Chapter 39
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Paula drew a breath and schooled her features before pushing open the door. Three men trailed her, none of whom she’d invited.
Her mouth pulled into a tight, forced smile. Had they been rude? No, not openly. Just… being men.
She wasn’t sure if their casual, good-old-boy attitude was meant to be friendly or if she was being tolerated in the same way an overbearing sister would be—an annoyance they had to endure because Jackson was involved with her.
It irked her.
It shouldn’t have.
But it did.
She adjusted her posture, straightening her spine. They might not consider her as one of them, but she’d be damned if they treated her like an outsider in Jackson’s space.
She stepped inside, her voice even. “Jackson, you have visitors.”
Jackson looked up from his spot on the couch, his expression shifting into something she couldn’t read. “I do?”
Carl stepped in with his usual self-satisfied grin, hoisting a case of beer like some kind of peace offering. “And we brought gifts.”
Joel chuckled. “And pizza.”
Will was the only one who didn’t look entirely comfortable, but that was his problem, not hers.
Carl dropped the beer onto the coffee table. “We figured we’d keep you company, watch the game. Royals are playing the White Sox—it should be good.”
I’m not staying for this.
She’d spent the past week practically living here, making sure Jackson had everything he needed while he recovered, keeping herself busy so she wouldn’t have to think about how deep she’d fallen for him.
The last thing she needed was a locker room atmosphere in the apartment to make her feel even more out of place.
“This is a nice surprise,” Jackson said, but his gaze slid toward her—watching.
Paula crossed her arms, keeping her expression neutral. “Looks like the guys will keep you busy and entertained tonight.”
And I had been looking forward to another pleasant evening with you.
Will adjusted his grip on the stack of boxes, clearly waiting for someone to relieve him of them.
Paula took a step back. “I’m going to head over to my place and get some work done there since you’re in good hands here.”
She turned for the door, expecting the men to ignore her.
Jackson cleared his throat.
She froze.
Her pulse jumped as she looked over her shoulder, locking eyes with him.
Damn it.
She knew what he wanted.
Knew exactly what that sound meant.
He wasn’t going to let her walk out without following rule number two.
Her throat tightened.
Not now, please.
Not with them watching.
But there was no way in hell he’d let her leave without giving him what he was silently demanding.
She released a slow breath and returned to him.
The air in the room shifted as the guys went silent.
Paula leaned down, pressing a quick, chaste kiss to Jackson’s lips before he could make a bigger demand.
Before he could pull her back in.
Before she forgot there were other people here and who they were.
She stepped away, ignoring the heat in her face.
“Enjoy the game, guys,” she said over her shoulder as she headed toward the door.
The silence in the room stretched.
Then Carl let out a low whistle. “I get it now.” His voice was thick with amusement.
Paula didn’t turn back as she exited, but she felt their stares.
Jackson realized everyone was staring at Paula.
He didn’t blame them. She looked incredible. Those jeans hugged her in all the right places, and her usual sharpness had softened into something warm and distracting.
Still, it made him bristle. The way the guys glanced, lingered, and whispered. He didn’t want her looked at like that, not by them not by anyone.
And yet, he’d been the one to bring her here. He’d asked for this. Pushed when she clearly wasn’t ready.
Now she was stiff and retreating again, like she wanted to disappear.
He wasn’t mad at her—but yeah, he was frustrated. She kept running, and he was starting to hate the way it made him feel: like he didn’t matter.
He shifted in his seat as Will set down the pizzas, rubbing the back of his neck like he was still processing what the hell had just happened. “So how are you doing, Cagney?”
“As good as I can be after being caught in the blast zone, Tolbert,” Jackson countered.
An uncomfortable silence stretched between them. Joel’s eyes went from Jackson to the door Paula exited back to Jackson. “Sooo… You and H?agen-Dazs?”
Jackson clenched his jaw.
Carl leaned forward, grabbing a beer from the case. “What’s your secret? No one else in the department had any luck getting into her pants.”
Jackson set his beer down. Hard.
The room went silent, and beside him Will stiffened, a slice of pizza halfway to his mouth. Only his eyes moved.
Carl also froze mid-motion, and his smirk faltered.
Jackson gave him a pointed stare. “You ever talk about her like that again, and we’re going to have a problem.”
Carl had the decency to look uncomfortable.
Joel, however, had the audacity to laugh. “Jesus, Jackson. We’re just messing with you.”
Jackson slid his gaze to his other colleague. “You talk about her like she’s some challenge. She’s a damn detective, and she could outshoot half the department. Maybe if you jackasses respected her, you’d get further than a polite nod in the hallway.”
Will had been quiet up until now. He leaned back and placed his elbows on the back of the couch, watching Jackson with an unreadable expression.
Carl shifted awkwardly and grabbed a slice of pizza. “All right, all right. Point made.”
Joel raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, I’m happy for you. Surprised as hell, but happy.”
Jackson wasn’t convinced, but he let it go.
For now.
Will inclined his head and cleared his throat. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but the houses on both sides of the lab had significant damage. The one garage is a total loss, and the other house is bad, too,” Will said.
“Any other injuries?” Jackson asked.
“Unfortunately, yes. There was a woman in the house who got hit in the face by flying glass. She may lose her left eye. Of course, the cooker got himself killed.”
Jackson’s stomach turned. “Damn, I hate collateral damage. Have they found Mikey’s family?”
“Yeah, his mother’s a tweaker, but the grandparents seem solid, so they have him for the time being.”
They all fell silent for a moment until Joel said what all three of them must be thinking.
“So, what gives with you and Detective Stone? Okay, so you started dating her. I can almost buy that. But engaged? You really managed to keep that quiet.” Joel cocked his head.
“Isn’t that a little quick? I didn’t realize you knew her. ”
Here we go.
Jackson exhaled. “I’ve known I wanted her since she gave a guest lecture at the academy. That was eight years ago. We’ve worked on a few cases together. So yeah, I know her. She’s strong and beautiful and passionate.” She’s also sweet and submissive.
The room went silent again.
Will was watching him closely, then he nodded.
Joel cleared his throat. “Well, damn.”
Carl just laughed, shaking his head. “All right, Cagney. If you say so.”
Will broke the tension by opening the next pizza box. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m starving, and the game’s about to start.”
And just like that, the subject changed. But Jackson knew—whether they understood it or not—his friends had just gotten the message.