Salvaging Love, page 14
The doorbell rang again, and they heard Duggan yell, “Jackass, I know you’re home.”
Jackson stood and pulled Ellie up with him. He propelled her in front of him to the front door. “I’ll make it up to you,” he whispered into her ear.
“Okay,” she said, leaning against him.
* * * *
Wow! Jackson Kincaid and Connor Duggan playing ball in a huge yard with three dogs. One of the most beautiful things she’d ever seen. Even more gorgeous with the three dark-haired girls, Connor’s nieces, running and laughing with them. Chewie and his sister, Connor’s puppy, were still trying to get Buffy to play catch with them, and they were so fumbling awkward about it, jumping over her and tripping. Nipping at each other. In an instant they’d forget what they were doing and run off to chase one of the girls, ending up in a pile of fur, making the girls giggle and giggle.
Ellie wasn’t sure which was cuter, the girls’ laughter or the tiny puppy barks.
She sat on the back porch and watched them. Jackson had grilled a huge salmon and garlic bread and Connor had brought a salad, which his sister, Katie, had made for him because he’d spent all day, all Sunday at multiple job sites working and he’d almost forgotten about dinner.
Hmm. She smiled to herself. As much as she liked seeing Jackson with his good friend, relaxed and happy, she wished Connor had forgotten. Daydreaming about what he’d been doing to her on the couch earlier had her flustered and overheated. He’d turned her into a lust maniac. And he made her feel so amazing that she didn’t even have the heart to be embarrassed by how she felt, by how much she wanted him. She couldn’t stop smiling about it either.
“I cannot believe how amazing that cake was, Ellie,” Katie said when she stepped onto the deck. “What was the flavor with the lemon?”
“Passion fruit,” Ellie said, smiling at Connor’s sister whom she’d just met tonight, but who was so kind and casual that Ellie had liked her immediately.
“Thank you for letting us crash dinner. When Connor told me about you, I let my curiosity get the better of me. I can see why you’re the first woman Jackson Kincaid ever brought to his home.”
Her smile was infectious and Ellie didn’t mind Katie admitting to critiquing Ellie. She was glad Jackson had good people in his life.
“I do make a mean cake,” Ellie joked.
“Honey, that’s the best cake I’ve ever tasted in my life, but you…” She waved her hand over Ellie. “That man deserves special.” She grasped Ellie’s hand. “And you have ‘special’ written all over you. Inside and out. A lady can tell.”
“Katie,” Ellie said quietly as Katie blinked back her tears.
“He’s got such a good heart, the best. Even if it’s been battered to the point one could wonder if it had any spark left. He needs someone to take care of that heart, you know?”
“I do,” Ellie said. “And I promise I will.”
“Okay,” Katie said. “Now tell me where you get your hair done, because, girl, those curls and layers are gorgeous. Your cut is fabulous.”
Ellie laughed at Katie’s enthusiasm. “Do you know Spa La La, down the street from my clinic on Corvallis?”
“No, but I can’t wait to check it out now. I remember when we were kids, Connor and I and John, my late husband, we used to play in that park all the time. That neighborhood has gotten so run-down over the years, I’d nearly forgotten about it.” Katie glanced back at the yard. “Being a single mom to three girls could have something to do with my brain fog too.” She laughed, but Ellie noticed the change in her voice and the shadow that passed over her face. “My husband died of cancer almost five years ago.”
“I’m sorry, Katie,” Ellie said. “How do you recover from that?”
“At the time I didn’t think I would. Kids force you to be present, whether you want to or not. I’m not sure which was harder, that one day he disappeared from our lives, or the entire year before when he suffered horribly through the disease, the surgeries, the treatments. CeCe was a baby. It shattered all of us. John and Connor were friends since birth. My grief has changed, but I wonder if Connor won’t ever move on from it. His girlfriend at the time broke up with him and he’s never been serious about anyone again, like he’s afraid to love for fear of them leaving or dying.” She smiled at Ellie. “Maybe now that Jackson’s found you, Connor will let his own demons rest.”
Ellie listened and thought about past wounds. “It’s amazing that these big, strong, confident men have such tender hearts, isn’t it?”
Katie grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Yes.”
“What about you, Katie? Do you want to find love again?”
Well, at least she’d said something to make Katie really laugh this time. She laughed so hard tears spilled down her cheeks. “Ellie, oh, I already love you to pieces. To answer your question, I do, but the kind of man who would want me has to also want those three beauties out there, which includes one brand-new diva teenager and two more divas-in-training and that, my friend, might be more difficult than asking the sky to change color.”
“I don’t know.” Ellie smiled and took in the laughter and silliness in the yard, and her heart warmed. “I think whoever found you all would be one lucky man. To have all that instant joy and love.”
Katie smiled. “Beautiful and wise. No wonder Jackson’s all googly-eyed.” Katie bugged her own eyes out in a silly face and she and Ellie collapsed into giggles.
“You know, Katie, my friend Ruby, who owns Spa La La, does do good hair, but you can also get manicures and pedicures. You should come with me one night and we could get all spruced up. Better yet, bring your girls and we’ll have a princess party. My friend Nat brings her two girls. I bring baked goods. And we have a blast.”
“You had me at baked goods, Ellie. That sounds wonderful. Can I say yes to both? A night without my little ones and a princess party with them?”
“Absolutely,” Ellie said.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Jackson: Morning, beautiful.
Every morning, this man. Ellie sighed, put her phone down and wondered how fast a person could cause their own wrinkles from smiling too big. If so, those would be the best wrinkles ever.
“Bring ’em on,” she said, and nuzzled the nose of one of the cats who were sprawled out on her chest purring. She was flat on her back in the kennel room of her clinic with two cats, Chewie and two of his litter mates using her as their jungle gym.
When she had to be in the clinic extra early or if Jackson left for work first and she was still asleep, he always texted or called her with a ‘good morning.’ Sometimes she called him first, but usually he beat her to it. And she loved getting his messages or his gruff voice every day. It almost made up for those days they didn’t wake up together.
Ellie: Did you know, the owner’s investment in renovated buildings, such as the ones here on Corvallis Street, improves the area and boosts the real estate value?
Jackson: Babe.
She couldn’t help it, she giggled. She loved teasing him and picturing his smile while she did.
Jackson: You do remember I already conceded and we are in fact renovating your beloved neighborhood.
Ellie: I do, honey. And do you know how happy that makes me?
Jackson: Yep. Can I make you dinner tonight?
Ellie: I wish. Matt and Rosie have finals, so this week is crazy again.
Jackson: Now that I convinced someone as amazing as you to fall for me, I need to figure out how to get us to spend more time together. We both work too damn much.
Ellie: Mmm-hmm. I agree.
Ellie had never thought of it like that before, that she worked too much, but she’d never had an amazing person in her life she wanted to spend all her time with either.
Jackson: Gotta go. Lock your door! I’ll call you later.
Ellie: Okay, honey. Have a good day.
She could sense his growly “Lock your door” through the text, but it didn’t bother her anymore. If he liked knowing she was safe, she’d give that to him. He filled her life with goodness every day. “Your daddy is pretty good to us, Chewie.” She hugged the pup who struggled to get out of her arms.
Morning, beautiful. She never got tired of hearing him say those words to her, not because he made her beautiful, but because the way he treated her made her feel beloved. Precious to Jackson Kincaid. It was more than his words. He held her hand and caressed hers when they walked the dogs. He tucked her in close at night, left little things around his house for her to find, like peanut butter and jelly—which had made her laugh out loud when she discovered them in the cupboard with bows tied around them—the most amazing rose-scented bath salts by the tub, a pink rhinestone collar for Buffy.
And he couldn’t seem to keep his hands off her when they were at home. She was perfectly okay with that because she felt the same.
Ellie held her water bottle to her neck to cool herself off. For years, sex hadn’t even been on her radar. She thought something was wrong with her, but Jackson Kincaid made her hot with one glance. Oh, the way his eyes had darkened into a swirling storm when he’d stalked her to bed last night, let loose that storm on her body and devoured her, all the while murmuring sweet words to her. Kissing her freckles. Giving her orgasm after orgasm before he let himself come.
She flopped her head down on her desk. She needed more days off so she could have more naked time with Jackson Kincaid. Too bad happiness couldn’t get all her charts done, or the two surgeries she had today.
* * * *
“Ellie.”
“Hi, honey. Everything okay?” She’d just spoken to him two hours ago when he got home.
“I’m out front.”
She hung up her phone and smiled huge.
“Hi,” she breathed, unlocking the door to let him in.
“Brought you dinner,” he said, and leaned in to kiss her. “Took a chance with Thai. Hope that’s okay? Brought treats for the dogs too. I can take Buffy and Chewie home with me after.”
“You brought treats for the dogs?” She fumbled with the lock on the door, her heart speeding up. This man kept surprising her with his kind gestures. And his hotness, whew! He had on his sexy, worn jeans and an old, faded gray concert T-shirt. As magnificent as he looked in a suit all dressed up for work, when he dressed casually, she wanted to eat him up.
He set the takeout bags on the reception counter, wrapped his hands around her waist and tugged her tight to him. “Like taking care of you, babe.” He brought one hand up to the back of her head and kissed her, and he did not go in slowly. Nope, he kissed her hard and deep. His warm body pressed up against hers and she couldn’t get close enough. She snuck her hands up under his shirt to feel his skin and he walked her backward. Before she knew it, he had her top off and tossed it on the floor. “Hmm,” he hummed into the skin on her neck. “Every time you wear scrubs, I wonder what you have on underneath. Had to find out. Like this red, babe. Like it better off, though.” He dragged her bra down, exposing her breasts. “Fucking gorgeous. Can’t get enough of this body, El.”
“Jackson.” She was lost in him. “Let me see you.” She pulled away when they made it to her office and tried to tug his shirt off. “I need your skin on mine.”
He peeled his shirt off and surrounded her again. “Is this where you sleep when you’re here overnight?” he asked, indicating the cot.
“Mmm-hmm,” she answered, but he didn’t take them in that direction. Instead he backed her up again into the wall. My goodness, he could back her up anytime with his hot body against hers. Devouring her lips, he shoved her scrub pants down then…he stopped, and studied her as if she were a finished sculpture revealed for him. His gaze followed his hand down her body, along her panties. Everything about him went still, aside from his heavy breathing and the flutter of his finger caressing along the lace edge, studying it. She couldn’t stand it—it was torture.
“Jackson,” she panted, when he reached the thin straps by her hips and teased. How could she stand it? His hands moved the silky lace down her legs, dragging his knuckles against her super-sensitive skin while he did it.
“Mmm, love how wet you get for me, beautiful girl.” He slowly, so slowly pushed two fingers inside and her entire body shivered. “Don’t think that cot’s strong enough to hold us.”
“What?” She floated on a cloud of lust and he was talking about a cot? Then she whimpered when he took his fingers away. “Wait, don’t…” All she wanted were his fingers back. But he unzipped his jeans and freed his cock and oh, she wanted that. “Please,” she begged.
“Put this on me, babe.” He handed her the condom.
Before she could even catch her breath, he wrapped his hands around her, lifted her and said, “Hold on.”
“Hold on?”
“Gonna fuck you against the wall, El,” he said and, holding her tight with one arm, reached around with his other and placed his cock right at her entrance. “Fucking dripping for me.” And in one push he thrust into her.
Grabbing him around his shoulders, she held on. She held on tight while his slow torture flipped into powerful need. She mirrored his fierce motion by squeezing him tight. She held on when he stilled, deep inside her, and kissed her like it was his last breath. She held on as he roamed over her skin, causing fireworks to burst all over her body. She held on until she couldn’t hold on anymore. They both let go and thundered through the storm together.
Ellie was lost, floating down from the Jackson Kincaid high. Half-naked, pressed up against and in her. Her head rested on his shoulder when he said, “Never had something so precious in my life before, El.”
She smiled into his neck and hugged tighter around him. “You slay me, Jackson Kincaid.” I’m in love with you, she wanted to say. Is it too soon? She wanted nothing to break this spell she was under.
He rested his lips on her neck, a featherlight caress, then set them apart. It was a good thing he steadied her boneless body still on a high from him. Then he helped her get dressed and set the food out in picnic style for them.
“This is the best dinner ever,” Ellie said ten minutes later. She put a bit of chicken in her mouth. They were sitting against the wall of her office, eating chicken curry and drunken noodles out of cardboard containers with chopsticks.
Jackson nudged her shoulder with his. “See? Easy.”
“What?” She smiled up at him.
“Eating takeout at eleven o’clock at night on the floor and you think it’s the best dinner ever. You, El, are easy.” He put his container down, leaned over and left a gentle but lingering kiss on her lips.
“Well,” she whispered, “you did just give me a pretty fabulous orgasm.”
“It’s all part of my evil plan, babe.” He winked at her.
“Your evil plan?” she teased.
“Making you happy, keeping you happy. Whatever I have to do to make sure you want to stay with me.”
She put her container down, climbed on his lap and straddled him. “I’m not going anywhere,” she said and kissed him. He wrapped his strong arms around her and he took the kiss deeper.
“Oh!” Ellie screamed and jumped back. Chewie had woken up and bounded in between them, barking and licking both of them. He tumbled off and raced headfirst into the knocked-over curry container.
“See, there are desperate forces trying to keep us apart,” Jackson said before he placed Ellie to the side, grabbed Chewie with one hand and tossed the takeout container in the garbage with the other. “Time to get you home, crazy mutt. Here, babe.” He reached out a hand for Ellie.
“Hate working overnights,” Ellie grumbled, wrapping Jackson up in a hug.
“Me too, babe. Want you home in our bed.”
Our bed. She loved the sound of that. “Mmm, bed.” She yawned, thinking of how tired she was. Deliriously happy, but tired.
“Hey.” He lifted her chin and gave her a smoldering look. One of her favorite views in the world these days. Boy, she couldn’t wait to climb back into their bed together. She missed bed. She missed his naked body next to hers, even though she’d had it wrapped around her last night. A body as beautiful as his—she missed it the minute he was gone.
“Need to get these mutts home. I have a surprise for you. I have to go to New York City in two weeks, and I want you to come with me. I want to spoil you. I chartered a private plane and we have reservations at the Four Seasons. Thought maybe your techs could handle your crazy schedule for a weekend.”
“Huh?” she said, startled out of her sleepy daze.
Jackson took her hand. “Buffy. Here, girl.” He whistled, but Buffy groaned on her bed and didn’t move a muscle. “I’ll leave her here with you,” he said.
New York? He’s joking, she thought and slipped her hand from his. Her pulse kicked up and an image flashed into her mind. Ten years ago, Ellie and her few belongings in the used car she’d paid cash for. She’d driven across the New York State line into Pennsylvania. She’d had to pull over at the first rest stop because tears had flowed unbidden, threatening to choke her. For almost an hour, she’d cried. Cried and breathed. And those breaths had felt like the first safe, healthy ones filling her lungs after almost drowning. Painful, fresh, necessary, new. When she’d continued driving, she’d made it all the way across the country without another tear. And she’d sworn she’d never go back.
“Taking you on a mini-vacation,” he said, oblivious to her heart racing and the shock on her face.
“Also, forgot, Katie wants us over for dinner one night next week. She said she’ll give you a call. Lock up when I leave, all right? Get some sleep and sweet dreams, babe,” he said and kissed her one last time before he took the dogs and walked out.
Like a robot, Ellie locked the door, watched them drive away until they were out of sight, then crumpled over the garbage can as all her delicious dinner came right back up in a heap of panic.
