Free Enduring Everything (Marked Heart #1) by M. Sembera

"How much?" as I cracked a smile.
    "Get naked and I'll show you," he answered, pulling me against him.
    Jackson's touch eased my conscience while showing me how much he loved me.

11
    A Major Detail
    Wednesday morning, Jackson and I took separate cars to work. He was going to the rec center and I was going to Amila's after work. The group of kids Jacks taught sports fundamentals to would be there at six thirty and that gave him no time in between. I just wanted to get my conversation with Amila about Charlotte over and done with as quickly as possible. I had no intention of doing anything for Charlotte, but since I promised Amila I would at least hear her out, I was going.
    Laughing and shaking my head at Jackson as we walked into work, he was throwing his hands in the air and cheering for himself because he pulled into the parking lot about five seconds before I did.
    Following him into his office, I teased, "It's hard to believe you are anyone's boss sometimes, you're just a big kid."
    Smiling wide at me, he reminded, "Watch it missy. Don't forget, I'm your boss too."
    Raising an eyebrow at him, I said, "Only from nine to six and its eight forty-five. So, you are not the boss of me right now."
    "Then this won't be completely unethical," he said before shutting his door and locking it.
    Shaking my head at him, I took a few steps back, saying, "No sir."
    Making a pouty face, Jacks said, "But you're wearing my favorite shirt."
    Glancing down at myself before looking back up at him, I replied, "It's just a regular button up shirt."
    Jackson flashed a mischievous grin before sharing, "That shirt made Wednesday my favorite day of the week."
    "Because it's green?" I asked, thinking he was just trying to get me to mess around with him in his office.
    His smile beamed as he stepped in front of me, sharing, "That made it extra good but a... from where my desk used to be I could see into your shirt."
    "What?"
    Pulling me closer, Jacks slid his fingers into my shirt, between the buttons, saying, "When you leaned forward, I could see your bra through the gaps," before adding, "I never got any work done on Wednesdays."
    Wrapping my arms around his waist, I asked, "Is that why you moved all the cubicles back on the right side?"
    Nodding , he leaned down and kissed me.
    It was too bad everyone showed up for work on time because Jacks was close to fulfilling his fantasy of having me in his office before there was a knock on his office door.
    ~
    After having a slow morning at work and unable to concentrate after Jackson shared his fantasy with me, I was happy it was lunchtime. On the way to a surprise location for lunch, I was hoping it was private.
    Pulling around to the back door of The Bar, I saw Auggie's truck and a few other cars. A little disappointed we were not going to be alone, I was excited to see what they were doing inside.
    "Surprise," Jacks laughed as we walked in the back door.
    I gave him a little smile before heading straight for the room to the right in the back, saying, "I wanna see The Dog House first," with a wink.
    Hoping to catch a minute alone with Jacks before he showed me the rest of The Bar, I stopped in the doorway when I saw William on the phone, sitting behind a desk, instead of the bed that used to sit against the wall.
    "Oh, hey Ren," William greeted before saying, "I have to call you back," into the phone.
    Forcing a smile, I replied, "Hey, is this your office?"
    Sliding his cellphone into his pocket as he stood, William answered, "Yea, looks different right."
    Glancing around to see a file cabinet and shelves, I said, "Yep," trying to hide my disappointment.
    Walking up beside me, Jacks told William, "I'm going to show Ren what we're doing but I need to talk to you before we go."
    Nodding, William said, "I'll be back here in my hole."
    Jackson gave him a sympathetic smile before placing his arm around my shoulders and walking me into the main area.
    Understanding why William had been banished to the back,