Maggie -

The week rolls by slowly, pages upon pages of books mixed with brief meetings with Christian scatter through my days, all the while I'm constantly checking over my shoulder hoping I'll run into Jackson.  All the desperate wishing and willing it to happen proves pointless and the brief conversations we've had over the phone leave me desperately wanting more.

We're still on for tomorrow night at the bar as far as I know, but our conversations have been so short. It's as if he's trying his best to stay away from me, or maybe he's just over it. I know I said I wanted to start over, but this isn't what I meant. Is it?

My eyes flitter about the office as I carry a heavy load of essentially book reports and manuscripts to Christian's office.  People scatter about to and fro, running from one desk to another all with their own deadlines to complete.

I've done an obnoxious amount of reading, two to three novels a day in a desperate attempt to distract myself from the empty office beside mine. It feels like torture, a weird mental torture that I haven't felt yet in my lifetime.  Romantic novels just don't cut it anymore, they leave me in despair and full of want, so I've been picking up extra loads in the horror category.  Alisa has been extra grateful and has even paid for my lunch a few times this week.

The downside is the lack of sleep, fearing pale women with hair matted to their face, the paranormal and clowns, numerous clowns. A surprising amount of clowns, in fact I had never been afraid of them before, but after the amount of manuscripts I've had to read about those painted faces who knows. 

Space and friendship, I guess this is what I asked for. I internally scold myself for making such a stupid request and hope that I haven't chased him off for good.  My mind drifts and I desperately attempt to guide it away from the man it's so inclined to visit.

Creepy clowns, creepy clowns.

Jackson running his hands through his hair.

Creepy clowns and scary ghosts.

The sleeves of Jackson's shirt as it struggles to contain his biceps as he runs his hands through his hair.

Damnit.

Clowns, Ghosts, the woman from the ring-

Jackson's diamond eyes wrinkle in the corners as he smiles and pulls his lip ring between his teeth.

The taste of mint and metal on my tongue-

Damnit!!

"Clowns!" I shout aloud as I run straight into a man's hard chest and loose pages flutter around us.

I knew I should have used a stapler rather than worthless paperclips.

"So sorry, I was distracted by-"

"Clowns?" The man asks, his British accent tickles my ears and I know who it is before I even meet his diamond eyes.

"Paperclips- No! I just- I was-" Damn, damn, double damn!

My mind flounders and I close my lips tightly afraid I'll make a further fool of myself.

I realize that his hands which firmly grasped my arms in an attempt to save me from falling haven't moved, further scrambling my mind and fogging my senses.

A smile tugs at his lips and once he's sure I'm stable he takes a step back and kneels down to begin picking up the scattered pages.

"Ah, I see." His deep soothing voice mumbles as he holds up a manuscript titled, 'Scissor the Clown's Carnival of Horrors.'

I simply nod, unsure if I'm thankful for the out or just embarrassed.

My mind races with questions, Why are you here? Why haven't you been here? Why haven't you called? Why are things so weird between us?

"Why?" I stutter aloud and instantly wish I could shove the words back into my mouth. "Why are you here?"

I attempt to compose myself as he stands and hands me the manuscripts.

"I work here." He teases and I can't help but roll my eyes.

"It hasn't seemed like you've worked here the entire week." I complain, attempting to act somewhat aloof.

"So you missed me?" He asks, a smirk forming on his lips. My eyes drift to his mouth but quickly correct themselves.

"Nope, hardly noticed." I lie before heading towards Christian's office and he follows closely behind.

"You're lying." He notices, or at least he thinks he notices and my mind quickly flips from desperately wishing to see him to angry that he's been so distant. If it hasn't been hard on him then I won't grant him the satisfaction of knowing I'm been missing him terribly.

I ignore his accusation and continue swiftly walking towards Christian's office.

"I've been keeping busy." I mutter without checking to make sure he's still following.

"Any particular reason you've been reading primarily horror manuscripts?"

"I was just helping out Alisa."

"Mmhmm." The agreeing sound he makes, although sarcastic, brings a chill to my spine. "That's not how I heard it, Alisa said you came to her."

I should have known Alisa would blab.

I'm just about to Christian's when I notice his office is empty. 

"Why do you even care?" I ask as I try to open the door, hoping I could simply leave my reports on his desk but realize it's locked.

"Because I've missed you." Jack whispers into my ear and the heat from his breath causes the hairs on the back of my neck to stand.

I turn slowly, clutching the documents tightly to my chest and he leans in close, pressing my back against Christian's door.

"I've tried everything to distract my mind, but your face lingers everywhere I look." His diamond eyes pierce mine and I can't possibly look away.

"Then why stay away?" I ask and watch his brows scrunch together with a sense of confusion.

"You said you wanted to start of fresh, slow." He reminds me.

He's so close I can almost taste the mint and metal mixture of his lips, the hair on my arms is standing on edge and his words are everything I desperately have been begging to hear since I woke up the morning after he left.

Screw it.

I grip his hair with my hands, threading them tight between the strands and pull his lips to mine. Thankfully he doesn't resist, the tension between us quickly dissipates and it seems his patients for taking things slow was running just as thin as mine.

His hands wrap around my waist as he grabs fistfuls of the thin black dress I wore specifically in case I ran into him. My lips hungrily envelope his as he pulls me tighter against his chest, my legs wrap around him in a desperate attempt to get closer and he doesn't hesitate to lift me off the floor and press me against the wall. 

I hear a man loudly clear his throat behind us and our lips part as Jackson swiftly sets me down, but his hands never leave my hips. I press my head firmly against the wall, attempting to catch my breath and regain composure but Jackson's eyes stay locked fiercely on mine.

"I see you two are getting reacquainted." Christian announces, and my face flushes with embarrassment as my eyes timidly meet his.

I notice Jack doesn't bother looking away, his eyes linger on my face as if he's locked in deep thought.

I place my hands gently on his, sliding them down my waist until they're no longer connected with my body.

"Christian I'm so sorry, I can explain-" My face burns with embarrassment.

"Allow us five minutes, Chris?" Jackson interrupts and my brows scrunch in a look of disapproval.

"Alright, just leave the manuscripts outside the door.  I'll go get a snack." Christian announces before turning to leave and my eyes raise in shock.

When he's fully out of view I smack Jackson across his chest to scold him.

"That's our boss!" I practically shout. "You can't just ask him to leave!"

"It's your boss," He corrects. "And we needed a minute alone."

"Jack that's not acceptable!" I growl. "I don't know what I let fly before but I really don't want to jeopardize this position and I definitely don't want to be known as the girl who does whatever she wants just because her boyfriend is important to the company." 

I bite my lower lip realizing just how damn embarrassing this whole situation was and knowing full well this will be the latest office gossip.

Before I realize what's happened I feel Jackson's thumb running along my bottom lip gently pulling it out from between my teeth and a blast of heat streams through my veins. He places a gentle kiss on my lips then his forehead presses against mine while he attempts to catch his breath.

"Bloody hell woman, I have zero control around you." He whispers. "This is why I've avoided the office, if we're going to take this slow we'll have to put a bit of space between us."

"Right, the five foot rule." I answer and straighten my skirt while his brow raises in question.

"The five foot rule?" He inquires.

"Oh, I forgot that was only in my head." I answer, chewing on my bottom lip.

"You have to stop doing that." He interrupts, his eyes lingering on my lips.

"Sorry." I apologize, realizing I'm unknowingly bringing his attention to my mouth often. "When I was into you but still trying to sort out my feelings, I felt I had to stay at least five feet away in order to keep a level head."

Jackson's hands clasp behind his back and he abruptly takes one very large step backwards.

Unprepared for his sudden reaction a laugh escapes my lips and I bite my lip to bring a quick end. His eyes immediately land on my mouth and I realize what I've done.

"Sorry." I mutter before covering my mouth with my palm.

"Quit apologizing." He orders with a smirk while placing his hands in his pockets.

"Sorry- Oh-" Damn it.

He tries to hide his smile but I immediately catch it.

"Is your head clear now or should I take another step back?" He teases.

"You might need to leave the room for my head to clear." I joke but he takes another small step back in response. "So why did you really come in?"

"I only stopped by for a bit." He wavers, running a hand through his chocolate hair nervously. "To be honest, I came up with loads of excuses, none that I can even remember now, but I just had to see you."

My heart swells with warmth and my cheeks begin to hurt from attempting to hide a smile.

"I'm really glad you came." I admit, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability.

"I am too." He nods, leaning back and forth on his heel with his hands planted firmly in his pockets. "We're still on for tomorrow, yeah?"

"I'll be there." I nod in return, already dreading him leaving.

We hesitate, silence unbroken between us as I wonder what on earth is an appropriate way for us to say goodbye.  If we kissed we might get caught right back up in the tornado that happened moments ago, yet my chest might just explode with longing if he leaves with a simple goodbye.

Jackson's mind is apparently much less convoluted than mine and his decision is made rather quickly.  He takes a few long strides closer until our bodies are pressed tight against each other and gently takes my face in his hands.

I close my eyes and feel his lips graze my forehead, the warmth of his kiss igniting a slow burn in my chest.  He pulls away slowly and I believe our goodbye is over yet his hands don't leave my cheeks. I don't dare step away and spoil the moment but his hesitation gives me pause.

I'm about to give in and open my eyes until I feel his lips press tenderly against mine.  His soft lips just barely graze mine, warm and sure but still gentle enough to keep both our composures.

Our lips part too soon and our brief encounter and beautiful goodbye leaves me with a greater longing for our next hello.

🔥