by Carrie Elks
And now? She had no idea who Lydia Paxton is at all.
Jackson opened the bedroom door, his eyes crinkling when he saw her sitting there. “You’re awake,” he said, his smile warm. “Would you like some coffee? Breakfast?”
She forced a smile onto her face. There was no way she was spending her time in Angel Sands moping about things she’d never wanted. She’d do what Jackson said. Treat this like the vacation romance it was. Have fun, make love, and say goodbye before she left for the airport. Exactly the way it was supposed to be.
“I’m not hungry,” she told him, her voice teasing. “Not for food anyway.”
His smile deepened. “What are you hungry for?” he asked softly, walking toward her.
“You,” she told him. “Always you.”
He lifted his t-shirt over his head and climbed out of his sweats, leaving them in a puddle on the floor. Then he walked over to her, falling to his knees in front of her, and gently pushing her back on the bed before taking her thighs in his hands.
“I’m hungrier,” he murmured, burying his face between her thighs. “But I think this is a breakfast we can both enjoy.”
18
Lydia smiled as she walked onto the pier. It was beautifully decorated for Skyler’s naming day. The spring sun was beating down on the ocean, reflecting on the waves as they danced into shore. The pier was decked with flowers of varying ivory and baby pink hues, and at the end of the long wooden edifice, just before where Griff’s ship was moored, was a covered trellis.
Lydia had left Jackson’s house shortly after they’d gotten up for the second time. Jackson had given her a ride home, and kissed her hotly before she left his car, promising to catch up with her at the pier.
And now she was here early, because she wanted to give Autumn as much support as she could. She knew her sister worried about making everything perfect, even though she’d been hosting events like this on the pier for almost a year now.
“Dad’s on his way,” Autumn told her, as she rushed from her office with a wad of paper in her hands. “He’s cutting it close, but he should make it for the ceremony.” She was jittery as hell. “Can you help me with him? Make sure he’s on his best behavior.”
“Dad’s never on his best behavior,” Lydia pointed out. “He says what he thinks, whether you want to hear it or not.”
“I’d still appreciate it if you could take care of him,” Autumn said, her voice imploring.
Lydia gave her hand a squeeze. “Of course I will. And if he makes any cutting remarks, I’ll gag him with whatever designer tie he’s wearing.”
Autumn chuckled. “Maybe you should introduce him to Jackson. Since you two are a thing and all.”
“We’re not a thing.” Lydia shrugged, remembering his words from earlier that morning. “Not a long term thing, anyway. No point in getting Dad excited when I’m taking off soon.” Her words sounded like a strange echo of Jackson’s conversation with Griff earlier. Maybe if she said them enough times, they wouldn’t hurt.
Autumn blinked. “So that’s it? You’re just having a fling and leaving?”
“Did you think it was something more?” Lydia really wanted to hear her sister’s thoughts.
“I don’t know. I just think you two have something special.”
So did she. But she also knew Jackson was right. “Yeah, but we all know long distance relationships don’t work. I’m going to be away for months, and Jackson’s feet are planted firmly here in Angel Sands. There’s no future for us, so we’re going to enjoy the time we have together then go our separate ways.”
Autumn stared at her for a moment, her lips parted as though there was something she wanted to say. But she closed them again, as footsteps echoed against the wooden planks behind Lydia.
“Meghan!” Autumn said, shooting Lydia a look that told her this conversation was postponed, not canceled. “How are you?”
Lydia turned to see the new owner of the ice cream parlor approaching them, her hand held by a little girl with flaming red hair. “Hey,” Meghan said, giving Autumn and Lydia a shy smile. “How are the preparations going?”
“Great.” Autumn’s smile was wide. “Hey Isla, how are you settling in?”
Isla shrugged, and nestled into her mom. “We’re getting there,” Meghan told them. “Most of our boxes in the apartment are unpacked, and business at Angel Ices is booming. Speaking of which, I thought you should try this,” she said, holding out a waffle cone topped with white and pink swirled ice cream to Autumn. “We mixed it especially for today. If you think it works, we can serve it for dessert.”
It was typical of Autumn to include Meghan as one of the suppliers for Skyler’s naming day. She loved using local businesses where she could. Delmonico’s on the Pier was providing a buffet for their guests, and Angel Ices would be setting up a cart and serving ice cream to all who wanted them.
“This is delicious,” Autumn said, taking a lick of the ice cream. “What’s in it?”
“Vanilla bean cream, with minted raspberries,” Meghan said. “We’ve decided to call it the Skyler.”
“I love it!” Autumn took another lick. “You’re so talented. This is going to go down well this afternoon. It’ll be perfect with champagne.”
“Did somebody say champagne?” Ally Sutton grinned as she joined their little group. “I swear, all you have to do is say that word and my whole body goes on alert.” She hugged all three of them, and ruffled Isla’s hair. “Hey sweetie,” she said. “I love your dress.”
Isla was in pink and white to match the décor and the ice cream. “Thank you,” she said shyly.
“We should go,” Meghan told them. “I want to get everything ready before the ceremony begins. That way we can watch it with you all.” She smiled gratefully at Autumn. “I really appreciate you inviting us, especially when we’re so new around here.”
“You’re part of the community now,” Autumn told her. “I’m so glad you can join us.”
“Hey, next time we have a girls’ night, you should come along,” Ally suggested. Meghan nodded with a smile, and headed back down the pier.
“Speaking of girls’ night, did either of you have the hangover from hell on Wednesday?” Ally asked Lydia and Autumn. “I swear my head was pounding all day. I blame the margaritas.”
“I was in a world of pain,” Autumn agreed. “Not Lydia, though.”
“I have a large capacity for alcohol.” Lydia grinned at them.
“That sounds like a challenge. We should have another get together soon.” Ally nodded, her eyes sparkling. “Not this week, though. I need at least fourteen days recovery time.”
Lydia smiled sadly. “We’ll have to take a rain check. I’m flying out to Spain next week.”
Ally’s face fell. “So soon? But you just got here.”
“I have a job waiting for me there.”
“But you’ll be back soon, won’t you?” Ally glanced to her side and leaned forward. “Because between you and me, there’s a certain guy who seems to be a hell of a lot happier when you’re around.” She lifted her eyebrows. “Jackson was all smiles when he came in to grab a coffee this morning. I hardly recognized him. And according to Ember, Lucas said the same thing. You’re good for him, honey.”
Lydia felt warmth rush through her. “It’s a casual thing,” she lied.
“I wish you could stay longer.”
Lydia tried to ignore the way her chest tightened at Ally’s words. There was a part of her that wished exactly the same thing.
The same part that wished Jackson would want this thing between them to be more than a short fling.
Autumn’s phone buzzed, and she pulled it from her pocket. “That’s Dad,” she said, her eyes catching Lydia’s. “He’s parking now.”
“I guess that’s my cue to leave,” Lydia said, giving her sister a rueful smile. “Wish me luck.”
“Good luck,” Autumn said emphatically. “And thank you, I owe you one.”
“Did I tell yo
u how proud I am of you?” Ryan asked, as he and Jackson headed up the pier. They were both wearing suits. Jackson’s was grey, and tailored perfectly to his body. His dad’s, on the other hand, was more flamboyant, with pleated, baggy pants and a matching jacket in a pale cream wool, that wouldn’t have looked out of place in an old episode of Miami Vice.
“Yeah, you tell me all the time,” Jackson said, smiling at his old man. He’d picked him up after leaving Eddie with Lisa, and the two of them had headed straight here.
“Well I’m telling you again. You’re doing a good thing here, being godfather to Skyler. Griff and Autumn must think a lot of you.”
Jackson’s thoughts drifted to his conversation with Griff this morning. He felt easier with his friend than he had in days, thanks to their clearing the air. “Yeah, well I feel pretty blessed to be asked.”
Ryan eyed him carefully. “Have I told you how proud I am of you?”
This time Jackson laughed. “You’re a broken record.” A good one, though. And it did make him feel better to hear his dad say that.
The pier was a hive of activity. Early guests were arriving and sitting in the chairs Autumn had set up, chattering among themselves as the ocean gently lapped at the struts beneath them. Ryan spotted Frank Megassey and Lorne Daniels and headed over to sit with them while Jackson looked around for Lydia.
She was walking along the other side of the pier with a man in a sharply tailored suit, his hair brushed back from his face and greying at the temples. Her eyes were uncharacteristically cast down. They looked almost sad. And it was crazy, but it made him want to walk over and make her smile.
He knew he could do it.
“Hey.” Lucas slapped him on the back. “All ready for the big day?”
“It’s not my big day,” Jackson pointed out. “But yeah, I’m ready for it.”
“I’m glad you two are here,” Griff said, joining them. “I need to move a couple of stereo speakers after the ceremony. Autumn wants them closer to the food, so we can play music through them. You guys up for it?”
“Sure,” Jackson agreed. “Is that Lydia’s dad?” he asked, looking over at the man leaning in to whisper something in Lydia’s ear.
Griff grimaced. “Yep, that’s him.”
Jackson watched as her dad dusted something from Lydia’s shoulder and shook his head.
“You don’t sound that excited to have him here,” Jackson murmured. He didn’t like the way Lydia had her lips pressed together. She looked the opposite of relaxed. The opposite of how she was when they were together, their bodies touching, their legs entwined.
He thought back to their conversation last night, and a spark of anger lit inside him. How the hell could he not see that Lydia was amazing?
Griff lifted an eyebrow. “Let’s just say I wasn’t his favorite at first.”
“I should go say hi,” Jackson said, his gaze still stuck on her. If she was upset, he wanted to be there. To comfort her. Not standing here like a gawking spectator.
“Yeah, sure.” Griff nodded. “He’s mellowed a little since I first met him, but I have to warn you, talking to him is still kind of like listening to nails scrape against chalkboard. Except more painful.”
Jackson laughed and walked over to where Lydia and her father were talking. When she looked up, her eyes widened when she realized he was making a beeline for them. Her dad was too busy talking to even notice her change in demeanor.
“Hey,” Jackson said softly. He stopped a couple of feet away from her. “Everything okay?”
“Have we been introduced?” Lydia’s dad tipped his head to the side. Jackson felt a rush of irritation wash through him. This man was annoying Lydia, and by extension, annoying him.
“Jackson Lewis.” He extended his hand. Lydia’s dad reluctantly took it, giving him the briefest of shakes.
“Richard Paxton.”
“Jackson runs his own cyber security business here in Angel Sands,” Lydia told her dad.
A flicker of interest appeared in Richard’s eyes. “You do? What’s it called?”
“Lewis Security Systems,” Lydia replied, shooting Jackson a half smile. “It’s very successful.”
“I don’t imagine you have a lot of customers here. You should think about moving to New York. The possibilities are endless there,” Richard said. He glanced at Lydia. “Now if you’ll excuse us, I need to finish my conversation with my daughter.”
“This conversation is over,” Lydia told him. “You asked, I said it isn’t possible.”
“No, you said you had better things to do.” Richard’s voice was full of disdain. “But I need you at the board meeting. Your vote is important. It could swing it.”
Lydia sighed. “I can’t. I already told you, I’ll be in Spain. I made a commitment, Dad, and I need to keep it.”
“A commitment to fun?” Richard gave a nasty laugh. “As if traveling is more important than my business.” He lowered his voice. “Which, incidentally, is very profitable to you. Who do you think funds all these flights you take?”
Lydia’s shoulders dropped, and it pissed Jackson off. “Dad, I pay for those,” she told him. “I save the money I get from dividends. I don’t use any of it for traveling. All my trips are funded by my work. None of that comes out of my savings or the trust fund mom left me. It hasn’t in a long time.”
“Work?” Richard rolled his eyes. “Is that what you call it?”
“I do a job and get paid. Just like you and Autumn.”
“Hardly.”
Jackson stepped forward so he was between Lydia and her dad. “Wait a minute,” he said, his eyes catching Richard’s. “Lydia’s extremely good at what she does. And highly sought after, too. Did you know she has a waiting list of people who want to hire her? Or that she charges more per hour than any business consultant I know?” The muscle in his jaw twitched. “If she says she needs to be somewhere, then she needs to be somewhere. Her job is just as important as yours is.”
A dazed look washed over Richard’s face. “What’s this got to do with you?” he asked. His voice was softer now, less sure.
Jackson looked over his shoulder at Lydia. She looked as shocked as Richard at Jackson’s sudden outburst.
He brought his gaze back to Richard. “I’m her friend. But more than that, I’m her biggest damn supporter. She’s amazing, don’t you see that? She’s created a business from nothing, doing something she loves. She gets paid to travel the world, for god’s sake. Who wouldn’t be impressed by that?”
Behind his back, he felt Lydia curl her fingers around his. He flexed them to let her know he was there.
“Yes, well.” Richard shook his head. “I should go and take a seat. I’m sure the ceremony will be starting soon.”
Jackson kept hold of Lydia’s hand, rubbing his thumb across her knuckles. “Okay then,” he said, his voice low. “I guess we’ll see you later.”
Richard raised an eyebrow at Jackson’s use of we but said nothing. Giving Lydia a nod, he turned on his heel and walked along the pier to where people were beginning to sit down.
Jackson followed him with narrowed eyes and turned back to look at Lydia. “You okay?” he asked her.
She nodded, her teeth digging into her plump bottom lip. “Yeah,” she breathed. “Or I will be once I get over the shock of somebody standing up to my dad.”
Jackson’s brows furrowed. “Maybe more people should stand up to him. And I didn’t say anything that wasn’t true.”
She tugged him toward her, inclining her head to look at him, as their bodies pressed together. “That was pretty damn hot,” she told him, tracing his lips with her forefinger. “Remind me to show you how hot when we get back to your place.”
He swallowed hard. “How long will that be, exactly?”
For the first time since he’d seen her talking to her dad, Lydia smiled. “How long can a naming ceremony last?” she said softly. “If we make our speeches really quick, then stuff some food down our necks for sustenance,
I figure we can be back at your place in a couple of hours.”
He dropped his brow against hers. “I have to pick up Eddie, though at least my dad’s catching a ride home with Frank.”
“Two and a half,” she said, smiling widely.
“Don’t you want to spend time with Autumn and Griff?” he whispered, brushing her lips with his. “And Skyler, too.”
“Three?” she asked, as though she was bargaining.
“Three.” He nodded and kissed her hard, curling his hand around her neck.
She kissed him back, her soft body pressed against his. “It’s a deal.”
19
Jackson cleared his throat and unfolded his reading glasses, sliding them onto the bridge of his nose. Taking a folded piece of paper from his pocket, he slowly opened it up, and put it on the podium in front of him. Lydia watched as he looked out at the throng of people, a shy smile on his face.
Damn, he was hot. Every time she looked at him she felt her heart thumping against her ribcage. It wasn’t just that he was good looking – though of course he was. All close cropped hair and strong nose, with a jaw she’d be dreaming about for months to come. It was what lay underneath those looks that made her breath catch in her throat every time their eyes met.
Getting to know Jackson Lewis was like finding an untouched viewpoint on the top of a mountain. She got to see something nobody else could. The gentleness and softness that lay beneath his jokey exterior. And the kindness, damn, that was hot, too.
Griff placed Skyler into Jackson’s arms, and he cradled her against his dark grey jacket, not caring that she was blowing spit bubbles as she stared up at him.
“Skyler,” Jackson said, his lips curling as he looked down at her wide blue eyes. “It’s an honor to be your godparent. From the moment you came into the world, you’ve lit it up. For your mom and dad.” He raised an eyebrow at Griff and Autumn. “For your family.” He winked at Lydia. “And for all your friends who are so happy you’re part of their lives. As your godfather, I promise to take care of you. To be there when you need somebody to talk to.” He lowered his voice. “Especially when you’re a teenager and your dad’s being a big pain in the ass.”