Page 12 of Puck and Prejudice

“Sorry!” I retreat quickly with my eyes closed and shut the door.

When I turn, I come face to face with Jackson Darcy. My heart leaps into my throat. “Jesus Christ! You scared me.”

Frowning, he asks, “What are you doing here?”

“I was looking for my sister.”

Either Jane or Chad knocks something over in the room behind me. Jackson’s spine goes rigid, as if he were a hunting dog who got the scent of his prey. “Who’s in this room?”

Shit. I flatten my back against the door to prevent him from opening it. “No one.”

Yeah, that wasn’t suspicious at all.

“Move aside,” he commands in a dangerous low tone that instead of scaring me, kind turns me on. What’s wrong with me?

I scowl to hide my stupid reaction. “Who do you think you are? You’re not my boss.”

He narrows his eyes and steps into my personal space. My heart is pounding in my chest like a hummingbird. “Don’t test me, woman. I can get you fired.”

Fat chance of Paco firing me over this, but if Jackson complains to his boss, it could mess up things for Paco in the future. I can’t be responsible for him losing business.

“Fine.” I step aside.

Jackson doesn’t hesitate to push the door open, but he takes only one step in and stops.

“What the hell!” Chad blurts out. “Is this Grand Central Station now?”

“What are you doing?” Jackson asks.

I peek inside to make sure Jane is okay. She’s dressed, but she’s still hiding behind Chad.

“What do you think?” Chad tucks his shirt in his pants.

“I tried to stop him from barging in, but your captain is more stubborn than a mule,” I chime in.

Jackson whips his face to mine. “You could have told me who was inside.”

He has me there. I could have, but I didn’t want to rat out my sister and her fiancé. I’m the only person who knows their secret… well, I was. Now Jackson Assface knows too.

“She couldn’t,” Chad butts in.

Jackson looks at him. “Why not? What’s going on here?”

Chad takes Jane’s hand and tugs her to his side. “I was waiting for the right moment to tell you, but since you’re here, I’d like you to meet my fiancée, Jane Bennet.”

I wait with bated breath for Jackson’s reaction. From my research of Chad, I gathered he and Jackson are friends, but who knows what type of friendship they have.

“Yourwhat?” Jackson blurts out.

“You heard me. Jane and I are engaged.”

Jackson opens and shuts his mouth without saying a word. The look of sheer astonishment on his face is comical.

“How can you be engaged? Did you even date beforehand?” he finally asks.

Chad raises his chin. “As a matter of fact, we dated for several months before I proposed.”

Jackson pinches the bridge of his nose. “Several months… how many months exactly?”

---