Read Online Surge (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 3: St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders by Gina Watson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Gina Watson
Tags: Fiction, General, Suspense, Family & Relationships, Romance, Contemporary, Sagas, new adult, Love & Romance, Collections & Anthologies
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lipstick she wore drew attention straight to her mouth.
In her room Clara looked at herself in the mirror. Her lips weren’t as thick as Lexi’s so outlining them in red lipstick just seemed foolish. She undressed and considered her smaller natural looking breasts. Breasts that would get lost in a dress with a plunging neckline. She turned and looked at her scarred up shoulder and back. Deep jagged rivers meandered down to her lower back. The skin puckered white, but in places was darker than the rest of her pigment. She cringed as a burning sensation radiated through her at the memory of her accident. Being back at the estate made those memories more vivid, but she loved this land and would endure the darkness.
She would never, could never, wear something backless. An A-line dress with a floral pattern hung in her closet. It didn’t have sleeves but at least two inches of material covered the shoulders. The dress came to her knees and the only heels she had were beige kitten-style pumps. Compared to Lexi it seemed she was headed to a convent to celebrate her celibacy. She wondered if Jackson would even notice her next to the siren in red.
She took a deep breath and brushed her long bangs down across her forehead, almost covering her eyelids. Calling on her philosophy class she mumbled, “It is what it is.” She could never be the type of woman who would serve as flashy arm candy and she really didn’t want to be, but if Jackson liked that kind of woman then she would reconsider, for him. She wanted to be what he desired and what he needed.
The best thing about me is you. She pulled a post it from the side of her mirror that hadn’t been there before. Jackson . She’d recognize his barely legible scrawl anywhere. She took the piece of paper in her hands and pulled it close to her heart. “I love you Cracker Jack.” Somehow he always knew what she needed even before she needed it. It was more than incredible. She retrieved her purse and placed the note in the pocket and patted the outside with her hand.
Back in the living room everyone was paired off. As she entered, Cash opened his arm to her. “Clara Bear, you’re beautiful. I’ll be the envy of every man.” She smiled at Cash while she basked in his adoring words.
Across the room her eyes connected with sizzling sapphire jewels. Dressed in a gray Henley and black jeans that fit his body like a glove highlighting every muscle, Jackson embodied every woman’s late night fantasy. Her mouth opened and she breathed out a short shallow breath of air. Standing beside him, also taking him in, was Lexi. Her eyes practically bulged as she scanned down his body and back up, but he didn’t connect with her. Instead he stared into Clara’s soul, their connection, even from across the room, was unmistakable and she hoped no one else would become aware.
Since there were fourteen in their party they loaded into two SUVs. Cash and Clara rode with Logan and Jessie, taking the third seat while Lexi and Jackson took the middle.
Jackson turned to face her and smiled. “Bellefontaine’s playing. You love him.”
“I do.” She returned his smile. “I like the rubboard the best.” Lexi turned and observed their interaction.
Lexi began to twirl her fingers in Jackson’s hair. His hand closed over hers as he placed her arm back on her side of the seat. A few minutes later her body inclined toward his and her fingers found their way back into his hair. Her long sculpted nails raked his neck. When he grasped her fingers this time he wasn’t as gentle. He tossed her arm down and said, “Stop.” Her eyes locked with Clara’s and the fire she saw in them made her uneasy. What was she thinking? Was it Jackson’s presence that caused her to look so vibrant?
Next to her, Cash was oblivious as Isa texted him pictures of herself and the baby.
The next few hours were an exercise in futility. Lexi started to drink and became even more belligerent with Jackson than she’d
In her room Clara looked at herself in the mirror. Her lips weren’t as thick as Lexi’s so outlining them in red lipstick just seemed foolish. She undressed and considered her smaller natural looking breasts. Breasts that would get lost in a dress with a plunging neckline. She turned and looked at her scarred up shoulder and back. Deep jagged rivers meandered down to her lower back. The skin puckered white, but in places was darker than the rest of her pigment. She cringed as a burning sensation radiated through her at the memory of her accident. Being back at the estate made those memories more vivid, but she loved this land and would endure the darkness.
She would never, could never, wear something backless. An A-line dress with a floral pattern hung in her closet. It didn’t have sleeves but at least two inches of material covered the shoulders. The dress came to her knees and the only heels she had were beige kitten-style pumps. Compared to Lexi it seemed she was headed to a convent to celebrate her celibacy. She wondered if Jackson would even notice her next to the siren in red.
She took a deep breath and brushed her long bangs down across her forehead, almost covering her eyelids. Calling on her philosophy class she mumbled, “It is what it is.” She could never be the type of woman who would serve as flashy arm candy and she really didn’t want to be, but if Jackson liked that kind of woman then she would reconsider, for him. She wanted to be what he desired and what he needed.
The best thing about me is you. She pulled a post it from the side of her mirror that hadn’t been there before. Jackson . She’d recognize his barely legible scrawl anywhere. She took the piece of paper in her hands and pulled it close to her heart. “I love you Cracker Jack.” Somehow he always knew what she needed even before she needed it. It was more than incredible. She retrieved her purse and placed the note in the pocket and patted the outside with her hand.
Back in the living room everyone was paired off. As she entered, Cash opened his arm to her. “Clara Bear, you’re beautiful. I’ll be the envy of every man.” She smiled at Cash while she basked in his adoring words.
Across the room her eyes connected with sizzling sapphire jewels. Dressed in a gray Henley and black jeans that fit his body like a glove highlighting every muscle, Jackson embodied every woman’s late night fantasy. Her mouth opened and she breathed out a short shallow breath of air. Standing beside him, also taking him in, was Lexi. Her eyes practically bulged as she scanned down his body and back up, but he didn’t connect with her. Instead he stared into Clara’s soul, their connection, even from across the room, was unmistakable and she hoped no one else would become aware.
Since there were fourteen in their party they loaded into two SUVs. Cash and Clara rode with Logan and Jessie, taking the third seat while Lexi and Jackson took the middle.
Jackson turned to face her and smiled. “Bellefontaine’s playing. You love him.”
“I do.” She returned his smile. “I like the rubboard the best.” Lexi turned and observed their interaction.
Lexi began to twirl her fingers in Jackson’s hair. His hand closed over hers as he placed her arm back on her side of the seat. A few minutes later her body inclined toward his and her fingers found their way back into his hair. Her long sculpted nails raked his neck. When he grasped her fingers this time he wasn’t as gentle. He tossed her arm down and said, “Stop.” Her eyes locked with Clara’s and the fire she saw in them made her uneasy. What was she thinking? Was it Jackson’s presence that caused her to look so vibrant?
Next to her, Cash was oblivious as Isa texted him pictures of herself and the baby.
The next few hours were an exercise in futility. Lexi started to drink and became even more belligerent with Jackson than she’d
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