Read Online Jackson (The Love Family Series Book 8) by Kate Allenton - Free Book Online
Authors: Kate Allenton
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over Scarlett’s, giving her fingers a gentle squeeze. “Not quite and I didn’t kiss her. She kissed me.” The grin plastered on his face grew in size. “It was more like a heat-of-the-moment thing.”
His touch calmed her. When she was with him, she felt as though they could conquer the world. She’d missed him and the way he’d made her smile when they were younger. No matter her mood, he had an ease and way of making everything better. There was a part of her that longed for him and always had. Her childhood crush had grown with her into adulthood and now she was the one thinking about the what if’s.
Five minutes later, Jackson backed into a parking space at an indoor storage facility. He killed the ignition and glanced at Scarlett. “Rosie and I were on the trail of a known arms dealer who was always one step ahead of us. She got a tip that shipments were being stored at this facility before being smuggled out of the country.”
“She was right, and I was the only one who believed in her, so when we found the guns, she kissed me in her excitement. It was such a big bust it made her career.”
Scarlett followed him into the facility, unsure what to expect but glad they’d finally get some answers. Scratched linoleum covered the wide hallways. The fluorescent lights above made the walls look yellow. A row of steel storage doors were closed and locked. The secrets hidden inside were kept marginally safe by flimsy locks that looked as though they belonged in a high school hallway.
“I’m sure the bust did wonders for yours, too.”
Jackson placed his palm on her elbow, leading her down another corridor, bypassing the manager’s office. “It did…well, it would have. I left the Bureau shorty after that.”
“Why?”
“My mom was sick, and I went home. Before she died, I made her a promise, and well….I’d never go back on a promise to her.”
“What promise?”
Jackson shook his head but didn’t answer her question. He stopped in front of one of the storage doors. “It was this one.”
Scarlett handed him the key and placed her hand on her stomach to still the butterflies while watching Jackson undo the lock and lift the door.
The unit was dark. Smells of mildew and must lingered in the stale air and assaulted her nose.
Jackson flicked on the light and ushered Scarlett inside. He lowered the door behind them, closing them in. Dust floated in the empty space. A single desk waspushed up against the wall. Sitting on top was a computer and files.
Jackson slipped his fingers through hers and pulled her up against his body. He lowered his head and pressed a tentative kiss to her lips.
Scarlett melted in his arms. She leaned in, wanting and needing more. Her body tingled from his touch, from his taste. It was crazy that they were on the verge of finding answers and Jackson was kissing her.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.
“What was that for?”
A smile formed on his lips. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m making new memories.”
“I like new memories.” She smiled up at him. “But can we get what we came here for and go make memories somewhere more comfortable?”
Scarlett winked and walked over to the desk. A computer sat on top next to a stack of files. She picked up one of the files as Jackson powered on the computer. The emblem on the folder was from Shady Oaks, a mental facility a few towns away. She flipped it open and scanned the medical records inside. The patient’s diagnosis was schizophrenia. What was she supposed to do with that information? She had no idea who this patient was to know if there was anything abnormal. There was no smoking gun in big bold letters that read, this is a lie. She closed it with an odd twinge of disappointment.
A log-in screen popped up, and Jackson typed a few short strokes on the keyboard.
“You know her password?”
He grinned. “Yeah, she told me after the bust. She changed it to the arms dealer’s
His touch calmed her. When she was with him, she felt as though they could conquer the world. She’d missed him and the way he’d made her smile when they were younger. No matter her mood, he had an ease and way of making everything better. There was a part of her that longed for him and always had. Her childhood crush had grown with her into adulthood and now she was the one thinking about the what if’s.
Five minutes later, Jackson backed into a parking space at an indoor storage facility. He killed the ignition and glanced at Scarlett. “Rosie and I were on the trail of a known arms dealer who was always one step ahead of us. She got a tip that shipments were being stored at this facility before being smuggled out of the country.”
“She was right, and I was the only one who believed in her, so when we found the guns, she kissed me in her excitement. It was such a big bust it made her career.”
Scarlett followed him into the facility, unsure what to expect but glad they’d finally get some answers. Scratched linoleum covered the wide hallways. The fluorescent lights above made the walls look yellow. A row of steel storage doors were closed and locked. The secrets hidden inside were kept marginally safe by flimsy locks that looked as though they belonged in a high school hallway.
“I’m sure the bust did wonders for yours, too.”
Jackson placed his palm on her elbow, leading her down another corridor, bypassing the manager’s office. “It did…well, it would have. I left the Bureau shorty after that.”
“Why?”
“My mom was sick, and I went home. Before she died, I made her a promise, and well….I’d never go back on a promise to her.”
“What promise?”
Jackson shook his head but didn’t answer her question. He stopped in front of one of the storage doors. “It was this one.”
Scarlett handed him the key and placed her hand on her stomach to still the butterflies while watching Jackson undo the lock and lift the door.
The unit was dark. Smells of mildew and must lingered in the stale air and assaulted her nose.
Jackson flicked on the light and ushered Scarlett inside. He lowered the door behind them, closing them in. Dust floated in the empty space. A single desk waspushed up against the wall. Sitting on top was a computer and files.
Jackson slipped his fingers through hers and pulled her up against his body. He lowered his head and pressed a tentative kiss to her lips.
Scarlett melted in his arms. She leaned in, wanting and needing more. Her body tingled from his touch, from his taste. It was crazy that they were on the verge of finding answers and Jackson was kissing her.
He broke the kiss and rested his forehead against hers.
“What was that for?”
A smile formed on his lips. His eyes sparkled with mischief. “I’m making new memories.”
“I like new memories.” She smiled up at him. “But can we get what we came here for and go make memories somewhere more comfortable?”
Scarlett winked and walked over to the desk. A computer sat on top next to a stack of files. She picked up one of the files as Jackson powered on the computer. The emblem on the folder was from Shady Oaks, a mental facility a few towns away. She flipped it open and scanned the medical records inside. The patient’s diagnosis was schizophrenia. What was she supposed to do with that information? She had no idea who this patient was to know if there was anything abnormal. There was no smoking gun in big bold letters that read, this is a lie. She closed it with an odd twinge of disappointment.
A log-in screen popped up, and Jackson typed a few short strokes on the keyboard.
“You know her password?”
He grinned. “Yeah, she told me after the bust. She changed it to the arms dealer’s
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