Page 122 of Timid (Lark Cove 2)

“I got a call from Ryder’s math teacher this morning,” he told me. “He got a C on his test yesterday.”

“Yes!” I clapped. “I knew he could do it.”

“It’s all because of you.”

I shook my head. “No, he gets the credit. He’s been working his butt off.”

Ryder was such a bright kid. He just had some gaps in the fundamentals of his education. We’d been working together nonstop over the last two weeks. When he wasn’t at school, he was with me.

We’d do his English papers in my apartment or his social studies assignments in Jackson’s living room. We always seemed to find ourselves at my parents’ dining room table when there were math and science problems to work out. I was Ryder’s primary tutor, but Dad had dubbed himself the assistant.

“You get some credit too,” Jackson said. “There’s no way he would have passed that test if I had been helping him these last couple of weeks.”

I shrugged. “It’s been my pleasure.” Tutoring Ryder was the best winter job I could have asked for.

Jackson kissed me again, then stepped back. He winked at me before turning and striding out of my office.

“That’s it?” I asked his back. “You’re leaving already?”

He glanced over his shoulder as he strode through the kitchen while I hurried to follow. “I’ve got a busy day. I need to get your car cleaned and then talk to Hazel. Ryder’s having a last-minute sleepover because tonight, you’re mine.”

A shiver rolled over my shoulders as I followed him into the main room. “My parents asked us over for dinner, but I think I’d better decline.”

“You’ll be too busy fucking me to worry about dinner.”

“Wowzah,” I whispered, enjoying another shiver.

He wore a sexy grin as he walked down the center aisle in the quiet main room.

All of the tables were clean and the chairs were pushed in. In the summer, chairs were never in their rightful spot. There was always something on a table, either kids’ art projects left out to be finished or snacks for campers to grab and take along on their next adventure. And there was always someone coming or going from the main room.

I longed for the clutter and the noise.

Everything outdoors was covered with snow. The firepit and all the log benches were buried. The trees had a glittery sparkle. And beyond them, the lake was a flat sheet of ice. I hoped the highway wouldn’t be too icy on the way to Kalispell.

“Drive safe,” I told Jackson as he stopped at the double doors.

“I’ll call you when I get back and we can make plans.” He kissed me one last time, then went outside. I waved good-bye and turned to go back to the office but stopped when I saw Logan and Jackson meet along the path up to the parking lot.

I watched from inside the main room as the two shook hands and laughed about something.

Logan and Jackson were getting along so well these days that I’d actually consider them friends. I loved that Jackson was expanding his group. It wasn’t just Hazel, Thea and Charlie anymore. He had all of us. Me, Ryder, my parents and even Logan.

He was opening up. He was letting others love him. And I think for the first time in his life, he wasn’t worried that we’d all disappear.

If he didn’t want to get married one day, I’d be okay with that. Like I’d told Leighton on the phone last week, I didn’t need a white dress and fancy party. I just needed Jackson. If he didn’t come around to the idea of marriage, I’d let go of that dream.

I had the one I’d really been after anyway.

The babies thing? That was a different story. I wasn’t going to let go of that dream so easily. One day, I had complete faith that Jackson would get over his fears and realize any child would be lucky to have him as their dad.

Jackson and Logan said good-bye and I stepped away from the window to go back to the door. I opened it for Logan as he

stomped the snow off his boots.

“Morning,” I told him.

“Good morning.” He stepped inside and looked around the room.