No One But You by Michelle Monkou Read Free Book Online Page B

set her portion of the breakfast on the small table and pulled it close to her. The table could act as a barrier to any crazy antics that Jackson had in mind.
    He bit into the bacon and chewed, looking at her.
    “What?” She couldn’t take his scrutiny any longer. “What do you want?” Sara sipped her coffee.
    “Just admiring how beautiful and desirable you look early in the morning.”
    “Thanks.” She kept a watchful eye over the rim of her coffee cup.
    “Good enough to eat.” He bit into a fluffy biscuit and winked.
    “Looks like you’ll get your fill of this food tray with no problems.”
    Jackson shrugged. “What are we going to do today?”
    “ We aren’t doing anything, at least not for the next few hours. I’ve got to go on my interview. I don’t know how long that’ll take.”
    “Don’t forget the pie-eating contest. That starts at five.”
    “I really don’t think that I’m up for any pie-eating contest. I keep telling you this isn’t a pleasure trip.”
    “It’s not a pleasure trip for me, either. I’m here conducting my business.”
    “What business is that?” Sara raised her eyebrow at Jackson’s statement.
    “Figuring out the different stages of relationships with you and then wondering where I am on the ladder.”
    “I only have two main divisions. You’re either a friend or an enemy. Then there is the category where it’s blank. That’s reserved for a person not worth the effort to categorize.”
    “But we slept together. That’s not the action of an enemy.”
    “There was no alternative.” Sara looked at her watch. “Got to run.” She hurried to gather her materials. “I should be back before noon. I’ll check out, then. We can have lunch before heading back.”
    “Would you change your mind and stay, if I pay for another night?”
    “Why?” Sara paused in the doorway. Her face set with stony determination against his manipulation. “Jackson, aren’t you tired of this. What exactly do you hope to get from me? We know each other. Nothing much has changed, except that we’ve grown up and moved on with our lives. Well, at least I have. Keep your cell phone on. I’ll call,” she said before leaving.
    Jackson turned his back on her and went into the bathroom. Sara the college student only existed on the external, physical level. Sara the professional woman exhibited a steely determination that drew his respect. Short of stalking her, he might have to deal with the reality that time was not on his side to win her back.
    After a quick shower, Jackson dressed in a T-shirt and khakis. A walk around town would occupy him. Avoiding any part of the pie-eating contest, he’d try to discover any other weekend activities.
    Remembering her instructions, he repacked his clothing and stowed his toiletries. After he surveyed the area, he spied several books poking out of her suitcase on the chair. Sara wasn’t a reader. She preferred her magazines. And if she did read, it would be biographies.
    Cautiously he flipped open the suitcase, revealing several books. He pushed the top book aside to view the other titles. The common theme drew a frown. Twelve Steps to Financial Well-Being. Getting Comfortable with Wealth Building. Embrace the Rich Lifestyle.
    These books didn’t connect with Sara. She believed in hard work, but didn’t obsess over money. They probably had to do with her current interview, considering the caliber of her subject. He closed the suitcase, wondering about the contents, and left the room.
    Jackson exited the hotel, immediately feeling as if he’d entered a different time period. Small towns weren’t his thing. He liked the energy and diversity of a city with diverse population. Since the town sucked in tourists in good quantity, Jackson surmised that it wouldn’t be long before the open acreage turned into clusters of homes for upper middle income families.
    Here in this community, a short drive from Wisconsin, the small-town pace brought on a wave of