Toeing off my red-soled heels, I lose four inches as my bare feet hit the floor, but I’ve got a thousand things to do and not enough time.
This calls for the big guns.
“Let’s do this, Snowflake.”
“Is she always like this?” Jensen grumbles as he moves the twelve-foot tree a few inches to the left for the… fourth time.
While the Pearce barn has a certain rustic charm to it, I’m still working with far less space than Town Hall, and with the last-minute venue change, I have to put in double the work to make sure this party is everything it should be and more.
Jackson laughs. “Yep.”
“I’m sorry!” I mutter, an apologetic expression on my face. “I think it’s just kind of leaning to the right a little, and the tree is such an important part of the party. It really sets the tone… and my parents will have a fit if it’s not here.”
Jackson’s brother grumbles but moves the tree to the left again, and finally, it sits straight in the perfect position. I hurry over with the box of ornaments and ribbon and start to redecorate it.
Thankfully, a few of Jackson’s siblings and a few of his crew members came to help us put everything back up. If we didn’t have them, there is no possible way we could’ve gotten this done. We have T-minus two hours to make sure everything is done before guests arrive.
“How did Jed take it when you told him about the last-minute change?” Jackson asks as he climbs the ladder to hang another snowflake garland.
“Well, there weren’t any other options. He should’ve replaced the furnace years ago when it needed to be replaced, and we wouldn’t be in this predicament right now. So, he said he would take care of it, and that was that. I think he sent out a text blast, and Wayne is doing house calls for the people who aren’t into technology.”
“Good. Josie said she spread the word to all the teachers at her school, so that probably helped. And… your parents?”
“Uh, they took it as expected. I love my parents with all of my heart, and yes, their approval means a lot to me. It always has. I respect their opinion, but if they decide not to come tonight simply because it’s here, then that would be their loss. I would be hurt because this party is such a special tradition for us, but I also can’t force them to be here when they don’t want to be,” I say, feeling a twinge of disappointment at the thought of my parents not showing up tonight.
Climbing down from the ladder, he takes the ornament I’m holding from my hand and places it on the tree, then pulls me into his arms and kisses me gently. For a second, I forget where we are and who is around us, until I pull back, my eyes wide.
“Jackson…”
“Fuck it. Let them look. You’re mine, Emma, and I want the entire damn world to know it. I’m not hiding the way I feel about you, and if anyone has anything to say about it, then they know exactly where to find me,” he says, a fierce look in his eyes.
My heart feels like it’s in my throat as he speaks. Out of all of the scenarios that I expected to happen when it came to this joint party, falling for Jackson Pearce was not one of them.
And I know that I’m falling for him.
By the way my heart thrashes in my chest every time he smiles. How he acts grumpy when it comes to Mo and Marley but melts like butter anytime they’re around. With how tender and gentle he can be with me but also doesn’t hesitate to call me on the things I’m wrong about.
I’m falling for him, and it’s a scary thought. Not just because of our family’s stupid history but because it feels like I am completely and totally out of control of my feelings.
Being in control, being able to compartmentalize things, it’s how I protect myself, and right now, I feel like I’m bared open wide for him with nothing to protect the most vulnerable part of me: my heart.
“Are you sure?” I say, swallowing the thick ball of emotion at the base of my throat as his arms tighten around me.
“Never been more sure of anything, Emma. What I feel for you is not temporary, and it sure as fuck is not something I’m going to hide.” Leaning down, he brushes his nose against mine as he plants a gentle kiss at the corner of my lip. “Once all of this is over, we can have a bigger conversation about all this, but I need you to know that I’m all in, and I’m not going anywhere.”
He kisses me again, his hand cradling my jaw, so tenderly I could melt into a puddle right on the floor.
“Okay,” I say, nodding. “Tonight we can talk, after the party.”
Jackson nods and steps back, immediately causing me to miss his touch. But if he doesn’t put distance between us, then we’re never going to finish getting the barn party-ready.
“Tell me where you need me,” he says.
I direct him to the few things that need to be hung, and then I busy myself covering the tables that we brought over from Town Hall, resetting them with the elegant centerpieces, place cards, and silverware.
With the help of his crew and the catering company and with some patience from the band, we manage to get everything set back up with twenty minutes to spare.
And… it doesn’t look half-bad.
It actually looks quite charming, much cozier than the outdated Town Hall ever did. The fireplace is crackling, the band set up nearby, leaving a decent-sized dance floor. The Worthington tree twinkles, the flocked branches full of ornaments, ribbon, and lights. It’s exactly what this space needed to tie it together. Glittering snowflakes and faux snow are strewn around the rafters, draped from one side to the other, along with twinkling fairy lights that set the tone. It looks classy but also welcoming and cozy. The barn turned out to be the perfect setting for a party that is somehow both Worthington and Pearce.
The six-tier gingerbread cake is covered in white icing, with piped snowflakes around the base, and sugared ice is sprinkled from top to bottom. It’s beautiful, and judging by the way it smells, it’s going to be as delicious as Jackson promised it would be. I guess not going with vanilla was the right choice. Something I’m sure Jackson will love to tease me about.
I’m beyond proud of the work we’ve done and even prouder that despite everything going wrong at the last minute, we somehow made it way better than what it originally would’ve been.
“Looks good, Emma,” Jude affirms, placing the last of the tea light candles into their holders on the tables.
I smile. “Well, I definitely couldn’t have done it without your brother or any of your help.”
“Yeah, would you look at that… a Pearce and a Worthington, working together. Who would’ve ever thought?” He chuckles. “I’m glad we could help though. It was kind of nice helping today. Makes me think next year maybe I should be in charge of the party.”
“Not a chance in hell, baby brother. Sorry, but my girl is the only one for the job,” Jackson interjects as he walks up, lacing his fingers in mine. “Ready to do this?”
“Yes. Let’s show this town what happens when two ‘feuding families’ come together and throw the party of a century.”
18
jackson
A Very Festive Feud
I’m standing in the middle of a crowded room, the entire town surrounding me, and the only thing I see is Emma Worthington.