Not that he wanted the wife and kids, but a future beyond work would be nice.
And he definitely didn’t want their magical abilities.
Holiday, Montana, seemed to be the mecca of holiday paranormals, and the Coopers were so deeply entrenched in it, Jackson wasn’t sure how he’d been spared. They had witches, Santa’s elves and executives, cupids, leprechauns, harpies, and ghosts. Even his new nephews and niece were half-gnome.
Magic and the paranormal seemed to touch everything in his life, and he was so dammed grateful he’d been spared.
Jackson hated magic.
Hated it all.
With magic came instability and the possibility of things he’d rather not think about. Enemies came with those powers, and one never knew when such an enemy would pop up and try to destroy it all. He’d had to watch as his brothers had been almost taken down one by one by magic forces, and Jackson had been helpless to fight against it.
He was the only Cooper untouched by magic, and he’d be damned if he’d let it happen to him.
There was a knock on the door and he looked up as his receptionist, Veronica, stuck her head in, an odd expression on her face.
“Yes?” he asked, annoyed his moment of peace was now over.
“Uh, Dr. Cooper, there’s a woman out there who says she needs to speak with you, but she doesn’t have an appointment.”
Jackson didn’t miss the curiosity in her gaze, but he ignored it. “Did she say exactly what she wanted?”
Veronica shook her head. “No, but she said it was personal. She also doesn’t look like one of those Cooper groupies, so I thought I’d ask you anyway.” She winked, and Jackson held back a smile.
“Did she say what her name was?” he asked, a little bit of that curiosity peeking through his stubbornness.
“Honor. Honor Bridges.”
Jackson coughed up the sip of coffee he’d taken then cursed as he spilled some on his shirt. Veronica’s eyes widened, and she stepped in the office. He held up his hand.
“I’ve got it. Hell, tell her to give me a minute while I change my shirt.”
His receptionist looked as though she desperately wanted to question his reaction and the fact that he wanted to talk to this woman, but she thankfully held her tongue.
“If you say so.”
He turned his back to her to grab a new shirt from his closet, and she left, closing the door behind her. As he buttoned up his new shirt, he tried to stop his fingers from shaking.
What the hell was Honor doing here?
He hadn’t seen her in…almost eight years.
He rolled his shoulders and made his way to the door. He’d just get this over with. There wasn’t anything between them—there hadn’t been for too long. He’d just nod and say hello to an old…friend…then get back to his day.
She stood in his waiting room facing the wall so he only saw her profile, and damn if he didn’t lose his breath.
She had to be at least in her early thirties now, but she looked at least a decade younger. Her long black hair fell to the middle of her back, straight, yet thick and exotic. He could remember how soft it had felt against his chest late at night.
She turned to him then, and he set his face so he wouldn’t gasp. Her striking blue eyes had always called to him, and now was no different. Since she was average height, her curves suited her well, her hips just wide enough for his hands…
No, not the time.
It would never be the time.
Her face was elegant, her cheekbones sharp, but not too sharp, her chin pointed like an elfish goddess.
Hell, she looked even more beautiful now than she had eight years ago.
Honor would have to go.
Soon.
“Honor,” he said, his voice surprisingly steady despite the emotions warring through him.
“Jackson,” she said, her smile making her whole face brighten.
Veronica stood between them, her gaze traveling between the two.
“I had called before, but you didn’t say anything,” Honor said, but Jackson didn’t say anything back.
He remembered her first call months ago, and the few calls afterward, but he’d never said anything back, thinking it couldn’t have been her—shouldn’t have been her.
She couldn’t be here…not the one who’d left him.
No, he didn’t want to think about the past.
“Um…” She looked down at her hands as she wrung them together then squared her shoulders. “I just wanted to say that I’m staying at the inn.”
He swallowed hard and nodded. “You’re visiting your aunt then?”
Honor shook her head. “No, I’m staying here in Holiday, Jackson. That’s what I wanted to say when I called and why I’m here. I know it’s been forever, and you don’t care, but I thought I’d say it anyway.”
“You’re moving here?” he asked, his voice hoarse.
No, hell no. She couldn’t move here. Holiday was his home, and there was no way he could share it with her.
“Yes, I’m staying. I left before because…” She shook her head. “No, that doesn’t matter, not anymore. I’m here to stay though. My aunt needs me, and I have responsibilities that I’ve been ignoring too long.”
He didn’t know what kind of responsibilities she could possibly have since she’d been gone for eight years, but he ignored it. “Why can’t your brother, Tucker, help?”
Surprise then hurt crossed her face. She must have been surprised that he’d remembered her brother’s name, and he cursed himself for letting that slip. For a woman he was supposed to have forgotten, he remembered too much about her.
The hurt was obvious, but he couldn’t show that he cared.
“Tucker’s busy,” she said shortly. “I’m sorry to take your time, but I wanted to tell you I was in town.”
“Why should I care?” he asked, trying to put distance between them.
He ignored the gasp from Veronica and cursed himself for being so rude. He’d forgotten they had an audience. The news of this confrontation would be all over Holiday’s grapevine as soon as Honor walked out the door.
Honor rolled her eyes and smiled. Hell, he’d never understood this woman. “Whatever, Jackson. Play the stoic man if you want, but I wanted to tell you anyway. Bye.”
She turned on her heel and walked out of his practice, her hips swaying, leaving him breathless.
He forced his gaze to Veronica and frowned. “I take it there’s no way I can make you keep this between us?”
“Huh?” she asked as she looked up from texting on her phone.
He shook his head. “Never mind. Let me know when my next appointment shows up.”
Jackson left Veronica to her gossip and closed himself in his office.
Honor was back.
What the hell was he going to do now?
For the rest of this story, check out Carrie Ann’s website to find your local retailer.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
Surrendering to the Alpha
Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?
From Bestselling Author Lia Davis’s Ashwood Falls Series
Surrendering to the Alpha
Ashwood Falls’ leopard Alpha, Keegan Andrews holds onto the pain of his deceased mate as his own personal hell—a reminder that not all things are what they seem. The Pack Scribe, Addyson Lewis is no exception. She’s intrigued him like no other since the day she stumbled into Ashwood territory about twenty-five years ago. When he discovers that just being near her calms the storm inside him, he can’t stay away even if it means exposing her to the evil she tried to escape.
Over a hundred years of psychological torture at the hands of the rogue Onyx Pack has left Addyson with no memories of her life before captivity and with the inability to control her psychometric nature. Anything or anyone she touches sends her into their darkest past and secrets, causing her pain she wouldn’t wish on anyone. Without the ability to control
it, she’s forced to deny her leopard the connection she craves from the Pack that welcomed her with love and without judgment. That is, until the day Keegan involuntarily touches her bare skin and she finds the peace she’d craved for far too long.
Warning: Contains one sexy alpha leopard who craves the most decadent of dreams, a hidden treasure contained within a spunky woman, and the ability to create a mating bond that’s the most explosive yet.
www.AuthorLiaDavis.com
Shattered Emotions
Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?
From USA Today Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan’s Redwood Pack Series
Shattered Emotions
Maddox Jamenson is the Omega of the Redwood Pack, the one burdened by emotions stronger than his own. He's spent his entire life shrouded in the secrets of his "gift" and the price he has to pay to keep it, yet the cost just escalated. He's known a mate could be in the cards for him, but he can't have what he wants. Not when the battles he has yet to fight could destroy her.
Ellie Reyes was the Central's princess, the daughter of the most hated Alpha of all time, yet not prized. No, she's spent her life as the toy of her brother's sadistic torture and has endured a pain that no one else should have to even contemplate. Though when she's rescued, the one person who could help her, her mate, turns his back on her for reasons unknown to her. As each day passes, the strength that everyone sees in her dwindles to a point that there may be no coming back from.
When the Centrals find a new way to attack, leaving Ellie's only protection a mate that she doesn’t think wants her, they’ll both have to overcome their fears and fight for something stronger than their pain. The war isn't over and new players are coming that will decide the outcome. Maddox and Ellie's connection will be tested even as their fragile bond is only newly forming.
www.CarrieAnnRyan.com
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