AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Why? Because no one else is capable of doing the job?”
“No, because it’s a family business, and it’s been drilled into me since birth that I’d work here.”
“Huh.” I don’t say more because I’m mulling this idea over, and I don’t like it.
His shoulders are tensing up again, and I don’t like that either, so I decide to change the subject. Grudgingly. Because I really do want to talk about this some more, but I can see it stresses him out.
I suppose I’ll have other opportunities because I see him every day, even if it’s just for the handoff of Fiona from me to him at the end of his workday. I tell myself I’ll find a way to make him talk some more.
Staring out the window, I can’t see much, and it’s so dark on the highway without lights that I can see him turn to look at me in the reflection on the glass.
I don’t bite. He can look at me all he wants, but I’m still thinking. Specifically, I’m marveling at how different we are, and yet we’re in the same place—stuck in a situation that isn’t ideal because of our loyalty to family. Not an unusual story by any stretch, but still…it connects us.
He turns back toward the road—he has to because…driving. “What’s that mean?” he asks, finally.
I shrug.
“Come on, Ruby, don’t hold out on me. Radical honesty, remember?”
Rolling my eyes, I look at him. His profile might even be more beautiful than the head-on view of him. It’s more subtle, jawbone cutting a clean line from his strong chin, muscle ticking in his cheek, lips set in a firm line that I know would give way if I kissed him.
I shake that thought away, not even sure where it came from. I haven’t considered kissing a man in ages. Not the right time in my life. I need to stay focused.
Besides, he asked me a question.
“I was just thinking. Wondering what it might be like for you if you gave up the spreadsheets.”
He laughs. It’s so unexpected that I jump in my seat. He turns down another road, loops around, and pulls into the back parking lot of what looks like a roadside stand. The kind of place that sells beef jerky and dried fruit. Nothing about the ratty shingled roof over what’s practically a lean-to says excellent food. But he lives up here, so I trust him to find us a good place for a burger.
That, or he plans on murdering me by the dumpsters lining the dirt lot where we’ve parked.
“Oh, Ruby. I’m a gentleman in the streets, a freak in the spreadsheets.”
I bark out a laugh at his corny humor. “You are full of surprises, Jackson Corbett…but I’m being serious.”
Shutting off the engine, he turns toward me. “So am I. I don’t actually hate spreadsheets. It’s the mistakes of people who came before me that I can’t stand. And I have a big enough ego to think I can clean them up.”
“Well, that’s just plain dumb.” If he wants radical honesty, he’s getting it.
He nods. “I know, Ginger. I know.”
“Okay, I’m not gonna belabor this right now, not when you’re taking me to a scary-ass dark corner of the world from which I may never be heard from again.”
“Ginger, I’m not kidnapping you.” He spreads his hands out wide, and in one palm sits his cell phone. “Phone a friend, look at the GPS so you know where we are. I swear, I’m not trying to freak you out.”
“Dude. Relax, I was kidding. And my phone’s not really dead. I keep a spare charger, anyhow.” I extract a little backup battery pack from my purse and show him. “We’re good.”
Throwing the door open on his side, he’s out of the black Jeep before I can say anything more. A second later, he’s yanking open the door on my side and extending his hand to help me down the high step.
With his hand on the small of my back, he leads me around to the front of the stand. It has an open awning, and I half expect to see boxes of produce lined up, all freshly harvested from some unseen farm. But instead, there’s a hand-written menu describing different types of burgers. And a list of lemonade varieties. That’s it.
“Best burgers in the area,” Jackson confirms.
“I’m taking your word for it. Do they have anything besides burgers?”
He turns to me, concerned. “Jesus, I’m an asshole. I didn’t even ask if you like burgers.”
I’m so shocked at the tortured way his forehead creases that I almost can’t respond. He seems nervous or unsure about his food decision, such a contrast to the smug, confident grump I met all those mornings ago.
