They talked about her place in California and how she was looking for a place in Holiday now. They talked about her aunt and her crazy hair. They talked about Jackson’s sisters-in-law and their addictions to peanut butter.
They talked about pretty much everything except the magic running through each of their veins and the fact that they both still wanted the other.
When the check was paid, Jackson led her out to their cars, again ignoring the pointed glances headed their way.
“Are you off tomorrow?” Honor asked as they made their way to her car. Thankfully she’d parked on the side of the building with no windows so they were alone for the first time that night.
“Yes, though I usually go in and do paperwork. I don’t need to though. We can talk tomorrow about what happened and what will happen.”
“You’re not just talking about what happened last night, are you?”
He shook his head as he backed her to the car. Her breasts pressed against his chest, and he framed her face with his hands.
“No, I’m not just talking about what happened when I was asleep. This connection we have? I don’t understand it, but we need to do something about it.”
He leaned down so his lips brushed against hers, but he didn’t press harder, liking the tease and taste just as much.
“I thought you wanted nothing to do with what would come with that,” she said on a breath. He felt her hand come up his back below his shirt, and he shuddered.
“Maybe I changed my mind.” He licked her bottom lip and bit down softly, loving the way she gasped into his mouth.
“I don’t know if I believe that, but we can talk about it tomorrow.” She rocked her hips so she cradled his erection, and they both moaned.
“Tomorrow,” he agreed then lowered his lips to touch hers fully.
Her lips parted, and he let his tongue dance with hers, their breaths in sync as he kissed her again after all this time. He knew they should have talked more before doing this, but he didn’t care.
He couldn’t care, not with her taste on his tongue.
He pulled back, leaving them both breathless, and then tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’ll follow you to the inn since it’s on my way home.”
She nodded, her lips swollen from his kiss, her eyes a little glazed.
“Are you okay to drive?”
She smiled then looked down at his dick. “Well, if you can drive with a second stick shift, I think I can make it.”
He threw his head back and laughed then let her get in her car. He ran back to his so he could follow her, shaking his head as he did so. Hell, he was crazy, but he didn’t care, not when all he could smell was her crisp floral scent and he could still taste her like he’d drown in her essence. They’d probably just made a mistake and were going to make another tomorrow, but for some reason, he wanted to ignore all the voices in his head telling him not to do anything and jump head-first into something crazy.
Jackson followed her car toward the inn, letting his heartbeat slow down as they pulled into an intersection. He knew he didn’t really need to follow her to make sure she made it home okay, but he still wanted to. Plus, it was on his way home anyway, so he wasn’t really doing anything extra.
The alpha in him scoffed.
Sure, that’s the reason.
Honor pulled out into the intersection, and Jackson drove up to the stop sign just as a dark van barreled into the side of Honor’s car.
Holy shit.
The sound of bent metal and tires screeching echoed through the air, the smells of burned rubber and hot metal attacking his senses. Before Jackson could blink or react, the van pulled away, driving like a bat out of hell, its front end damaged. It was too dark to make out a license plate, but he did his best to put the van in his memory.
Honor’s car lay in the drainage ditch on the side of the road, the car practically bending inward on itself. Jackson jumped out of his car, his heartbeat a fast echo in his ears.
“Honor!” he yelled as he took out his phone. He dialed 911 as he ran, praying she’d be okay.
“Jacks?”
He almost passed out at her voice.
Thank God.
She was alive.
He told the emergency operator where they were and what had happened then hung up, knowing he needed to put all his attention on Honor. The ambulance would come quickly.
“Honor, baby. Don’t move.”
He skidded down the embankment and made his way to her door, which was crushed inward and almost faced the back door because of the way the metal was twisted.
His gut clenched, but he ignored it.
She had to be all right.
“I’m fine, Jackson. The airbag saved me I think.” Her voice was shaky, but she sounded alert.
“Just humor me then, baby.”
She sat in the driver’s seat, blood running down her face from where the airbag had hurt her, but he couldn’t tell where else she was hurt.
“Honor, talk to me,” he asked as he took off his button-down shirt to press against her forehead gently.
“Ouch,” she said with a smile. “I’m fine. Really. Just that cut I think.” She held back a wince as she tried to move. “Maybe some bruising too.”
“Don’t move, Honor. We don’t know what could be wrong internally. I don’t see any evidence of broken bones, but I can’t tell from this angle. Please, baby, just sit still.”
“You must be scared, Jacks. You keep calling me baby.”
He closed his eyes and prayed for patience. “If you’re able to make fun of me, you must be fine, but let’s pretend you’re actually as scared as I am. Keep still.”
She didn’t move her head, but her eyes met his. “I’m scared as hell, Jacks, but you’re here, so I know I’ll be okay.”
Well, hell. He’d do something with that statement later. First, he had to make sure she was okay.
The sounds of the sirens in the distance were getting closer, and Jackson let out a breath of relief. “Help’s on the way.”
“I know, Jacks. Did you see who ran that stop sign though?”
“No, not really. It was a dark van, but I didn’t get their license plate number. We’ll deal with that once you’re safe though. What hurts, Honor?”
“Just my head and my side, but I’m okay other than that.”
“We’ll see what the doctor has to say.”
“Jackson?” Tyler called from behind him. Jackson didn’t turn to his brother, needing to keep his eyes on Honor.
“We’re here, Ty.”
“What the hell happened? Who’s hurt?”
Jackson told Tyler what he knew, and as the ambulance and fire truck came and used the Jaws of Life to get Honor out of her car, his pulse finally stopped racing.
He got in the back of the ambulance with her against her protests and told his brother to bring his car to the hospital. There was no way he’d let Honor out of his sight right now—despite the rumors that would surely circulate.
Who the hell cared?
He’d almost lost Honor tonight. Hell, if he hadn’t said he’d follow her…
No, he wouldn’t think about that.
He’d make sure she was okay then figure out what to do with these raging emotions of his because the thought of losing Honor was more than he could bear. Considering he’d told himself he didn’t want her for so long, he’d have to think about what that meant.
Then he’d find who’d done this to her and make sure they paid.
Chapter 6
“I really don’t need to stay at your home, Jacks,” Honor said for the eighth time the next morning. Her head ached, but really, all she wanted was to go lie down. Alone.
“Don’t argue,” Jackson said as he opened his front door for her. “The doctor said you needed someone near you to make sure your concussion doesn’t have any adverse side effects, plus, with your bruised rib, you need someone to help you.”
They’d spent the night in the emergency roo
m after her hit-and-run. After countless tests, eight stiches, and some binding on her ribs, she had been more than ready to leave. Then, of course, Jackson’s brother, Tyler, had wanted to question her.
Finally, after telling him what she’d seen—which hadn’t been much—he’d let her go, but only on the condition that someone could watch her as she slept.
Jackson had volunteered and explained that she’d be staying at his home while she recuperated. She would never get the flabbergasted looks of the hospital personnel out of her mind. Nor would she forget Tyler’s knowing glance.
Damn Cooper men.
“I just don’t want the town talking about the fact that I’m staying here with you. Alone.”
She shuffled into the house and sighed. It looked exactly the same as it had when they’d been together before. The foyer opened up into a beautiful living room that held two large couches and a couple of comfy chairs. The fireplace was built into one wall with bookshelves surrounding it—all dark and prominent—but Honor had always found them beautiful with the hand-carved details.
The kitchen and dining room were to the right off the living room through wide, open doorways. She had a feeling he hadn’t changed anything in there either, meaning everything would be immaculate and beautiful…even though she had a feeling Jackson didn’t use the kitchen as often as he’d like.
If she remembered from what Jackson had said in the past, the Cooper brother who liked to cook the most was Justin, and since he didn’t live there anymore, the kitchen might not be put to good use. The image of what the home would look like bursting to the brim with Cooper brothers and their families filled her mind, and she smiled.
The place was the perfect size to hold the five big Cooper men and their growing families. Only she knew that the brothers didn’t do dinners there every day, meaning Jackson was alone a lot of the time.
She shook her head then jumped as Jackson placed his hand on her hip then moved to stand in front of her.
“Why are you frowning?” he asked. “What’s wrong? Do you hurt? What can I do?”
“Just thinking about how much I like your house.”
He looked over his shoulder then back at her. “Then why were you frowning?”
She smiled and leaned into him, telling herself it was because her head hurt, not because she wanted to be near him. “I guess that didn’t make sense, huh?”
He ran his hand down her back, and she closed her eyes, savoring his touch.
“Do you want to go upstairs?” he asked, his voice husky.
She opened her eyes as she looked up at him, unable to say anything.
Jackson grinned and kissed the top of her head. “I mean, do you want to go upstairs and lie in the guest bedroom, or do you want to lie on the couch down here?”
She lowered her head, her cheeks burning.
Well then.
“You have to wake me up every hour, right?”
“Yes, so I think it would be best if you were upstairs. That way you could at least be comfortable while you get no sleep.”
She rolled her eyes then nodded. She winced as a flash of pain speared at her.
“Okay, no nodding or quick movements for you,” Jackson said as he picked her up, cradling her to his chest.
“What are you doing? I can walk.” Even as she said it, she inhaled his masculine scent. He might have been up all night and smelled vaguely of a hospital, but underneath it all, he smelled of Jackson.
Okay, maybe she’d hit her head harder than she thought.
“I want to carry you.”
“Well, I guess I won’t complain too much then.”
He carried her up to the guest room and set her on the large queen bed. She spotted her luggage near the dresser, and she glared at Jackson.
“How did you get all my things?”
Jackson shrugged. “I told you, you’re staying here. I had Matt and Jordan get your things and bring them over here. They also closed down the inn since Connie’s out of town.”
“So he went through my stuff without asking?”
Jackson let out a breath and sat down on the bed next to her. “You weren’t completely unpacked so it was easy. Yes, he had to look at some of your things so he wouldn’t crush them or screw up your organization.”
“I could have taken care of it.” Everything was starting to slip from her control. Her car was totaled, her body ached, she wanted a man who probably wanted something different, and now she didn’t really have a place to escape to when things went downhill with Jackson.
Which they would.
Again.
“Seriously, Honor? You’re freaking out over someone touching your stuff, yet you almost died tonight.”
She closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow. “I know. I’m an idiot. I can’t believe that guy ran that stop sign and drove off.”
“I’ll kill him when I find him,” Jackson growled.
“No, you won’t, Jacks, but thanks for saying it. You might act all growly, but you wouldn’t kill anyone.” At his narrowed eyes, she backtracked. “I’m sure you’d at least maim him though.”
He shook his head and looked as if he were holding back a smile. “Get some rest, and I’ll come in and intrusively wake you up in an hour.”
She groaned and turned on her side carefully. “I don’t know if I want to go to sleep knowing you’ll be back as soon as I close my eyes.”
He ran his hand down her side, and she held back a shiver. She was aching, her side hurt like someone had run her over—close enough—and she hadn’t slept in far too long. It really was the worse time to be thinking about the fact that she was currently on the same bed as the man she used to love.
Used to.
There was no way she could still love him considering she didn’t even know this Jackson.
At least that’s what she kept telling herself.
“Get some rest for me, Honor. When you wake up, we can talk about what we’re going to do.”
Her heart raced. “Do?”
“With us sharing a place. It’s going to be weird since I haven’t lived with anyone in a long time, not to mention I’ve never lived with a woman I think I want to see.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Think you want to see? Well, isn’t that the most glorious title I’ve ever heard.”
He shrugged, not looking the least bit repentant. “We said last night that we needed to talk. We’re not in our teens or twenties anymore. I’m not going to ignore the fact that I kissed you like a man who wanted to do much more than that. Hell, I wanted to do much more than that, but we need to make sure we’re on the same page.”
“I take it you don’t know what that page is.” Considering she hadn’t even known they’d be looking for pages to begin with, she didn’t blame him for not knowing.
“No, but you don’t either, so we’ll take it slow. The hit-and-run complicates things.” He grinned as he said it so she resisted the urge to throw a pillow at him. Plus she needed that pillow to soothe her aching head.
“We’ll talk tonight.” Then a thought hit her. “Shit. Tonight. My job. We didn’t call my aunt.”
Jackson cursed. “Fuck. How the hell did we forget to call your aunt? The entire Cooper clan knows you’re hurt, and we didn’t call your family. I’m sorry, baby.” He got up off the bed, and she reached out to him too quickly, sending a sharp spear of pain down her side. “Hey, don’t move too quickly.”
She bit her lip and took a deep breath. “Don’t blame yourself for not calling her. I’m not used to relying on anyone or having anyone rely on me. Give me the phone, and I’ll talk to her. Knowing this town, she already knows what happened to me and is waiting for me anyway.”
He nodded and handed her the house phone on the bedside table.
Her aunt picked up on the second ring. “It’s about time you called, girlie.”
“I’m so, so sorry I didn’t call. I have no idea what I was thinking.”
“You were thinking that you w
ere in a car accident and now have the entire Cooper clan taking care of you. Jordan called me by the way so you don’t have to worry. I know you and Jackson have other things to worry about. Namely this new predicament of his and your job tonight.”
“Tonight? Oh hell. I forgot tonight was the first night on the job.”
“Get some rest, and I’ll have Brent take care of it. I’m sure he won’t mind as he’s been taking care of it for a long time anyway.”
She winced at the reminder. “No. I’ll take care of it. I’m not as hurt as it seems, I promise. I’m just a little tired.”
She heard Jackson grunt and looked up as he glared at her. She’d forgotten he was in the room, but it didn’t matter. She had a job to do that she’d been neglecting too long.
“If you’re sure you’re up to it, dear. You only have a couple stops tonight since it’s a slow night. Take Jackson with you though.”
“Why would I do that? I thought fairies worked alone.”
“He’s a sandman, dear. A brand new one with no choice, at that. You and he will both be working the night. Well, didn’t that sound dirty? You know what I meant.”
Honor held back a smile at the way her aunt’s mind worked.
“I also want him there in case you pass out or another accident happens around you. He’s been around to save your life—or at least witness you almost dying—twice now.”
Honor frowned. It did seem odd that two major accidents had happened to her since she’d moved to Holiday, but, really, she must be just turning accident-prone. Thank God for Jackson though.
“If you’re sure,” she said, her mind on what she needed to do and not on what had happened.
“I’m sure. I’ve already been talking to another sandman I know. He should be in town soon to talk to Jackson about what he can do. I’m afraid it won’t be much other than show Jackson the ropes though. I don’t know of a way to get out of the sandman work other than retiring, and you know it’s at least a ten-year commitment.”
Honor nodded, already knowing the answer. Poor Jackson.
He already hated magic and now he was thrust in the center of it with these new responsibilities of his and the fact that she’d told him who she was.
Dreams of Ivory Page 6