Hot Pink Heels (The Street Series) (27 page)

Jackson was in the passenger’s seat of the Ferrari, cradling Clarissa gently while he held a tissue to her neck. He’d almost lost her, and the reality suddenly hit him. Jason was driving like he’d stolen the car, pushing triple digits as he headed straight for the nearby hospital. Although Clarissa was in no real danger, both men still seemed determined to break a land record for the car.

Harry had returned to the warehouse to free Amanda and Whitney and fill them in on the happenings, as they could only hear bits and pieces of what had happened through the phone.

He made short work of the girl’s bindings, which freed them to rain punches and slaps down on him, but soon they were smiling as he shared about Clarissa’s freedom.

“So where is she?” Amanda asked, eyeing the door as if she expected them to come through it at any moment.

“Well, there was a minor complication, as she was nicked in the throat and Billy had broken her arm pretty badly,” Harry began.

“I’ll kill the
son of a bitch myself,” Amanda ground out as she threw open the front doors, determined to find Billy.

“Uh, that won’t be necessary,” Harry said, stopping her with one hand on her arm. “Billy’s dead. Jason tackled him and he was holding a knife on Clarissa at the time.
The knife punctured his lung and entered his heart; it was over almost immediately.”

“Where are they?” Amanda was frantic now. “Tell me where they are, Harry.”

“They’re at the hospital, getting help for Clarissa,” Harry said. The three headed to the Miata as one, with Harry at the wheel.

Just minutes later, they arrived at the hospital and were informed they would have to wait, because Clarissa’s wounds and injuries were being assessed in triage. “Jack!” Amanda beamed at him, crossing the room quickly before slugging him in the stomach.

“Ow! Hey, what was that for?” He grabbed his stomach just before Amanda jumped up and locked her legs around his waist. She planted a kiss right on his lips, in front of Harry, Jason and even Whitney, as well as the rest of those in the waiting room.

“You scared me to death—don’t
ever
tie me to a chair again, you big jerk!”

“Wow, next time can we just skip straight to the kiss?” Jackson grinned at her weakly, his stomach aching, but his heart
was light. Clarissa was going to be okay, even though her arm might require surgery to set it, and the danger was gone for Amanda and Whitney with Billy out of the way.

“Let’s go for a little walk,” Jackson said to Amanda. He took her hand and she noticed the scabbed knuckles. “Just war wounds.” Jackson laughed lightly as Amanda traced them with her fingers.

They came across a separate and smaller waiting room that was empty. Jackson led Amanda in and they sat on the only couch in the room. “Jack, I really need to say something,” Amanda started.

Jackson was itching to share some things with Amanda, but he acquiesced to her request. Amanda let go of his hand so she could concentrate on what she was saying.

“I know there’s a lot of terrible things in my past,” she said. “I’ve made very poor choices.”

Jackson started to protest, but she held a finger over his lips. “Just listen,” she said. “I’ve never really trusted people who say they believe in God, or follow him, because it seems like they’re all just a bunch of hypocrites. My parents and my older siblings gave me great examples of living
with a real relationship with God, but somewhere along the road I let other things get to me.”

Taking a deep breath, she went on. “Someday I’d like to get it all out in the open with you, but for now, I just want you to know that I get it now,” she said. “Clarissa showed me today what it means to have an actual relationship with God, and that it’s more than just a bunch of rules to break or struggle to live up to. She showed me that it’s possible to trust God and that he will provide for me even if his ways seem kind of strange, like your ex-girlfriend saving my hooker friend.”

They shared a laugh at that, but Amanda had more. “I made a terrible mistake when I went through with the abortion,” she said with regret. “I will pay for that mistake with every child’s smile and every baby’s cry for the rest of my life. But I finally realize that God still wants me. I do want to tell you how sorry I am about that decision, even though we weren’t close when I first told you about it. I feel like somehow it might affect both of us in the future.”

She stared at Jackson, wondering what he was thinking. He grabbed her hands and squeezed. “Amanda, you have no idea how it makes me feel to hear you say those words,” Jackson said. “I meant what I said yesterday, even though I shouted it at you out of fear for your safety. I am in love with you and we’ll get through the loss of the baby together. I might have to forgive you several times before I can completely come to grips with that, but I want to be here for you, forever if you’ll let me.”

Closing her eyes, Amanda could hardly believe her good fortune.
No, that’s not what it is
.
It’s God
. Beaming, Amanda put her hands on Jackson’s face. She wanted to see the look on his face when she told him.

“I love you too, Jack,” she said softly. “I don’t know how this happened so quickly, a hooker and a pastor falling for each other, but I think God has a sense of humor.”
Jackson pulled her in close and tucked her head under his chin. She felt him kiss the top of her head and she snuggled in closer.

“There’s just one thing left to do,” Amanda said, the dread setting in again.

“What’s that, babe?” Jackson was running his fingers through her hair and just enjoying the feeling of holding her in his arms without the guilt crowding in.

“I have to call my parents.”

Two weeks later, Amanda thought she was ready, but her nerves were setting in. Her hair was perfectly in place and she checked her makeup again for the millionth time.

The flowers were gorgeous, and she tucked them into her arms as she headed down the sweeping staircase at Clarissa’s house.

Clarissa was smiling as Amanda came down the stairs toward her. Clarissa’s arm was still in a sling, but the surgery had been successful and she was well on her way to recovery. She felt the small raised bump on her neck where Billy had nearly taken her life. Turning, she saw Harry, Jason and Whitney on the veranda, waiting for the party to get started.

Clarissa checked everything, but every detail had been handled, from the caterer to the musicians to the valets at the door, ready to take coats and cars.

Amanda took a deep breath and looked at the big clock on the wall.
Almost show time
. She was grateful to Clarissa for offering to have this at her beautiful home, and she looked for Jackson amidst the guests mingling in the foyer.

She spotted
Jackson across the room and sauntered up to him. “You are so beautiful, all I can think about is kissing you,” Jackson whispered into her ear. Amanda grinned back up at him.

“Ready to get this show on the road?” She raised an eyebrow and Jackson agreed. Turning together, they walked toward the large double doors. The valets opened the doors as one, and the two of them watched the car approach.

Nerves were jumping in her stomach, but she’d waited for this day for years. Now she wasn’t sure—maybe she wasn’t ready? As the dark sedan pulled to a stop, the driver opened the door and two feet were visible under it almost immediately.

Suddenly, her nerves were gone and she was off like a shot, all but barreling straight into her daddy’s waiting arms. She sobbed for all that she’d missed but felt tears of joy at the feeling of once again being held by her father.
She inhaled the scent of his cologne before releasing him only to be crushed by her mother’s hug.

Wiping her tears away, Amanda turned to motion Jackson forward. “Mom, Dad, this is Jackson,” she said proudly. He shook their hands, but Amanda’s mother pulled him in for a hug, reminding him of his own mother. His parents were in the
background; ready to meet the parents of the woman he loved.

He stepped back to let them exchange pleasantries, but Amanda wasn’t quite ready to be separated from her parents. She was sandwiched in between them, holding her mother’s hand and her daddy’s arm, a smile beaming from her radiant face.

The pale yellow dress was beautifully form fitting without being distasteful, but what made Jackson laugh was what he saw underneath the dress. Peeking out from under the soft folds of the long skirt were Amanda’s feet, encased in her hot pink heels. Shaking his head, he indicated her shoes, which had Amanda sending him an impish smile.

His life promised never to be dull with Amanda by his side, and he planned to make her his bride sooner rather than later. For now, he was just happy to see her glowing with contentment in her yellow dress and those ridiculous shoes.