thought struck me that it was strange how comfortable it felt just lying around nude with a man that I hadn’t even known a week ago. I sighed as I floated in complete and total contented bliss.
“I wanted to talk to you…” His hand stilled.
I lifted my eyes and noticed that he had a frown line between his brows and a very serious expression on his face.
“I know this isn’t a great time, but…”
He paused, as if searching for the right words to say. I could see that something was upsetting him and all the good hormones that had been keeping negative thoughts at bay were gone. My mind instantly went to the worst-case scenario.
Jackson probably thought that I was getting too attached. He didn’t want me to think that this was anything more than what it was. He didn’t know how to break it to me.
“I’ve actually been wanting to ask you, are you excited about your next job?” I changed the subject and did my best to make my voice as upbeat and happy as I possibly could. I didn’t want him thinking that I was taking this too seriously. “You’re working with Shemar Lancaster, right? I’ve heard he’s an amazing director.”
“Yeah.” He nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied me.
Feeling the weight of his scrutiny, I doubled down. If “doubled down” meant talking a mile a minute and not letting him get a word in edgewise.
“That’s such an incredible opportunity. I bet you are ready to hop on that plane. I would be, if I were you. I honestly can’t thank you enough for taking the time out of your schedule and doing this.” As soon as I heard what I’d said, I rushed to clarify. “Not this.” I waved my hand over us. “I mean the project. Thank you for taking the time to do the project. I honestly couldn’t have imagined doing it with anyone else.”
His left eyebrow lifted, and his lips tilted in a grin. “This or the project.”
I was glad that he was teasing me again. Even if it was because he was off the hook from having to have “the talk” with me. More than anything, I’d let myself off the hook of being on the receiving end of it. And after the day I’d had, I was going to consider that a win.
Chapter 31
Jackson
“Intentions are only as good as the actions that follow them.”
~ Josephine Grace Clarke
My eyes were blurry as I blinked them open. It took me a moment to get my bearings and remember where I was. It helped that on the nightstand there was a flyer for ziplining and across the top it read, Hope Falls. Not having any clue where I was happened on a regular basis. Since I didn’t really have a home base, I often woke up and had no clue what city, or even country, I was in for the first few seconds.
I grabbed my phone and saw that it was a quarter after seven a.m. Our flight wasn’t until four p.m., so we had some time. I rolled over and saw Josie lying beside me. Her red hair fanned out on the white comforter and pillowcase. The sun was shining in through the window and the rays highlighted her golden locks. My fingers itched to run through her silky strands, but I didn’t want to wake her.
We’d spent three nights together. Three nights sharing a bed. Three nights making love to one another.
And I didn’t have any idea if there would be another.
I’d wanted so badly to speak to her last night, but she’d seemed so uncomfortable when I’d tried to bring it up that I’d dropped it. The last thing I’d wanted to do was pressure her with my feelings. I’d been on the receiving end of women wanting a relationship to be more than it was, and I’d done my fair share of dodging the subject. But last night, I could honestly say, was the first time I’d ever been the one getting dodged. I hadn’t liked it, but I’d told myself that yesterday had been a long day for Josie and she probably just hadn’t wanted to end it with a where-do-we-see-this-relationship-going talk.
I wasn’t sure if she’d want to have that particular conversation today either, but I was going to bring it up again. The clock was ticking on our time together and I knew if I didn’t take action, the opportunity was going to slip right past me.