Chapter 18

18

Reaching her arms above her head, Laura yawned. She hadn’t slept as well as she had last night for a long time. Yes, she ached – so much – from all the work she’d done in the hallway yesterday, but she’d slept like a log. Maybe it had been because she’d been physically exhausted when Jackson had left, or maybe it had been because of the kiss, or kisses, they’d shared.

She rolled over and smiled. Today was going to be a good day. She could feel it. And she couldn’t wait to see Jackson again.

The weak chime of the doorbell pulled her from her thoughts, and she threw the covers back before grabbing the jumper Jackson had lent her last night and holding it against her nose, breathing in the spicy, earthy aroma of his aftershave still distinguishable from the chalky smell of the wall filler smeared across the front.

There it was again. The doorbell. Of course. Pulling the jumper over her head, not caring that it was filthy – it still smelt of Jackson – she jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs, pausing for a few moments on the bottom step as she looked at the mess from yesterday. Shaking her head, she tiptoed through the debris and pulled the front door open. ‘Jackson!’ She felt a rush of pleasure seeing him standing in front of her.

‘Morning! I hope I didn’t wake you. I just wanted to bring you breakfast before I head to the pub for my shift.’

‘Breakfast? You made me breakfast?’ She took a deep breath in and grinned. ‘Is it French toast?’

Jackson grinned too as he walked inside and stepped around the wallpaper and plaster covering the floor, following Laura through to the kitchen. ‘A promise is a promise.’

‘Yum, well, I am glad you keep your promises.’ She opened the kitchen drawer and picked up two forks before sitting at the kitchen table opposite him.

Jackson took the metal lid off his serving plate and set it down before looking at her and pausing. ‘About what happened yesterday…’

Laura felt her stomach drop. Not Jackson. Please don’t be like all the others, the men who promise the world and deliver very little. Don’t be like Harry. Please don’t . ‘I… You think it was a mistake?’

‘What? No! Not at all.’ Jackson widened his eyes as he looked at her. When he spoke again, his voice was quiet, unsure. ‘Do you?’

She shook her head. ‘I don’t. I just assumed that’s what you were going to say.’

‘Not in a million years.’ Shaking his head, he chuckled. ‘I’ve been waiting a long time for that kiss, believe me.’

Laura grinned as relief swept over her. He was one of the good guys. She’d known he was. ‘So, what did you want to say to me about it?’

Taking the fork she offered him, Jackson placed it on the table in front of him before meeting her gaze. ‘Well, this is awkward, so I’m just going to come out and ask you. Do you want to spend some time with me?’

‘Spend some time with you?’ What was he trying to ask her?

‘Uh, would you like to date? Give a relationship a go? Start seeing each other?’ There was that blush again, pinking his ears.

She swallowed. Was this really happening? Jackson, her teenage crush, was actually asking her out? Holding her hands in her lap, she pinched herself. Yep, that had hurt. She wasn’t still dreaming. ‘I would very much like that.’

‘Well, I’m glad that’s over.’ Jackson chuckled before standing up and leaning across the table towards her.

Pushing the bench back, Laura stood up too and leaned forward. She could smell cinnamon on his breath.

The shrill tone of her mobile broke the moment, and she rolled her eyes as she picked it up. ‘Oh, it’s Dad. Sorry, I should answer. He never rings this early.’

‘I’ll wait.’ He grinned, his dimple making an appearance.

‘Thanks,’ she mouthed before sitting back down and answering the call. ‘Hi, Dad. Is everything okay?’

‘Fine, sweetheart. Absolutely fine. I’m just ringing to let you know that Richie managed to get a last-minute day off from work and we’re on our way to visit.’

Laura froze and looked across the table at Jackson. She could feel the blood seeping from her face. ‘You’re what?’

‘Everything okay?’ Jackson mouthed, his forehead creased, his expression concerned.

Shaking her head, Laura pulled a face. ‘Dad, you can’t do that. Richie deserves a proper day off, a break.’

‘Don’t worry, sweetheart. It will be a break. He’s looking forward to it. Aren’t you, Richie, lad?’

Laura listened to Richie’s enthusiastic answer in the background. They were together already? She closed her eyes, knowing she needed to ask but dreading the answer she’d be given. ‘Dad, where are you? You’re not on your way already, are you?’

‘We’re about half an hour away. Can’t wait to see you and your beautiful inn.’

Laura sat down with a plonk, the air escaping her lungs.

‘See you in a few minutes, sweetheart.’

‘No, I—’ She was met with a deafening silence from the other end.

‘Your dad and Richie are on their way here? Now?’ Jackson grimaced.

Picking up the plate of French toast, Laura placed it on the work surface. She’d have to try it later, right now she had to focus on getting the inn into a state of some sort of normality. ‘I don’t actually know what to do. If they see the state of the hallway, they’ll know they’ve been proven right.’

‘Then we won’t let them.’ Jackson stood up and walked across to the kitchen cupboards. ‘Where do you keep your bin bags?’

She pointed to the cupboard beneath the sink. ‘In there.’

‘Right, let’s get this place cleaned up.’ Jackson strode out into the hallway and began shovelling wallpaper and bits of plaster into the bin bag.

Standing in the doorway, Laura rubbed her eyes. ‘They’re still going to see the damage I’ve done to the wall.’

Walking across to her, Jackson stood in front of her, letting the bin bag drop to the floor before he cupped her elbows. ‘They’ll see the work of a very determined woman who has begun to fix this place up.’

‘It’s messy. The wall is bumpier than it was before I started.’

Jackson shrugged. ‘It just needs sanding down, that’s all. And the wall filler has to dry before it’s sanded down.’

She searched his eyes. She wasn’t sure if he was telling her the truth or just trying to prevent her from panicking, but he was right about one thing. If they cleared the rubbish, it would look a hundred times better. She nodded as they set to work again.