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"Thank you. That's good to know, I guess," she said as he walked over and investigated the area. "I'll have to have someone come look at it."
"No, I can do that for you," Jackson said like it was no big deal.
"What? Seriously?" Her brows raised.
He shrugged his shoulders and stood. "Of course. I actually spent about a year training under a master carpenter. So I have some experience in the field. I'd be more than willing to take some time and help out."
April was shocked by the offer. She had no idea her ranch had was experienced in renovation. This could be more helpful than she ever imagined.
"Oh my gosh, that would be amazing. Thank you so much. I will definitely be taking you up on that offer!"
"No problem," he said, stepping into the room and looking around. "Wow, you've really done a great job with this place."
"Thanks," April said, feeling a sense of pride in her work. "It's been a lot of work, but it's worth it."
She looked into his dark eyes and felt her heart skip a beat. The tension between them was palpable. It was just like when they worked outside together and couldn't seem to look away from each other.
April's mind started to wander as she thought about the chemistry between them. She couldn't ignore the heat that was building in her body as she looked at Jackson.
She wanted to reach out and touch him, to feel the warmth of his skin and the strength of his embrace. But she held back. She was afraid that if she made a move, it would all be over before it even started.
Jackson seemed to sense her thoughts as he stepped closer and said, "Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you."
His voice was low and husky as he moved in closer. His eyes were locked on hers as he leaned in towards her. They stood only a foot apart.
April's heart was beating so loud, she was sure Jackson could hear it. She could feel the heat emanating from his body and the electricity that seemed to be sparking between them.
"Can I ask you something, and you promise not to find it weird?" April said, her cheeks growing hot out of fear of embarrassment.
"Sure," he replied, listening intently.
She wasn't sure how to word it, so she thought through her phrasing carefully. "Does it feel like maybe... there's something here?"
Jackson's gaze flickered from her eyes to her lips and back again. "Yeah," he exhaled. "I think there might be. I've been trying to ignore it, but I can't seem to stay away from you."
April's heart leapt at his words. It was kind and romantic. But there was so much to consider. Nigel, he was still in the back of her mind. Even though he'd hurt her, she cared about him. Her feelings for him didn't just go away because she'd found something new and beautiful to stare at.
She was glad to finally acknowledge her feelings for him, but it had to be kept at that. Not just for Nigel's sake, for her own.
Jackson was technically her employee. She couldn't be seen hiring people and then dating them. Word around town would spread so fast.
"I think that might cause some issues," she said, still smiling.
He nodded. "I thought about that, too. I get what you mean."
"That we can't... Whatever our feelings, we should probably push it away. You're an employee," she explained. "It would be really unprofessional and I don't want anyone getting the wrong idea."
It was disappointing, but April knew she was doing the right thing. Jackson hung his head low. "I understand."
April took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the moment. "I hope this won't make things awkward between us," she said, hoping to ease the tension.
"No, it won't. I'm glad we could talk about it. It's better to be honest than to pretend it's not there."
It was like a magnetic force, the pull between them undeniable, making their eyes lock together even when they tried to look away. The tension was deafeningly silent, as if it were a looming presence towering over them.
"I hope you're not upset," she said softly.
Jackson shook his head. "No, of course not. I understand where you're coming from. It's just... hard to ignore this kind of connection."
