Enduring Everything (Marked Heart #1) (17 page)

Following him to the back
, I liked that idea.

Spending the night with Jackson in what used to be the dog
house seemed right after we somewhat christened the bar.

Jackson pulled the mattress through the door and laid it flat against the floor, saying, "You know, I'm starting to question his heritage a little. I mean the boy is Irish and Gus' son and he's a lightweight."

Smiling at his picking on Auggie, I said, "That would be funnier if he didn't hate me right now."

"You know he's worried about William," Jacks offered.

Sliding my shoes off, I sat down on the mattress, saying, "I know. He called me a traitor though and I know how he is. He'll probably never talk to me again."

Stretching out on the mattress, he laughed, "You mean argue, y'all never talk."

Shrugging, I replied, "Whichever, he's being ridiculous about Charlotte."

Clearing his throat and smiling at me, Jackson revealed, "You know he used to have a huge crush on you, right?"

Surprised, I blurted, "What?"

Smiling wide at me, Jacks explained, "When he was a teenager."

"I'm like ten years older than him," I stated.

"A sixteen year old having the hot's for a gorgeous woman in her twenties isn't that strange," he laughed before asking, "You remember when he and Braden got in that fight?"

Giving him a strange look, I said, "I don't remember them ever not getting into a fight."

Laughing, he nodded before saying, "The time at your house, when they broke your back door."

"Oh yeah, I thought Sarah was going to start throwing punches she was so mad at them."

Turning on his side, Jacks shared, "Later on, I asked Braden what they were fighting about and he admitted to starting it. He told Auggie that he was going to tell you about the picture of you he found in Auggie's drawer."

"So he had a picture of me, that's not a big deal."

Raising his eyebrows, he said, "It had your name with a heart written on the back."

Covering my face with my hands, I laid back and replied, "Oh my gosh, okay, I don't want to hear anymore. That's just weird."

Propping up on his elbow, Jackson looked down at me, saying, "Who could blame him. You're very sexy."

Looking up at him, my tone softened as I coaxed, "Am I?"

Leaning closer, he informed, "You're the only woman I have ever fantasized about."

"That is only because it took you twenty years to get me in bed," I teased.

Shaking his head, he whispered, "I still do. It's hard to look at you without thinking of all the things I want to do to you."

A slow smile spread across my face
before he kissed me.

3
0

A
Little Gossip

A loud buzzing woke me as I covered my face with my arms.
The alarm on Jackson's cellphone was blaring in my ears.

"Turn it off," I fussed.

The alarm stopped as I felt Jackson slide his arm around me, saying, "I have to go get ready for work."

With a heavy sigh, I snuggled close, saying, "I don't wanna get up."

As he kissed the side of my head, he replied, "I need to get in there early and I'm staying late because I'm going to spend a few hours here today too."

"Please stay the night with me tonight," I begged.

Pulling back he gave a soft smile and shared, "I don't want
us
to be up in the air. Take a little time and when you know for sure this is what you want, you can come stay with me."

"I already know it," I insisted.

Pulling me back to his chest, Jackson imparted, "This morning you do but what about tomorrow or the next day? I chose to be with you, that's what I want. If it's what you really want too, you can choose me this time."

Nodding into his chest,
I knew exactly what I wanted.

~

Standing in my room, I was excited that for once I knew what to do. On the way home from the bar, I decided since Jackson was staying late at the office, I would wait until the end of the day and finally pick up my box of belongings from my desk at JPT. I also decided I would give it a week before making a grand gesture to show Jackson I chose him. I thought the soft opening for the bar would be a perfect time and place. It was only a week away so I didn't have a lot of time to come up with how I was going to do it but I was sure signing the papers to join our accounts was the best way to show him I was as committed to
us
as he was.

My cell
phone rang just as I pulled a folder out of my dresser with the papers to join Jackson and I's bank accounts in it. Setting the folder on the top of my dresser, I dashed to the living room.

Grabbing my phone off of the coffee table, I answered, "Hey."

Jackson's voice was on the other end asking, "What are you doing?"

Smiling, I answered, "Nothing."

"I'm in your driveway," he shared before instructing, "Sit on your couch and close your eyes."

I glanced at the clock and saw that it was already five o'clock before asking, "Are you taking the rest of the day off?"

"No, I'm headed back to the office. I got something for you but I am in kind of a hurry," he replied.

"So why do I need to close my eyes?"

With a laugh he replied, "Just do it, I'll be in in a second."

Tossing my phone down on the couch, I did as Jackson asked.

With no idea what he was up to, I couldn't help being a little nervous along with my excitement. When my front door opened I almost turned and looked.

"Don't look," he said as I heard my front door shut.

Feeling him sit next to me on the couch, I asked, "How about now?"

"Okay."

I opened my eyes and couldn't believe what I was seeing.

As I looked at my surprise, I made sure, "It's for me?"

With a wide smile, he shared, "She sure is. Her name is Honey."

"I can't believe you got me a puppy."

Petting the golden retriever puppy on his lap, Jackson explained, "She's ours. I thought you could hang onto her here until she has a nice big yard to play in."

Thinking to myself,
'my back yard is nice', I was distracted when the puppy looked at me and started wagging her tail.

"Can I pet her?" I asked, slowly reaching my hand out.

Jackson smiled and nodded as I gently ran my hand over her head.

It was the sweetest most thoughtful surprise of my life. Jackson would never know it but him giving me a puppy meant so much more than it was intended.

Sliding her over to me, Jackson said, "I have her stuff in the car. I'm going to bring it in then I have to get going."

I nodded before folding my legs in front of myself and holding he
r on my lap. Honey snuggled into my arms as I fell in love with her.

~

Hesitant about leaving Honey at home by herself, I finally tore myself away from her and headed to pick up my box. Pulling into JPT Financial's parking lot, I was sure at six thirty Jackson would be the only one there. Hopping out of my car, I glanced at the extra vehicle and wondered who it belonged to.

Making my way to Jackson's office, I quickly realized who the car belonged to.
A brown haired guy that couldn't have been more than twenty sat at my old desk, sorting through files. I couldn't help cracking a smile at the idea of Jackson having a male secretary. Thinking to myself 'thank you temp agency' I was happy they hadn't sent a girl.

Jackson's new secretary didn't seem to notice me until I was standing right in front
the desk.

"Can I help you?" he greeted.

Giving a friendly smile, I replied, "Is Jackson in his office?"

"Yes ma'am but he is on a call right now. Can you wait a minute or would you like to come back tomorrow?"

Pulling a chair over, I sat down and said, "I'll wait."

"It's after business hours, was he expecting you?" he asked.

It occurred to me this
guy had no idea I was Jackson's wife or the previous secretary.

Crossing my legs, I leaned toward the desk saying, "I promise, he'll be happy to see me."

With a confused yet curious expression, he lowered his voice and asked, "Are you...seeing him?"

"Something like that," I replied with a secretive smile.

His face turned a little red as his phone buzzed.

I held my finger over my mouth and smiled as he nodded and hit the speaker button.

Jackson sounded stressed, which was unlike him, as we heard him say, "Pull up 432, 478 and 592 and send them to print in my office."

"Yes sir."

With an appreciative tone, Jackson added, "And Seth, thank you for staying late."

"Yes sir," Seth replied before pressing the speaker on the phone off and turning to his computer.

I waited a moment before asking, "So how do you like working here?"

Focusing his eyes on the task Jackson gave him, he replied, "Jackson's the coolest boss I've ever had. I hope he keeps me on. From what I hear the old secretary's not coming back."

Making a face at his attachment of the word old where I was concerned, I asked, "Is that right?"

Without a second thought he replied, "Supposedly, as soon as he married her, she started not showing up and then just quit."

Clearing my throat, I replied, "Well, that doesn't sound very professional."

"That's not the half of it," he said before pausing and asking, "Oh...did you know he was married?" with a worried expression on his face.

With a slight smirk, I shared, "Yes. I have known his wife for a long time."

"I...I'm sorry..." he stuttered.

I assured, "Personally, I haven't always been her biggest fan," before asking, "So what else have you heard?"

Appearing hesitant at first all it took was an interested smile for him to share, "One of the accountants here said his wife is...like...crazy. It went to her head that she was married to the boss or something like that. She started throwing fits when she couldn't get her way and stuff."

Resting my elbow on the end of the desk, I set my chin on my palm and said, "I see you are getting along well with Marabeth."

His face dropped as he asked, "How do you know it was her that said it."

With a slight laugh, I replied, "I know her too."

Suddenly Seth was interested as he questioned, "Is it true?"

Shrugging, I said, "You know, the thing about gossip is, it's usually a partial truth. First of all, Marabeth has had a thing for Jackson since she started here and he never would give her the time of day. I think there are some hurt feeling there. Second, his wife is a tad on the crazy side and she did act out a bit here but it had nothing to do with being married to the boss."

Seth leaned over his desk, asking, "What did it have to do with?"

Before I could reply, Seth jumped a little as Jackson's office door opened.

Smiling wide at Jackson, I watched him look at Seth's startled expression before giving me a curious look.

"Hey," I chirped, standing up and walking towards him.

Placing his arm around my waist he looked at Seth and said, "I see Ren's been keeping you entertained."

"Actually, it was the other way around," I shared with a smile.

"Oh, yea?" Jackson laughed.

Nodding, I replied, "Yep, apparently you're the best boss he's ever had."

Jackson laughed at Seth, saying, "Sorry I can't return the complement. Ren would never let me hear the end of it."

I could see the wheels turning in Seth's head as the only sound that came out of his mouth was, "Uuuuhhhh..."

Taking a deep breath, I looked up at Jacks and urged, "I think Seth has better things to do on a Friday night, than sit here and go through files."

Jackson smiled wide at me before agreeing, "You can call it a day, see you Monday."

"Yes sir," he replied with a worried expression on his face.

Unwrapping his arm from around me
Jacks turned and stepped back into his office.

"It was nice to meet you Seth," I said before giving him a comforting smile.

Seth nodded giving me a
n apprehensive smile in return.

Stepping into Jackson's office, I
walked to the edge of his desk.

Picking the key up off of the corner, I said, "I'm going to lock the door, I'll be right back."

Turning, I stepped out of his office and headed towards the front door. Seth was walking so slow, I was able to catch up with him without even trying.

"I'm sorry I didn't let you know who I was," I apologized.

Stopping at the door, he replied, "It's my fault."

Nodding, I shared, "You seem nice and I hope Jackson does keep you on. Just don't believe everything you hear and for goodness sake don't repeat gossip. Especially to strangers."

"Yes ma'am," he agreed before asking, "How come you're not mad?"

With a light sigh, I replied, "There are only a hand full of people, that I truly care about what they think of me and the only one here is the man in the office back there."

I had no idea why, but Seth smiled wide, saying, "It was nice to meet you too."

Returning his smile, I let him out and locked the door behind him.

After collecting my box from Jackson's office, I waited for him to finish up before walking out with him. I got a hug, a soft kiss and an exclusive invitation to the soft opening of the bar Friday. Smiling the entire way home, I felt good.