Authors: Jo Watson
Abby starts to protest but I cut her off. “Don’t bother, Abby. She told me Jackson was too busy to talk to me. I got the picture.”
Abby cuts a look to Kyle, squeezes my hand and then shakes her head no. “Tina wasn’t there with Jackson, Madeline, she was there with Trevor, his roommate. They’ve been together since right around the time you and Jackson started talking.”
I look to Kyle and he smiles and nods in agreement, but his smile quickly fades when his eyes focus on something behind me. “I guess it’s a good thing we have that sorted out.” I return my gaze to Abby, who scrunches her face in a look that says she is sorry. I turn around and my eyes immediately find Jackson’s as he makes his way across the airport. Kyle’s next words cause my heart to hammer in my chest: “I’ve asked him to be our other witness.”
Jackson always looks unbelievable, but I can see for certain that these weeks have hit him hard. There is no light in his eyes and he stares back at me without a smile. What were Abby and Kyle thinking? As if she reads my mind, Abby leans in and whispers, “It’s time to fix this, Madeline. We thought this might give it a little push.”
Jackson shakes Kyle’s hand and then pulls him in for a man hug. Abby is next and she throws her arms around him, lifting her legs behind her as he spins her around and congratulates them. I stand up as Jackson puts Abby down and she grabs Kyle’s hand and leads him away, saying something about getting coffee for the flight. Jackson and I stand there for a moment in silence before he takes a step toward me and I feel pulled to him like a magnet.
He is cautious at first as he wraps his arms under mine, and I throw my arms around him, cinching them tight enough to bury my face in his neck. His hands splay out across my back, pulling me so tightly against him I can feel his heartbeat. It feels wonderful to be back in his arms again and I hold on for dear life as he begins to rock me.
“Maddy, I have missed you so much,” he whispers in my ear, and then kisses just below it. “Please tell me what happened. I’m ruined, so fucking broken.” I hold him tighter, soaking in his warmth.
“I thought you slept with Tina.” I tell him about the night she answered the door. “I let her paint the picture and never questioned her motives. I was stupid.” Jackson pulls away from me but holds my hands. He brings one hand up to his mouth and brushes a kiss across my knuckles.
“She’s with my roommate, Rookie.” I nod and offer a half smile, but stop when I see the frustration in his eyes. “Why couldn’t you have talked to me about it? If that’s all that was wrong we could have fixed things, but instead I’ve spent four weeks living in hell.”
“It’s not that simple, Jackson. It’s not just that. I was coming over that night to tell you that I think my mom would have wanted me to follow my family’s advice on my future, the same way she did. It’s all in that letter you found in her jewelry box. She could have gone against her family’s wishes and married a man she was passionate about, but she didn’t and I’m sure she never regretted that decision. She was happy in her life with my father, I know she was.
“My father and my brothers think you’re the wrong guy for me and I don’t want to end up like my aunt Gwen, being cut out of my family’s life completely because I choose to follow my heart. My family is pushy and overbearing, but they mean the world to me.”
Jackson is silent as he takes in everything I have said. “I don’t think you’re making the right choice. I love you. We’ve been over this before—I can’t promise you we would have been happy forever, but I know we would have had one hell of a ride.” He kisses my forehead and then picks up his bag and leaves me standing alone in the terminal.
Abby and Kyle make their way back over to me and I know he has talked to them or at least texted them, because they don’t ask where he is. We sit in the row of plastic chairs in silence until we are called for boarding. I pretend I am not looking for Jackson, like it doesn’t matter if he is still coming with us or not. Abby and Kyle find their seats and I continue on to mine, three rows back. When I am seated by the window, I look up and see Abby turned to face me over the seats. She puts her hand over her heart and mouths the words, “I’m sorry,” before slinking back down next to Kyle.
The steady stream of passengers has slowed to a trickle and I hear the front door shutting. I look up to watch as the last passenger finds his seat. Jackson makes his way down the aisle, his eyes bloodshot, his ticket in his hand. When he reaches my row, he sits down next to me and leans his head back. I can smell alcohol on his breath and I know immediately where he has been since he walked away.
We say nothing to each other as the plane taxis down the runway and only when we begin to take off does he put his hand on top of mine. I don’t look at him because I won’t be able to take it. I sit in my seat with his hand on mine, too weak to move. When the flight attendant comes by to take drink orders, Jackson hands her his card and orders a whiskey and cola. I surprise myself by asking for the same.
It is only a one-hour flight to Las Vegas and we have not moved our hands since Jackson joined them. As we begin our descent, I turn to face him.
“Jackson, why didn’t you tell me your family is in the hotel business?”
He nods, knowing that he has been found out. “My family looks at things differently than yours does, Rookie. Hotels are what we do, not who we are. I wanted you to love me independently of all that.”
I notice a sadness creeping into his eyes. He clears his throat. “Do you love Greg, Maddy?” Before I can answer, he leans closer and whispers, “Not love him like a friend, but like a lover. Does he light you up the way I can? Does he know the real you? Do you find yourself holding back like I have to when I’m around you, because every cell in my body wants to claim you? Do you?” Our faces are only inches apart now and the desire I have always felt for Jackson begins to surge through me. His touch grows warmer as he looks into my eyes, waiting for my response.
“No, I don’t love him like I love you. We broke up a month ago.” I see the surprise in his face and wait for him to say something.
“Did you…did you sleep with him? Just tell me—I have to know. It was all I could think about after seeing him kiss you at the airport that day.” I close my eyes and breathe in his scent.
“No, Jackson. Only you.” I feel his face against mine as he presses his lips to me. His hand wraps around my head and gathers me to him. I think about pushing him away, but I can’t, and instead I open my mouth to invite him in. The kiss is tender but hot, intensified by every minute of our time apart.
The announcement is made over the speaker that we are landing, and Jackson breaks our kiss and grabs my hand, entwining our fingers together. When I look down at our hands he says softly, “Just for this weekend, Maddy. Let me say goodbye to you forever in the few hours I have left with you.” I squeeze his hand in mine and rest my head on his shoulder as we reach our destination.
Chapter Seventeen
My hand is surrounded by the warmth of Jackson’s as he walks beside me through the Las Vegas airport. Abby and Kyle walk in front of us as we exit into the brisk winter weather in the desert. We find a small four-door taxi, and Jackson lets my hand go for the first time since the airplane so that Abby and Kyle can stay together in the backseat.
Jackson must have pulled a few strings, because when we pull up to our hotel I can see that it belongs to the Rider chain. It surprises me how similar our family hotels are, from the employees to the interior design. Once we unload our bags from the trunk, he puts his hand out for mine and I give it up easily. Abby checks us in and we take the elevator up to the floor where Jackson and I will be staying. Abby and Kyle will be in the honeymoon suite a few floors up. Jackson and I step out of the elevator and Abby hands us a room key, waving goodbye with just her fingers.
“Abby, where is the other key?” I ask as the doors begin to close.
“Sorry, love, we only got two rooms. See you downstairs in an hour—wear the dress I’m having sent to your room!” The doors close and I look over to Jackson, but he just shrugs. These next twenty-four hours are going to be interesting.
Jackson picks up my bags and we find our room number. He opens the door to a beautiful suite that overlooks the strip. There is a living area and a bedroom, which houses a sunken Jacuzzi tub and a king size four-poster bed. Jackson chuckles. “I can sleep on the couch, Rookie.” He puts our bags down and comes to stand before me.
“Even through all of the shit that has happened in the past few weeks, you still look beautiful.” He tucks my hair behind my ear and then grabs my waist and pulls me close to him. I tip my head up and let my mouth meet his. It feels so good to be with him again I get lost in the moment, forgetting the sorrow I have been carrying.
He backs me up until my calves are resting against the bed and then he lifts me up onto the coverlet. I slide back, inviting him to join me. His mouth trails kisses down my neck and I wrap my legs around him as he lays his body on mine. I can feel his need as mine builds.
It takes a few seconds to become aware of a knocking at the door, and Jackson curses and jumps off of me, taking in deep breaths. I am in better shape to answer the knock, so I open the door to find a hotel attendant with two garment bags. I suspect that my flushed face and heavy breathing are giving me away, but he pretends not to notice as he carries the items into the room.
Abby has picked out a short black sequined cocktail dress with thin straps and an amazing pair of black heels for me to wear. I am very impressed with how quickly she and Kyle have put this together. As much as I want to push Jackson back onto the bed, I realize it is time to get ready, so I hang my dress on a hook in the bathroom and start unpacking my makeup bag. Jackson follows me into the bathroom and puts his toiletry bag down next to mine.
I stand in front of the mirror next to Jackson, putting my makeup on as he lathers his face and shaves. It feels so domesticated and comfortable it is easy to forget we are not together. When Jackson leaves the bathroom to get dressed, I lock the door and slink into the beautiful dress. It fits like a glove. I twist some of my hair and pin it up, letting the rest fall down my back. I take a few minutes to apply some lip gloss and a little perfume before stepping back out into the room.
Jackson takes my breath away as he stands in front of the mirror, fumbling with his tie. Abby has chosen a contemporary tuxedo for him: a black three-piece suit with a silver necktie. The end of the tie should rest right inside the low-cut vest, but Jackson is having trouble getting it right. He abandons the effort as I make my way over to him, slowly looking me over from my head down to my shoes. He leans in and touches his mouth to my shoulder with a small kiss and an intake of air.
“You look amazing, Maddy. You smell amazing. Tonight is going to kill me.” I can feel his eyes on me as I knot his tie for him. When I am finished, I brush off the front of his jacket and step back to look at him.
“Jackson, that tux looks incredible on you.” He smiles at me and reaches for my hand. He slips the key into his back pocket and opens the door for me, and we make our way to the elevator. There is an older couple in the elevator with us and the woman smiles at me and tells us we are a very handsome couple. Jackson lets go of my hand and wraps his arm around my back.
“I’m a lucky man,” he says, as we step out into the lobby.
* * *
The sight of Abby brings tears to my eyes. Her dress is an elegant floor-length off-white satin that hugs her curves. The bodice is lightly beaded with pearls and crystals and wraps around her neck in a halter style. She has spent the past hour getting tugged on and dolled up at the salon downstairs, and whatever pain she went through was worth it, because she is the most beautiful bride I have ever seen.
It is starting to grow darker outside when we climb into the limo that is waiting for us out front. The first stop is a lengthy one at the courthouse as we wait in line with all of the other couples wanting to tie the knot. This is Vegas, after all. When we finally get back into the limo, Kyle pops open a bottle of champagne and passes us each a glass.
“To a happy future for Abby and me, with lots of love and practice making babies!” Abby slaps his arm and giggles as she clinks her glass against mine and downs it in one gulp. We all follow suit and soon the glasses are filled again.
This time Abby makes a toast. “To finally realizing that love can’t be left behind, no matter what our heads tell us.” Jackson and I exchange glances and he takes my hand in his. I force myself to hold back the tears I feel burning the backs of my eyes.
I could not be more proud to stand beside Abby and Kyle as they take their vows at the little chapel, and I can’t help but to share a smile with Jackson as Kyle is told that he can kiss the bride. My best friend finally has the forever she has always wanted.
On the way back to our hotel, Kyle and Abby only have eyes for each other. My own heart picks up the pace as Jackson puts his hand on my leg and once again I feel the electricity of his touch shooting through me. The limo pulls into the roundabout and Kyle swoops Abby up into his arms, joking about needing to carry her over the threshold.
Back in our own room, I stand in front of the mirror so I can take the bobby pins out of my hair. Jackson comes up behind me and takes over, allowing me a chance to watch him as he got to watch me earlier. I still love him with every piece of my heart. When the last pin is out, he brushes my hair to one side and runs his lips along my shoulder and neck.
I press my body back into his and tip my head so he can have better access. Jackson’s hands grip my waist and then begin to slide upward, stopping at the top of my zipper. Slowly, he slides the zipper down and then traces his fingers across my shoulders, hooking them under my straps and helping to free my arms. My dress falls to the floor, leaving me standing in just my underwear and heels.
Turning to Jackson, I grab the lapels of his jacket and pull him to me so that my skin meets the fabric of his tux. His hands trace my curves and I arch into him, loving the way it feels to be with him. I slip my hands under his jacket and run them to the top of his shoulders before taking his jacket off. I can feel every line of his body through the vest and I loosen his tie and pull until it is free, dropping it next to my dress on the floor. His vest is next, and by the time I take his shirt off I am practically melting into him. I ache for his touch and feel drunk off the high of being explored by his hands. I step out of my heels and he begins to guide me backward toward the bedroom. I giggle when he has to break our kiss to check behind me, the imperfection of the moment making our time together more real.