Free Smooth Irish (Book 2 of the Weldon Series) by Jennifer Saints

long talk. Alexi’s too far along for him to be out of
town.”
    “ I agree. I’ll call her
tomorrow and see how she’s doing.”
    Jackson started his truck and backed
out of the drive. Nan turned her attention to the shadowed scenery
to escape looking at Jackson. The he-who-she-shall-not-name tactic
had failed miserably.
    The effects of the earlier storm had
faded completely. The world had settled back into a comfortable
status quo. Salt and the scent of the sea laced the night breeze
whipping in the open window. Through the passing live oaks and
historic cottages of Tybee Island, Nan caught glimpses of silver
waves cresting in the Atlantic before Jackson pulled onto Highway
80 and headed west. Unfortunately, for Nan, her world was far from
returning to status quo. It was as if the storm had blown her life
off course, tossing her back into Jackson’s dangerous
proximity.
    The atmosphere between them was tense
and fraught with expectation. It was as if a live wire danced
between them and neither of them knew who it would zap
next.
    During the two months they'd dated,
more often than not, she’d sat at a table watching Jackson and his
band play. Her seven A.M. work shift and every-other-weekend work
schedule tended to curtail their dating time. His night owl
lifestyle hadn’t meshed well with the demands of her
job.
    He’d also kept every moment so damn
sexually intense, that she didn’t think a thing was missing from
their time together until the euphoria wore off. Then she'd been
able to assess where Jackson was going with his life and where she
wanted her life to go.
    Things had crystallized for her on New
Year's Eve, sitting with him in Salty's Bar. He’d just torn up a
recording contract from a country music producer, telling her he
had no interest in accomplishing more with his life than twanging
out a tune in a local bar, late nights, and sleeping till noon.
Then he pretty much asked her to share his bed for a
while.
    She’d left then. Left before she lost
more to him than she could afford. He was a man going nowhere and
after watching her mother waste her life on a man just like that,
Nan wasn’t going to make the same mistake.
    She had best remember that. But
instead of keeping up the safe silence, Nan dug at Jackson's stony
wall. Maybe she couldn’t get him out of her head because he was
somewhat of a mystery she’d never solved. She knew there was more
to him than he let her see. She also knew there was more to his
past than he was willing to share. Maybe if she satisfied some of
her questions, she could move on past him.
    “ You were worried about
Alexi even before I said anything. What do you know about
eclampsia. Have you noticed something that I've missed?” she asked
as he pulled into the drive to her apartment and cut the
engine.
    The chirp of crickets, a passing
motorist, and an occasionally barking dog filled the silence.
Jackson folded his arms and adjusted his long legs in the cramped
cab. “She’s my sister-in-law. I…”
    Nan thought she would turn blue from
holding her breath, waiting for him to finish his sentence. He
didn’t.
    “ Yes?” Nan
prompted.
    “ Nothing,” he said,
shaking his head. She could practically see the wall slide back
into place.
    “ Come on, I’ll walk you to
the door.”
    Sighing, she slid out of his truck,
attempting to maintain her dignity in the short dress, though after
the view Jackson had caught earlier it was kind of a moot point.
The dizziness had run its course and the coffee with extra sugar
and cream had taken the edge off her headache.
    She followed him to the door, deciding
that she’d find out more about Jackson’s past, and how Brad and Dr.
Dennison knew him.
    To what end? Her mind whispered. Nothing she could learn would change the
direction he was going, which was opposite hers.
    She shoved her key into the lock.
Irritated with herself for even wondering about him.
    Jackson closed his hand over hers on
the knob. The jolt of his touch