Heart of Gold

Chapter 1 Back in Town

Jacklyn pulled away her eyes glassy with tears, crying is not Jacklyn's thing. She is a tough cookie so this man must be important. Than she punched the guy in the arm returning to her old self.

"That's for not visiting."

The man chuckled and wrapped his arm around her shoulder pulling her to his side.

"I call all the time." he said his tone slightly softer than when he spoke to me

Jacklyn shook her head a smile firmly on her face. She looked over at my shocked face and realised I was out of the loop.

"Oh Gracie this is Jason. Jason this is Gracie." she motioned between us

Jason stuck his hand out for me to shake. Hesitately I reached out a trembling hand to his. Jason's long bronze fingers wrapped around my wrist. His hand was rough indicating he worked with his hands and warm like a blanket during a storm.

"A pleasure Gracie." he said his eyes never leaving mine

I felt my hand trembling in his big warm hand. Jason definetly can feel my hand shaking in his so I pulled my free of his grasp. Jacklyn was as always oblivious to anything going on around her.

"Do mom and dad know your here? Of course not they would have told me. Wait how long are you staying?"

"No my return is a surprise. I thought you'd all be here but it was only Gracie." his icey blues eyes drifted to me for a second before returning to Jacklyn

"It doesn't matter as long as your here!" she squealed again a first for Jacklyn

She wrapped her arms around him snuggling to his chest. Again they embraced tightly and I felt like the third wheel. That cold, rude man just needed a familiar face.

"I'll let you have a private moment to ahh to umm...I'll go." I said ready to turn away

Jacklyn's girly laughter filled the empty diner catching my attention. I stared at her with a puzzled expression. Jason's face was in a scowl like I insulted him.

"Gracie this is Jason." Jacklyn said wiping tears from her eyes

Didn't she just introduce us a moment ago?

"Jason McTern." she continued with a raised eyebrow

I nodded as my brows dipped down in confusion.Was that suppose to mean something? Jason sighed in annoyance with as I stared at them puzzled.

"Let me give your poor brain cells a rest, Jay is my cousin." he stated harshly the coldness back in his tone

Wait Jason McTern as in my boss! Oh god I told my boss off before? What if he fires me for yelling at him? Whoa back up he called me stupid!

"Oh I didn't realize.. I mean. Nice to finally meet you." I mumbled my cheeks burning with embarrassment

Jason snorted in disgust. He towered over me making me feel smaller than I already felt. Without realising it I cringed back. He seemed to have caught my movement and narrowed his eyes.

"Where are aunt Lucielle and uncle Jack?" he asked turning his back to me

"At home they come in an hour or two. Do you want to go there now?" Jacklyn asked

"No I'll wait. Besides I have to catch up on the diner."

With that he walked to Jack's office and slammed the door without so much as a see ya. I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding.

"Why didn't you tell me he is your cousin? I made a complete fool of myself." I groaned as I remembered my 'speech'.

He is probably thinking of when to fire me right now. Jacklyn came around the corner rolling her eyes.