All Who Dream (Letting Go) Read Online Free PDF Page B

them all: their names,
their stories, their struggles. I had been in more pictures today probably than
in my whole lifetime, but I smiled genuinely in each one. These women had found
their way here for reasons I had yet to understand, and I wasn’t about to give
them anything less than my all, even if I was starving!
    Cody had
checked in with me several times and even added his own notes and signatures on
a few of the cards and posters. The moms went crazy over him, which then drove
him back to the kids’ corner.
    I scarfed
down my turkey sandwich, chasing it with a diet soda, when I turned toward the
door. A rush of ice and heat swept down my body.
    Jackson Ross.
    Even his
name was striking. He stood near where Cody sat, leaning against a wall in his
dark, rich, designer suit. He stared at his phone and typed furiously, as if
his life depended on the message he was sending—maybe it did; what did I know?
    I bit my
bottom lip as I watched him. Though I’d never before found facial hair
attractive, Jackson knew how to pull it off. His sculpted beard was trimmed and
edged into a flawless outline of his firm jaw. Rugged heartthrob meets GQ.
    I didn’t
know how long I watched him, but apparently it was long enough for Pippy to take notice.
    Her laugh
jolted me back into reality.
      “You ready to go?” she asked.
      “Oh, sure.” I turned
my head, trying to pretend I was looking at something else—or better yet, someone else.
    Who am I kidding? I was a horrible
actress.
    As I bent
to retrieve my bag from under the table, I was suddenly aware of the
broad-shouldered man who stood behind me. My pulse quickened.
    “Was the
day a success?” Jackson asked.
    Cody
skittered past me, holding Pippy’s hand as he chatted
away toward the exit door. Though the room was filled with people conversing,
my ears were tuned-in to his voice.
    I gulped.
“Yes. I’m shocked with how many women showed up.” I smiled. “It was really
amazing.”
    The
corner of his mouth curled slightly, but before my stomach could react with an
acrobatic flip, Jackson turned sharply, and exited the building.
    I
followed, feeling more like an unwanted puppy than the up and coming author
Pinkerton had painted me to be.
    Stepping
out into the sunlight, I watched as Jackson bent and spoke to Cody. I couldn’t
quite make out his words, but in response, Cody let out a rapid fire of
factoids.
    Sue
Bolan, the adoption author, tapped me on my shoulder to ask me about my
signings and fans. I pried my eyes from Jackson and Cody, and gave Sue my
undivided attention as we discussed the highlights of the bookstore—that is,
until her ride pulled up a few minutes later.
    Turning
my attention toward Cody once again, I saw it—a sight that nearly caused my
knees to liquefy.
    A smile .
    Jackson
Ross was smiling at Cody. And it was exquisite.
    Cody giggled
as Jackson caught my eye. He sobered immediately.
      “There’s Walt!” Cody said.
    I tore my
gaze from the brooding man in front of me just in time to see Walt pull up.
      “Will you be riding back with us to the
apartments, Mr. Ross?” Pippy asked him.
    He
glanced at me before his eyes landed on Pippy once
more. “No.”
    And
that’s when the thought hit me—like a brick to the chest.
    Feeling
like an idiot, I addressed Mr. Ross, “Oh gosh, you probably need your driver
back! Cody and I are perfectly fine to take a taxi—it’s no problem at all. I’m
sorry for any inconvenience we may have caused you.”
    Pippy opened her mouth, but Mr. Ross put a hand on her
shoulder, not a word escaped before he nodded toward me.  
    “Don’t be
late to dinner.”  
    By the
time I comprehended his words he’d already climbed into a yellow cab. Seconds
later, he was but a blur in a sea of buttery traffic. It dawned on me then what
had just taken place.
    Other
than issuing orders, the man had practically stared right through me! One
minute he seemed to despise my very presence, while the next he seemed to