Last First Kiss by Kimberly Killion, Lori H. Leger Page B

right now.”
    Jackson faced off her irritated gaze with a look of warning. “Pain killers on an empty stomach? Ever had dry heaves with a broken rib, Giselle?”
    Giselle thought about it, hating to admit he was right. Reluctantly, she downed the rest of the milk then stared at the men. “Why are you all here?”
    “After I took Carrie’s place this morning, Jackson and Bill showed up with breakfast.
    She looked at Jackson. “You brought breakfast?”
    “I stopped off at Shoney’s and got an assortment from the breakfast buffet: scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, grits, hash browns, mushrooms in butter sauce...What’ll it be, madam?”
    “Some of everything. I don’t want any dry heaves.”
    Jackson smiled and got up to prepare a plate of food for her.
    “You forgot to tell her about the pancakes with strawberry sauce and whipped cream. They’re awesome, Mom,” Mackenzie added.
    Giselle frowned. “Are you holding out on me, Jackson?”
    “I didn’t know if you could handle anything sweet.”
    She thought again of dry heaving and shuddered. “You may be right.” Giselle looked at Lexie’s face, covered in strawberry sauce and whipped cream. “Lex, have you gotten anything inside your mouth?”
    Bill chuckled. “Don’t worry, she’s eaten plenty.”
    Jackson placed a plate in front of her. “Do you want coffee or juice?”
    “Coffee, please.”
    He brought it to her. “Now eat.”
    She pointed her fork at him. “You’re not the boss of me here,” she gasped. “What time is it, anyway?” She attempted to bring a small bite of scrambled egg to her mouth, only to have it fall off the fork she had gripped in her trembling hand.
    “A little before seven,” Jackson told her, commandeering the fork to bring a bite of egg up to her mouth. She glared at him, but accepted the bite after he did a perfect imitation of a dry heave.
    “Looks like you’re no stranger to dry heaves,” she said, accepting another forkful of food.
    “I went to college,” he said, causing her to grin.
    “Girls, why are you two up so early?” she asked.
    “I got up to pee...,” Lexie began.
    “Say ‘use the bathroom’ please,” Giselle corrected.
    Lexie sighed like the drama queen she was. “I got up to ‘use the bathroom’ and I heard Sam talking to Bill and Jackson. I was so happy to see Jackson, I stayed up. Then I told Mac that Bill was here. Jackson’s my favorite, but Bill is hers.”
    Giselle, who had been listening patiently to the explanation, looked up at the two beaming men.
    Jackson shrugged. “We can’t help it if we’re irresistible to women.”
    She scowled at him. “Not all women.”
    “To the only two who count,” Bill added.
    “I could get used to being somebody’s favorite.” Jackson gave Lexie a huge smile.
    Giselle remembered her prayer asking God to send them help. Maybe these two men were the answer for her girls. Nobody would be able to take her pain of losing Toby away, but if her children didn’t suffer, she could bear it easier. Thank you, God. I owe you one. As soon as the thought formed, the pills seemed to take effect, and the pain eased off immediately. She breathed a deep sigh of relief. I guess I owe you two.
    Jackson leaned over and whispered, “Percocet kicked in?”
    She smiled up at him. “Does it show?”
    “Significantly...Think you can feed yourself now?”
    “Yes, thank you.” She sat up and continued to eat the rest of her breakfast while listening to her daughters shamelessly manipulate the three men at the tale. Giselle laughed when Lexie went to give Jackson a kiss and burped, most unladylike, in his face, making him jerk back with surprised laughter.
    “Whoa...That’s a first for me,” he commented.
    “Sorry Jackson, that was on a asscident ,” she said.
    “Not a problem, Lex.” He laughed and accepted a kiss from her anyway. When Lexie attempted to climb up on his knee, Jackson swung her easily onto his lap.
    “She’ll get strawberry sauce all over