“You done being an ass?” she countered.
I shrugged and could no longer hold back my smile. “That depends on whether you’re done throwing a tantrum.”
“A tantrum?” she asked. “I do believe you’re the one throwing a tantrum. Showing up here and dragging me out. I was just fine with Noah.”
The smile fell from my lips, and I leaned over the console, bringing my face closer to hers. “Noah will not be the man offering you support. Not today, not ever. You need a shoulder to lean on—” I leaned in just a little closer, and she didn’t pull away. “—that shoulder will be mine.”
We spent a few seconds glaring at each other before I settled back against the seat, started the Jeep, and backed down Noah’s drive. I glanced back just in time to see him walking down his driveway toward his cruiser, shaking his head and smiling brightly.
Asshole knew this shit would fire me up, I realized then. He brought Bailey here to pull me out of my rut, and I walked right in to his trap without hesitation.
Chapter Five
Bailey
I wanted to smack him one second and kiss him the next. Jackson was infuriating. He was commanding and controlling, and goddamn it, he was sexy on top of all those things that drove me bat-shit crazy.
I refused to look over at him and instead concentrated on the scenery as he drove back down the gravel drive before turning up his own. I now found myself on the opposite side of the lake that separated Noah and Jackson’s houses.
Noah lived simple and rugged. Jackson, on the other hand, was more flashy and elaborate. I had never seen his A-frame cabin up close until now, and I was surprised by how beautiful it was. It was surrounded by a huge deck, and the north side that faced the lake was lined with large floor-to-ceiling windows. The landscaping was immaculate, and trimmed and well-manicured bushes lined the drive. He even had colorful flowers planted near the front of his house and surrounding his deck, which stretched out over the water on his side of the lake and included a gazebo. It was very impressive.
I’d been so busy staring in awe, I just now noticed my Jeep had come to a stop.
“Why so quiet, Fireball? You like what you see?”
I jumped at the sound of his voice and turned in the seat until our eyes met. I couldn’t help but smile at the sight of him. His grin was a thing of beauty, and that dimple in his left cheek melted away any irritation I had left. That smile worked every time, and I was sure he was aware of its effect.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
His smile grew wider, and he nodded toward the front of the cabin. “Let’s go inside, get us a drink, and then we can sit down and you can fill me in on what has got you so upset.”
I shook my head and started to tell him it was nothing, but he stopped me immediately with a determined look. “Don’t even think about trying that whole ‘it’s nothing’ game. Ain’t gonna work, darlin’. I know you got some shit rolling around in that head of yours, and you need to get it out.”
He helped me out of the Jeep and placed his hand in the small of my back as he led me toward his front door. When we were inside, he pulled two water bottles from his fridge and nodded toward the couch. “Take a seat, Bailey. Whether you want to talk or not, we’re staying here until you choose to share.”
“Don’t you have a horse to train or a fence to fix?” I asked as I sat down. Sadness immediately filled his eyes, and I wanted to kick myself for bringing up the ranch. “Sorry,” I offered as he sat next to me. I laid my hand on his thigh. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“It’s okay.” He shrugged. “It’ll get easier. It just takes time, I guess.”
“You have something I never had,” I said, knowing I had just opened the door for a conversation I wasn’t sure I truly wanted to start. But it would be worth it to distract him from thinking about his loss.
“Oh yeah? What’s that?”
When he took the bait, I had no choice but to go forward. “You have an amazing support system. A group of people who love you and hate that you feel so alone in this.” I gently squeezed his thigh to emphasize just how true my statement was.
His gaze was focused on my hand as his jaw ticked. When he didn’t speak, I felt horrible for changing the subject to make it about his feelings and turmoil. Finally, he swallowed hard and looked up at me. His expression was so intense, I could feel the heat rising in my neck, and my ears felt like they were on fire.
“Does that team of supporters include you too, Bailey?”
“Definitely,” I whispered without hesitation.
A grin pulled gently at the corners of his lips as he nodded and looked out the large windows at the open land of the ranch that spread out for miles just beyond the porch. The ranch was his father’s pride and joy, and Jackson obviously loved it just as much. He was silent for only a moment before turning back to face me, his expression softer. “What has you so upset?”