Page 113 of Redemption

He slid his hand onto my thigh beneath the table. “Good. Really good. What about you? How are the kids? How’s Logan?”

“The kids are good. Work is busy.”

“And Logan?” Jackson asked, pushing Greer despite the fact that she clearly didn’t want to talk about her husband.

Greer waved a hand through the air. “I’m here to have fun and forget about Logan.”

“Greer,” Jackson chided. “What’s going on?”

She shook her head, holding back tears even as she forced a smile. “It’s not something I want to discuss right now, let alone with my brother. Can you please just drop it?”

He sighed, and I knew he was torn between respecting her wishes and dragging the truth out of her. I placed my hand over his beneath the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Please?” Greer pleaded. Jackson relented—for now, at least.

Conversation turned to other matters as our meal arrived. Then more drinks—at least for Greer and me. Jackson had relaxed some, but I could still see him scanning for threats.

“Doesn’t it get exhausting?” I asked while Greer was in the bathroom. She’d texted to say she’d gotten a call from the kids and would be back in a little bit.

He placed a finger beneath my chin, tipping my gaze to his. “Protecting you is an honor and my privilege.”

He looked as if he might kiss me, and god, how I wanted him to. Despite a few almost missteps, we’d made it through a week of forced celibacy, and I was more than ready for it to be over.

“You really do love your job,” I mused.

“I love you.”

I smiled. “I love you too.”

I didn’t want to ruin the moment, but the question of New York and Jackson’s promotion had been weighing on me all day.

“Tell me about New York,” I said.

“Hmm.” He smoothed his hand over his chin. “It’s on the East Coast. It’s where Greer was married?—”

“Jackson.” I narrowed my eyes at him.

“What?” He lifted a shoulder. “You asked me to tell you about New York, and I am.”

“Yes,” I huffed, trying to ignore the little voice of doubt that had started screaming in my head. The one that said he was going to leave me again. “But I was hoping you’d tell me about your promotion.” He stilled. “Greer mentioned it earlier in passing.” I toyed with my napkin. “She, um, didn’t realize…”

He tilted his head back, and he seemed to be warring with himself. Because he was worried how I’d react? Because he hadn’t expected me to find out?

“What is it?” I asked, trying to remain calm despite my rising panic. I couldn’t… My palms were clammy.

“There is no promotion.”

My stomach plummeted at his words. I’d told myself that he’d changed, but it felt like déjà vu.

I was determined to give him the benefit of the doubt. But instead, I found myself blurting, “You lied to your family?”

He scoffed. “I can’t believe you jumped straight to that.”

“Can you blame me? It wouldn’t be the first time you’ve lied to them. To me.” God, that hurt to admit. This whole conversation hurt.

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You still don’t trust me, do you? Even after everything we’ve been through.”

“I do trust you.” I placed my hand on his, because it felt as if the conversation was spiraling out of control. “I’m just trying to understand. Greer’s under the impression that you’re moving to New York and going to lead the Hudson office there. Yet you’ve never mentioned it to me, and now you’re telling me there is no promotion.”

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