Page 33 of Jaxson

One last lingering look, and he finally forced himself to leave.

****

Tillie sat back from her sewing machine, pressing “stop” on her camera, and then gripping her shoulders, as she tried to ease the tension out of the back of her neck. She’d been sitting over her sewing machine for a good three hours, and lunch was not too far away. Her coffee had gone cold, and she got to her feet, turning all her machines off for the time being. She didn’t like to leave her house unless everything was turned off.

She closed and locked the garage door, and made her way through to the kitchen, finishing as much of her coffee as she could stand. Cold coffee was not her favorite. Once she drank that, she let Belle out the backyard to have a quick bathroom break. She gathered her scoop and dealt with it before making her way back into the house to wash her hands.

She grabbed her bag, and there was no point in a jacket as it was still too hot. She put Belle on a lead, because no matter how much time she spent training Belle, whenever her little dog got a scent of something, there was absolutely no stopping her.

Tillie locked up her house, left, and made her way toward town. She didn’t live too far from town, and she said hello to each neighbor she passed. Several said hello back, and there were a couple of girls who walked past her, giggling behind their hands. She didn’t let it bother her. Girls giggled for no reason, apparently.

Tillie checked her cell phone to see where Jaxson wanted to meet up, and rather than wait for him to order, she headed into his favorite coffee shop and ordered what he would have liked.

“That’s her. That is the girl he’s currently with,” someone said, attempting to whisper and absolutely failing at it.

“Her. I’d give it a month. Let’s face it, he is not a man who can stay with one woman.”

“He is already staying with her.”

“Yeah, well, I heard he has a thing for Kate at the fabric shop, so I think he’s playing both of them. There is also a rumor he’s doing both at the same time.”

Tillie thanked the lady behind the counter and made her way outside. Belle jumped up, like she always did, and settled onto her lap.

Would there always be people speculating about her and Jaxson’s relationship? She knew he had a terrible reputation. It wasn’t like she was immune to how he was, or what he used to do.

“Tillie, hello, I am so glad to see you.”

She’d been so distracted by her own thoughts, she hadn’t even heard Susan Riggs, Jaxson’s mother, step up to her at her table. As usual, Belle was not impressed.

“Oh, my, isn’t she adorable?” Susan said, and stroked Belle as if her growling was nothing. It seemed to do the trick, as Belle settled right onto her lap.

“Hi, Mrs. Riggs,” she said.

Susan took the seat opposite her. “Please call me Susan. I wanted to invite you to dinner this Sunday. You and Jaxson.”

“Oh,” Tillie said.

The other woman waved her hand. “I’m aware of the town gossip, and I also know my son is absolutely smitten with you, and he’s terrified of you coming to meet us, in case you don’t like us.”

“Do you think Jaxson would like me to meet you?” she asked, not exactly sure how she should handle this.

“Absolutely. You totally should. I look forward to it. I’m cooking roast chicken with a variety of salads. There is no way I am cooking too much in this heat. I might also bake a lemon meringue pie. That sounds absolutely delicious. I’ve already got fresh ice cream in the freezer. My man does not like to eat that store-bought stuff. He says it’s mine or none.” Susan smiled. “Anyway, I better get going. These groceries are not going to deliver themselves. I thought I would invite you, and I’ll get Mark to handle Jaxson. He is going to be nervous, but my boy has a good heart.”

Susan got to her feet, then stopped. “And don’t mind what those women say. They may laugh and giggle and think this is not the real deal, but I know my son, and I know it is. Jaxson has a good heart, he just has a funny way of showing it.”

Tillie hadn’t even realized that Susan was behind her in the coffee shop line. Before she got a chance to apologize, Susan was already on her way. She took a sip of her hot coffee, and it helped soothe her.

Running her hand down Belle’s back, her dog settled in, and time ticked by. She had gotten their lunch covered with some plastic wrap as they were eating outside. She pulled out her cell phone to see if there was even a single text from Jaxson, and still, there was nothing. He should have already been here. She stayed there for a good hour, ordering a second coffee for herself. Finally, just when she was about to gather their food, Jaxson was running toward her.

“I’m so sorry,” Jaxson said, and quickly pulled out his chair. He still wore his tool belt around his waist, and he was wet, and she also smelled a horrible musty scent.

He moved in close and kissed her lips. “The job at Cruz’s ranch took way longer than I anticipated. Every time I reached for my cell phone to call you, something else fucking happened. Then, on the way here, I dropped my fucking phone on the foot pedal of the passenger side. I’ve just literally made it to Kate’s shop, and my truck has completely died on me.”

“Wow,” she said.

“Yeah, it has been a shit morning, and trust me, being on Cruz’s ranch is not fun. In fact, I would go so far as to say it was one of the shittiest days I’ve ever had. He’s fucking tight and thinks he knows best.”

Tillie chuckled.