Page 37 of Coming Home

“I haven’t been by to see it yet. Clancy did give me the keys, though. He will be moving to Houston, as I mentioned on Game Night. Since he’s leaving a good deal of the furniture behind, I need to see what shape the house is in, as well as the furniture. I also have some furniture of my own still in storage back in L.A., along with lamps, my TV, and more clothes and shoes.”

“If your taste doesn’t run to what Clancy has, you could always place it with Rylie. Antiques and Mystiques has a section devoted to consignments. She also can help you furnish the house with new things if you wish. She has some kind of business discount she can use. I’ve wanted to take advantage of it to get a new sofa myself, but I keep pouring my money back into the bakery.”

“As you should. It’s your livelihood. As long as the sofa is sittable—and it is because I’ve sat on it—it doesn’t matter if it’s a little dilapidated.”

In his mind, he thought she wouldn’t even need that sofa in the future.

If she moved in with him.

“I’d like to go see the house today. Clancy said it might need several updates. Myra, his fiancée, did complain about several things being old and needing to be replaced.”

“Pete Pulaski would be your man then,” Ainsley said. “He has his own construction business. Carter used to work for Pete on his off-days, as do several firemen in the area. Pete did all the work at Boo’s and also fixed up the Garner place for Tenley and Carter.”

“If you don’t mind then, we’ll go over after lunch and see it.”

“I’d like that,” she told him.

They strolled the beach for another hour, Ainsley collecting a few shells along the way, telling him she had a jar of them by her bedside. Eventually, they turned and went back to the cove itself, claiming the blanket and backpack. They had yet to see a soul, which didn’t surprise Jackson. It was a weekday, and children were still in school. The beach near Boo’s was as private as it would ever be. His heart told him it was the place to tell Ainsley how he felt about her.

She opened the blanket and let the slight breeze catch it, spreading it on the sand and anchoring it with a few nearby rocks. Jackson removed the food from the backpack and soon their feast was before them. They ate slowly, watching the waves go in and out. Conversation had ceased between them, and a companionable silence blanketed them. He had never been more relaxed in anyone’s company.

Ainsley reached for the bag of cookies she had baked and handed one to him. “I won’t get my feelings hurt if you don’t like them. I know you’re not big on sweets.”

“It’s not that. I enjoyed both flavors of cupcakes you brought to Game Night. I ate one there and even came home and had the other with a large glass of milk. I would be hard-pressed to tell you which was my favorite.”

He bit into the cookie, savoring the rich chocolate and crunch of the macadamia nut.

“This is delicious,” he told her. “It’s not that I’m against sweets. I just didn’t eat many growing up. While Boo had a tremendous sweet tooth, she never kept many sweets in the house. My coaches always stressed eating clean and lean, so I filled up on proteins and vegetables, with a little fruit mixed in for sweetness. Old habits die hard, I guess. When I left the Cove, I still never ate many sweets.”

Jackson took her hand. “But I think that’s going to change now, with my girlfriend being a world-class baker and pastry chef. It’s a good thing I’ve hired Gage to help train me, so I don’t put on any weight or if I do, I can work it off.”

“I’m glad you like the cookies. But don’t ever feel obligated to eat anything I make.” She turned her gaze back to the ocean, and for a few minutes, he ate cookies and watched the waves roll in.

He reached for his water, taking a long swallow, finding his mouth dry as nerves filled him. He needed to tell her now.

Placing the empty water bottle down, he took her other hand in his, facing her.

“I have something to say, Ainsley. I thought long and hard if I should say this to you or wait a while, but Willow encouraged me to tell you what was in my heart. I don’t expect you to feel the same way after so short a time, but I want us to always be open with each other.”

He took a deep breath and blew it out. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Ainsley. I... I just needed you to know that. I don’t expect you to share the same depth of feelings toward me, but I hope you will grow to love me.” He squeezed her hands. “I also need you to know that I’ve never said those words to anyone. Ever.”

She burst into tears.

CHAPTER 13

Ainsley felt like a fool as she blubbered away, hard sobs shaking her body violently. Blinded by her tears, she felt Jackson scoop her up and place her in his lap, his strong arms going about her. He held her protectively, rocking her, brushing kisses against her temple.

“I’m sorry, babe. I’m sorry,” he finally said, as her sobs subsided. “I knew it was too soon. I should’ve kept my mouth shut and my feelings to myself.”

She gazed up with him. “No,” she said through watery eyes, knowing her mascara ran down her cheeks and that she must look a fright. “You were right to tell me. Jackson—I love you, too. So much, it scares me to death.”

She buried her face against his shoulder, her arms going about him, gripping him tightly. He was her lifeline. Her reason for being. Her everything.

And then he began... laughing.

His body shook with contained laughter. It finally bubbled up from within him. She raised her head and met his gaze.

“Oh, babe, I’m so relieved. I thought when you began crying a river of tears that I’d totally blown it.” He kissed her, swift and hard. “I love you. I love you, Ainsley Robinson.”

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