He took her hand. "And are you still afraid to get close to me?"
"Not as much."
While driving her home Jackson asked if she would take a ride to the Berkshires with him the following day. "I'll bring a picnic."
"Sounds nice." He knew, as they walked to the door, she wouldn't ask him in. She said, "Thank you, I enjoyed tonight very much."
"Me too. Will it upset you if I kiss you?"
She raised her face and kissed him softly, lingering for just a moment. "Goodnight, Jackson." She turned and hurried into the house.
Driving home, Jackson felt oddly happy. He should have been feeling frustrated and confused. However, he was confident that Elisabeth cared for him, and for now, that would be enough. Patience had never been his strong suit, but he felt certain if he didn't give this woman the space she needed, she would be gone.
***
Sarah heard Jackson come in and jumped out of bed to get a report.
"What are you doing?" Mumbled a waking Connor.
"Jackson's home. I can't wait to hear about his date."
"Sarah, give the guy a break. I'm sure the last thing he wants to do right now is give you a blow-by-blow description of his date. Come back to bed."
She almost protested, but remembered this morning's reticence. "Maybe you're right." Meanwhile, Jackson sat in the drawing room having another blood cocktail waiting for the onslaught that never came. After about ten minutes, he thought, Maybe she got the hint this morning, and headed upstairs.