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Cord climbed up the ladder and motioned for me to hand him the frame.
“Tell me where you want it.”
“I’ve already marked it on the wall…see the pencil smudge?”
He looked back at the wall and studied it. “Oh yeah, I see it.”
After hammering in the picture hook, he handed me the hammer. “Trade you,” he said with a chuckle that made me stupid knees weak.
The knock on the door startled me. Who in the world would be here right now?
“That must be Jonathon about the restaurant,” I said.
When I opened the door and saw Jackson standing there, I smiled.
“What in the world are you doing here?” I asked, motioning for him to come in.
Jackson and I had gone out a few times, but we’d both decided we made better friends than anything else.
“Hey, Cord, fancy meeting you here.” Jackson reached out and shook Cord’s hand.
“Cord was helping me hang up a picture,” I said.
Jackson looked above the fireplace. “You found one you liked for that space?”
If I hadn’t known any better, I would have sworn I heard Cord growl from behind me.
“I did. Me da sent it from Ireland the day he got there. It used to hang in me Nana’s house.”
Jackson nodded. He wore a funny grin as he glanced at Cord. I turned to find Cord glaring at Jackson. They were having a silent pissing fight, and I had no idea why. Did they not like each other for some reason?
“You come here often, Jackson?” Cord asked, breaking the awkward silence that had filled the living room.
“Not often enough,” he said, giving me a wink, then looking back to Cord.
What does the eejit mean by that?
Cord moved past me to the door. “Now that your boyfriend’s here, he can help you with any other projects you have.”
“Me boyfriend?” I asked in a shocked voice. “Jackson’s not me boyfriend. We’re just friends.”
Cord’s gaze bounced between us before he smirked and shook his head. “I’ll see you around, Maebh.”
Me mouth fell open. Did he think I was lying? Why would I lie with Jackson standing right there?
I rushed to the door and followed him into the hall. “Thank you for your help.”
He looked over his shoulder and smiled. God, how I loved that smile. “Anytime.”
And then he was gone. He practically ran down the steps. Me shoulders sagged, and I slowly moved back into the apartment. Jackson was looking at the painting as he said, “You know he likes you, right?”
I stopped in my tracks. “What?”
Jackson laughed. “Oh my gosh, Maebh, tell me you noticed how pissed off he was that I was here, and even more pissed off that I’ve been here a number of times?”
I stared at him like he was insane. “You’re away with the fairies, Jackson.”
He drew his brows together. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“It means you’re crazy. Cord Parker doesn’t like me. This is the most he’s ever spoken to me, and he made fun of me accent.”
Jackson laughed. “He for sure likes you then.”
I waved him off with a flick of me wrist.
“Have you hit your head at work, Jackson?”
He placed his hands on my arms, gently squeezing them. “I’ve known Cord Parker for a long time, and I’ve never once seen him react like that about a woman. He’s a player…or was a player. I’m not sure if he still his, but the way he was looking at you just now screamed the bastard was jealous that I was in your house. I do believe you have caught the eye of Cord Parker.”
I frowned. “I think you’re reading into something. Cord doesn’t like me that way.”
Jackson shrugged his shoulder. “If you say so.”
“I do,” I replied, me hands landing on me hips.
“Listen, I stopped by to see if you needed any help before opening day. I’ve got plenty of muscle I can bring down here if you’ve got some heavy lifting.”
I chuckled. “Nah, Jonathon’s crew is taking care of everything.”
“Okay, well, I need to get going. I have a date later.”
He wiggled his brows.
“Really? Is she a nice girl?” I asked.
“She is, but I hope she isn’t too nice.”
When he winked at me, I pushed him playfully on the chest. “You’re bad, Jackson. Go on and get out of here, you bum!”
I walked him to the door and he kissed my cheek. “I’ll talk to you closer to opening day. Check in again just in case you need anything.”
With a nod, I replied, “Thank you.”
When the door closed, I leaned against it and let his words replay in my head. I thought back to earlier today when it looked like Cord wanted to kiss me. Had I dreamed it? Maybe I wanted him to kiss me so badly that I made it up in me head that he felt the same way.
I headed to me bedroom and picked out a sexy dress. I got the courage to text Amelia and ask her if she and Wade wanted to go to dinner…and maybe to Cord’s Place after. It didn’t take her long to reply that they would love to go.
