It took every ounce of willpower Greer could muster to pull away from Jackson. Mom was right. Greer had seen it in his eyes. Desire. She'd been with enough men to recognize the look, guys nothing like him. And that scared the shit out of her. He could already steal her breath with a glance. If he kissed her, no doubt he'd take her heart, too. No, her earlier decision was best. Cut as many ties with him as possible.

"You don't have to sit all the way across the room."

His voice jarred her back to the situation. She'd chosen a chair instead of the sofa. Because if he came close to a liplock, she might cave and that would be a disaster. One kiss wouldn't be enough. Who was she kidding? A million wouldn't be.

"That's okay. I can sit here."

He patted the area next to him. "Oh, come on."

She let the words roll around in her brain for a second, then rose and joined him. No need to make him mad. He'd been so great to counsel with her every day, he probably figured she owed him a kiss or two. No. He'd never expect that. What he did was out of the goodness of his heart because he was a decent man.

"I apologize for being such a blubbering idiot earlier. I get overwhelmed some times. For Emma's sake, I try to keep it together but don't always succeed."

He took her hand, and she let him. And shouldn't have because he gave her fingers a squeeze, then ran his thumb over her knuckles and she caught fire.

His pupils darkened with a hint of disappointment when she pulled her hand free. "So what are we watching?" Better to ignore whatever was happening between them, and something was for sure. A crackle of electricity strong enough to cause a city-wide blackout. Damn, that's all she needed, no power and nothing to do but him. God help her.

He palmed the remote. "Let's see. How about Batman Begins? That was my first date movie after I got my license."

She jerked her head toward him. "How old are you?"

"Twenty-six. Why? How old are you?"

"Maybe we should look for something more recent."

He chuckled. "You're not forty, are you?"

She swatted him. "Do I look forty? And you'd better be careful of the answer, if you know what's good for you."

He laughed, that same deep mellow tone that came from deep in his chest, and he looked so adorable, she wanted to hug him.

"I'm twenty-four, thank you very much."

"I knew it. How about Fifty Shades of Gray?"

She tilted her head and rolled her eyes. "Padre, you should be ashamed of yourself. Besides, I've seen it and really don't get what all the fuss was about."

He continued to scroll the selections. "Paul Blart, Mall Cop?"

"No. Go back. Go back. More. More. There. Avatar."

"Not what I expected. I figured I'd have to suffer through a chick flick."

Pleased with her choice, she breathed easier. A story about a paraplegic and blue people surely wouldn't spark any romantic emotions. She gasped. How could she be so unfeeling? "Oh, I'm sorry. Will it make you uncomfortable because of your brother?"

"Not at all. I just thought you'd go more for a love story."

"They usually deal with happily-ever-after, which is totally unrealistic."

"I disagree."

"That they deal with a happy ending?"

"No, that it's improbable. I know plenty of people with story book endings." He wound a lock of her hair around his finger. "You, Miss Starkey, have a pessimistic outlook concerning love."

"Oh really. Tell me, how many of the couples you've married are still together?"

He coughed. "Huh—no way of knowing."

"Well, I'd bet only half, and of that fifty percent, just a few are happy."

"Let's skip the statistics lesson and watch the show."

The music swelled. Greer kicked off her shoes, tucked her feet under her hips, and settled back. If he kept messing with her hair, it would be a long night.

With the lights low and no conversation, an hour into the story, Greer's eyelids flickered in unison with the screen causing misty images to float in and out of her dream state. One minute she'd watch a falling star, then a sunset where Jackson lifted Emma in the air and spun her. The vision passed, and he stood at home plate, butt swaying, bat cocked over his shoulder, ready to take a swing.

Drifting, she felt the warmth of his arms. His breath on her neck. Fingers tugging at her hair. She snuggled closer, and the world fell away, but someone from far off called.

"Greer. Greer. Wake up. It's over."

Both eyes popped wide. Sitting up, she willed her brain back to reality. "Sorry, I must have dozed off."

"That's okay, but now it's time to cook."

"What? I thought it was time to go home."

"It's early. Besides, there's a lot to be said for eating cookies at midnight and if we get started now, they'll be done just in time." Pulling her up with him, he tugged her toward the kitchen, then motioned to a door behind him. "Flour and sugar." He flipped pages in the cookbook he'd gotten out earlier. "We also need, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and vanilla. I'll get the butter, eggs, chips and chocolate chips."

While Greer loaded her arms, he gathered the rest of the list. "I bet there's a bakery with cookies that look homemade. I could do that."

"And lie to Emma? Not a good idea. You already have one on the books by not telling her about moving." He closed the refrigerator and placed his ingredients next to hers, then pointed to a drawer. "Mixer. I'll get a bowl and preheat the oven."

She followed directions. "Sometimes, a little bitty lie is necessary. You know. For someone's own benefit. Why make her miserable? Besides, it might affect her grades."

"So you think some lies are acceptable? I mean, if they're not malicious?"

Greer dipped her head. "Come on, Rev. A lie is a lie, but everyone does it. Say I ask you if this outfit makes me look fat? You would never say it did, even if that were true. Right?"

Jackson filled a measuring cup with flour, then leveled it with a knife. "I'm not judging. But the truth always come out."

Before she could stop, she flashed a flirty grin. He was even super sexy measuring flour. What was wrong with her? The man was baking for goodness sakes. It wasn't like he was on a beach, half-naked, muscles glistening in the sun.

She paused a moment to conjure that image.

Hot damn.

She swallowed hard. "You're right. And I hope when I break the news to her, she won't realize it's been my plan along. That way, it won't seem so bad."

He nodded. "Okay. To summarize. We all lie, but if it isn't hateful and done for the greater good, then it can, and should be forgiven. That about sum it up?"

"Well, that's what I believe. Will that send me to burn eternally?"

He chuckled and passed the mixer her way. "Cream the butter and sugars together. And I figure a ticket to hell has to be for something more serious than a well-intended lie."

Hovering the beaters over the bowl, Greer smiled at him. "Good to know."

"Good indeed."

She fired up the mixer and when the contents combined, Jackson added the eggs one at a time, while she blended.

Once everything was added, he dumped in the last two items, then gave her the honor of dropping the batter by spoonfuls onto cookie sheets.

When the timer dinged, she retrieved the baked goods and admired her work. "That was easier than I thought."

He grinned, the kind that gave his dimples center stage. "You had a good teacher."

She poked his arm. "Yeah. Who would have thunk it? You teaching me how to bake. Gotta say, Jack, you are a man of many talents."

"Before I'm done, I plan to convert you into a chocolate chip cookie lover."

Arousal heated deep in the pit of her stomach and traveled downward. Right now, he could convince her of anything. She glanced at her watch. "We better clean up and call it a night."

He took two glasses from the cupboard and milk from the fridge. "A good cook always tests the finished product before serving it to anyone else." He filled poured the milk, then lifted two cookies from the pan, placing them on a paper towel. "Get your drink and follow me."

Once seated at the table he picked up a cookie and moved it to her lips. She took a big bite, warm chocolate oozing against her tongue. "It's good."

He slid his thumb across her bottom lip. "You have a little right there."

The slow burn from earlier flamed, and she had to get out of there before she lost control. She crammed the last bite into her mouth, washed it down with a gulp, then wiped her lips. "Yummy. Time to go." She rose from the chair, walked to the counter and gathered the batch.

Jackson followed, put them in a baggie and sealed it.

Twenty minutes later, they stood at her front door too close for comfort. She stepped back, but he moved with her. "Since your mom leaves tomorrow, why don't I bring pizza for dinner?"

"I can't. I can't even meet for lunch. With her here, I've gotten behind with my readings, and since we have Saturday plans, I need to work."

He was close enough, if she looked up, their lips would only be inches apart. Heat settled between her legs. Smoke should be billowing from beneath her skirt.

He put his fingers under her chin and tilted it up. She closed her eyes to protect herself from those deep blues. When nothing happened, she eased on lid open. He stared down at her, his expression dark and molten. Things clenched. Tightened. Tingled. Curled.

So many emotions at once, her knees gave way.

He slipped a hand around her waist. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah. Just lost my footing."

He smiled again, and as he leaned in, she drew a breath and decided to let it happen. She parted her lips in anticipation.

Suddenly, a car from across the street roared to life, peeled from the curb, and the moment was lost. Greer cleared her head and looked at him. His eyes now trained on the space where the vehicle had been.

She touched his arm. "Have you ever gotten the feeling that someone was watching you?"

He snapped his attention to her. "What?"

"Probably my imagination, but lately—I sense that."

----------------------------------------

Dun da dunnn, who is this mysterious car?

Is it the same one both of them have been seeing?

Is it Halley Rae, do you think? Or something more sinister?

Til next time,

x zuz