JACKSON HANDED NATASHA his spare helmet the next morning. She stared at it at first, wanting so much to suggest that they take her car wherever it was he wanted to go, but the smirk of challenge on his face was what did her in. She shoved the helmet on her head and swung a leg over the bike.
“Any excuse to have my arms around your waist,” she said, her voice muffled.
“And those damn long legs too,” was his reply before he lowered his visor and revved the engine.
In seconds they were speeding along the Mallory Manor driveway and into the open road. Natasha’s body felt awkward at first. It had been a while since she’d been on his bike. As if to tease her, he popped a wheelie as they headed into town. She squealed, squeezing him tighter. The bike bounced when he lowered the front wheel onto the asphalt.
“Jerk,” she shouted.
“You know you like it,” he teased.
He was right. As they sped by, she tightened the grip of her thighs against his and slowly let go of his waist, spreading her arms wide. Then, like she had done countless times before, she raised her arms above her head and shouted for joy at the top of her lungs.
Fifteen minutes later, Jackson was parking the bike in front of a two-story brick building at the edge of downtown. The large windows were covered with brown paper. She removed her helmet and stared up at the building.
“Did you really buy this place?” she asked.
Jackson removed his helmet and rested it between the handlebars. Then he reached back and took her hand, helping her off the bike, before he flipped the kickstand and swung his leg over. He placed his hands on his hips and breathed.
“Yeah,” he said, a hint of nervousness in his voice.
He took her hand and entwined their fingers. Using her shock, he pulled her with him toward the front door. Fishing out a key from his pocket, he unlocked the door and pushed it in.
Despite the covered windows, sunbeams managed to find a way in, giving the place a spring glow. Dust floated to the floor like snow.
“Wow.” Natasha turned in a tight circle, taking in the entire space. The hardwood floors were still in good condition. There was lots of room. Big windows let in natural light. It smelled musty, but nothing a quick cleaning wouldn’t fix.
“Welcome to Underground Studios.” Jackson spread his arms out. “I’ve always wanted a studio of my own. A place where I can produce my music independently.”
“That’s huge!” Then her eyes widened. She ran into his arms and peppered his face with kisses. He laughed, holding her tightly.
“You’re not leaving.”
“I told you.” He lifted a finger and tapped the tip of her nose. “I’m here to stay. Nothing you do will change that. I realized I can make music anywhere. I will still tour and there will be a ton of gigs, but my life is in DoCo. With my family. With my friends. With you.”
“I feel like I have to do something,” she said, pouting. “Help out somehow.”
“Are you sure?” Jackson’s eyebrow arched.
“I’m sure.”
“All right. But you have to do something first.” Jackson held up his index finger.
Natasha backed out of his arms. She clasped her hands in front of her. The pit of her stomach felt bottomless with a million knots in it. Lifting her chin, she told herself that whatever it was, she was ready.
“You have to promise to love me forever and ever.”
She rolled her eyes. “What are we? Twelve?”
But he was serious. “Promise me.”
Taking a deep breath, Natasha raised her right hand like she was about to recite the Pledge of Allegiance and said, “I, Natasha Parker, promise to love you, Jackson Fitzgerald Mallory, forever and ever.”
He smirked. “Well, only time will tell.”
“So full of yourself,” she muttered under her breath. But when she smiled, he smiled too. “Come on, there has to be something I can do.” Then the idea came to Natasha’s mind. “Let me help you set up this place.”
Jackson rubbed his chin. “But don’t you have events to help organize and attend? I can manage here.”
Natasha shook her head. “Jax, when you left, I feel like I lost a part of me.” She raised a hand, stalling him from saying anything else. “Let me get this out. You wouldn’t let me speak last night.”
“Okay.”
She took a deep breath before continuing. “I slowly realized that planning and attending events is just a part of my DoCo life, but it’s not what I want to do for the rest of it.”
“College, then?”
“Maybe. But for now, I want to take things a day at a time. And the first task is helping you get this studio up and running. Who knows what will happen after that?”
He closed his hand over hers and pulled her forward until his arms encircled her waist. She placed both her hands against his chest, leaning away so she could look him in the eyes.
“Good,” she said. “For a second there I thought you didn’t need me.”
He kissed her forehead. “I need you, Tash. I will always need you. Between us, we will take over the world.”
He needed her. The word brought welcome warmth all over her body. To be useful to him, that was what she wanted. It felt right.
He took her hand once again and led her up the stairs to the second floor of the building. Several doors lined the hallway they entered. Jackson opened the second door to the left and ushered her inside.
Natasha gasped.
On the far wall of the huge open space was her portrait.
“You were the one who bought it,” she whispered.
“Not at first.” Jackson scratched his eyebrow with his thumb. “I bought it from the guy who did. I couldn’t stand someone else having it.”
Her heart melted all over again.
“What will this room be?” she asked. The space was cleaner than the one downstairs.
“My apartment,” he said. “Eventually, I hope it’ll be our apartment.”
She turned away from the painting to face him. “Really?”
“This…” He pointed at himself and then at her. “You and me. This is it for me. Forever.”
She held his face between her palms and leaned in for a kiss. Then she whispered against his lips, “Forever.”
Then she turned around and faced the painting again. The possibilities were endless. With Jackson by her side, forever was finally figured out. The rest was easy.