He shook his head slowly. "Where will you go?"
"Away. I'll return as soon as possible." She hugged him. "Leaving you hurts me, too."
***
Jackson went downstairs for some blood at 2:00 a.m. The sadness of never seeing Elisabeth as a wolf again hung over him. Her reasoning made sense, and he knew he needed to accept her decision, but had yet to find a way.
He heard someone on the stairs and turned to find Connor's sister descending. She wore a nightgown that was a bit too sheer not to be covered by a robe. Crap! He thought. This I do not need. He quickly finished his blood, went to the bar, and poured scotch in the glass to hide the remnants.
Deborah cooed, "Pour me one too, please."
He obliged and handed it to her. "I was just on my way back up. Goodnight."
"Oh, please sit with me. I hate to drink alone."
Jackson reluctantly perched himself on the edge of the sofa. "Cheers." He quickly regretted sitting there rather than a chair.
She sat next to him, a little too close. "Where's your girlfriend?"
"Sleeping, and she is my fiancée."
"I guess we're just a couple of insomniacs, huh?"
Jackson didn't respond until she put her fingers in his hair. He grabbed her wrist, about to give her a lecture on appropriate behavior, but instead said, "Screw it" and locked eyes with her. "You do not find me the least bit attractive. I remind you of your father. From this moment on, you will not put out until the fourth date. You are very tired and want to go to bed." He turned away and said, "Goodnight, Deborah."
"Night, Jackson. Thanks for the drink." When she reached the top of the stairs she said goodnight again.
Sarah stood next to her. "Goodnight, Deborah."
She joined Jackson and sat with her head on his shoulder. "I'm proud of you. You have truly become the noble man I always knew you were."
He kissed the top of her head. "Does Skippy know his sister's a slut?"
"Yes, and he is going to be thrilled she won't be anymore."
***
Sarah prepared an elaborate breakfast in the morning. They all chatted comfortably, and Mrs. Poe seemed to have let go of her suspicions about Connor. Deborah acted the perfect lady, never once leering at Jackson. Elisabeth noticed the abrupt change and suspected Jackson had something to do with it. While helping Sarah prepare mimosas in the kitchen, she said, "I'm afraid Jackson may have messed with Deborah's head."
Sarah related whole story, ending with, "Never thought I'd see the day that man would have a moral compass, let alone be one." The two were still laughing when they returned to the dining room, and somehow Jackson knew he was the reason. He squinted accusingly at Elisabeth. She blew him a kiss and glided back to the kitchen with her tray.