She barely whispered, "Yes." Jackson smiled then kissed her. Kissing had always been merely a means to an end for him, but not with Elisabeth. He felt as if they were melting in to each other, and rather than anticipating what could come next, he was content to just stay in this moment. She pulled away. "I can't do this."
He felt as if he had been slapped in the face. "What? What do you mean?"
"I told you, I'm not interested in a relationship."
He wanted to scream; he wasn't used to women challenging him this way and had no idea how to turn this around. He ran both hands through his hair, exasperated. "You said you felt what I felt, and you're sitting here drawing portraits of me. I can't get you out of my head. Don't you think we owe it to ourselves to figure out what all this means?"
"It couldn't work."
"Why not?"
"It's complicated."
"Life is complicated; you can't let it stop you from living." He couldn't even begin to think how she would react to his secret. They were both quiet for a long while. He finally held her hand and gently kissed her knuckles. "Please, please have dinner with me tonight. No pressure. We'll keep it light. Just get to know one another. Please?"
"Do you think you're capable of that, keeping it light?"
"You have my word."
"All right then, one dinner."
Relief washed over him, and he instantly relaxed, hopeful. "Want to take a walk with me?"
"I better be going,"
His heart sunk once again. "Okay, I'll pick you up at seven then." She ripped off a piece of sketch paper and wrote down her address. They touched fingers briefly with the exchange. He wanted to linger there, feeling her warmth, but she quickly pulled away. He gave her a half smile. "This wouldn't be fake now, would it?"
She laughed that laugh again. "Curses, caught in the act."
He desperately wanted to kiss her, but resisted, sensing the delicate balance between them. With one misstep he knew she would run like a frightened deer.
She bid him goodbye and walked away.
Jackson stood watching her, filled with emotion he could not define. This woman could bring me to the brink of insanity.