Page 67 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

If he was so dedicated to his career, did he have room in his life for anything else?

Whatever the answer, I didn’t have time to worry about it now. Today, I needed to focus on Charlie’s party and entertaining a group of parents who were coming to my house for the first time ever. People who gave me polite but distant smiles at the school programs and soccer games.

I could picture the awkward afternoon now. Me, Jackson, Hazel and the bar folk on one side of the yard. The other kids’ parents on the opposite. Logan would likely be mingling with them, impressing them with his small-talk skills and big-city anecdotes. Tomorrow’s grapevine topic would be predictable.

Did you meet Charlie’s father?

What a wonderful man. And so handsome.

How did Thea manage to trap a man like him?

Puke.

“Snap out of it,” I muttered to myself, arranging the bowls of snack mix

and potato chips on a card table.

I’d asked Charlie what she wanted for her birthday party food and she’d requested snacks. It was fitting that Logan had taken to calling Charlie peanut. She loved them. She loved all snacks. I was constantly sneaking down to her fort to replace the stashes in her lunch boxes.

So today we were having a variety of chips and crackers and snack mixes. And since our local grocery store made delicious cakes, I’d ordered one for Charlie, just like I’d done for her other five birthdays.

There were juice boxes for the kids and mini water bottles. I’d also filled a couple of coolers with beer because my side of the lawn divide would definitely be drinking.

I was allowing myself two beers, max. Beer had a tendency to make me loose and flowy. If I had one too many, I’d be defenseless against Logan’s next advance. Three Fat Tires and I’d let him drag me back to his motel room without a peep.

Just the thought of another night with him sent a wave of pleasure down my back. Last night, though a huge mistake, had been incredible. I’d forgotten what real orgasms were like.

“Earth to Thea.”

I jumped at Jackson’s voice, spinning around and clutching my heart. “Hi.”

“You okay?”

“Oh, yeah.” I shrugged him off. “I was, um, just thinking about what else I needed to do for the party. Did you get my text about putting up a sign at the bar? I forgot to make one yesterday.”

One luxury of running the bar was that Jackson and I dictated hours. If it was slow, we closed early. And we did the same on days like today when we had family functions.

“It’s done.” He nodded, leaning past me for a chip.

I caught the smell of alcohol on his breath. It wasn’t uncommon for him to have a couple of beers at the bar, but I was surprised he’d had some before Charlie’s party.

“What do you need me to do?” he asked while crunching.

“Nothing.” I started walking for the porch. “Want a beer?” Or another?

“Are they cold?”

I rolled my eyes. “Once. I served you lukewarm beer at one birthday party. Are you ever going to let that go?”

“Probably not.” He threw an arm over my shoulder for a sideways hug.

The gesture confirmed he’d been drinking. Jackson was always playful and touchy after a few beers. But it was one of the rare afternoons where we were both free to relax, so if he wanted to get a buzz, I wouldn’t hold it against him.

I was just glad he was here. One thing was for sure: even if the other parents huddled together on their own, I’d always have Jackson on my side.

“Uncle Jackson!” Charlie’s Jeep came into view from behind a clump of trees. “Look at what Logan got me!” She waved at him while one hand was firmly gripping the steering wheel.

“Looks great, Chuck!” Jackson waved back with a smile, then dropped the arm he’d had around me. His good mood vanished as he looked from my daughter to me. “So, he showed?”