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“Yeah, at first. Then I talked about how Mallory and Susannah both got married here at the house and then Austin and Mia, now Garrett and Emma.” Then he gave her a wide grin. “Then I said maybe you and Jackson would get married here.”
Her eyes went wide as she shushed him. “Are you insane? Why would you even say something like that?” Looking around frantically, she made sure no one could hear them. “Seriously, Cash. What the hell?”
“Oh, come on. I’ve got eyes, Savi. The two of you are crazy about each other and have been from the minute you met. Some call that love at first sight. Is it any wonder I’m thinking about the future? I’d like to think of all my boys finding their perfect someones and doing the whole happily ever after thing.” He shrugged. “It’s nice to know I didn’t totally screw them up.”
“You know you didn’t,” she murmured, twisting in her seat to fully face him. “They’re all great guys, and Emma and Mia are wonderful.”
“But…”
Sighing, she glanced around again. “But nothing.”
He gave her that stare—that stupidly annoying stare that told her he wasn’t going to let this go.
“Okay, fine. There isn’t going to be a wedding for Jackson and me.”
“Why the hell not?”
“Because there’s…there’s…”Crap.This really wasn’t something she wanted to share with him, but maybe if he knew the truth, he’d back off and not get his hopes up. “Look, Jackson’s got some issues with the fact that you were there for me and not for him and his brothers. Right now, no one’s focusing on it because they’re enjoying spending this time with you. But eventually, it’s going to be a bigger problem, Cash. And…you know me. I don’t need the hassle or the grief. I’ve got my own family issues; I don’t need to add his to it.”
They sat in awkward silence for several moments and Savannah allowed herself to be distracted by all the activity around her and figured maybe she had made her point and he was going to let this go.
“Savannah…”
But he didn’t.
“Maybe you misunderstood what he said or maybe you’re just projecting…”
“I understood him just fine,” she countered. “And I don’t blame him. Hell, if the roles were reversed, I’d be pretty damn pissed too! You ignored your own kids, Cash, and yet you stuck around to help raise me! You don’t think anyone might feel a little slighted by that?”
He had the good sense to look ashamed.
“I appreciate Jackson’s honesty and now we can just…move on amicably when the time comes.”
“You mean when I die.”
Ugh…
“Why do you have to say things like that?” she whined.
“Because it’s the truth,” he all but growled. “Not saying it won’t change it. And now I have to feel bad because I’ve ruined things between you and Jackson. Why would he even tell you that?”
“He was being truthful, Cash! Some people actually do that sort of thing.”
“Got any aloe? Because I think I just got burned,” he deadpanned.
“You know what I’m saying. You duck and weave and dance your way around answering questions you don’t want to answer or to avoid certain topics. Jackson’s not like that. He says exactly what he’s thinking and I happen to really like that about him.”
“For the record, I do not duck or weave or dance,” he told her. “I have no problem talking about any topic, any time.”
“Really?”
He nodded. “Really.”
“Okay, hotshot, have you talked to your sons about their inheritance?”
He laughed softly. “No, and nobody’s asked. So…no ducking or weaving or dancing required.”
“Nope. Just avoidance.”
