-J A C K S O N-

"THANK YOU SO MUCH. You have no idea how much this means to me and how much it would mean to my dad." I smile at Lynn, holding up the piece of valuable paper in my hand.

Lynn grins, tucking a strand of her curls behind her ear. "It is no problem, Jackson. I'm glad to help, kids are amazing."

"They really are," I nod in acknowledgement and stand to my feet once Lynn does. "It was good meeting you, Mrs Hendrix. I hope we can become good friends."

She extends her hand, shaking it firmly. "You too, Mr Stone. And I'd be glad."

Once she grabs everything, I walk her to my office door. She leaves and Linda offers to walk her back to her bookstore.

Maybe I will visit there some time in the near future. We never know.

Immediately, my eyes fall to the check in my hand and I smile gratefully. My dad would be so thankful.

I safely tuck it away in my jeans pocket and make my way out of my office. I close the door and glance around the slightly packed bookshops.

I catch Lily and Alex laughing with a group of friends with books in their hands.

My blood runs cold when a guy around my age touches Lily's arm. I feel like walking over to him and teaching him a lesson on not touching my girl.

I'm immediately surprised by my thoughts.

I am not violent, I tell myself.

I sigh and walk back into my office, putting the check away safely and making my way toward them.

It's like Lily knows I am on my way to them because she turns to me with a soft smile grazing her soft lips. I smile right back, standing next to her and pressing my hand on her lower back.

"Hi," she mutters.

"Hi," I grin and can't help but wink at her. Her cheeks turn a flame red and I look up and meet Alex's surprised gaze.

"Hey, Alex!" I greet.

"Hey Jack," she grins and her eyes glance down at Lily who's eyes are solely on me. "You didn't bother to tell me?"

Lily finally looks at Alex after some time and raises a brow. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh, so now you want to play dumb?"

I laugh and Lily shakes her head no. "I really have no idea what you're talking about, Alex."

Alex starts scowling playfully. "You didn't bother to tell me you guys are dating? C'mon, babe, I'm your best friend!"

Lily's cheeks flushes darker and she stutters. "I-We're not uh-"

I can't contain my laughter and I glance at the group of friends who stare at us intriguingly. I smile at them, nodding.

"Hey, I'm Jackson." I introduce.

"Amanda."

"Jade."

"Kade. She's my sister."

"They didn't ask, Kade. Stop telling everyone."

"Lia."

"Maddy short for Madeleine."

"Wyatt."

"You're gorgeous."

"Hey, I'm still here!"

"Brooks."

Brooks is the guy who touched Lily and I just send him a tight-lipped smile. He makes me sick just looking at him. One blow wouldn't mean anything, right?

"We were just talking about which After movie was better." Lily smiles at me and I chuckle.

"I hate that movie."

Everybody's heads snap in my direction, hard enough for it to snap off. I raise my brow at that.

"What?"

They all just stare at me like they saw a ghost, well, except Alex. She seems to be enjoying their reactions.

Wyatt-whom I think is the one with the ash blonde hair-just shakes his head in disappointment. "That movie is amazeballs!"

I don't why, but Lily and I burst out laughing together. Even while Lily just stares at me with a blush and wide eyes, I can't stop my laughter.

These kids are funny.

I wonder how old some of them are. Some look around my age and some look like they are just entering the adult world.

"I watched the first one, it's boring." I shrug.

"Did you watch the whole movie?" Lily asks, raising one of her beautifully plucked brows.

"No, of course not. Why would I-"

Lily shakes her head. "Which is why you didn't enjoy!"

Everyone starts agreeing, saying 'I agree' or 'yip' the whole time. I just laugh and Lily pulls at my shirt.

"We can watch it together and I will make you love the movie!" She says, kissing my chest. I clench my hand, in dire need of having her kiss my lips instead of my chest.

"Sure."

A bunch of awws and oh-la-la travels all throughout the teen fiction section of this bookstore. I just laugh, gripping Lily's waist and caressing it.

From the corner of my eye, I see Alex smiling at a blushing Lily. It makes me smile.

✎✎✎

I'm sitting at the checkout when Lily strolls over to me with a book in her hand. She places it on counter and starts taking her purse out.

"What's this?" I ask, holding up the book. "Evening Class by Maeve Binchy?" I cannot hold back my grin as I stare at Lily. "You read Maeve Binchy?"

She laughs, "yes. Did I not tell you about Scarlet Feather? A book by Maeve as well."

"I weirdly don't remember if you did. . ."

Lily raises a brow, holding a hand over her nice curvy hip. "Well, I think I know I did."

I just stare at her, amused. I think I know I did. Sounds so silly yet cool at the same time. Lily puts her card on the table and smiles up at me.

I shake my head no. "Keep it. I allow Linda to take some books when she wants as long as she doesn't go overboard."

Lily just stares at me then points to her card. "Come on, ring it up."

"Just take the book, Lily!" I roll my eyes.

"No, Jackson," she narrows her eyes at me. "Either I'm paying or I'm not buying."

I raise my eyebrows, up for a challenge. "Then don't buy it."

She groans out loud. "But I want the book!"

Laughing, I lean back in my seat. "Than take the book!"

"Take the money!"

"Nope."

"Than no."

She is so stubborn. "Fine than, I'll ring the book up and then there is no date."

I take the book and prepare to push it past the scanner. "Okay, fine! I'll take the book."

She pouts and I grin, handing it to her as well as her card. "Have a wonderful day onwards, sweetheart!"

"I can't believe he threatens not to go out with me!" Lily mutters, walking away. "Stupid feelings."

I don't stop myself as my eyes go wide. My heartbeat starts picking up and I run a hand over my face. What is wrong with me? Why am I acting like this just because I heard something about feelings?

Because it's feelings. Damn.

I bite down on my lip to take me out of my complete and utter shock. A wind of emotions overtake me and I sigh.

It's like there is a river bubbling through my veins and flushing my face. This is an exhausting interval of passion.

A lightning bolt jolts in my heart and I stand to my feet, not being able to take it anymore. So damn overwhelming.

"Amy!" I call out and watch as smiles to a customer and I hear a faint thank you coming from them. Amy makes her way over to me, smiling. "Could you take over for me? I'll be right back."

"Sure."

I mumble a thanks and rush to the back and into my office. One of these days I'm going to die because of Lily and I am going to like it.

I take a seat behind the table and start tidying up the desk. I am just trying to keep myself busy. Not to think about but you see, it's hard because well, it's Lily for goodness sake.

Ten years ago, I fell in love or just had a huge thing for Lily. Ten years later, she is wanting to work at my dad's famous ol' bookstore. I fall madly in love with her all over again and it's more complicated because my mind just keeps is lying games with me.

I'm serious, I don't want to play no games.

By the time I am finished cleaning my office, Linda enters. She lets me know that we are closing up and I groan in disappointment.

I was supposed to get back to Amy. I wonder if she's gone already. "Where's Amy?"

"She left," Linda says, raising a brow.

I groan again. "Damnit! Was she mad or something?"

Linda shakes her head no and leaves the office. I gather all my belongings and leave the office, locking it behind me.

I bump into Lily on the way out. "Do you want to go for hot chocolate?"

I grin. "Definitely."

✎✎✎

The weather is chilly yet comfortable as Lily and I stroll through the snowy park filled with children playing games with their older siblings or parents.

The lights are decorating the whole park like a room filled with Chrismas joy, twinkling in the night. If you would rather have a seat on the bench, you would have to dust it off and it would take some time.

Christmas music plays through the speakers in the park softly and could be heard all throughout.

"Jack?" Lily whispers, leaning her head against my shoulder as we stroll past many loving couples, happy families and best friends.

I look down at Lily but her eyes are ahead and I just look ahead as well. "Hmm."

She silently sighs, taking a sip of her hot chocolate. "What was that meeting thing about? With you and that lady in the office."

Her voice sounds so distant and I try not to chuckle. Why do I feel like she sounds jealous? Because that would just make you feel great. Ain't that the truth?

I just smile in return and take a sip of my drink. "Her name is Lynn, she owns the bookstore down the road and Linda just had to tell her about the donations and funds my dad does every Chrismas so she offered a check to us."

Lily halts in her steps and stare up at me. "Really? Well, not to sound rude or anything, but how much was it?"

I laugh. "Fifteen thousand dollars."

She grins. "She must be really sweet to offer that much!"

I nod. "She really is amazing and if you got to know her, you'd love."

I don't miss how something in her eyes changes but it's there as soon as it's gone. I feel bad, somehow.

"And she speaks about her husband a lot."

Lily's eyes are wide and bright as if what I just said relieved her of some sort. This girl is really the love of my life and in my head, I am not afraid to admit it.

"She-She's married?" Lily stutters. "I-I just thought that. . ."

"You thought something would happen between us?" I laugh and her cheeks turn a bright red. "It's okay to be jealous, sweetheart. You're human."

"Stop. I'm not at all jealous, I thought that maybe she was here for a job and would be you know, the-"

"Lily, it's okay. I understand!"

The rest of the walk through the park was amazing. Lily have been talking about her family and relatives that she haven't seen in a long time.

I laughed when she told me I should meet her cousin, Allen. She said she was beautiful, like a model and loyal but then she started telling me that she wasn't loyal and that I should never meet her.

Why she said so?

Because she thought she was suggesting another woman for me. Like she didn't want to be with me and wanted to set me up with someone else.

She doesn't even have to worry about that because no girl could ever have me wrapped around their finger like she does.

I laughed all the way to the car. The rest of the ride was filled with us singing Chrismas carols or more like Lily singing Christmas carols.

The music was loud and I just pretended I was singing along when I was actually lip sincing. I would put softer and Lily would sing so loud that it sounded beautiful and ear bursting at the same time. No offense.

I dropped Lily off at the bookstore where her car was waiting. When she reached to open the door, it was locked. I just smiled.

"The door is locked," Lily says a matter of factly and faces me. "In case you didn't know."

I laugh. "I did know actually. Are you not missing anything?"

She raises her brow and looks around the car. "Nope-oh my bag!" She reaches over to the back to grab her bag. Her stomach opens a little and I shamelessly stare. She is so gorgeous. "There we go, can you unlock the door now?"

"You're still missing something." I roll my eyes.

She shakes her head no. "I'm not missing anything!"

I lie my head back against the seat and relax, shutting my eyes. "You're not leaving until you know what I want. It's something that has to do with contact and-"

Before I can finish my sentence, Lily's lips are on mine. Atta girl. I do the one unmistakable thing and grab her waist, bringing her to straddle my lap.

My hand fly to her cheek and the other holds her waist.

Our lips move in sinc and Lily's arm wraps around my neck. I hear her let out a little moan and I groan in satisfaction. Her hands start wandering around in my hair and she tugs at it everytime I bite down on her lip.

I bring her as close to me as possible, like a sandwich. Her lips leave mine and she starts kissing my jaw.

My whole body feels like a bottle of soda about to explode. I savour her fluid and sulk lips on my skin.

The stimulation in our closeness is frenzy chaos.

I grip Lily's hip, groaning when her lips find the sweet spot behind my ear. I feel her smile against me and she continues to kiss and lick at that very spot.

I curse under my breath, knowing this can't go too far. It's like Lily reads my mind before she places her lips back on mine and we are moving in sinc once again. She places a last soft and tendering kiss on my lips before pulling away and staring at me.

Her skin was glowing under the moonlight and showed a great appearance in her flashing eyes.

"I will never forget to give you a kiss!" She winks, climbing off my lap and grabbing her bag. She unlocks the door, to her advantage, and with another soft kiss, she whispers; "goodnight, Jackson Stone."

"Goodnight, sweetheart, don't dream of me too much!" I grin and she winks at me.

"That's easier said than done."