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Lexi opened her eyes and nodded, directing her attention to the front.
But try as she might, she couldn’t stop the flurry of sensation that simply being near him induced. Even breathing only seemed to draw attention to his delicious scent, a heady mix of moss and leather that made her stomach coil.
Somehow she sang the last song and managed to smile and make small talk with Barb and her friends as they waited to exit. But that was only on the surface. Deep down, it was like her very bones and marrow responded to Jackson’s briefest touch. His hand on the small of her back as he guided her forward. His arm brushing hers as they passed down the front steps. His breath dancing along her face as he bent to hear her voice. He was attentive and considerate, more considerate than any man she’d ever been out with. Not that she’d been out with many. Her studies and workload and Christian faith requirements had meant past boyfriends could be counted on three fingers. Not that she was thinking of Jackson as boyfriend material. But apparently, judging from some of the knowing glances being shot her way, perhaps she should.
“Ah, Jackson.” The realtor man—Bob?—drew near, a large lady dressed in flounces in an unflattering shade of pink by his side. He nodded to Lexi, but the woman’s eyes rounded as she saw how close Jackson stood to Lexi.
Lexi offered a small smile and subtly shifted, putting a good couple of inches between them. “Good morning.”
“Oh, it is.” The woman smiled as the two men started talking. “I’m Rhonda Ingalls.”
“Lexi Franklin.”
“Ah, that’s right. I hear you’re staying at the Reilly ranch.”
“Yes.”
The woman glanced at Jackson and back at Lexi, raising her eyebrows, her insinuation clear.
Lexi’s hackles rose. Was this the woman Ellie had mentioned? “Did you also hear that I’m caring for Mrs. Reilly?”
“No, I didn’t know. Is there something wrong with her? Oh my!”
Lexi gritted her teeth. Judging from the abrupt halt to the men’s conversation and the concerned look Jackson shot her, that had been the wrong thing to say. “Please excuse me.”
She mouthed a “sorry” at Jackson and moved away, weaving around bodies until she reached Ellie, who was talking with Jasper. “Are you ready to go?”
“Sure.” Ellie glanced at Jasper. “You’re happy to tag along, aren’t you?”
He nodded.
“I’ll head there with Jasper. You can go with Jackson.”
Her cheeks heated. “I guess.”
But add fuel to the fire of speculation by leaving church together? Maybe it’d be easier to dampen some flames. She found Jackson and told him she’d see him at the Bible College, and hitched a ride with her parents instead.
* * *
Jackson toyedwith his water glass, the conversation leaving him a little more unsettled. Or maybe that was because Lexi had chosen not to ride here with him. He could’ve sworn she felt the same sparks before, and from the way she looked at him, he’d thought she felt the same heat as he did. But then she’d travelled here with her parents, like she didn’t want to be with him. Which was probably understandable. Lexi was close with her family—anyone could see that—and he kinda wished he’d been privileged to grow up with the hugs and easy affection he saw between Lexi and her parents. He couldn’t blame her for wanting more of that. The ranch could never offer a simple life, although he’d caught a glimpse of that ease last night, watching the sun set, pooling gold across the hills and in Lexi’s hair. He could’ve stayed there with her forever.
He glanced at her now. Her gaze remained averted, her chin propped on one hand as her elbow rested on the table. Not something his mom would’ve approved of.
His smile faded as Lexi’s mom studied him, a small furrow in her brow, like she wasn’t sure what to make of him. That was fair, because he didn’t know what to make of her either. He couldn’t blame a mom for wanting the best for her daughter. And Jackson wasn’t that, not with more baggage than Spokane Airport.
Jasper was talking, and Jackson forced a smile in Mrs. Franklin’s direction, then turned to tune into the conversation. He’d never noticed before, but Jasper seemed to light up around his sister. Weird. He’d always considered Jasper more his friend than Ellie’s. Apparently Jackson’s focus on the ranch had stolen his attention from other things.
“And what about you, Ellie?” Mrs. Franklin asked. “I understand you’re interested in studying history?”
“I was, but ranch life takes a fair bit of time,” his sister said.
“She wants to travel and see museums,” Lexi said.
She did? He shot Ellie a look.
She shrugged. “Maybe one day.”
Regret streaked across Jackson’s chest. If only his work didn’t demand his sister’s hours too, then he’d gladly see her off to have adventures around the world. Judging from the way Jasper was looking at her, with a warmth that kinda shocked him, the sooner he could get her away from here to explore her options, the better.
