Cuffed Read Free Page A

“I’m sorry. It’s nothing you said. You see, Julia suffers from a disorder that keeps her confined a lot of the time. Jackson heard about it and offered to help by wearing a costume of her choosing and turning up here to campaign for her cause.” Carole wiped a wet eye. “He has sent us all the money he’s made from his YouTube channel for the past few months to help us keep up with the cost of her treatments. He’s the reason she was even able to make it here today.”
    Scarlett felt as though her heart was breaking and melting at the same time. Who would have thought that he could be capable of something so generous and kind? She watched him with Julia and a gaggle of Sailor Moon cosplayers posing their hearts out to the delight of the other con attendees. She pressed a hand over the ache in her chest at the scene.
    “You’ve got a good one there, you know.” Carole nudged her with her elbow.
    Nervous laughter bubbled up her throat. “Oh, we’re just friends.”
    “I’m sorry. From the way you two were looking at each other I just assumed…” Carole hastily started taking more pictures, stepping away from Scarlett in the process.
    Jackson had been looking at her? And he’d been doing so in a way that made innocent bystanders think there was something going on between them? She nibbled on her lip. She wasn’t exactly against the idea. He was hot and charming, and obviously had a very tender heart. Nothing wrong with that.
    Watching him with Julia making ridiculous poses like it was something he did every day made her stomach flip.
    “You keep staring at him like that and I won’t be the only one thinking you two are together.” Carole patted her on the back. “Why don’t you get in there with them?”
    As if he’d heard Carole, Jackson turned to her and held out a hand in invitation. How could she say no?
    Jackson snared hers, pulled her close the moment she was within arm’s reach and kept her pinned to his side. Between photos he leaned in. “I’m assuming Carole filled you in about the costume.”
    She nodded, her heart feeling so full that she wasn’t sure if she could speak without letting loose a few tears at the same time.
    “Hey.” He tightened his grip around her. “You okay?”
    Was she? At the moment, she wasn’t so sure. “Yeah. I’m good.” Out of the corner of her eye, she spied a familiar figure approaching them. All emotions but dread disappeared. “Rex is here.”
    Next to her, Jackson’s big body tensed. “What’s he up to?”
    Surprisingly, Rex walked into the photo op without calling much attention to himself, besides the amazingly detailed costume. Their little group seemed to get bigger by the second with other cosplayers, bloggers and YouTubers joining in, much to Julia’s delight. This would be one day that the girl would remember for the rest of her life. Being a part of that made Scarlett happy—and in awe that it was all owed to Jackson.
    Rex had managed to worm his way to the center of the group where she and Jackson stood. “You two look cozy. Just a reminder that touchy-feely time is almost over. We’ve got a panel to join.”
    Julia must have heard because she turned around and gave Jackson a huge hug. “Thanks so much. It means the world to me.”
    “Any time, kid.” Jackson punched her lightly on the shoulder.
    It was clear that Scarlett, and everyone else around, knew that he meant it.
    Before Rex and Jackson could be swarmed by women, Rex dragged them off. Scarlett barely got a chance to wave goodbye to Julia and her mother, then they were herded down a labyrinth of hallways.
    The crowds were nothing but a dull murmur somewhere behind them, and Scarlett couldn’t picture in her head where they even were in the building anymore. “Are you sure we’re going the right way?”
    Rex shrugged. “Yeah. This is where they told me to go.”
    Jackson’s pace slowed and he snared Scarlett around the waist so that she stayed by him. He was leery of