Page 84 of Take My Love

He stands in front of me after locking his truck. “Friends can’t compliment each other?”

“Sure they can, but not likethat.” I grip my clutch, trying to get my heart rate to go back to normal. “We agreed what happened last night was a one-time thing, so to avoid any further confusion between us, we should keep things strictly platonic.”

The words confidently come out of my mouth but my brain disagrees.

“All I said was that his jaw would be on the floor ’cause of how beautiful you look.” He steps closer and my eyes track the movement of his tongue peeking out between his lips. “And I meant it ’cause even if you’re gorgeous every day, you’re breathtakin’ in this dress.” His raspy voice makes me squeeze my thighs, but then he grabs a strand of loose hair and wraps it behind my ear, sending me into cardiac arrest. “He’d be crazy not to agree.”

My eyes stay glued to his as my heart beats out of my chest.

Swallowing hard, I straighten my spine and put space between us. If I don’t walk away now, I might do something I’ll regret.

“We should go in and meet ’em so they aren’t left waitin’.”

He nods and follows me into the restaurant. Jamie’s face lights up the moment she finds me and wraps me in a hug.

“You look stunnin’,” I tell her.

Her hair’s pulled halfway up with beachy waves down her back.

“Me? You’re a fuckin’ fox.” She makes a purring sound, and I blush.

Jackson pulls me in next and kisses my check. “It’s so good to see you again. That’s a beautiful dress on you.”

“Thank you.” I smile wide at his tan cowboy hat. “Is that a Resistol?”

He swipes his fingers along the rim and tips it. “Yes, ma’am.”

“I love it.”

Jamie’s laughter grabs my attention, and when I see her andSilas chatting, jealousy I have no right to feel hits me in the gut like a punch I didn’t see coming.

Jackson rests his palm on my lower back and leans into my ear. “I’ll let ’em know we’re here.”

I force my gaze back to his and nod.

The dim lighting and candles flickering on the tables set a romantic vibe meant for lovers on an intimate date. A host in a white dress shirt and black slacks lead us to the back where it’s quieter.

Jackson pulls out the chair for me, then sits next on my right with Jamie across from me and Silas next to her.

“Your server will be with you shortly,” he says after repeating the specials.

“Would you like somethin’ to drink?” Jackson asks, handing me the alcohol menu.

“I’ll take an amaretto sour,” Jamie answers before I can.

“That sounds good. I’ll do that too.”

Silas’s forehead wrinkles because we didn’t discuss drinking tonight. He’s probably thinking about last weekend when I went overboard and felt sick for two days afterward.

“I’m just havin’ the one,” I tell him.

“Me too,” Jamie says. “Took me days to recover last time.”

I laugh, relieved we’re on the same page.

The conversation between the four of us flows smoothly while we eat. Jamie’s easy to talk to and is good at asking questions and prompting Jackson to do the same. He asks about my goat soap business and my family. I ask about his fire station and the types of calls they get.

Silas’s his normal upbeat energy and Jamie eats it up whilethey talk about her working with her dad and how his first couple weeks working at the goat farm has been.