Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
Emily
Jules was in disbelief when she walked inside Jackson’s house, and we all yelled, “surprise.” The look on her face was pure shock until the tears formed in her eyes when she realized what her brother had done. She hugged him tight, and the feeling of brother and sisterly love poured out of them. Wiping her eyes, she greeted her guests and Jackson looked at me and smiled, knowing he had made her happy.
“Emily, it’s so good to see you again,” Jules spoke as she grabbed my hands. “Can you believe he did this?”
The smile grew wide across my face as I replied, “Yes, I can believe it. He’s a good man.”
“He certainly is, and I wouldn’t trade him for the world.”
As Jackson and I were talking over a glass of wine, he rolled his eyes as his mother and her husband walked over.
“Thanks for coming, Mom.” He kissed her cheek. “Stuart, good to see you as always. I would like you both to meet a friend of mine. This is Emily.”
“Very nice to meet you, Emily. How long have you and my son been dating?” she instantly asked.
“Oh, we aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
“Oh.” She raised her eyebrow.
Jackson and Stuart walked away for a moment to grab another drink, and I was left standing there in an awkward moment with his mother, Gwen.
“I was hoping you’d be dating,” she spoke.
“Why?” I cocked my head.
“I’m going to ask you a question, and I want nothing but the truth from you.”
“Okay.” I sipped my wine.
“I believe Jackson is gay, and I need you to confirm it for me. Is he?”
I wanted to bust out laughing, but I couldn’t. If she only knew how gay he wasn’t.
“Jackson is not gay, Gwen. Why do you think that?”
“Because he never brings any girls around. Not for holidays, visits, nothing. He’s always alone, and I suspect he doesn’t know how to tell his father and me he’s gay.”
“Would you have a problem with it if he was?” I asked as I narrowed my eye.
She was silent for a few moments as she looked away from me.
“Well, I wouldn’t like it.”
“Jackson told me that you’re on your fourth marriage, and his father is on his fifth. Did it ever occur to you that maybe Jackson doesn’t bring any women around because he doesn’t believe in relationships? I mean, look at the example you set for him.”
“Why I never!” She scowled. “That was uncalled for and very rude, young lady.”
“I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.”
Jackson and Stuart walked back over, and instantly, Gwen took his arm and led him away.
“What just happened?” Jackson asked.
I sighed. “Your mom officially hates me.” I pursed my lips.
“Why?” He chuckled.
“She thinks you’re gay.”
“WHAT?!” His voice raised.
“Shh.” I hooked my arm in his. “I told her you weren’t and maybe you don’t believe in relationships because of the example she and your father had set. Sorry.” I bit down on my bottom lip.
Laughter escaped him.
“Please, don’t apologize. What you said was perfect. And as for her hating you, she probably does after what you said. But that’s her problem.” He winked. “If she wants to think I’m gay, then fine. She can believe what she wants. I don’t really care.”
While Jackson and I were talking, Jules walked up and pulled us to the side.
“I wanted to tell you first before I made an announcement. I said yes to Carter. We’re engaged.” She smiled as she held out her hand, and I admired the beautiful diamond that sat on it.
Jackson wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him.
“That’s great, Jules. I’m happy for you.”
“Congratulations.” I gave her a big hug.
“Thanks. I’m going to make an announcement in a few minutes since everyone is here.”
“Have you told Mom yet?” Jackson asked.
“No. Not yet. I wanted you to be the first to know. You’re happy for me, right?” she asked.
“Are you happy, Jules?”
“Very happy.”
“Then you made the right decision.” He kissed her forehead.
Not one, not two, but three orgasms later, I was wrapped up in Jackson’s arms. It was the perfect ending to a perfect party.
“Are you ready for your expansion of the shop?” Jackson asked.
“Ugh. I forgot to tell you. I called Leon, and he told me that he sold the buildings. So now I have to wait until the new owners contact me. Can he sell them like that without telling me?”
“Yes. It’s his property. He can do whatever he wants with them. That means you’ll have to pay your rent to the new owners. Nothing should change since you’re already in a lease.”
“What if they won’t allow me to expand?” I asked with concern.
His lips pressed against the top of my head. “I’m sure they will. I wouldn’t worry about it just yet.”
“I’m kind of anxious to get moving on it. What if they rent the other space out before I can talk to them about it?”
His chest heaved, and a long sigh escaped him. Lifting my head from his chest, I sat up and looked at him.
“Am I irritating you?” I arched my brow.
“No. It’s just there’s something I need to tell you.”
“What?” I asked with nervousness.
“First thing Monday morning, I want you to get hold of a contractor and start planning your expansion.”
“Have you not been listening to me? I can’t do that, and I’m not getting my hopes up and then having the new owner shoot it down and tell me no.”
His finger reached out and traced my collarbone as I held the sheet against me.
“I’m the new owner, and I give you the okay to expand Emily’s Edge.”
“What?” I asked with a laugh. “You bought the buildings?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“For investment reasons and so you could expand. Leon said absolutely not, and I thought he was making a mistake, so I purchased the buildings from him, and now you’re free to do whatever you want.”
“You’re serious?”
“Dead serious, Emily.”
“When did you do this?”
“Yesterday.”
“And you were going to tell me when?” I narrowed my eye at him.
“Tomorrow over breakfast.” He smirked. “But you wouldn’t stop talking about it.”
A feeling came over me in an instant. A mixture of—shit, I didn’t know. On one hand, I was overwhelmed by the generosity of his buying the buildings so I could expand, but on the other, I was a little frightened by what he had done.
“I don’t know what to say, Jackson. I can’t believe you did that.”
“Don’t read too much into it, Emily. I did it for investment reasons and because you’re my friend, and friends help each other out, right?”
“Yeah. I guess. But that had to cost you a lot of money.”
“What doesn’t cost a lot of money these days? I wouldn't have done it if I didn’t think it was worth it. So, my purchase was in the best interest of both of us.”
Leaning over, I brushed my lips against his. “Thank you for letting me expand.”
“You’re welcome.” He pulled me on top of him. “One more round before we go to sleep?”
“Definitely.” I grinned.