Free The Truth About Fairy Tales by Annie Walker Page A

going anywhere so relax. If you want to study, you can study. I’ll just sit here and quietly read the paper and maybe get better acquainted with Sidney. I think we have one thing in common, other than you that is. We’re both old.”
                  I let him take Sidney’s leash. The three of us must have made quite an odd little assortment that day. Me still dressed for work, Jackson in jeans and a pullover that I’m sure probably cost more than I made in a month, leading around my little half-blind, dog.
                  Once Sidney was satisfied and fed, I told Jackson I needed to change. He offered to come help me, reminding me that my bed still wasn’t broken in, but I refused his kind offer. Damn, that was hard to do.
                  I changed into my favorite faded denim shorts and tee shirt. With my reading glasses in place, books in hand, and not bothering with makeup, I left my bedroom.
                  The second I walked into the room, I had his full attention. “I hope you don’t plan on getting any studying done dressed like that?” he told me, his eyes only confirming the meaning of those words as they swept over what I would have thought would have been the worst turn off any man could see.
                  “As a matter of fact I do, so just get your mind out of the gutter, Mr. Riley.” I noticed he'd found my one and only comfortable place to stretch out and relax. Sid had positioned himself next to Jackson. I shook my head. What a bunch of old men.
                  I tossed my books on the floor and stretched out, ready to hit them, when I heard him groan.
                  “What?” I asked without bothering to look up.
                  “You can’t be serious? You’re going to lay there in front of me dressed like that with your…” He didn’t finish and I wasn’t sure if he was serious or just trying hard to make me smile.
                  “Yes, and if you’re not going to behave, you can go home.”
                  I have to admit, Jackson was a good boy. At least for part of the day. He sat quietly sneaking peeks at me while reading his paper, until early afternoon. Then, he decided I’d tortured him enough.
                  He put the paper down, gave my little dog a pat and a scratch behind his ears, and then he stood, knelt beside me, and removed my glasses. Jackson closed my books and carried me into uncharted grounds, closing the door on Sidney, the world, and its cares for a little while.
                  It might have been virgin ground for us, but it didn’t take Jackson long to become part of my bedroom memories. Now, today…forever. I would never be able to look at my little bed in the same way again.
                  “What time do you have to be at work tonight?” he asked me sometime later, after we’d both drifted off to sleep in each other’s arms.
                  “Mmmm, what time is it now?” He told me and I let him know that I still had a few more hours before my shift began.
                  “Good, I’ll drive you over. And since there’s absolutely nothing in your fridge to eat, we either go out or order in.”
                  “I usually get pizza…”
                  “That stuff will kill you. Let me handle it, okay.” He was dressed and had the food ordered by the time I emerged from the shower.
                  He’d ordered Chinese, another one of my favorites, from a restaurant I’d never heard of before.
                  He closed the door and held out the bags to me.
                  “One of your routines?” I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking him if he'd shared this routine with any of his other women.               Instead, I concentrated on the seafood medley on my plate, because I