to the same questions that had come back to haunt me when I’d found out Jackson was picking me up. Now those questions were flashing in my mind like neon signs.
Do Mr. and Mrs. Briggs know who I am?
Have they seen the show?
Did they see the video?
My stomach dropped as we approached the front door. My heart was racing again. My chest was tight. I was dizzy.
In that moment, I was kicking myself for not insisting that I take a car service. Things had been so stressful for Mia, I just hadn’t wanted to upset her more in her condition.
A loud creak sounded when Jackson pulled open the screen door and it sounded like a horror film. Sadly, this wasn’t a movie. It was my real life. I tried to step forward, but I remained planted in place, each breath growing more and more shallow.
Jackson must’ve noticed because he bent down and whispered against my ear, “Breathe.”
My entire body relaxed at his command. The heat of his breath, and the deep timbre of his voice worked a lot faster than the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 Method ever had. And from the goosebumps that rose on my skin and the butterflies partying in my belly, it was a lot more enjoyable as well.
“Don’t let out the bought air!” The same booming voice that I’d heard answer the phone called out.
“Come on in, kids!” Jackson’s mom exclaimed as she appeared in the hallway wearing an apron that said: Your Opinion Wasn’t In My Recipe.
We walked in and there was a flurry of hugs and introductions. Dolly Briggs welcomed me with open arms. Literally, she pulled me into a warm embrace. I’d never known my mother, and my grandmother wasn’t exactly the maternal, nurturing type. As soon as she released her hold, I felt sad that it was over.
Walker Briggs reminded me of The Brawny Man or Paul Bunyan. He was a couple of inches taller than Jackson, who I guessed was at least six foot two. He had a full beard and would’ve been a little intimidating if not for his wide smile.
“Why don’t you go get Josie settled in Harmony’s room while I finish up in the kitchen.” Mrs. Briggs pointed her finger in Jackson’s face. “And young man, next time you open the lady’s door.”
My jaw dropped open. She’d been in the back of the house when we’d arrived. How had she seen that?
“Yes ma’am.” Jackson turned toward me and gave me an I-told-you-so look that I very much deserved.
As soon as we started up the stairs, I whispered, “How did she know?”
He glanced back at me with a half-grin that had my lady parts tingling with awareness. “She knows everything.”
As we made our way up the stairs, I was struck by how good Jackson looked from behind. I would’ve thought nothing could’ve beat the view from the front, but this one definitely gave it a run for its money. His cotton shirt was pulled taut over the wide expanse of his chiseled shoulders and muscular back. He looked so powerful, so dominant. I wasn’t even sure how that was possible from this view, but he pulled it off.
We’d just reached the top of the steps when Dolly called out from the bottom of the stairs. “Supper will be ready in twenty! Do you have any dietary restrictions, Josie?”
“No, Mrs. Briggs. Thank you.”
Jackson stopped up short and turned on a dime toward me. I almost plowed right into him. Not that I’d be complaining if I did. The limited contact I’d had with him had been more action than I’d had in close to a decade. It was strange, but when your first boyfriend exploits your first time in the most public way, it didn’t exactly make a person want to jump back into bed with someone.
There were only a couple of inches between us and my body lit up with awareness. He stood so close I was staring at his broad, well-built chest. I had to tilt my head to look up at him. The look in his eyes as he stared down at me was doing all sorts of funny things to my system. There were tingles and flutters in places that I’d thought were permanently out of service and the sensations had my breath growing shallow.
“What?” I asked.
“Aren’t you a vegetarian?”
A tiny thrill raced down my spine. I wasn’t sure if it was because of the proximity of Jackson in the cramped hallway or if it