Chapter 14
***JACKSON***
It hadn’t been Jackson’s plan to eavesdrop on the conversation going on in the kitchen, but he’d paused inside the doorway to watch Abby and couldn’t help but overhear.
Until right then, he hadn’t realized how much everything was getting to Abby.
She always had a smile for him when she saw him, but he should have known.
In her place, he would have felt the same, would have begun to chafe at the restrictions much sooner, and so he decided that he had to do something about it.
Dances weren’t really his thing. He hated getting dressed up, hated acting like someone he wasn’t, but Abby deserved a little romance, something that was impossible under the circumstances.
He could handle a few hours of being uncomfortable if it made her happy, and he was sure they would be safe enough in the large crowd attending the dance.
Mind made up, he took a deep breath, made some noise so they wouldn’t think he’d been listening, then walked into the kitchen.
“Hey everyone,” he called. “It sure does smell good in here. Those must be the cookies for homecoming.”
“Keep your hands off unless you’re helping,” Hattie called, giving him a dirty look. “You’ll get your share at the game.”
“Speaking of the game,” he said, walking over and sitting down next to Abby. “We’re all going, and I was hoping you’d go with us.”
Abby’s face instantly brightened. “Really?” she asked. “I don’t know that much about football, but I bet you could teach me.”
“That might be a job for Walker, he’s the expert around here. I barely know the rules,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. “But I would like to take you to the dance on Friday night. What do you say? I know you might think that it’s a waste of time, but I think you need a break.”
“I don’t know, Jackson, that’s only two days away,” she said. “I don’t have anything to wear, and I wouldn’t have the slightest idea where to start; I’ve never been to a formal dance before.”
“All the more reason we should go,” he said, grinning at her. “Don’t tell me that you’re chicken to go to the dance with me.”
“I’m not chicken,” Abby said, giving him a dirty look and then sighing. “Okay, maybe I am a little scared. I don’t want to embarrass either of us.”
“Abby, you could never embarrass me,” he said, shaking his head. “We’ll find you something to wear, I’m sure Yvonne will be happy to help. Come on, don’t say no. It will be a lot of fun, I promise.”
“If I can find something to wear, I guess we could go,” she said, still hesitant. “But I have to warn you: I don’t know how to dance, and I’ll probably step all over your toes.”
“All you have to do is follow my lead,” he said, grinning at her. “You’ll be fine, I promise, I happen to be an excellent dancer. My mother made sure of that.”
“I think I might be able to help with the dress, if you don’t mind something vintage,” Hattie said, walking over to the table and handing Jackson a cookie, a look of satisfaction on her face. “Believe it or not, I was about your size when I was in college, and I saved all my dresses.”
“Oh, Hattie, that’s so sweet,” Abby said, smiling at the older woman. “Are you sure you don’t mind…I’ll be really careful, I promise.”
“It would bring me a great deal of pleasure if you wore one,” Hattie said, then looked over at Sam. “Watch those cookies for me. Abby and I are going to the cottage to look at dresses.”
When they were gone, Sam grabbed a cookie and took a big bite. “She’ll never know,” he said, then let out a long sigh. “Take my advice, young man. Marry a woman who can cook. You’ll never be sorry.”
“I don’t know if Abby can cook, but I plan to marry her someday,” he said, the thought warming him from inside. “She just doesn’t know it yet.”
Mindy was sitting behind her desk when he walked into Dean Proctor’s office later that afternoon. “I’ve got an appointment this time,” he said, smiling at her. “Is he ready for me?”
“You can go on in,” she said, returning his smile. “He’s been waiting for you.”
Steven was sitting behind his desk when he walked in and a big smile instantly appeared on his face. “Dean Proctor, thanks for seeing me,” he said. “I know that you’re a busy man.”
“I’m never too busy for you boys. I wish you’d call me Steven, at least behind closed doors. All this formality makes me a little sad,” Dean Proctor said, shaking his head. “Now, what can I do for you?”
“I was wondering what progress you’ve made on shutting down the Kappas,” he said, sitting down across from his old sponsor. “It’s been two weeks, and I don’t know how much longer Abby can keep this up; she’s getting restless being cooped up all the time.”
“I can imagine, but I’m afraid these things take time. There are channels we have to go through,” Steven said, then hesitated. “Look, Jackson, I know you have a personal interest in all this, so I’m going to tell you a few things I shouldn’t, but it has to stay between us.”
“You know you can trust me,” he said, leaning forward. “I want this to be over as much as anyone. I’ll help any way I can.”
“I wish it were a matter of needing your help, but this is too dangerous for you boys to be messing with,” Steven said.
“It’s becoming more and more clear that the Kappas haven’t been acting on their own.
They’ve got someone very powerful backing them.
That bomb the police recovered was an advanced piece of workmanship.
No one in that house could have made it.
Until we figure out who is really responsible, the Kappas are our only link, and we can’t afford to sever that connection yet. ”
It took him a second to absorb what that meant. “Are you telling me that you’re not going to do anything to stop them?” he finally asked. “You’re just going to let them keep vandalizing the school and threatening students.”
“Well, no, not exactly,” Steven said, wincing a little.
“Look, I don’t like this any more than you do, but right now, the police just want to watch them.
They’re hoping the Kappas will lead them to the real criminals.
I’ve hired extra security, the police are doing extra patrols, so someone is watching them every minute of the day.
They won’t have the opportunity to go after Abby again.
If you want my guess, they’ve forgotten all about her. They’ve got bigger problems.”
“I wish I could say that was reassuring, but it’s not,” he said, getting to his feet. “You’re putting a lot of people in danger, not just Abby. I can’t believe that you’re going along with this.”
“It wasn’t my idea,” Steven said, standing up. “You have to believe me, Jackson, I fought against it. I wanted to throw them off campus, evidence or not, but I was outranked. My hands are tied.”
“Well, mine aren’t. I stayed out of this because you asked me to,” he said. “But I’m not making that promise anymore. Abby needs her life back, and if you won’t give it to her, I will.”
He turned and stomped back out of the office before he said something he would regret.
Steven was calling his name, but he kept walking, his dragon surging to life with the anger rolling through him.
He was done standing on the sidelines. The Kappas had to be stopped, and he was going to find a way to do what the police and the school administration wouldn’t do.
***Abby***
Abby stood in front of the mirror, not sure that she was looking at her own reflection, but the smile on Yvonne's face behind her convinced her, and she let the grin she’d been holding back slowly spread over her face.
Hattie had been right about the dress, a pale blue silk creation that hugged her in all the right places but still left plenty to the imagination.
Yvonne had done something fancy with her hair and applied just enough makeup to highlight her blue eyes and creamy complexion, turning her into a princess on her way to the ball.
She’d been unsure about going to the dance with Jackson, sure that she’d look silly all dressed up, but looking in the mirror, she saw a sophisticated woman looking back at her.
“Jackson isn’t going to know what hit him when he sees you,” Yvonne said, making a few final adjustments to her hair. “You look beautiful, Abby.”
“Thanks to you two,” she said, looking over at Hattie. “The dress is perfect, Hattie. Thank you for trusting me with it. I feel like a princess.”
“You look like one, too,” Hattie said, wiping her eyes. “I’m sorry to get all emotional, I’m just so happy for you. You’re going to have a wonderful time tonight.”
Jackson was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs, dressed in a suit and tie, his hair slicked back.
He’d never looked more handsome, and she had to stop for a second to catch her breath.
Hoping her legs would hold when she saw the look in his eyes, she came slowly down the stairs, feeling as if she’d slipped into a fairytale, and he was her handsome prince.
“You look amazing, better than amazing,” Jackson said, stepping forward when she reached the bottom stair. “I’m not sure I want to share you with the rest of the world tonight.”
“You look very handsome yourself,” she said, reaching up to straighten his tie. “I think Yvonne and Hattie would be disappointed if we didn’t go.”
He looked up the stairs where the two women were watching them. “I guess you’re right,” he said. “But I’m not letting you out of my sight. Someone will try to steal you away.”
“I don’t want anyone but you,” she said without thinking, then gasped. “I mean, I’m your date tonight.”
He leaned down and gave her a kiss. “And I don’t want anyone but you,” Jackson said, echoing her words. “Shall we go?”
“Not until we get some pictures,” Hattie called, rushing down the stairs. “Your kids are going to want to see their parents on their first date.”
Yvonne looked over at Hattie, then over at Abby. “Well, I guess she knows something we don’t,” she said, a grin on her face. “Come on, you two, pose for your future kids.”
Abby knew that her cheeks were flaming, but Jackson just laughed. “Maybe you two could slow down just a little,” he suggested. “I don’t want you scaring Abby off.”
“It’s okay, Jackson, I know they’re just joking,” she said, smiling up at him. “Let them have their fun.”
“Maybe I’m not,” he said. “Maybe I like the idea of our kids.”
A thrill rushed through her, and warmth spread from the inside out. “Jackson, we haven’t even graduated yet; we haven’t even…” her words trailed off.
“That’s easy to fix,” he said, grinning down at her. “In fact, the house is empty right now.”
“Jackson, stop that,” she said, slapping him on the chest. “We’re supposed to be going to a dance.”
“Oh, that’s right, I got sidetracked,” he said, grinning down at her. “It’s easy to do around you, sweetheart, but to the dance we must go.”
After an overabundance of pictures were taken, Jackson took her arm and led her to the front door. “I have a surprise for you,” he said, swinging it open. “It’s right out front.”
It took her a second to realize that her car was sitting on the curb. “Oh, Jackson, you fixed my car,” she said, throwing her arms around him. “That was so sweet, but you didn’t have to, I…”
“I thought it might make you feel better,” he said. “But don’t think this means I’m letting you take off on your own.”
“I know, I know,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him. “But at least now, we can escape. I miss being outside so much.”
“We’ll go for a drive as soon as we can, but for now, you’ll have to be happy with a ride to the dance,” he said, then held out his arm for her. “Do you want to drive?”
“I’m not sure I trust myself in these heels,” she said. “I think you should do the honors.”
When they walked into the gym after the short ride across campus, she let out a sigh of appreciation. The lights had been dimmed, and fairly lights twinkled everywhere. “Oh, it doesn’t even look like the gym anymore,” she said, unable to hide her excitement. I just hope I don’t embarrass myself.”
“I won’t let that happen,” he said, leading her out onto the dance floor. “Just follow my lead.”
She hadn’t expected to find herself out there so soon and tensed up until Jackson pulled her into his arms and up against his body. “I’ve got you, Abby,” he said. “Just relax and let me do all the work.”
It only took her a few minutes to find her rhythm and they were soon gliding across the dance floor, Jackson spinning her around in the glittering lights.
She was breathless when the music finally ended, and looked up to find Jackson beaming down at her, his eyes full of more than just desire for the first time.
It was like a lightning bolt straight to her core, her heart began to pound faster and all she could think about was kissing him.
As if he had read her mind, Jackson lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her until she was breathless, then led her off the dance floor.
“That was pretty good for your first lesson,” he said, grinning down at her.
“We’ll have a second one after we find our table. Everyone else should be here already.”
Her heart fluttered with excitement. “We could just skip the dancing,” she said, grinning at him. I like what happens after the best.”