Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance (25 page)
Read Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance Online
Authors: Gina Watson
He wouldn’t. Plus he had big plans for his future with Clara. Plans that required money. “I’ll be okay.”
They were basically living together and Clara had tried to buy things for his apartment, but Jackson Reid wasn’t about to let that happen. He’d had to work overtime to provide for a few things she’d wanted to buy to make their apartment a home. Their home. He would provide for her. Wanted to provide for her. He knew she’d sensed his limited budget and lived much more frugally than she’d done in the past.
Sure things would have been easier if they’d waited until he’d graduated, but it was about survival. He couldn’t exist without her and she’d said the same of him.
Clay cocked his head. “Still, if you need some vacation time, or if you need money, let me know.”
He nodded. Clay had offered this before. Hell he’d tried to sneak money into Jackson’s possession, but there was no way in hell he’d accept it. He wanted the world to know that he loved Clara for who she was, not for her name and money.
“So big day huh. I can’t imagine how ecstatic I’d be on the day I marry uh… your soul mate.”
“
You
marry
my
soul mate?”
“Or mine.” He smiled.
“Have you met yours?” Clay’s brow hitched.
Yeah, he’d met her and he wouldn’t deny it. “I have secrets you’ve never heard.” He smiled and Clay’s loud rumbling laughter filled the small space. “Have you been exiled to the pool house for the entire day?”
“Supposedly me and Augie have been exiled but he’s breaking all the rules.”
“And you’re following them. You’ve always been a rule follower.”
Jackson’s eyes grew heavy. It was true, he was behind on sleep. He’d worked last night. Got home around six in the morning, and it’s not like he went to sleep then. He got in bed, but he and Clara couldn’t be next to each other without touching. Touching led to kissing. Kissing led to sex. Totally worth it. He’d rather make love to her than get a wink of sleep. If it killed him he thought it’d be a sweet way to go.
“Jackson. You’re so exhausted you’re not even aware when I call your name. Stay here, get a nap in. I’ll see that no one disturbs you.”
“Thanks Clay. And hey, I’m happy for you.”
“Thanks. And you know I couldn’t imagine this day without you here. You’re family, you’re one of my brothers.”
Jackson’s throat burned with emotion. “Thanks. That means everything.” His voice cracked before he could say all of the words.
He left Jackson in the pool house. The silence was maddening. His thoughts would always turn to his parents when the silence pervaded. If only his dad hadn’t taken up flying. He’d logged the required number of hours and his parents had embarked on his inaugural flight. That day the air had been electric with the promise of excitement. The plane had crashed to the ground. Jackson had only been sixteen.
*
Tending to two brides at once was proving to be an act of monumental patience. Keeping Augie and Clay from their brides was damn near impossible and Augie had ruined Mia’s updo twice. Clara was glad when the musical notes of Johann Sebastian Bach lilted in the air. She took her position in line, side by side, next to Jackson, she linked her arm in his. His free hand squeezed her upper arm and they were lost in one another’s eyes. The couple behind them coughed to signal them to begin the processional. Slowly they traversed down the isle. She whispered, “Jackson, I love you.” His hand squeezed tighter. She could feel his warmth even through his suit as it radiated into her body. As they reached the end of the walkway, his jaw twitched. His vice like grip was starting to squeeze off the flow of blood. Her arm was becoming numb.
“It should be us,” his whispered reply.
They broke apart and each went to their appointed side of the stage. She stood and pivoted on the indicated mark just as practiced. Even from across the stage Jackson’s eyes were intent on her. She agreed. It
should
be them, but they were both still in college and they really didn’t have any money. Her family supported her and she had her own apartment near campus, but she’d moved in with Jackson and he didn’t like it when she offered her father’s credit card to pay for things. He paid for everything and she felt a little guilty. His joyful demeanor when he provided for them kept her from feeling too bad about their finances.
If she married against her family’s blessing, and it would definitely be against their blessing, she had no doubt they’d cut off her funding anyway. They’d done it to Cash when, after four years of college, he hadn’t acquired enough credits to graduate. Plus Jackson had said that he wouldn’t accept, use, or even need money from them. He was adamant that he be the one to take care of them. She believed in him. He was disciplined and dedicated and unbelievably stubborn, but she’d watched him sacrifice himself for two years.
The other couples started to file in. It was a huge wedding party. Augie had two brothers and there was Clara and Clay and the rest of their five brothers and their wives. The colors were amethyst and gray, a combination chosen in part due to the color of the sisters eyes—both fiancés had been enamored by the color of his fiancées eyes. It was sweet and Clara knew the eyes were an expressive barometer into the soul. Jackson’s eyes were a haunted deep ocean blue. He clung to her like a buoy in a storm and she loved him, wanted to help him, but sometimes she felt as if she weren’t strong enough to keep them both afloat. She loved him more than anything but she wanted him to come to terms with whatever simmered beneath the surface.
The first chords for Canon in D rung out in the living room of the Roy estate and the sisters took their first steps. Since their father was deceased, they sauntered down the make do isle arm in arm, all smiles, a stark contrast to the men who awaited their arrival with intense eyes on their ladies. It was as if they were trying to ensure the women weren’t a mirage and if they blinked would be gone.
She had her own version of intense. Jackson was still glaring at her, unblinking. She smiled at him. Nothing. She winked using the eye not facing out to the spectators. Nothing. Favoring that same side she put her hand on her waist and tilted her head, cocking a brow at him and then crossing her eyes. The corner of his mouth lifted ever so slightly and his gaze broke. He blinked and then his banked smile broke free. It hardly ever happened, but when it did she was rewarded with a sincere, honest and beautiful smile that only he could give.
As the vows were exchanged his eyes sparkled a little bit more as hers leaked like faucets. A few times she saw him look down and wipe away a tear.
The rings went on and finally there were kisses all around and each couple was announced. Still, he only had eyes for her. It was as if a magnet drew them together. The instant they reconnected she heard and felt him release the breath he was holding. His fingers gripped her in the vice of his fate, as if she alone were responsible for his wellbeing. Truth told his intensity scared her sometimes, but it was also a part of him that she cherished, unconditionally. As they walked down the isle he whispered in her ear.
“Gotta get you home. Need to be inside you, wrapped up in you.”
“Cracker Jack.” She squeezed him a little tighter. “I need you too.” And she did. In a world where nothing slowed down and everything blurred, he’d always been focused on her. He’d always been around when she needed him. He was there for her when she’d had her accident. Her hero, her angel, her Jackson. He was the reason she was alive today.
SURGE
JUNE 2014
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Gina Watson is author of St. Martin Family Saga. She lives in Texas where she leads a double life: university instructor by day, romance writer by night. She loves to be contacted by readers to discuss all things erotic romance.
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THE SAGA CONTINUES IN:
St. Martin Family Saga
Emergency Responders Trilogy
Sizzle
Seize
Surge
LINKS TO MY OTHER BOOKS:
Where it all began:
St. Martin Family Saga
Whiskey Cove Series
Table of Contents
