78 Dip

After breakfast and a lot more coffee everyone seemed to lighten up. Sarina and Brian went home to their babies and then Alyssa and Ethan left at the same time too. Me and Lirael ran to the door to peak out of a the crack to watch what they did. Ethan walked her to her car and they seemed to gravitate to each other but realize it and back off shyly. 

"Just kiss her you idiot..." I hiss under my breath. 

Lirael laughed and started to take a deep breath like she was preparing to shout, making me turn and cover her mouth. 

"No! That'll make Ethan even more shy and it might ruin the moment!" I hiss at her before turning around and peeking back out side. 

Alyssa's door was open, like she was going to get in and leave, but Ethan caught her hand and pulled her back out towards him. 

"Are they kissing?" Lirael asked. From this angle it was hard to tell for sure. 

When Alyssa wrapped her arms around Ethan's shoulders and their heads turned, deepening the now evident kiss, I pushed the door close as me and Lirael started fawning over it.

"AHHH!" We shouted in unison.

"Yes! It worked!" Lirael walked proudly back to the bar area where the guys were staring at us like we were nuts. I guess we kind of were. Jackson merely shook his head at us and went back to drinking more coffee.

"Are you ready to go, Lita?" Jackson asks, after downing the rest of his coffee.

"Yes, I am. I'm sorry, did you have something you needed to do today?" 

Jackson gives me a confused raise of his brow, "We should talk to a lawyer about your mother being in that house and the taxes. Why should you pay for her to live there?" 

That immediately soured my mood, but he was right. "You're right. What lawyer is going to be open today?" 

"What's the problem?" Lance leans forward, "I might be able to help you out."

Sighing, I take a seat next to Jackson, "I've been paying the taxes on my fathers home since he's passed. No body is supposed to be there, but my mother was there after being gone for the past twenty something years." 

"Do you know if they were legally divorced or if there is any documentation stating that the house only had your fathers name on it and became yours with his death?" Lance asks.

Shrugging I toss my hands up, "Not entirely positive about that. I have to go through all my paperwork that I was given when he passed. It really wasn't much. If there's any paperwork in that house, my mother is the one is possession of it now. Honestly, I could care less about the house. She can live there if she wants to. I am not paying for it though." 

Lance hums, "Well, give me a call when you look at your paperwork and let me know. I can see what we can do to help you out."

"Thank you Lance, I appreciate it." 

"No problem, Mel." He pulls me in for a quick hug, "Don't stress yourself over it. Regardless, we can get things taken care of."

Lirael gives me a hug, "Give me a call if you want to talk later." 

I nod and get enveloped by Sarina from behind, "Call either of us. We are here for you love."

"Thanks you guys are awesome." I say quietly, placing my arms on top of Sarina's.

We take off and I let Jackson know that paperwork will be at my house.

"Alright. Where? I can send my driver David to pick it up?"

"Isn't it about time we went back home?" I ask. The apartment was great but I was missing my own home.

"I have to make some phone calls and make sure. You could most likely go home but I know that the press are still outside my residence." He places his hand on my thigh in a soothing manner.

"Then you can stay with me? I don't mind."

"I don't know if there's room in your closet for me." He chuckles.

"I can make room." I offer.

He squeezes my thigh, "Okay, let me make sure your house is fine. Then I'll let John know we will be leaving the apartment."

He presses the call button on the car and makes a call and after a quick conversation, we head back to the apartment and give David a call to head to my place. Someone was watching my place at the moment, that wasn't associated with Jackson's men. 

That bothered me, but the man said he was waiting on more information to be sent to him about who was watching my home. I stared out the window, wondering why they would be watching my home like that. Any news agency knows the backlash that would come if caught.

We make our way to the door of the apartment when we're greeted by Derek who's heading out. "Oh, you two are back. Did you have a good time?"

"Yes, we did. Thank you." I reply politely as he nods smiling.

"Good to hear." Derek waves and exits as we enter the door. 

We make our way in and Jackson closes the door and makes his way to the bedroom, taking his shoes off and going to the bathroom. He comes back out in sweats and t shirt that has me biting my lower lip drinking him in.

He catches me looking at him like a tall drink of water and gives me that devilish smile. 

"Behave... David is coming over." He chides me playfully.

I rest my elbows on the edge of the sofa that I'm on and bite my thumb before releasing my wanton desires out loud, "What if I don't want to behave?" I cock a brow at him as he grows slightly flustered his mouth opening in disbelief for a moment.

"Well.. that's ..." He clears his throat, "just too bad for you." He straightens his facial reactions to me and grows stern, crossing his arms over his chest.

I scoff, standing and begin to saunter my way over to him, "Bad for me?" I tease demurely, "Or for you?" I quirk a brow and strut to the bedroom to begin taking off my own clothes. I pull out my two piece, bathing suit and begin to put it on. I noticed that today was nice and warm earlier, so perfect for going into the plunge pool up on the roof. I just finished pulling my bottoms up and turned to grab a towel when Jackson comes to stand at the doorway. His eyes are drinking me in as I take the towel and walk on by, smirking at him.

A soft groan escapes his lips as I walk away going to the stairs that lead to the rooftop. I lay out the towel and walk into the pool. I start doing a few short laps going back and forth, touching each side before turning and going back to the other side. I change my stroke going to the breast stroke and then turn to my back and just float, enjoying the sun. I head back out to lay on my towel on the reclining chair, resting on my stomach, my face cradled in my arms. 

I must have dozed off, because next thing I know, Jackson is turning me over to pick me up and carry me. I hum and lean my head into his chest as he carries me down the stairs. He lays me on the bed and comes back with something from the bathroom. 

I'm startled when something cold hits my back.

"AH!" I shoot up as he starts laughing, "That's cold!" I hiss.

"Yeah, well do you want to deal with a sunburn? You've been out there in the sun with no sunblock on for at least thirty minutes." He asks smiling while crossing his arms over his chest, still holding the bottle of aloe gel. 

"I got burned?" I try to look at my shoulders and notice I am a little pink but don't feel burnt. "It doesn't feel too bad. It shouldn't be that bad if it was only for thirty minutes. " Looking at the scowl that crosses his face I huff and flop back down, "If you insist."

"Now that's better." Jackson comes over and starts rubbing the aloe into my back. 

"Did David come by yet?"

"No actually. He called telling me someone has been following him. He's doing the best he can to lose them, but they're pretty good. So he's going by Mr. Sawyer's home to drop off the records and head back to my place. Mr. Sawyer can then send one of his people out to bring us the paperwork."

I sigh, "I wish these people would just stop already..." grumbling into the bed, "I want to go home."

Jackson's hands disappear from my back, "You know, I truly never meant to bring this upon you, Lita." His voice has a trace of pain in it giving me pause.

"I know that." I roll over onto my side to look at him better. "It's just one of the inconveniences that I have to deal with to be with you. I want to go home, yes, however, you're worth it."

Jackson's eyes soften and warm as he looks at me, a soft grin catching the corners of his lips. "Have I told you that I love you?" 

Blushing, I dip my chin to my chest before responding, "Yes, but you can always tell me again."