working with. He wanted Paxton to have something she loved but she was so worried about the money. “I just want you to find something you love without worrying about the price. I’m buying you a fancy dress and shoes to match and whatever else you girls need to feel as pretty as you look.” He said giving her a small kiss on the cheek. They had only been dating a month and she was still opening up. She acted in her own small town ways. She didn’t care about dresses or fancy parties, she only wanted him. That’s why Jack fell in love with her. She didn’t want anything but his attention. Most women he knew before her only wanted him for his money. They were shopping for hours and soon Paxton started to relax. She tried on a stunning silver dress. It was not too form-fitting but it hugged her curves in all the right places. Jack loved it more because it was a backless dress. From her shoulders it fell into a deep-V ending at her low back. “I love this one.” Paxton said coming out of the dressing room, shyly modeling for Jack. “As do I.” He said checking her out once more. He saw Paxton reach for the price tag. Her smile dropped. “It’s too much. I don’t have the money for it. Can we just go somewhere else?” She pleaded. “I’ll buy it for you.” “No Jack, its $2500. I can find something cheaper.” “Tiger, don’t be difficult. You love it. I’m buying. End of discussion.” He said grabbing her and pulling her in closely. He stroked her cheek and he could tell that she wanted to argue some more but she dropped it. Jack knew that she knew she would not win this one. He was buying the dress. “Fine, but I can just wear a pair of heels I already have and I am sure that I have earrings to go with it.” She said stepping back into the dressing room. Jack let her take that small victory. He knew she didn’t like him spending his money on her. He was pulled from his thoughts when his phone started ringing. It was Paxton. “Yes?” He answered with a cool tone. “I’m on my way to the bank to transfer the money. You should have it within the hour.” “Paxton, don’t do this.” “Jack. I don’t want your money. It’s not going to make up for anything. I’m comfortable taking only what I need from our relationship. Please don’t make this any harder than it has to be.” Jack didn’t say anything. He didn’t know how to respond to that without ending up in a bigger fight. “Jack?” Her voice cracked. She was waiting for a response. “What can I do to make you see how sorry I am?” There was a long pause. Then he heard her sigh. “Paxton please, just talk to me.” Paxton didn’t answer him right away. He worried that she might have hung up. Suddenly she heard, “Show me without shoving money in my face.” He heard the line go dead. Jack looked at his phone. Now he was thoroughly confused. What was she saying? He sighed and settled into his bed. He didn’t know what to do at this point and being stuck in a wheelchair was not helping right now.
NINE
It had been a few days since Paxton called Jack. She didn’t try contacting him again. The bank called her about the accounts. Her transfer did not go through. She still had all the money Jack left her. Paxton was just getting back to the cabin. She was sitting in the car preparing herself to walk inside. She still felt him everywhere in the house. She did not like being there by herself. She felt alone and lost without Jack there. She tried to find anything and everything to get her out of the house and her mind off Jack. She pulled the keys out of the ignition and opened her car door. Walking into the cabin she felt empty. Everywhere she looked she saw Jack. She saw hurt, she saw where she laid on the floor when Jack slammed the door. She saw the office that Jack stayed in and worked instead of tending to her. She went up to the bedroom. She was exhausted as she hadn’t been sleeping well. Duke