Page 33 of Twisted Devotion
I shake my head in an attempt to use my hair as a shield against my rosy cheeks. “You’re being ridiculous. Just tell me you understand, that you’ll behave from now on.”
He sighs dramatically. “I get it. You’re in charge of me. My well-being is your entire world.” His lips curl, and before I can disagree in any way, he says, “Hmm. I like the sound of that.”
I deliberately crank the radio volume up to drown him out.
I like you.
His words repeat in my head, making it spin. The revelation isn’t shocking, but I am surprised he admitted it so freely. Sometimes, I’m envious of Jackson’s carefree confidence. I wish I could look him in the eye and tell him that I might like him, too, but my voice is gone—scared away by his honesty and uncharacteristically serious tone.
My knee bounces steadily as I fight through my jumbled emotions, and for the briefest of moments, I have the fleeting thought of giving up the bonus to find out what it would be like to spend the night with Jackson.
Son of a bitch. I’m in trouble.
“You need help with dinner?” Jackson asks as we carry the bags inside, setting them on the island counter in the kitchen.
I start pulling things out of the bag in front of me. “If you want?” I’d rather put some space between us after the revelations in the car—Jackson’s and mine.
He grins. “What are you making?”
“Penne and tomato basil pesto chicken.”
Jackson’s eyes widen and his mouth drops open as if he’s about to start drooling. “My stomach just growled so loudly.”
I laugh and tell him, “It’s pretty much the only thing I know how to make.” I pull the chicken breasts out and find a baking dish to get them cooking. Once I’ve pre-heated the oven and covered the chicken in pesto and slices of fresh tomato, I slide the dish into the oven and set a timer.
I put Jackson in charge of cooking the penne, telling him that boiling water is the area in which he could do the least damage to the meal. He reminds me of what he made my first night here, though, and I have to concede.
We cook in silence for a few minutes before Jackson says, “Nikolai said something the other day.” His tone is soft, curious.
I turn my head enough to look at him. “Nikolai says a lot of things. I wouldn’t pay him much attention.”
A ghost of a smile touches his lips. “He said you wanted to leave Rockdale.”
My stomach drops as unease floods in. “Yeah.” I don’t elaborate. I cringe thinking about how much Nik could have told him. I probably don’t want to know.
“But you stayed to take this job?” he asks, peeking into the pot to check the water.
I shrug, pulling out a tray from a drawer beneath the double ovens. “It was good money.”
There’s a pause, and then he says, “That’s the only reason?”
I set the metal tray on the counter and turn to him. “What are you looking for me to tell you?”
Jackson purses his lips. “I’m not sure. I guess I’m just curious as to why some money could keep you here if you wanted to leave.”
I sigh heavily, searching several cupboards before I find tin foil to line the tray. “The money will help me stay away once I’m gone.”
Confusion flickers across his face.
“I’m planning to travel,” I explain, not sure how much detail I should get into. “I’ve wanted to for a long time but never had the money.”
“Sounds interesting. I’ve wanted to get away for a while, but since opening up shop, I haven’t had the opportunity to step out for a vacation.”
I nod. “Once my contract with you is up, I’m out of here. I’m not sure where to yet, but I don’t think I’ll stay in one place too long.”
His brows knit as he scratches the stubble along his jaw. “Why?”
“That,” I say, “is a very long story.”
