue as head handler. It’s not fair to the staff and, most importantly, the animals to pretend otherwise.

In news that will surprise no one, Maverick has been super gracious and amazing about the whole thing, letting me take the lead in headhunting a new handler. It’s not the outcome I wished for, but I can still work with horses and continue at the sanctuary, which…cue the acceptance thing…I’m okay with.

The conversation splinters off after that. Clancy makes funny noises, which sets Sammy off into a fit of giggles. Sib is being Sib and oversharing with Tim, Verity, and Chris. I zoned out when I hear.

“leaky boobs.”

Wagner and Ollie are talking business in hushed voices. I don’t know what Pip’s doing, but I think we should strike now.

I pinch Maverick’s thigh under the table, and when his hand slides up my leg, I know I’ve got his attention. I latch onto his shoulder and lean in closer.

“Talk to Wagner so Ollie and Pip can, you know…”

“Fall in love after meeting each other for the first time less than an hour ago.”

I dig my fingers into his shoulder.

“Well, not when you put it like that. Don’t you think it could work?”

Pip is as single as he’s always been in the three years I’ve known him, and Maverick told me Ollie ended things with his cheating ex, so who knows? Stranger things have happened. And by stranger things, I mean me and Maverick. If we can make it work, what’s to say my bestie and his bestie can’t?

“Don’t think it’s going to happen,”

Maverick whispers, his warm breath ghosting against the shell of my ear.

I turn my head toward him, cover my lips, hoping I’m being subtle.

“I think it’s worth a shot.”

“I disagree.”

“Why?”

“I’ll tell you later.”

“Tell me now, or I’ll make a scene.”

A chuckle.

“Of course you will. Forgot who I was dealing with.”

He leans in even closer.

“Let’s just say, I think Pip’s got his eye on someone else.”

“Someone else who’s sitting at this table?”

“Yep.”

I rule out Chris and Tim, which only leaves Clancy and… “Don’t—”

Maverick’s lips crash over mine.

“Are you kissing me to shut me up?”

I whisper against his mouth.

“I am. If this test proves successful, it’ll be a huge game changer for me.”

“Smart-ass.”

“Stubborn ass.”

I give him a quick peck and back away.

“Tell me everything later?”

“Of course.”

And I know he will.

He tells me everything, just like I tell him everything. The days of hiding stuff from each other and playing silly games are over. From now on, no more secrets.

Because from here on out, we’re in it for the long haul.

Would you like more of Maverick and Jackson?

I wrote a super-fun bonus scene where things get very heated when they can’t agree on the right thermostat setting.

All I’ll say is, it ends with one of them getting whipped cream in their butt cracks!