Page 13 of Inevitable Love
“Call them whatever you want.” He tugs my arm back to the crook of his elbow and leads me toward a ballroom. “Those shoes are made for two things.”
Feeling reckless and riding the high of the tension between us, I lean into his strength. “What’s that?”
Jackson drops his arm, sliding his fingers down the sensitive skin of my inner forearm, across my palm, and slipping them slowly, deliciously, between mine as he wrenches the door open.
Inside the reception hall, dozens of people decked outin their finest loiter in small clusters around the room. The lighting is set to soft and romantic. Flowers and flameless candles adorn linen-covered tables. Piano music plays softly. And all I can feel is the way our hands are molded together. Fingers twined. The soft brush of his thumb across my skin.
It’s distracting as all hell.
Someone calls Jackson’s name, and he drops my hand, but his fingers press into the small of my back as he leans close enough to brush my ear with his lips. “Making a pair of legs look like a million bucks and marking up a back.”
Holy. Shit.
Instant panty combustion.
I’m left stuttering and trying not to teeter off said stilettos as we are surrounded by people. It’s extremely hard to breathe all of a sudden.
Jackson swaps bro-shakes with the group, and they immediately fall into a discussion about some drama that happened at another station. Yet that slight pressure on my back never releases, and my dress shifts constantly, like he’s rubbing his thumb across the material. Goosebumps spread over my entire body at the thrill of that singular touch. I am hyperaware of how close he stands. The fabric of his jacket brushes my shoulder when he moves. It’s soft and radiates his warmth, doing nothing to quell the electric awareness pulsing through me.
Where in the hell is this coming from? And what did that comment mean? Was it just Jackson being normal flirty, or was he being deliberately flirty with me?
The possessiveness of his hand leaves no room for anyone to think we aren’t here together. What the hell am I supposed to do with that?
Nothing. I can’t do anything with it. Because Jackson. Is. Just. My. Friend. Period.
The physical touch is simply a reminder that I haven’t had sex in a very long time. It has nothing at all to do with the way I’ve noticed how much muscle he’s packed on over the summer. Nothing to do with how delicious he smells.
I’m just amped up on the excitement of the event. We’re here to celebrate love, after all.
“Girl!” Jules’s excited voice rings across the space, blessedly saving me from my spiraling thoughts. I turn to see her and Cal joining our little group, and Kate—one of the medics from Cal and Jax’s station—is right behind her with a date as well. Jackson’s fingers fall away, and I miss his touch immediately. Jules takes my hand when she draws near, pulling me into a soft cheek-press mini hug. “You look amazing. That dress is gorgeous.”
“Thank you.” I preen, giving my skirts a little swish. “I might say the same about you.”
She beams at me. “We totally should’ve shopped together this week. I’m sorry I couldn’t get away. Charlie?—”
“Don’t even worry about it.” I wave off her concerns, finally feeling myself settle a little after all the sexy fireworks between me and my date.
“Babe, you want a drink?” Cal asks Jules, slipping a hand possessively around her waist. She gives her order, and he kisses her forehead before heading to the bar.
“Those two are so sweet it makes my teeth hurt,” Kate quips. Her date, some guy I haven’t met yet, gives me the once-over before taking her order.
Jackson comes up behind me, his hand shifting to my hip, stealing the breath I just got back and making me glance over my shoulder to confirm that it’s him before punching someone for getting handsy. “You need adrink?” he says way too close to my ear. I draw back to catch him cutting eyes to Kate’s guy.
Why is he acting like this? “Uh, no.” I waggle my full glass of wine at him. “I’m good, thank you.”
“’Kay. I’ll just be over there if you need me.” He says it loud enough that everyone can hear and then nearly shoulder checks Kate’s man as he heads to another group of guys.
“What’s up with that?” Kate asks when the men are far enough away that they won’t overhear.
“I’m not sure.”
Jules heaves a huge sigh when the room erupts in celebration. “Liv looks stunning tonight. And Mac is… wow. All that. I’ve gotta admit. She’s a lucky woman.”
“You guys ever wish you’d gotten married?” Kate asks from left field. I nearly choke when her attention shifts to me.
“Gotta have a prospect first.”
We toast to that, but Jules has a gleam in her eye. “Been there. Would probably consider it again with the right guy.” She’s eyeing someone over my shoulder, probably Cal, but it’s my handsome date who draws my attention.
