One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,37

room like she was afraid someone might be listening. “When this weekend is over, do yourself a favor and get as far away from this place and Mr. Livingston as you can.”

Lemon looked, then looked again. She’d thought Jacklyn was older, but in reality, she was young and beautiful. Her eyes were filled with a deep sadness that drilled into Lemon’s soul, making her want to weep.

The scene shifted and Lemon was standing at the bottom of the stairs. Her heart pounded like the march of doom as she grasped the handrail and began her ascent. Perspiration popped a string of pearls over her nose. Dread wrapped her like a shroud, but she kept going. She reached the door and cocked her ears. Was that sobbing she heard on the other side? Then came the crescendo of a panicked voice. “You said you loved me. That we’d always be together. I trusted you!”

Lemon’s throat tightened. She swallowed, sucking in a fragment of air as she reached for the doorknob and turned it.

A scream pierced the air. Lemon recognized the voice as her own.

Terror seized her heart.

And then she was falling.

“Help her! Please!”

“Lemon, wake up.”

“Stop,” she sobbed. “Leave her alone. She’s my mother. I’m so sorry … I’m so sorry for what he did.”

Hands shook her arms.

With a gasp, Lemon shot up in bed. Panic gripped her lungs as she gulped for air.

“It’s okay,” a voice soothed. “You’re okay.”

Her brain shifted into focus as she realized what was happening. She’d had a nightmare. Her cheeks were wet with tears. Jaxson was sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to calm her down. She took in a breath as a hot embarrassment suffused her. “I’m sorry,” she lamented.

“No worries.” Pale moonlight bathed the room, coming in through the partially open blinds.

“Breathe,” Jaxson commanded. She did so, feeling like the situation was a repeat of earlier when Lucas had helped her calm down. She forced herself to breathe in through her nose slowly. She held her breath for a few counts before pushing it out through her mouth. She kept repeating the process, taking in a little more air each time. A few minutes later, she felt the blood returning to her face. It was then that she had enough clarity to pay closer attention to Jaxson. He seemed to be doing remarkably well, considering his fall. Doctor Jepson had called, helping to ease everyone’s fears. He said that Jaxson was the best judge of how he was feeling, and Jaxson agreed wholeheartedly, insisting that he was perfectly fine. To prove his point, he’d polished off three slices of pizza and drank every drop of his large smoothie.

“You’re gonna be just fine,” Jaxson assured her.

A small grin touched Lemon’s lips. Jaxson sounded boyishly cute, his voice coated with sleep. His hair was sticking up in all directions. Her breath froze when she realized that he was shirtless. Jeepers creepers, he was fit! His torso was so chiseled it might’ve belonged on a Greek statue. Her throat went dry as she swallowed.

Tenderly, he pushed a strand of hair away from her face. She realized that her hair was damp. She winced inwardly. He probably thought she was gross … all sweaty.

“You wanna tell me about it?”

“The nightmare?”

“Yeah.”

She let out a heavy sigh as she moistened her lips. “Sure. I’ll tell you as much as I can remember.” A shaky laugh left her throat. “Maybe you can help me make sense of it.”

He chuckled. “I’ve never claimed to be a dream analyzer, but I’ll do my best.”

Simply having his presence in the room helped to restore a sense of calm and normalcy. She scooted. “Care to join me? I promise I don’t bite,” she quipped.

“It’s not the biting that I’m worried about,” he countered, repeating the words she’d said to him.

She held up her hands. “No funny business. I promise.” Even though she was trying to be cute and funny, the truth was, she was unsettled and didn’t want to be alone right now.

He climbed in the bed, groaning slightly with the movement.

“Oh, my gosh! I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking. Your ribs and ankle.”

“I’m okay,” he said, his voice strained. “I just need to get somewhere and stay still.”

“Do you need me to prop up your ankle?”

“No, not right now.” He draped his arm around her shoulders, pulled her close, and relaxed against her. “Okay, tell me.”

The warmth of his skin seeped through her t-shirt, making her feel cozy and protected. Lightly, absently, he