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“Well then maybe tomorrow
I’ll pick up someone else to fuck in my kitchen. If you don’t mind, that is.”
    Emma was fully dressed by now. She lifted her shoulders with
careless dismissal. “Be my guest.”
    He was rankled. “You expect me to believe this didn’t mean
anything to you?”
    “Look, it was unexpected, but we’re both adults. There’s no
reason why this should make things any different between us.”
    He’d forgotten how cold she could be, how easily she could
turn off her emotions. Fine. He could play along with her. “Of course not. It
was just great sex.”
    “Oh God.” She pressed her fingers to her temples. “You’re
single, aren’t you? I didn’t even think to ask.”
    He raised a brow. “A little late to wonder now, wouldn’t you
say, sugar?”
    She frowned at him. “I told you not to call me that.”
    Which was exactly why he did it. He found he rather enjoyed
pissing her off. Jackson grinned. “Sorry, sweetheart.”
    “Don’t call me that either.” Emma crossed her arms over her
breasts, an action that only served to remind him how firm and high they were.
How he’d been sucking on them not fifteen minutes past. “Are you going to
answer my question, or not?”
    Making her squirm was proving quite fun, but he supposed he
had to give in. “I’m a single man, Em. I wouldn’t have touched you if I was
with someone. Give me some credit.”
    She sighed. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”
    Her face was so expressive. He read anxiety all over it. She
wanted to run. He wasn’t about to let her flee him as if he’d developed a
contagious disease. Jackson gave her a stare down.
    “No worries. I like being accused of cheating.”
    It was her turn to wince. “I’m sorry. You’re right, I was
rude.”
    “Damn straight,” he agreed, giving her no quarter.
    “How gentlemanly of you not to point it out,” she said with
a wry smile.
    Maybe he was honest to a fault, but he liked to call a spade
a spade. “I’m too old to play games.”
    “So am I.” She sighed for the second time, this one sounding
far more weary than the first. “I think it would be best if I just go, Jackson.
We’re talking in circles.”
    “How long are you in town?” He couldn’t help but ask. Some
long-buried part of him wanted to see her again.
    “I don’t think it’s a good idea for us to see each other
again.”
    Her proclamation shook him. He knew it probably wasn’t wise
to have a fling with her, but he was sorely tempted. And he didn’t believe for
a second he was the only one who felt that way. Was she afraid of the way he
made her feel? Why was she forever running from him? He guessed he should be
used to their tired old story by now.
    He shrugged. “Your choice. Sometimes it’s nice to not have
to worry about strings.”
    “I don’t have casual sex,” she informed him coolly.
    “Interesting. Then what would you call what we just did?”
    “Stupidity. A one-time-only deal.”
    Now that stung, even if he had been thinking along the same
lines not too long ago. “Is this ice queen routine something you only reserve
for lowly country boys like me, or are you always a bitch?”
    He surprised her with that one, he could tell. Her eyes
snapped with fire.
    “You’re every bit as much of an arrogant jerk now as you
were when I left, Jackson Fielding.” Having delivered her final shot, she spun
away from him. She turned back when she reached the door. “I hope I never see
you again.” And then she slammed her way out.
    It wasn’t until after she was gone that he noticed her bra
flung halfway across the room. Feeling unaccountably grim, he retrieved it.
Damned if he didn’t hold it up to his nose for one last scent of her. Vanilla.
It was hard to believe she still had the ability to get under his skin. Harder
still to believe their frantic sex had even happened. It seemed like a dream.
    Tink whined from his crate in the mudroom, bringing Jackson
back to earth. He hated