Dreams of Ivory

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  She did as he said while Jackson opened the door.

  Soon the house was filled with Coopers and mini Coopers. Yes, she loved the nickname the women had put on their offspring. Each person had hugged her and greeted her as though she was one of their own. Her head was still spinning from when Justin had spun her around, welcoming her to the family.

  She’d quickly been taken from his arms by Jackson, who had a scowl on his face.

  It might have been wrong, but she loved that scowl. It was just so…Jackson.

  “So, tell us, Honor, how long do you plan on staying in Holiday?” Matt asked as he sat down next to her on the couch, then munched on a cracker.

  The Coopers weren’t exactly subtle in their match making, but she really couldn’t blame them considering Jackson was the last single one. She’d heard that as soon as people got married they had to inflict their bliss on everyone around them. It only made sense that all four Cooper brothers, their spouses, and Brayden’s children would attack en masse.

  She just smiled at him as Jordan hit him upside the head. “Smooth, honey.”

  Honor shook her head at the couple and took a sip of her drink. “I’m planning on staying for good actually. I came back because my aunt needs me to run Holiday’s tooth fairy program.”

  “Do you have to wear a costume for that?” Tyler asked, and for some reason, Abigail started cracking up laughing as she stole a piece of cheese off Tyler’s plate.

  As Abigail was now a harpy because of a curse, she couldn’t eat off her own plate or she’d be sick. Jackson had explained that to Honor so she knew that the woman, once she was comfortable enough, would be sneaking snacks off her plate if she wanted.

  “Why is that so funny?” Honor asked.

  “Tyler was apparently worried his stint as a cupid would include tights and a whole lot of pink,” Jordan said as she leaned into Matt’s side.

  Honor smiled. “And did it?”

  “No tights,” Tyler answered. “Though there is a bow and arrow…and wings.”

  “That are pink,” Matt said, and Tyler threw a cracker.

  “What did I say about throwing food?” Jackson said as he came in the room. Without saying anything to her, he pulled her from the couch, sat down, and placed her on his lap.

  Honor raised her brow and noticed his brothers did the same. “You could have just asked if you wanted to sit.”

  Jackson shrugged. “I wanted to sit here.”

  Honor rolled her eyes again. The man made her do that too often, but she loved him anyway.

  She swallowed hard.

  Loved?

  Oh hell no, she couldn’t be in love with him again already. That did beg the question, though, if she’d ever fallen out of love with him in the first place. Hell, things were moving too fast, and yet, as she looked at the happy couples, their futures ripe with new babies, she didn’t think time was moving fast enough.

  Jackson rubbed the back of her neck, and she sighed against him. “You’re a menace,” she whispered.

  “That was never in doubt, dear,” he whispered back.

  She laughed softly then froze as she met the curious gazes of every single Cooper—three kids included.

  “Stop staring,” Jackson mumbled, and Honor squeezed his free hand.

  The last thing she needed was tension due to her presence. Well, any more tension than there already was.

  Everyone just smiled, but continued to stare.

  “Sorry, Honor,” Justin said, apologizing as he wrapped an arm around Rina’s shoulders. “We can’t help it. We haven’t seen the guy smile or act like this since…well, ever. We didn’t know you when you were dating him before, so we’re a little behind on the whole hazing-of-the-big-brother thing.”

  “You see, Jackson has been, shall we say, reluctant to enter the real world of talkative people in the past,” Brayden said with a grin as Allison ran her hand through his hair in an unconscious gesture.

  “You mean he doesn’t like to talk about his feelings like the rest of you do?” Honor said, a little annoyed they were putting Jackson in the spot. “I mean, you big tough Cooper men must love gushing about your feelings, right?”

  Everyone went silent, and Honor wanted to crawl under a rock. Here she was defending Jackson when his brother hadn’t said anything too mean.

  Great way to make a good impression, Honor.

  Then Matt started to laugh, followed by everyone in the room—including Jackson.

  “I see we won’t be allowed to harp on you much,” Tyler said with a grin. “Sorry, Honor, we just like to gang up on each other, but we don’t mean anything by it.”

  Honor blushed while Jackson pulled her closer. “Sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

  “My brothers are just being asses like usual,” Jackson said as he rubbed her side.

  “Uncle Jacks said ass!” Lacy, Brayden and Allison’s six-year-old, wiggled from Allison’s hold to come up in front of Jackson. “You owe a dollar to the cuss jar.”

  Honor held back a laugh as Jackson sighed. “Fine, but you owe a dollar too because you repeated what I said.”

  Lacy’s eyes widened, and she covered her mouth. “I didn’t mean to. I swear.” She moved her hands, and her little mouth wobbled.

  Jackson immediately moved so that Lacy and Honor were each on his lap on a separate knee.

  “Now don’t cry, Lace,” Jackson soothed. “You didn’t mean to do it.”

  Lacy looked up with watery eyes. “So do I still have to pay?”

  Honor bit back a laugh at the hope on the little girl’s face. She had a feeling Jackson was being played by the adorable girl.

  “Don’t look at me with those big eyes, Lace. You cuss, you pay.” Jackson kissed the top of her head as he said it, and Lacy giggled.

  “Fine,” the little girl said as she hopped off Jackson’s lap. “Can I go play outside now?”

  “If your parents say it’s okay then fine,” Jackson answered. “I put out the horseshoes so the kids could play if they wanted.”

  Brayden nodded, and Cameron, Aiden, and Lacy ran out screaming and laughing.

  “Horseshoes?” Rina asked with a smile. “I didn’t think kids played that anymore.”

  “I’m sure there’s an app for that,” Honor said while everyone chuckled.

  Jackson looked over his shoulder then frowned. Honor squeezed his hand and nodded.

  They sat around the room and talked for a bit while people walked in and out, checking on food or getting more drinks.

  “I know this is our normal Cooper dinner, but we need to talk about a few things I’ve learned this week,” Jackson said, and everyone got quiet. “Justin, do you need to check the roast or anything? I don’t want to have to repeat things.”

  Justin furrowed his brows then shook his head. “We’re fine for a bit. What’s up, Jacks?”

  Honor moved so she was sitting next to Jackson, rather than on his lap. Matt and Jordan moved as well so it was a tight fit, but this way Jackson could talk more comfortably.

  “As you guys know, someone broke into my house and made me a sandman.” Jackson let out a dry chuckle. “God, who knew I’d ever say that sentence.”

  “Most of us wouldn’t have thought we’d be where we are,” Matt said quietly, and Honor wanted to hug the man.

  As long as they made it feel to Jackson that he was normal, he’d be okay. Being magical wasn’t a curse, but a blessing in most cases. Jackson just had to believe that.

  “Well, Honor’s aunt called her friend Sam, who happens to be a sandman regent,” Jackson continued.

  “Oh, I know Sam. I planned to call him if you needed help,” Rina put in.

  “Small world,” Jackson said with a wry smile. “Sam explained to me that there’s no getting out of it. I’m stuck being a sandman for ten years. Usually people ask for the job and the powers that be work with them for that decade. It’s usually not a problem.”

  Honor gripped his hand, and he rubbed small circles a
long her wrist. She knew he was freaked out and worried about what was coming, but she’d already told him she’d be by his side through all of it.

  “Damn,” Tyler said. “I’ve always known what I would be doing, Brayden too. Justin didn’t have a choice, but it saved his life. And Matt, well…”

  “Mine was an accident, but it wasn’t maliciously done.” Matt kissed Jordan’s brow, and Honor told herself she’d ask Jackson what Matt meant by that later.

  “Well, mine was, and we don’t know why yet.”

  Honor winced at that, but Jackson nudged her.

  “Stop it, baby. It’s not your fault. Sam is looking for the sandman who would dare give over his dust, but right now, I don’t know who would have done this. We’ll find out somehow though.”

  “So what is it you’ll have to do?” Abby asked.

  “Every night I’ll have to go out and help children sleep if they’re stressed or need help. It’s also my job to give good dreams—not nightmares.”

  “I’m going to go with him each night since I need to anyway with being the tooth fairy,” Honor added in. “Jackson doesn’t need to work with each child—just like me. It won’t take long after sunset so we’d still get our sleep.”

  Rina smiled. “I’m glad you two can work together.”

  “Yes, it’s as though you’re meant for each other,” Jordan said, and Honor laughed.

  “Subtle,” she whispered.

  Jordan grinned. “Just saying.”

  The doorbell rang and everyone looked at one another.

  “That would be Sam,” Jackson said. “I asked him to join us and help me explain all of this.”

  Everyone started talking at once and Jackson left to let Sam in.

  “Did you know he was coming?” Matt asked.

  “Yes, but I wasn’t sure exactly when,” Honor answered. She was glad she wasn’t going to be the only non-Cooper during the discussion, however.

  Sam strolled in after Jackson and everyone introduced themselves. The other sandman didn’t look intimated at all considering he was in a room with other magical creatures and the strong Coopers.

  Everyone was talking over one another, asking Sam questions about what had happened to Jackson, and Honor was afraid they’d scare the man away.

  “Like I was saying,” Jackson interrupted. “I’m a sandman. I’m just going to have to live with that.”

  Everyone murmured their agreements, and Honor leaned into him.

  “That’s not all Sam told me though,” Jackson continued. “Apparently our Cooper ancestors founded Holiday. Did you know that?”

  The brothers looked at each other and frowned.

  Sam nodded. “Yes, you Coopers started it all.”

  “I knew we were one of the oldest families, but I didn’t know we founded the town,” Tyler said.

  “Well, yes, we were the ones,” Jackson said, his voice slightly shaky. “Apparently that part isn’t in our history books.”

  “That’s not all, is it?” Rina asked.

  “No, the Coopers founded Holiday because they needed a place where holiday magic could join,” Sam said. “Holiday isn’t a mecca of magic by chance. It was purposely done a couple hundred of years ago by our blood. The Coopers were all part of various holidays—like we are now—and then, after a time, Holiday grew to be the mecca. That’s why we have witches, ghosts, the Ivory Queen, and so many more. Holiday was founded because of the need for peace in magic, and yet that’s not what it is now.”

  “No, everything’s a bit crazy,” Jordan whispered.

  “You mean we’re paranormal, or whatever the hell you want to call us, because we’ve always been?” Brayden asked as he looked over Honor’s shoulder to where his kids were playing.

  “You Coopers were always part of the magical crowd,” Sam explained. “Not all magical elements are genetic like gnomes and elves.” Rina smiled. “What happens is the fact that you all are more magical inclined, means you can be part of the holiday magic. It doesn’t mean you necessarily have to be or that you have to be a certain kind. That’s why you’re all so different within your family.”

  “It’s in our blood,” Jackson answered. “That’s why we’re somewhat immune to evil magics and why we’re drawn the way we are now. Sam said, though, that I wasn’t immune to the sandman’s magic because it’s not inherently evil, but something that is good and needed. I don’t know why it took so long for it all to come back full circle. Hell, I don’t even know if our parents knew about magic.”

  Honor squeezed his hand at his words. The room fell silent as they all thought of the late Coopers. One day she’d get Jackson to open up about them, but right now, it was about letting the other Coopers know they had a purpose.

  “What does this mean for us?” Justin asked.

  “I don’t know yet, but we need to think of something. Right now everything is a bit haywire, and the town is losing something. We have to do our part, now that we know what our history is.”

  “The town is known for magic,” Honor said. “If we bring in something that isn’t magic-related for non-magics, then it will help.”

  “I take it you’re doing that,” Tyler said.

  “Yes, I’m going to try at least.”

  “When we figure that out, we’ll talk about it more,” Jackson said. “Right now, though, I wanted to let you know what I’ve learned. I don’t know what we’re going to do with it, but now we know that being a Cooper in Holiday means something more than being watched and popular—though I’m pretty sure we all knew this anyway.”

  “Well, hell, I always knew Coopers were important,” Jordan said. “I mean, you’re sexy as hell too.”

  Honor laughed as Jordan cut the tension in the room. She leaned into Jackson again, and he kissed her temple.

  “Thank you for being here,” he whispered in her ear.

  She looked up at him and smiled. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  Now she just had to think about how long that would be for…and if she wanted it forever.

  Chapter 9

  “You want to go on a hike?”

  Jackson ran a hand through his hair and looked down at Honor, who just smiled at him. The cut on her forehead looked as though it was healing, and she hadn’t complained about her head or side in the past two days, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still hurting. He wouldn’t put it past her to hide it from him so he wouldn’t worry.

  Too bad. He’d always worry.

  He couldn’t believe she’d almost died—twice—since she’d been back to Holiday. If he could wrap her in bubble wrap he would, though he didn’t think she’d agree to that.

  “Jackson, I’m a planner. I organize,” Honor said as she put her hands on her hips. “This is my job, and frankly, I’d like to get out of the house.”

  He pulled her close and framed her face with his hands. “I guess I’ve sort of locked you away in here, haven’t I.”

  She gave him a wry smile. “Considering the only time I’ve been out of the house was at night to take a couple teeth and watch you sprinkle sand in kids’ eyes, yes. I know you had to work, and I can do most of my things from here, but I’d like to get out and breathe a bit.”

  Jackson frowned. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “You can’t wrap me in bubble wrap, Jacks.”

  He could have sworn he blushed, but since he was Jackson Cooper and didn’t blush, that couldn’t be the case. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he lied. “I would never think to do that.”

  She raised her brows and pulled her head back. “Really? Why don’t I believe you?”

  Jackson just smiled and leaned down to take her lips in a soft kiss. “Probably because you’re right, but it’s not as if I’d ever act on that thought.”

  Riiiight.

  “Sure, dear, whatever you say. Now, I know it’s your day off, and you’d probably like to be doing manly Cooper things, but I think a hike can fit that need.”

  �
��Manly Cooper things?”

  Honor grinned. “You know, working with your hands with your shirt off as the sun shines on your body glistening from sweat.”

  He snorted and rocked against her. “That sounds like a fantasy of yours and not something I’d do with an audience. I could think of a few things we could do at home though.” Her eyes widened as he gripped her ass and pulled her even closer.

  They’d been sleeping in separate rooms, even though he knew they both wanted to take their relationship to the next level. He’d been waiting for her to be fully healed, and though his cock was ready to explode, he was glad they’d waited.

  He also noticed he’d said the word home with ease, but he hoped Honor hadn’t. They hadn’t discussed her moving back to the inn, and since she’d been carless, she hadn’t had a chance to go out and find a place to live.

  Oddly enough, he was fine with that. For some reason, he liked the idea of Honor beneath his roof. Everything seemed less lonely and empty with her there. She filled the room with just one smile, and he didn’t want to lose that.

  Okay, he needed to breathe because he was now spouting poetry in his head.

  “When we get back,” she said then kissed his chin. “Come on, Jacks, I want to go on a hike. We can go to our lake.” She wiggled her eyebrows, and he grinned.

  “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” he whispered then took her lips in a deep kiss. He pulled her flush against him, deepening the kiss even further.

  She pulled back, leaving both of them breathless. “Go pack some snacks in my bag on the table, and we’ll head out. I need to put on my shoes.” She pulled away from him, and he was forced to watch her walk away.

  The way her hips swung as she moved made up for the loss of contact at least.

  They walked through the Cooper backyard to the trail that ran along the back of the property. They held hands like they were in high school, but he didn’t care. He liked having her close.

  “Why do you live out here all alone, Jacks?” Honor asked after an hour of walking and talking about nothing in particular.

  “What do you mean? This is my home.”