Rori and Jackson: The Sons of Dusty Walker (7 page)

It had to have been difficult for his father to keep all
those secrets while maintaining separation of the families. Having seen the
scrapbooks Dusty had kept for each of his sons, and after reading the letter
his dad had written directly to him, Jackson knew the man had loved him.

“I’m a stubborn cuss.” Jackson picked a blade of grass and
rolled it between his finger and thumb. “But you knew that, and you loved me
anyway.” A fuzzy sensation behind his eyes caused him to sniff a couple times.
“I wish you could be here to see what’s happening. How all of us boys have
wedged ourselves into the company, and found ourselves women who you’d love to
have in the family.” He thought of Rori. She meant so much to Jackson, more
than everything else in his life, besides Mom, and even so, the women were darn
near tied for the feelings he had for them.

Lord, when had that happened? He needed to tell Rori all
this, and hope she had the means to forgive him and let herself be lured back
into the Walker fold. Lured with a promise of love and devotion, plus one
honker of an apology from him.

He knelt, placing his hand on the tombstone, the blade of
grass slipping from his grasp and settling on the stone. “And Dad, I really
like…love…my brothers. You raised us all up well, despite keeping us apart.”
Jackson felt a pang of sorrow at not having known those amazing men when they
were all boys. Despite his resentment at Dusty’s poor choices, he turned his
thoughts toward the future. “We’re gonna make you proud. We’ll keep D. Walker
Mineral Company in the family, and make sure it’s viable and strong for
generations to come.”

The burning sensation morphed into moisture in his eyes. “I
forgive you for the past, and I ask your forgiveness for the things I did that
hurt you. And Dad, I will be needing your help in the next days, the next
weeks, and the next years and decades. Keep me and the other Walker boys in
your sights as we try to walk in your footsteps.”

A tear ran down his cheek as a warm breeze blew from above
him. The blade of grass swirled into the air and landed on Jackson’s shoulder.

He folded his hands and prayed.

****

Rori stared at the couple sitting at the table in her
showroom as they debated the cost of the two computers they couldn’t choose
between. In their thirties, and with a babysitter watching their three children
this afternoon, they were in no hurry. They’d explained, in detail, how excited
they were to come to town and buy a computer, then go to Cubby’s for supper. It
was their idea of a big night out.

She looked out the front windows at the quiet town. Their
night out was better than any of hers had been in a week. She hadn’t seen
Jackson since the uncomfortable dinner with Sapphire five days ago. No calls,
no texts, just gossip around town, talking about how he’d been seen with his
mother all over the place. Rori hadn’t even spotted him driving that red pickup
truck he’d glommed onto when he’d come to town.

“It’s five hundred dollars more, Gary.” The woman pointed to
the comparison sheet Rori had printed out for them.

The husband pointed to the numbers above it. “Look how much
more we get for that price, though.”

Rori was tempted to lower the price on the more expensive
machine, just to get them out the door so she could close up shop and trudge
upstairs. She had an exciting night planned with the new video game that had
come in the mail today. “What a life.”

“What?” The wife looked at her.

“I wonder if you two should think about it a bit. You can
always call me to place an order.”

They looked at each other, and he shook his head. “Let’s
make a decision now, Gracie.”

Gracie and Rori let out stereo sighs.

The buzzer went off as the front door opened, and Rori stood
to see…

Jackson?

Her heart thumped a couple times. She opened her mouth, but
nothing came out.

In his hand, he held a long cardboard tube with caps on the
end. It looked like the same one Louisa had been carrying, the one holding the
supposedly secret documents that spelled the fate of the entire nation.

Jackson looked at the couple staring at him from behind the
monitor.

“Gary.” Gracie stood. “We’ve got a reservation for supper.
Let’s go.”

Her husband frowned, but stood, taking the paperwork with
him. “We’ll call you, Rori. Thanks.”

“Okay, thank you.” She barely looked at the couple as they
walked out, Gary mumbling something about never needing a reservation at
Cubby’s before.

Jackson locked the door and turned the
Closed
sign.

“I should have called you.” She felt guilty for being too
stubborn and too fearful to dial his number.

“I should have called
you
. I’m sorry I didn’t. This…”
He held up the tube. “It took longer than we’d thought.”

We? “What is it?” She pulled at her fingers then dropped her
hands.

“First, Rori, I’m sorry I doubted you. I knew we had a
connection between us, and I should have trusted that you wouldn’t just pick up
and move to KC without discussing it with me first. It’s just…” He shook his
head and looked at the ceiling. “I don’t know. It confused me, made me doubt
that what I felt for you, you could feel for me.”

“You feel something for me?” The stark emptiness that had
inhabited her chest for five long days began to fill with sweet emotion.

He set down the tube and strode toward her, his hair too
long and curly, his T-shirt too tight around those sexy muscles of his, and his
eyes…oh, the look in them nearly melted her kneecaps. “Yeah, I feel something
for you.” He stopped a foot in front of her. “I didn’t know what it was at
first. It scared me some, but I’ve come to terms with it.”

She bit her lips to keep from smiling. “You don’t sound too
happy about it.”

“Yeah, well.” He looked down and stuffed his hands in his
back pockets. He ran his gaze up her body to her eyes. “It’s frightening to
feel so much, to let someone have the power to hurt me.” With a shrug, he
tipped his head. “And even more terrifying to know she feels the same way about
me, and that I could just as easily do something to hurt her.”

He reached out and cupped her cheek, so softly she barely
felt his touch. “And I did hurt you, Rori. I didn’t mean to, but with my
indecision about Red Creek, I still did it, and for that I’m awfully sorry.”

She placed her hand over his, pressing his palm closer and
kissing it. She wouldn’t cry, this was a happy thing, and she could get through
this without blubbering. “We hurt each other, Jackson. But it won’t be the last
time.” Easing their hands down, she held his tight. “We just have to figure out
ways to talk about things that won’t cause bruised feelings.” Her whole body
jittered with love for this man. Could she say it? Was it too soon? She wanted
to make every bad feeling go away and start over fresh.

“Rori, here’s the thing.” His gaze locked with hers. “I love
you.” The words came out a little warbly.

Her heart cascaded a half dozen beats as her eyes filled
with those dang tears she’d been trying to keep at bay. “You do?”

“Yep. I sure do.” One corner of his mouth curved up a
little. “Since it’s the first time I’ve said that to anyone but family, I’m not
sure of the etiquette here, but I think you need to say it back to me.” His
words were joking, but his eyes held some apprehension.

“I think you’re right.” Stepping forward, she wrapped her
arms around his middle and waited until he put his tightly around her. “I love
you, Jackson. I never knew what love was until I met you.”

“Oh, yeah?” He grinned, blinking a few times. “Say it
again?”

“I love you.” After a few seconds of silence, she gave the
skin on his back a little pinch. “Etiquette here says it’s your turn.”

“Oh, right.” He kissed her, taking a long time just pressing
his lips to hers. “Rori, darlin’, God knows I love you.” He took her hand and
placed it on his chest, over his heart. “That’s how much.” His heart raced, and
his smile grew to show pure joy.

“I want to hold you, Jackson, for like forty-eight hours
straight.” She looked past him. “But I’m afraid we’d draw a crowd.”

He gestured back to the tube on the table. “Before the
forty-eight hour marathon lovin’, I want to show you those. I need to explain
exactly what I was doing in Kansas City, and what Louisa was doing here in
town.”

“I want to hear it all, Jackson. Every little detail, but
first you should know that I trust you completely. I was wrong to waylay her
and try to get information out of her.” She frowned. “I was just curious, but I
should have asked you, instead of nosing around that way. And I know that
whatever you and she were doing, it’s perfectly legitimate.”

“Hey, I’ve never had anyone trust me like that.” His brows
dropped. “You honor me with your faith in me.”

“I do have faith, Jackson. And I’m glad you didn’t take my
whole ‘let’s spend some time apart’ idea too seriously. I’m just new at this
whole relationship thing. I’m still finding my way around.”

“Yeah, we’ll be working on that together, the two of us.” He
ran his hands up and down her back. “So, what’ll it be? Forty-eight hours of
holding each other, or looking at what’s in the tube?”

She glanced at the tube, bit her lip for a second, then
pulled him closer, smiling. “I’ll admit I’m extremely curious, but I don’t want
to have to leave your arms.” She hoped she wouldn’t offend him. “Can we wait to
talk about it, just until after we spend a little portion of those hours
together?”

“You mean like, upstairs time together?” He lifted her hand
and kissed her palm.

“Yep.”

“Like, upstairs—and in your bed—time together?” He nibbled
on her thumb.

Her body heated and her belly tightened. “How can I make my
intentions perfectly clear? I want to have make-up sex, cowboy.” She giggled.

“Damn, Rori. There’s no way I can resist that!”

He took her hand and led the way as they raced up the
stairs. Once there, she pulled him into the bedroom. Luckily, she’d made the
bed and picked up the clothes that’d been scattered all over for the last few
days. Turning toward him, she tugged at his T-shirt. “Naked?”

He nodded and pulled the thing over his head. “Yep. We’re
thinking along the same lines, darlin’.” In less than a minute, they’d undressed
each other, and stood toe-to-toe, their hands caressing, the feel of his body
under her palms so perfect after the days she’d spent without him.

He lifted her in his arms and set her in the middle of the
bed, then stood back, looking into her eyes. “Rori.”

With that one word, with the purely real look in his eyes,
she knew he was as far gone in love as she was. She held her arms out to him,
watching as his irises turned dark, his chest rose and fell faster with each
breath. “Jackson.”

He lay next to her, sliding one hand under her shoulder and
kissing the tender flesh of her upper arm. “You’re so good for me, darlin’.”

“I absolutely love it when you call me that.” She reached to
the side, opening the drawer and pulling out a condom. “I’ve got something for
you.”

“I absolutely love it…” He winked. “When you keep us
protected.”

“Mm.” She opened the package. “Safe from unexpected
additions.”

Leaning down, he kissed her belly, then looked up at her.
“Someday?” He seemed to hold his breath.

Rori recalled the story of Dusty’s wife not wanting
children. With a smile, she ran her hand through his curly hair. “Someday
soon.”

He closed his eyes and kissed her there again, then trailed
nibbles and licks up her stomach, around and between each breast before he
kissed them, licking her nipples and blowing on them.

The cool sensation sent chills of pleasure through her body,
centering in her core. Using her teeth, she ripped open the condom package and
pushed at his shoulder. “Let me?”

He leaned back. “Any time.”

She ran her hand down his abs to the furring around his
shaft, then up along his hot length. At the tip, her thumb rubbed on the slick
pre-cum at his slit. “You’re ready?” She rolled on the condom.

“Yeah. You?” His hand cupped her mound, his fingers between
her legs where heat and pulses of need made her slick and swollen. “You’re
ready.” He slid his fingers through her pussy and pulled them back dripping
with her juices. Rubbing her natural lubrication on the tip of the condom, he
breathed deeply. “You smell like a little bit of heaven and a perfect naughty
woman all in one beautiful package.”

“Jackson. The poetry.” She could listen to him talk all day.
And all night.

He rolled on top of her, bracing himself up on his elbows,
his hard staff pressing right at the spot where her clit shivered for
attention. “This is better than words.” Slowly sliding himself up and down
along her mound, he hit right where she needed him.

“Yes. Oooo. That’s incredible.” Her head felt light, as if
it were floating, white light creeping in to replace every thought.

“You, Miss Rori, are incredible.” Using his knees, he spread
her legs, lifting his hips to look down between their bodies and watch their
coming together. Drawing back his hips, he positioned himself perfectly at her
opening. He lifted his head, his dark blue gaze connecting with hers. “So damn
hot and tight.” With a push, he entered her, just a few inches.

Low in her body, hot, white light circled her core, pulsing
with her quickening heartbeat as she stretched to let him in. “More. More,
Jackson.” Rori ran her short nails down his back. “Give me all of you.” She
stared into his eyes.

He gritted his teeth with a click and groaned. “Anything you
want, darlin’.” With a long, strong push, he entered her, his big cock taking
up her space, making her body adjust to his girth and his length. Closing his
eyes, he stayed still for a moment.