One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,35

her lips. “But you really can’t fault me for that, seeing as how I’ve forgotten everything.”

He chuckled. “You really are something.” His mouth brushed against hers with the softness of a whisper, teasing and tantalizing. He leaned closer, his lips planting a string of silky kisses along her neck.

She wanted to pull him closer, wrap her arms around his neck, and cling to him. She didn’t dare do so for fear of hurting his ribs. His mouth moved to hers. She parted her lips expectantly, a soft groan rising in her throat. When his insistent lips took hers, a river of euphoria gushed through her. Her spirit soared exuberantly to a velvety cloud that wrapped her in completeness. Her mind expanded, and a fragment of memory returned. She’d felt the urgency of Jaxson’s lips against hers before. She’d been held in his arms. She knew what it was like to be immersed in utter perfection. And she knew what it was like to lose him. A tremor of fear ran through her as another face flashed through her mind. Cold, ruthless eyes, blacker than midnight pressed into her soul, snuffing out the light. She saw a handsome, cruel face—the face of a hunter who’d stop at nothing to track her down and destroy her and everyone she loved. A shudder ran through her.

“Howdy, kiddos,” a voice boomed.

Lemon jerked back, not as much startled by the interruption as she was by her own thoughts. She tried to flesh them out—to put a name and a distinct face to the man with onyx eyes, but the clarity of the impressions vanished, leaving only a smoky feeling of unease in their wake. She looked up to see Knox standing over them, wearing a Texas-sized grin.

“Every time I come into this house I find y’all in interesting situations.”

Color rushed to Lemon’s cheeks. She glanced at Jaxson, thinking he’d also be embarrassed, but he only laughed.

Knox took a seat in the recliner across from them. He scooted forward, perching his forearms on his thighs. He probed Jaxson with concerned eyes. “How ya doing, son?”

“A lot better now that I have some ibuprofen in me.” Jaxson draped a relaxed arm around Lemon’s shoulders. She scooted into the curve of his shoulder. It felt good to be protected. Shadows of her thoughts lurked nearby. Soon she would have to deal with them. Before time runs out. She jerked slightly. Where had that thought come from? Sheesh. She was scaring herself half to death.

“You okay?” Jaxson asked, giving her a sidelong look.

She forced a smile. “I’m good,” she chimed, relaxing into him.

“I left a message for Henry, but I haven’t heard anything back. I reckon he’ll call as soon as he gets my message.” Knox paused, assessing Jaxson with hawk eyes. “Do you need me to take you to the hospital to get checked out?”

“Nah,” Jaxson said, “I’m good.”

Knox looked doubtful. “You sure? It ain’t no trouble to take you.”

“I really am fine,” Jaxson reiterated.

A grin pulled at Knox’s lips. “Well, you certainly seemed fine a minute ago.”

A second wave of heat brushed Lemon’s cheeks.

Knox motioned. “How’s the ankle?”

Lemon looked and realized that the ice pack had fallen off Jaxson’s ankle. She leaned forward and placed it back on top. He winced. “Man, that’s cold.”

“Y’all hungry?” Knox asked.

“We are,” Jaxson answered. “We were fixing to order a pizza.”

“I have a better idea. I’ll go and grab your mama. We’ll get a pizza and some smoothies from that Jumbo Juice place, right next door to the pizza restaurant.”

At the same instant, both Lemon and Jaxson burst into laughter. Lemon placed a hand over her mouth to silence it.

“I think you mean Jamba Juice,” Jaxson corrected.

Knox waved a hand. “Jumbo Juice, Jamba Juice. What’s the difference?” His light eyes twinkled.

Jaxson turned to Lemon. “I suppose jumbo juice is better than jumbo chest,” he said straight-faced.

A chortle pushed through Lemon’s throat. She couldn’t hold back the laughter. It pealed out, sending tears to her eyes.

“What’s so funny?” Knox asked, looking puzzled.

“Aw, nothing,” Jaxson said casually. “Just an inside joke between me and Lemonade.”

Knox sighed. “Well, it seems like y’all are making up for lost time.”

“Yes, we are.” Jaxson gave Lemon a meaningful look.

She couldn’t stop the wide, contented smile from spreading over her lips. Memory loss or not, she got the distinct impression that right here and now, there was nowhere on earth that she’d rather be than right here by Jaxson’s side. If only it could stay this way forever.

She’d