Busted (Promise Harbor Wedding)(40)

She drew in a breath, her chest catching in a shudder she barely clamped down on. Her eyes burned, but she squeezed them tight, refusing to give in to a single tear. Not now. Just a shoulder to lean on for a minute. That’s all she needed.

“Hayls?” He tipped her face up.

Tears firmly in check, she forced her eyes open, meeting his gaze. He traced the curve of her cheekbone, his touch gentle, soothing and unlacing every carefully tied knot holding her together inside.

She was good at moving forward, focusing only on the moment and not letting fear of losing another loved one break her. So why did something as simple as Jackson’s touch compromise all that? Weaken her so completely?

He ran his thumb down to her chin, sweeping across her bottom lip. Her stomach bunched, reacting to the desire that flared in his eyes. When he didn’t immediately kiss her, she pushed up on her toes, opening her mouth over his.

Sweet heat flooded her system, and she gripped the back of his neck, grazing the ends of his hair and getting as close to him as possible.

Kissing him should have been a bad idea, but she couldn’t seem to make herself care. Thoughts of flavors of the week and puck bunnies slipped away under the delicious weight of his lips slanting across hers. Who could think about anything rational with six-feet-plus of warm, hard male nudging her back against a wall and pressing into her in all the right places? Places that were suddenly burning up with a hunger she knew full well he could satisfy.

Like he had since his arrival, Jackson surprised her. He didn’t deepen the kiss beyond a lazy caress of his tongue along hers, rubbing soft and slow. God, so slowly. It was almost maddening wanting so much more—and knowing she shouldn’t—and loving the tenderness that stole her breath.

“Jackson,” she whispered against his lips.

He didn’t let her get out any more than that, catching her mouth in a warm, drugging kiss that went on and on.

The firm grip on her waist heated her right through her clothes, and she couldn’t help but roll her hips, melting down inside. Melting all over the damn place for him.

“Hayley?” The impossibly cheery voice preceded a knock on the front door. A door that opened a second later. Bernice poked her head in just as Jackson backed away from her. “I have the paperwork you need to sign about listing the house.”

Crap. She’d forgotten she made the appointment with Bernice a couple weeks ago, assuming most of the renovations would be completed by then. Although she’d planned for Matt to deal with the actual paperwork.

She glanced down to where Jackson held on to her hand. Squaring her shoulders, she faced the door and let go of Jackson. No more leaning on him. “Sorry, Bernice. Matt’s actually looking after that part.”

The former high school gossip queen glanced at her watch. “My schedule is too full today to drop by Stone’s.”

Hayley highly doubted it, but she wasn’t about to argue. The house wasn’t ready to be listed yet anyway, but Matt could certainly sign off on it and Bernice could add it to her active listings when Hayley gave her the go-ahead.

“I might be able to drop in tomorrow to see him,” Bernice added. “Actually, it would best if he could swing by my office.”

“I’ll let him know.”

Bernice glanced around, noticing the new wall paint. Moving quicker than Hayley would have given her credit for, Bernice dodged around her and headed deeper into the house. “You’ve been busy,” she said to Jackson. “Didn’t think Hayley would be able to handle all the work on her own.”

Of course not, Hayley thought, sighing inwardly. Maybe Bernice’s interruption was for the best.

Jackson ignored the real estate agent in favor of sending Hayley a molten look that promised he hadn’t forgotten where they’d left off. Telling herself it wouldn’t happen did nothing to stem the rush of fire that sparked every single nerve ending.

“I love the crown molding,” Bernice crowed from down the hall, and Jackson perked up.

“Think it will add to resale value?” He trailed after Bernice.

“Absolutely. Even more so when buyers hear who did the work.”

He shifted uncomfortably. “That doesn’t need to be common knowledge, does it?”

“Are you kidding? Half the town already knows and buyers will love it.”

Jackson shot Hayley a helpless look, but suggesting they keep his involvement in the renovations on the down low was moot the second Bernice spun around like she’d just discovered a real estate gem.

“You know, if your renovations drum up as much interest in this property as I think they will, imagine what kind of draw you’d be for the benefit Friday night. The bachelor auction,” Bernice clarified.

“Aren’t bachelor auctions…outdated and sexist?” He didn’t sound even a little bit convincing.

Hayley snorted. “Tell that to the Miss Universe pageant.”

Bernice opened her mouth to respond, but Jackson beat her to it. “I’m not the bachelor auction type.”

“It’s for a good cause. All the proceeds are going toward the fund for Kyle’s lung transplant.”

“I’m not really on the market,” he pressed, nodding to indicate Hayley.

Bernice waved that detail away. “It’s just a date. I’m sure Hayley could spare you for one evening, knowing the kind of money you could raise for Kyle.”

“I’m happy to make a donation—”

“A donation would be greatly appreciated, and we’d make even more money with women bidding on you as well.” Bernice beamed, probably dying to get on the phone and tell the whole town how she’d convinced Jackson to join the auction.

Jackson shot Hayley another helpless look, this one far more pathetic than the last. And just a little bit adorable. She shrugged, trying not to smile at how Bernice had just roped him into the event.

“I’ll do it if Hayley agrees to bid on me,” Jackson insisted.

Hayley shook her head. “I wasn’t planning on bidding,” she said. She’d already volunteered to help Matt run the bar that evening. Plus she’d done the preliminary legwork for the benefit by lining up sponsors for the silent auction and other raffle prizes, more than happy to leave the more complicated details to Bernice and Kyle’s mom.

Bernice frowned again, not looking impressed with Jackson’s compromise, and she had no qualms about giving Hayley an accusing look, as if his stubbornness were entirely her fault. “It’s for Kyle.”

“Fine. I’ll bid.” She could bid and then sit back and serve drinks to the rest of the women content to break their bank accounts for a date with the infamous Jackson Knight.

“Great. My next stop was printing up the programs for the benefit, so it’s good that I have time to add your name to the bachelor list.” Bernice nodded to the renovations. “You are really good with your hands, Jackson. Try to remember to have Matt stop by and see me, Hayley.” She walked out of the house.

Yeah, she’d get right on that. Hayley rolled her eyes.

Once they were alone Jackson gave her a smug look.

She turned away, tossing back over her shoulder, “I agreed to bid. Not to win you.” She didn’t glance back to see what he thought of that.





Hayley didn’t want to win him.

That one thought continued to pester Jackson into the next day and late evening as he worked out front at Stone’s. His back was killing him and his hands were tired and sore from a couple blisters, but staring at the completed wheelchair ramp more than made up for it.

It was a small addition, but necessary in Jackson’s mind. Kyle should be able to get himself inside the pub without anyone carrying him up the stairs. He’d done a little research to make sure he knew what he was doing and had a local contractor he’d played hockey with look it over earlier that afternoon.

The guy had been impressed with the amount of work Jackson had gotten done in the timeframe he had to work with. Jackson had been a little bit impressed with himself too.

He couldn’t wait to show Hayley. Hayley who wasn’t going to try and win him.

No matter how much he enjoyed working with his hands, or the unexpected satisfaction that came from building something, his thoughts continued to circle back to Hayley.

He’d even heard from his agent, and now that the Sentinels general manager was back from holidays, his meeting was on the books for early next week. Things were finally coming together, but instead of researching the Sentinels franchise and reviewing team footage to get his head back in the game, he’d spent all day working on a ramp and thinking about a woman who was counting down until he left town.

She wasn’t avoiding him at least, but she’d been careful not to be alone with him whenever their paths had crossed since she’d insisted on bidding only.

Mildly annoyed with himself, he tossed the tools lying on the stairs into the bin at his feet. Some of the tools he’d borrowed, but the rest he’d bought, though he wasn’t sure what he’d do with them when he was finished with the renovations at Coach’s place. Living downtown, close to the arena, would be a must if he got the coaching job, and his schedule wouldn’t leave much time to work on a fixer-upper of his own, giving him with no reason to hold on to the tools.