Page 38 of Coming Home

Jackson kissed her again, this time slow and thorough, causing her bones to melt away into nothingness. She clung to him, kissing him with a desperation that she couldn’t explain.

When he broke the kiss, she took his face in her hands and brought her lips back to his, believing she could never get enough of this man.

She felt his smile against her mouth, and then he erupted in laughter again, causing the kiss to end. This time, though, she was okay with that.

“I love you, Jackson,” she said. “I did have a case of hero worship back in seventh grade. At first, I was afraid that my feelings for you were left over from that wild crush. But you are so much more than a star athlete from years ago. You are smart. Kind. Funny.”

She paused as he used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her cheeks.

“I’ve never been in love,” she admitted. “To be honest, I haven’t even dated that much. I was always focused on making enough to money to help with Mom’s medical treatments and then paying for community college. I worked double shifts at the restaurants that employed me so that I could bank enough for the tuition at l’Ecole Len?tre. Yes, I’ve seen a few men over the years—but no one compares to you.”

Ainsley touched her lips to his.

He smoothed her hair. “I’m the opposite and am man enough to admit it. I’ve gone out with a lot of women over the years. I was only turned down twice, and I let those slide off me. I worked hard, studying my ass off in college and law school. I’ve worked even harder ever since I became an attorney. But no one—no one—has touched my soul as you have, Ainsley. All my relationships were short-term, with no investment of myself in them. Yes, I’ve treated the women I’ve dated well. I’ve been respectful. But I’ve never given my heart to anyone.

“Until you.”

Jackson kissed her again, a long, drugging kiss that made her forget everything but him.

When he broke it, he framed her face in his hands. “You are the woman I love. Wolves and coyotes mate for life. Swans, too.” He smiled. “I want you to be my swan, Ainsley Robinson.”

She blinked rapidly. “What are you saying, Jackson?”

“That I want to marry you. I want to be by your side through the good and the bad. I want to have babies with you. I want to be your best friend and lover forever.”

A fresh wave of tears blinded her. “It’s too soon,” she protested, bringing her sleeve to her eyes and wiping it against them.

“Will most people think it’s too soon? I’d venture that’s a given. But it won’t lessen my feelings for you. I believe they will continue to grow over time. That I will love you more tomorrow than today. More next year than this year. More fifty years from now than on our wedding day.”

Ainsley buried her face against his chest, hot tears continue to spill from her eyes. She gripped his shoulders tightly.

Raising her head, she whispered, “Is this really happening, Jackson? Tell me I’m not dreaming and that I’ll wake up alone in my bed.”

He brushed a soft kiss against her lips. “It’s real, love. As real as it gets. Yes, I think everyone in L.A. that I know would think that I’m certifiably crazy at this moment. A good deal of the Cove will, too. But I know my mind and heart.” His hand swept back a stray curl from her cheek. “You’ll always be the one that I want. The one that I need. The one that I yearn to come home to after a long day at the office.”

Jackson kissed her. “We don’t have to rush anything, though. We can get married next month. Next year. Five years down the road. I’ll leave that up to you.”

She laughed, hiccupping as she did so. “I’d marry you tomorrow, Jackson. That’s how certain I am.” Ainsley paused. “On second thought, tomorrow is a work day for me. Better make it next Monday or Tuesday,” she teased.

He roared with laughter, hugging her tightly, kissing her again and again until she was breathless.

“Are you serious about next week?” he asked.

“Are you?” she countered.

He pulled out his phone. “I’m Googling it,” he explained. “Give me a minute.”

After a quick search, he said, “We need to apply together at a county clerk’s office and pay the fees. The license is good state-wide. Can only be used in Oregon.” He continued skimming. “We’d need to use it within sixty days.”

“How expensive is it?” she asked.

He grinned. “I’m good for it.” Then he frowned. “There’s a three-day waiting period. No, wait, we can pay another ten or twenty bucks, and they’ll waive that.” His thumb scrolled down the page. “No blood test needed. They do ask for a government ID.”

“Like a driver’s license?”

“That’ll do the trick. Oh, good. The county clerk can perform the ceremony for a little over a hundred bucks.” He met her gaze. “So, what do you say, Miss Robinson? Are you free next Monday? Oh, damn. I forgot. I’m supposed to meet with Clancy that day. He’ll be back from Houston. I need to prepare the documents to take over his law practice.”

“Do those have to be filed with the county clerk?” she asked. “If so, we could kill two birds with one stone. If we need a witness, Clancy could be one of them. Willow could be another.” She paused. “Of course, if Willow comes, I’ll need Rylie there. And Tenley. I don’t want her to feel left out.”

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