The Truth About Fairy Tales by Annie Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

Jackson’s drift.              
    “I can’t have visitors here. I’m trying to work .”
                  “Then what time do you get off?”
                  While my mind considered which lie to tell him, he said, “The owner, Edward Rosario is a very good friend of mine. I just wanted you to know that before you answered.”
                  Of course he’d known I was about to tell him the whopper of all lies. “I’ll finish up in about ten minutes.”
                  “Good, then I’ll meet you at Starrias in thirty minutes.”
                  I was only too happy to agree to dinner. Not that I intended to meet him there. I just wanted to get rid of him so that I could make my escape.
                  “Sure, fine, whatever...I’ll see you there.” His gaze narrowed at my eagerness and I smiled, hoping to make him forget whatever doubts he had. His disturbing gaze slid over me slowly. After another lazy minute slipped by, Jackson turned and walked away from me without another word. I let go of the breath I’d been holding. As far as I was concerned, I’d never have to see him again.
                  Once the nice family left, I gathered my things and was out the back door and half way across the parking lot before I noticed that parked next to my tiny car and putting it very much to shame was Jackson’s far more expensive vehicle.
                  “Shit.” I murmured under my breath. With no other means of escape, I walked over to where he stood next to the passenger door.
                  “Nice try. Did you really take me for an idiot?” I stopped in front of him, but I didn’t dare answer.
                  “Get in, little bit.” I looked around for some way to get out of this awkward moment, while he held open the door for me. I was caught. Good and caught.
                  I started to climb inside when he took me in his arms and kissed me. I forgot all about never wanting to see him again. I was almost willing to become his Miss Sunday Night, if that’s what he wanted.
                  Jackson closed the door and went around to the driver’s side. I remembered I still wore those cheap little plastic hair barrettes that held my bangs in place and made me look about ten. I quickly removed them before he got in hoping he hadn’t seen them in the first place.
                  The silence in the car’s interior became palpable. Jackson watched e in the darkness. There was no way I was going to look at him. Uh-uh...no way.
                  “Where are the barrettes?” Okay that had my gaze ricocheting to his. “I liked the barrettes.” He said almost to himself before he started the car.
                  Considering I was still dressed in my best work uniform consisting of a starched white shirt and an ugly plain black skirt, I figured okay we’d end up at some fast food joint where no one knew him. I couldn't begin to hide my surprise when he stopped the car out front of Starrias and the valet came to take it away.              
                  “I can’t go in there,” I told him while reaching the panic stage. I mean it wasn’t as if I didn’t want to go to Starrias. I’d only heard about the place from a few people who’d actually been there, but I couldn’t go in there dressed like one of the wait staff.
                  Jackson, well he simply smiled at me in what had all the beginnings of being indulgent then he got out of the car.
                  He handed the keys to the valet and took my hand. The same one that still held those black barrettes in them. Slowly he unfolded my fingers, saw what lay inside, and smiled before taking my little barrettes and putting them in his pocket.
                  “You look fine. Better than fine, in