Luckily, Jackson caught himself before he got past making the fist. He smiled and took a calming breath.
“You’ll be waiting a long time,” he told the other man. “I think I’m going to hold onto this one.”
Mr. Cannon laughed like Jackson had told the world’s most hilarious joke. “You? I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Jackson willed himself to uncurl his fingers. There was no reason to be angry. Mr. Cannon wasn’t saying anything bad about Emma, or Jackson. It was the idea that Jackson would leave her that made him angry.
Even Jackson could admit that with his track record, it was a fair assumption to make. He wasn’t sure why hearing it out loud made him so angry.
“So, onto business,” Jackson announced. He needed to stop thinking about Emma. He needed to concentrate on his business.
“If you say so,” Mr. Cannon replied. He motioned for another drink as the waitress walked by.
Two hours later, the meeting was over.
You home? Jackson texted Emma. He could already imagine himself finding her naked in his bed when he walked home. He rather liked that option.
Babysitting Sammy. I’ll be home in an hour, Emma replied.
Jackson sighed. He didn’t want to go home without her there.
Jackson didn’t know quite what to do with himself. All his regular habits were thrown off. He wouldn’t be going upstairs to the penthouse suite with a leggy blonde, but he didn’t want to go home to an empty house, either.
So, he went to the bar and got a drink. One more drink, and he would head home. He could take his time and get there around the same time Emma would. The idea made him happy.
“Hello, stranger,” a sensual voice purred from behind him. A soft touch ran across his shoulders.
“Katy.” Jackson recognized the voice and the soft touch. Standing next to him in a gown made for sliding to the floor, was Katy. She was often the leggy blonde that went upstairs with him after these meetings.
“I was in town and thought I might find you here,” she purred, sliding onto the bar stool next to him. Everything about her oozed sex. From her exposed cleavage to the way she kept her legs pointed directly at him, she wanted him.
But for the first time in his life, he didn’t want her.
Any red-blooded male with a heartbeat should have swooped Katy up and taken what she willingly offered. The woman was sex appeal walking, and an eager and willing partner, but Jackson couldn’t find the desire to sleep with her.
He didn’t want her.
It was a very strange feeling.
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested tonight, Katy,” Jackson said, the words forming strangely in his mouth.
Katy’s eyes went wide. “What?”
“I said I’m not interested tonight,” Jackson repeated. It was easier the second time.
Katy blinked rapidly. She had probably never heard those words in her life. “Are you serious?”
She crossed her arms, showing off her massive, half-covered breasts, and pouted. Her red lips looked primed for sucking and kissing.
And he didn’t care.
Jackson chuckled and stood up, leaving his drink half finished on the bar. “Yeah. I am. Have a great night.”
He tossed some money on the counter for his half-finished drink. He didn’t want it anymore. A thought hit him. Flowers for Emma.
Only, more. More than just a single bouquet. A whole flower shop. He wanted to see her smile. He had an hour to pull it off.
“Come on, Jackson,” Katy purred, putting her hand on his chest. “Stay with me. We always have such a good time.”