As promised I'm giving you Jackson's story for my 200 'likes'...
Thanks for all the support!
Now, if you've read Tears in the Rubble or From the Rubble you know who Jackson is, and you were probably wondering about him. If you have read either one of my books you may want to after this.
*Note: adult content. May not be appropriate for all ages or work*
Keep in mind this is a deleted scene from From the Rubble as it didn't have anything to do with Taylor and Layla's journey. It has not been professionally edited.
Enjoy!
Jackson sauntered slowly back toward the Rush’s massive white
house, taking his time knowing he had no where to go. Loosening his tie the rest of the way he
removed it and shoved it into the pocket of his black pants, not caring that it
dangled there perilously. If it fell it
wouldn’t matter. What use did he have
for a tie?
The night air chilled his skin as he took the last swig of
his beer. Tossing the bottle to the
side, it shattered against the blacktop giving him satisfaction which was only
momentary. Jackson was feeling nostalgic
and lonely. Seeing all his peers from
high school with their wives or fiancés had him thinking about his own
relationships. Watching his brother and
Layla avoid their feelings for each other got him down, too. The two of them were meant for each other and
his niece Lexi, their gorgeous little girl, was proof of that.
If Taylor and Layla couldn’t figure it out what hope did he
have of finding a girl he could stand for more than a few nights. Lately a few nights had been stretching it
for him. He could barely make it through
a first date. The nonsense that came out
of most girls’ mouths was too much for him.
Jackson sighed and dug around in his pants pocket for his cigarettes and
lighter.
The only light left on outside the
Rush’s was in the driveway and he could see a dark haired girl carrying
multiple bags and making her way toward a black car. Quickening his pace and tossing his yet to be
smoked cigarette, Jackson smoothed a hand over his short cropped brown hair. An odd feeling settled into his stomach as he
approached her, his rapid steps echoing in the night. The girl jumped dropping one of her bags and
raised a hand to her chest before she started laughing uncontrollably.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he
said unable to stop his smile from growing as he bent to retrieve her bag.
She grinned back and waved,
dismissing the fact he’d startled her.
There was a sparkle in her dark eyes that did things to Jackson’s
breathing he couldn’t explain. It was
something he’d never felt.
“It’s okay. I’m just exhausted.” She paused by a Mercedes and popped the
trunk.
Moving forward Jackson lifted the
bags from her shoulders and stowed them in her trunk. He’d been watching her during the ceremony
and reception but couldn’t get up the nerve to introduce himself. Jackson made a lot of jokes with his brother
about the bridesmaids, but this one caught his eye in a serious way. Now, standing in front of her he decided to
dive right in.
“I’m Jackson,” he said closing the
trunk lightly and extending his hand.
With a tilt of her head she smiled
again and placed her soft, warm palm tightly against his.
“Sara,” she pointed to herself. “Where’d the pretty blonde go?” She asked with playful curiosity.
Frowning, Jackson thought for a
moment confused about who she was talking about. He hadn’t brought a date to the wedding. He hadn’t danced with anyone. Then it dawned on him. The only girl he’d really talked to was indeed
a pretty blonde.
“Oh Layla,” he said with
realization. “She’s out there.” He gestured to the darkness in the distance.
“You left her out there? Alone?”
Sara looked at him wide eyed and incredulous. Her expression told him things lurked in the
darkness and he was awful for abandoning Layla.
“She’ll be fine. Trust me,” Jackson
said chuckling and brushing off her shock.
“Not a country girl, huh?”
“What makes you say that?” Her voice was offended causing Jackson to
smile even more. “Is it that obvious?” Sara sighed, one side of her mouth curling
upward.
Her lips were full, the top one
bigger than her bottom lip, but that didn’t bother Jackson he liked it. Those same lips were a rosy pink color,
slightly darker in the centers, and he couldn’t help but wonder how soft they
were. Dragging his gaze away from her
luscious lips Jackson met her sparkling brown gaze and smiled.
“Just a little,” he said with a
wink. “Where are you staying?”
Sara’s forehead creased and an
exhausted look crossed her pretty face before she sighed.
“Like an idiot I thought I’d be okay
to drive home to Farley, it’s…”
“About four hours south of here,”
Jackson interjected thinking there was no way she was making that drive.
“Yeah,” Sara nodded. “So, I didn’t
make a reservation anywhere. Mrs. Rush
said I could stay here but I really don’t want to impose. Plus, she’s kinda scary.” She gave him a wide eyed look, pursing her
too full lips together. “Anyway, I’m not
sure what I’m doing.”
Sara frowned the action creasing her
forehead and Jackson was stunned. Even
with a frown marring her featured she was no less pretty.
“There’s an inn on Main Street
that’s pretty nice. There’s a bar next
door that I’m heading to so I can show you the way. I’m sure they’ll have a room available.” Jackson shrugged, hoping she wouldn’t make a
bid deal out if his offer.
Sara’s dark gaze collided with his
and he licked his lips fighting the urge to invite her to the bar with
him. As much as he wanted to and as much
as he’d love to feel her lips on his the fluttering in his stomach told him it
would have a lasting impression on him.
****
Sara followed the red truck in front
of her closely while she dug in her purse for some lip gloss. She suspected her trust in her savior had to
do the sparkle in his brown eyes and the cocky grin that seemed permanently
plastered on his handsome face. Attempting
to run her fingers through the loose waves of her hair Sara sighed and checked
her makeup in the rear view mirror. The
primping was a precaution. Something
inside her wanted Jackson to ask her to join him.
Jackson slowed in front of her and gestured with a hand out
his window toward a large gray house with white shutters. The sign out front read The Inn at Hollow
Oaks, it was quaint and she hoped they had a vacancy. She parked in front of the inn and as she
climbed out Sara watched Jackson pull further down the street. He parked in a small parking lot next to a
building with an orange and green neon sign proclaiming it Axel’s Place. Sara wondered if she should head over to
thank him and say goodbye. But she decided
not to. She didn’t want to look too
desperate. After all, what would she do
with a guy she met at a wedding? Nothing
good. Pushing him from her thoughts she
headed toward the front door of the inn.
“Hey Sara,” Jackson called as he jogged down the sidewalk in
her direction. As he approached she tried
to hide the smile that formed on her lips.
“I’m gonna have a drink. If you
want to join me you’re more than welcome to.
I know you’re tired but I just wanted to offer.” He rubbed at the back of his neck and shoved
his hands into the pockets of his black dress pants.
Her stomach lurched and her heart raced. Jackson was too tempting. Giving in, Sara nodded and smiled.
“Sure, just let me check in and unload my bags.”
That cocky grin grew and he nodded before taking a few steps
backwards.
“I’ll be waiting,” he said with a wink that had butterflies
rioting in her stomach. He turned and
walked back toward the bar with his hands still shoved in his pockets.
With her lips stretched wide Sara rushed to the office of the
inn.
****
Jackson sat at the bar with his back to the door hoping to
not look too eager. He ordered and
scotch and water and swirled the ice around with his finger. His thoughts wandered for a moment to his
father, something he’d been trying for months not to think about. Someone settled on the bar stool next to him
bringing the smell of cinnamon and apples with them. Glancing over his shoulder he saw Sara, her
chestnut waves tumbling over her shoulders and her full lips shining in the low
light of the bar. Her mouth curved
upward into a smile and Jackson swallowed thickly. The smell and sight of her were
mouthwatering.
The bartender approached and Sara eyed his drink before
wrinkling up her nose and giving him an, are
you crazy look.
“What can I get you?”
The scruffy older man asked her with an appreciative once over.
Reaching over she grabbed his scotch and pushed it across the
rough wooden surface of the bar toward the bartender.
“We’ll have four shots of Patron, please, and take that,” she
said gesturing at the drink her nose wrinkled in disgust.
“Four shots of Patron?”
Jackson asked eyeing her small frame suspiciously. “This is a small town bar not a frat party.”
“We might as well have fun,” she said. “And I’m sure you know all about fraternity
parties,” she added leaning into him with a smile.
The bartender returned placing four shot glasses full of
clear liquid, a plate of limes, and a salt shaker in front of them.
Sara grabbed the shot glass closest to her and tossed it back
without dropping his gaze. Jackson
waited for her to flinch, for the burn to set in, but she just stared back at
him unfazed, nudging a shot his way. Challenge
burned in her dark eyes.
Once the last empty shot glass hit the bar she ordered them
two beers and turned to face Jackson.
“So, who’s the blonde?”
Sara eyed him seriously, her tone neutral.
“What blonde?” He
asked dumbly.
She raised a perfectly arched eyebrow at him.
“The one you were walking with earlier,” she said, her full
rosy lips pursed.
“Oh,” Jackson nodded.
“She’s my brother’s girl.” He
couldn’t help the sigh that slipped from him.
Sara watched him from the corner of her eye taking of sip of
her beer. She rolled the brown bottle
between her long fingered hands.
“Sounds like there’s a story there. Anything good?”
Jackson met her gaze
and scowl fixed onto his face.
“There’s a story. But it’s no good.” He shook his head and grabbed his beer from
the bar.
“What about you? No
girlfriend.”
“No.” His answer was
short, his words curt.
Sara raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment.
Two tequila shots later and she had convinced him to play a
game. Not the sort of game he’d had in
mind for the two of them but he was playing along. She’d challenged him to a game of pool. The catch being for every ball she sank he
had to answer a question.
Sara’d been grilling him most of the night but he was tight
lipped and he could tell she was frustrated.
Jackson also knew how well he played pool so he wasn’t worried about
answering her prying questions. He’d
even offered her the break.
They made their way over to a worn pool table. It had definitely seen better days. The felt was ragged and peeling back on some
of the sides. Jackson watched her line
up her cue, the balls scattered and two solids sank into a corner pocket.
A smug look made its way across her face.
“When was the last time you had sex?” She asked as she lined
up her next shot.
Wrinkling his nose, Jackson shook his head, laughing lowly to
himself. He hadn’t expected the shot or
the question.
“Come on, Cowboy, you said you’d play.” Her fake southern accent taunted him. How sexy was that?
Jackson sighed and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“A while.” He shoved
his hands into his pockets and looked at the dirty floor.
Sara glared at him and pursed her lips. He expected her to argue and was ready to
defend himself with the fact that he’d answered her. Instead, she made her next shot. Another ball slid smoothly into the pocket
and Jackson rolled his eyes. He suddenly
realized he was going to be answering a lot of questions.
“How long is a while?”
She smirked.
“I don’t know. A month
or two.” Jackson shrugged not meeting
her gaze.
She laughed and he jerked his eyes to hers giving her a
surprised look.
“You want me to believe that.” She paused pointing at him. “You?
Looking like that?” Jackson
looked down at himself and then back at her.
“What do I look like?”
“Oh, you know and
I’m asking the questions.” He moved his
pool cue around nervously as she expertly lined up another shot.
To his surprise she didn’t have a question right away. She took a sip of her beer and looked
thoughtful. Jackson watched her, waiting,
his stomach clenched as he thought about what her next question could possibly
be.
Sara looked up, one corner of her mouth lifting, a sparkle
lit her eyes.
“Do you want to kiss me?” Her voice was husky causing Jackson
to swallow thickly for the hundredth time.
She came closer, sitting her beer on the ledge behind
him. When she was within arms reach
Jackson reached out grasping her hips and dragging her close. He didn’t stop until she was flush against
him. One of his hands wrapped around her
neck, tilting her head. Jackson licked
his lip just before they met hers.
At first she didn’t respond to his kiss and he worried he’d
misread her flirting. Then she sucked a
breath in around his mouth and leaned into him.
She pressed back against him. Her
mouth opened and Jackson took that as his cue.
His tongue swooped in and a small moan escaped Sara.
****
Sara’s back hit the door to her room with a thud. Jackson pinned her there shoving his leg
between her thighs. His lips landed on
hers again and she breathed in the spicy smell of him. She wasn’t sure how they’d made it from the
bar to her room. She only knew her lacy
black bra was hanging out of the top of her v-neck shirt and Jackson’s large
palm was slowly making its way up the skin of her stomach. Her teeth scraped his tongue lightly and his
hand abandoned its trip to grip her waist tightly. Jackson’s hand tangled in her hair as he
pulled her head back slightly.
“Key?” He demanded his
heaving breath brushing her ear in a warm gust.
Sara fumbled in her tequila and beer haze through her purse
for the plastic card. She turned in his
strong arms steadying herself against the wall as she slid the key into
place. Just before she pulled it out
Jackson pressed himself to her back and latched onto her hip bones. He pulled her into himself with force showing
her just how much he wanted her. A
whimper escaped her as the light flashed green and she frantically shoved the
door open.
She turned to face Jackson as the door closed behind
him. He reached for her but she pushed
his hands away and grabbed for his belt.
Quickly undoing it and tossing it to the floor she let his black pants
float the floor. Jackson reached out
again but she avoided his hands with a grin.
Placing one hand on his tan chest, noting the contrast in their skin
tones, she pushed him against the door to her room before she sank to her
knees. With one last glance into his
dark brown eyes that watched her with excitement and lust she dragged his dark
blue boxers down.
Jackson’s head hit the
door but not before he groaned. His hand
found its way into her long brown waves but he forced himself not to pull.
****
Jackson cracked one eye open expecting to find jackhammers
sounding in his head. Tequila was no
friend of his and he’d had plenty the night before. His feet were tangled in sheets and the rest
of him was tangled with Sara’s long limbs.
A smile crossed his lips as he remembered the rest of the night. Her dark eyes cracked open and she sighed
contentedly as she stretched.
“Marry me?” He said
jokingly as his hand found her naked hip.
“Yes,” she said as she closed her eyes again.
“What are your plans for the day?” Jackson wanted more time with her but knew it
was probably a long shot.
In answer Sara slid a leg over his hip
and straddled him before her lips landed on his.
When a chance meeting between high school teacher
Kevin Reed and singer Nina Jordan ignites an instant spark, they must decide if
it's more important to follow your heart or follow the rules.
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