Marry Me, Jackson (Best Friends To Forever Book 1)

by Barbara Lohr

  Just when she was at her limit, they reached the car. Emily fell against it, chest burning and knees wobbly. Behind her the dogs barked. As if she’d been hit with a cattle prod, Emily yanked open the door. Josie ran around to the other side. Emily cannon- balled into the seat, yanking the door shut. She pressed bloody palms to her knees.

  “I'm a mess,” she moaned as Josie jerked her door shut.

  Their heaving breaths were the only sound as they stared into the darkness. “What do you think? German shepherds? Dobermans?” Josie asked.

  “No. I doubt it. He never said what kind of dog they were. But Dobermans? That’s not Jackson.” But neither was this house. Or those cars.

  The thunder rumbled away, and the downpour became a shower. From behind the moving clouds, the moon came out just as two furry masses threw themselves at the car. Emily leaned back into Josie while nails clattered against the door.

  “There goes the finish.” Josie started the car and the dogs backed off, still barking. Were their tails wagging? The yelps dissolved into disappointed whining. The moon threw shadows over two panting golden retrievers, their tongues lolling out the sides of their jaws. If she had a treat, she would have tossed it to them.

  Peering over Emily’s shoulder, Josie howled. “Are you kidding me? Those two might lick us to death, but that would be all.”

  “They could've been German shepherds.” Emily pressed a hand to a heartbeat that was slowing.

  As Josie pulled away, they broke into chuckles. If her sides hurt, the pain now came from uproarious laughter.

  “Josie you’re crazy.”

  In the light from the console, Josie arched a brow. “Me? You’re the one who forgot to tell me he had dogs.”

  “Right. So shoot me. I've got to move on to another plan. Josie, Victoria is still in the picture. Just because she isn’t here right now, that doesn’t prove she’s not in his life.”

  Fine. She would not be discouraged or defeated. This ridiculous stumbling around in the darkness was not good.

  Tonight had convinced Emily of what she really wanted. And she was woman enough to lay out a plan.

  ***

  The night air felt warm and damp as Jackson ambled down his driveway. He loved the peacefulness of the lake area. But what was all the ruckus about? Max and Spartacus were probably chasing a raccoon or a possum again. When he whistled, it didn’t take long before the two dogs threw their furry bodies against his legs. “What are you rascals up to, huh? Y’all are going to wake the neighbors.” Only there were no close neighbors. Which was why he’d built here.

  “What have you got there, buddy?” He grabbed Maximillian’s snout. Max had been known to swallow washcloths and paper towels whole. Really screwed up his GI tract. Each trip to the emergency vet had cost Jackson thousands and worried him sick. “What is this, huh, boy?”

  The stretchy thing in his hands was gooey from Max’s slobber. When Jackson expanded it between his thumb and forefinger, he knew where he’d seen it. Tucking it in his pocket with a smile, he led the boys back. “Almost bedtime. You get to watch one show for an hour or so. What’ll it be? DogTV or Animal Planet?”

  But long after going to bed, after the boys had just about crowded him onto the floor and Midnight had curled onto his pillow, Jackson lay awake, watching the clouds drift over the skylight. He’d be awake for a long time. The rinsed and cleaned prize was tucked in his top drawer.

  Chapter 7

  “His dogs attacked you?” Despite the cool spring air, Bryn’s face paled.

  “Not quite. They chased us, yapping all the way.” Emily sank her spoon into the Sea Turtle Sundae. They were sitting on the back patio of the Sweet Creamery. Sometimes losing a bet had its upside. Eating ice cream on her own would be empty calories. But when she was with her friends? Totally different.

  Last night’s events were still fresh in Emily’s mind. What had she been thinking? How would she have explained if Jackson had appeared? “Just driving past and thought I’d drop in.” The event had been childish. And for what?

  No, she now was a woman with a plan. And not one that led down a dark driveway. With dogs.

  “Maximillian and Spartacus, for Pete's sake.” Josie giggled and got whipped cream on her nose. “We thought the hounds of hell were after us.”

  “Sounds terrifying.” Bryn’s expression clearly said they were crazy. “I’m glad I wasn’t with you.”

  “Okay, I was scared.” Emily put a hand on her heart, which had kicked up a bit as she remembered. “To top it off, I tripped and fell. My elbows and knees will be sore for a while.” She’d taken ibuprofen the minute she got home. But there was no pill for stupidity.

  “Our mission was successful.” Josie stirred her pecans deeper into the caramel sauce. “Not seeing that red convertible put your mind at ease. Right, Emily?”

  “Maybe. What do I care? I’m glad Jackson is with someone. I just wish...” She bit into a mouthful of French vanilla ice cream that made her teeth ache.

  “...that it wouldn’t be Victoria,” Bryn added softly.

  That spoonful chilled her throat going down. “I guess so and I don’t know why.”

  “Maybe you better think about that, Emily,” Bryn said softly. “Listen to your heart.”

  Emily gave a chuckle dry as pine straw. “My heart? I came home to forget my heart.”

  “Did you get hurt bad, Emily?” Bryn asked. “You never told us much.”

  “And you don’t have to if you don’t want to,” Josie said.

  Emily took a deep breath. “No, I guess you have to know where I’ve been to understand where I’m going. Or not going. I dated a guy for three years. Thought we had a future.”

  “But you didn’t?” Staring at her intensely, Bryn put her spoon down.

  “No, Eric’s future was with a girl named Amber. Someone successful and flirty. She seduced him while I was standing there. Or vice versa.” Did it matter?

  “Wait a minute.” Josie waved her spoon. “Let’s go back to the successful part. Emily, you are successful.”

  “I know I am. It hasn’t been easy building up my business, but I’m supporting myself. Eric didn’t see it that way. I was working at home in my warm-up suit, not wearing power suits like Amber. Her red power suit sent a message that night, along with her matching fire engine red lipstick. And her hair was cut on an angle that said ‘dare me.’ I’ll never forget it. ”

  “I think you’re exaggerating, sugga.” Bryn patted her hand. “Maybe it was time for you to move along.”

  “Move along? Heck, I had a panic attack that nearly took my legs out from under me. But I gathered my hippie purse with the fringe and fumbled through the crowd to get out of that place.”

  She had their total attention and her friends looked shocked. “Forget it. I shouldn’t have mentioned those stupid attacks. A therapist helped me but I’m not totally out of the woods. Crowded rooms can still make me crazy.”

  “Don’t be stupid. Aren’t we your friends?” Josie roared back. “Who can you tell if not us?”

  “I’ve read about those.” Bryn’s eyes softened. “Stress, I think, can cause them. You must have been strained to the limit. I’m so glad you’re back here with us.”

  “Me too.” Then she grinned. “Although if Josie keeps dragging me out into the wild dog territory, I might reconsider this move.”

  They all laughed and the moment passed. She felt relieved that she’d admitted to what she saw as her weakness, and her friends had accepted her.

  “Anyway, I should have seen that breakup with Eric coming. He couldn’t decide about me but he ran to the altar with Amber.”

  “He wasn’t the right one.” Bryn went back to her sundae.

  “Sounds like that whole episode made you see the light and brought you home. Worth it, I’d say.” Josie waved the spoon at her.

  “Maybe. I mean, how long should you date someone before you think about marriage?”

  “Two years.” Bryn didn’t hesita
te for a second.

  “That sounds right.” Josie went back to her ice cream.

  Their answers made her feel worse than ever. “So I was hanging on for nothing. I should have known.”

  “Don’t beat yourself up. “ Bryn leaned back. “Will you just smell that jasmine?” Their table sat under a bower loaded with creamy yellow confederate jasmine.

  Closing her eyes, Josie drank in the scent, her extended spoon forgotten.

  “You’re dripping ice cream on the table.” Emily smiled. “We sure had fun racing from those dogs.”

  “Golden retrievers,” Josie huffed, scraping the last bit of caramel from the bottom. “In the end Jackson’s dogs were just lovable piles of fur. Do you believe it? We got what we came for, Emily. You have to admit that.”

  “Victoria’s car might not have been there but, trust me, Jackson and Victoria are a couple.” Emily had made a decision as she lay in bed the night after their escapade. The gaslights along the street had thrown shadows through the trees and light danced across the ceiling. Her thoughts moved right along with that flickering movement. She had a plan, and Miss Charlotte would approve. “I’m glad I ran into Jackson in the hardware store. And it’s sweet of him to help me with the apartment. But he’s just someone I hung out with––part of my past. I came home to create a future.”

  “Of course you did. Where does Myrna get these recipes?” Bryn took another lick of her rhubarb pie ice cream sundae with raspberry topping. “Next time I’m trying the lavender lady flavor.”

  They all groaned.

  “We’ll have to walk three miles to work off these calories. Y’all realize that, right?” Josie licked her spoon.

  Emily grinned. “Totally worth it. I’m walking with my friends. My part time jobs didn’t leave me with a lot of friends in the city.”

  “How’s your business going?” Bryn asked.

  She took a deep breath. “As I said, I'm moving along. But life has to be more than work.”

  “Okay, I’m all ears. Spill.” Josie pushed her empty sundae cup aside.

  Time to lay it out. She wanted input from her friends. “I'm joining Lowcountry Singles, that local online dating site. I have to be honest with myself. My clock is ticking. I want a...”

  Bryn squeezed her arm. “You don’t have to say it. I feel the same.”

  “But you have Malcolm,” Josie said in an outraged voice.

  “Not really.” Frowning, Bryn shook her head. “I’m just not sure.”

  “What! Are you kicking my co-worker to the curb?” Josie’s brows disappeared into her sandy hair.

  Bryn’s silence gave her an answer.

  “When are you going to tell him?”

  “It’s not that simple.” Getting up, Bryn threw her sundae cup and napkin into the trash. “I think that's very brave of you, Emily. I would never have the nerve to go on a dating site.”

  “Let’s walk.” Pitching her trash, Emily glanced at her phone. “We’ve got to get moving.” The group felt subdued as they resumed their walk. In a few minutes, they stood in front of the building that once held Minerva’s Collection.

  “The sign is down.” Feeling blindsided, Emily stared at the empty window. “When did that happen?”

  Bryn’s face fell. “I know. I’m so disappointed. The real estate person called me to say there’d been a mistake. The space was already spoken for so he couldn’t show it anymore. Can you believe that?”

  “Really? I wonder who’s renting it?” Emily felt crushed. “I was counting on having you for a neighbor.”

  “I know.” But Bryn wasn't the type to wallow in self pity. “Maybe something else will open up.” Resting her fingers against the glass Bryn peered inside. Josie and Emily did the same. “Someone's been in here cleaning up. There are piles of trash in the corners.”

  “This must have happened yesterday. I was running errands most of the day.” Emily pushed away. She felt as if she’d let her friend down.

  “Bryn, did the realtor share any information on who had rented it?” Josie asked.

  “I was so shocked that I blanked out.” Bryn’s eyes darkened. She looked like a little girl who’d just heard her parents couldn’t afford Christmas this year. “This location would have helped get my sales up.”

  Pulling her friend away from the window, Emily started to walk the cobblestone street. “Let's cut across the square.” The tall trees towered above them as they followed the diagonal path that led to the center. The early season white camellias had faded, giving room for the luscious reds that looked like poppies with the bright yellow stamens in the center.

  They took seats on a bench in front of the fountain. Despite the cheerful sound of the splashing water, a somber mood had settled.

  “Back to the online dating. Have you written your ad yet?” Bryn asked.

  Emily made a face. “Only about ten versions. It’s not easy.”

  “Describing ourselves never is. How about ‘sexy vixen, new to town.’ ” Josie’s voice was full of mischief.

  “You’re a bad influence. That’s not me.” Emily pushed herself to her feet. “Come on. We have to walk off our ice cream.”

  Leaving the square, they ventured down the side streets, from Petunia Lane to Otter Trail. They walked at a brisk pace but Emily’s mind skittered ahead of them. The whole Lowcountry Singles thing sounded brave but inside, she was scared to death. She felt like a freshman on the first day of high school.

  “What was the dating site like?” Bryn asked.

  Emily blew out a breath. “Overwhelming. But I was surprised at how many singles were listed for this area. Where to start? So I checked out the other women’s profiles to get some ideas.”

  “Checking out the competition?” Josie wiggled her brows.

  “I had to create a dummy profile and pretend to be a man to do that.” Her friends laughed. “From what I read when I went in as Beau Regard, every girl wants to sit on the lake to watch the sunset. Or have a candlelit dinner.”

  “You can be more original,” Josie said. “Want me to write a draft?”

  “No,” Emily and Bryn said in chorus.

  Pretty soon they split up and Emily headed home. But as she trudged up the steps to her apartment, she wondered how to describe herself. Moderately athletic woman, approaching middle age.

  No, scratch that.

  Desires man. Nope. Had to watch her word choice. No way did she want to give anyone the wrong idea. She was in search of her forever man, not a one-night stand. So what would they do together? Hike in the state park. Explore the bike trails together. Kayak in the estuaries. A relationship wasn’t about slow dancing or romantic dinners. Not at first. She wanted to get to know the man, and she wanted someone with the same approach to dating.

  But hadn’t she done that with Eric? If three years wasn’t enough time, then what was? Two, her friends had said. But Emily didn’t feel she had two years left. She’d wasted her twenties, or so it seemed.

  Finally she reached the apartment. Her car was parked in the back lot as usual. No one else was around and she wondered just who was renting the empty space on the first floor.

  The silence felt oppressive when she shoved her key in the upstairs lock. Soon, someone would be moving in. Just as long as it wasn’t an all-night dance club, things would be fine. Emily couldn’t even picture a rowdy night spot in downtown Sweetwater Creek, and she smiled at the thought.

  “Hello, little girl.” Sasha met her at the door. Sometimes Emily thought her spoiled cat was more dog than cat. Of course that took her back to Maximillian and Spartacus, Jackson’s pets. Her chuckle died and she pictured Jackson rollicking through the fields with them, tossing a ball for them to fetch.

  Did he curl up with his cat at night?

  Delete. Delete. No more of that.

  “Have you eaten your breakfast?”

  Sasha sent her a doleful look. You left and I knew you were never coming back. The bowl was licked clean. “You have to stop this nervous eatin
g when I’m gone.” Emily added a bit more dry food to the bowl. Standing in the kitchen, she couldn’t help but remember Jackson leaning against the counter, shirt sleeves pushed up on strong forearms. He was always ready to help.

  Why not enlist his services again? Maybe he’d check out her ad copy and give her some tips. After all, he was a guy. Maybe she should have had him approve the fellows she’d dated in college. He might have steered her straight.

  Ugh. After a quick shower, she swept her damp hair into a ponytail and pulled on her yoga pants and a T-shirt from the Women’s Walk for Hunger. Her computer called. But as she worked on her ad copy, she discovered it was way easier to write about food than about herself. Maybe she should add something about “likes to cook and bake” to her singles ad. Guys liked that, right?

  Then she came to uploading a picture. Her college graduation pictures were old. What about some shots from last Christmas? Thumbing through pictures on her phone, she saved one to her desktop.

  Outside a storm was brewing. An unseasonably cold wind rattled against her office window. The temperature continued to drop. Felt like a perfect day to make chili. She’d finish her blog post later.

  Getting busy in the kitchen, she chopped up onions, celery and carrots before opening several cans of beans. Grabbing some ground turkey from the freezer, she nuked it in the microwave. Soon her slow cooker was perking away. Maybe she’d write a post on healthy one-pot cooking.

  First she had to finish her ad. While the smell of chili filled the apartment, she trotted back to her office. Searching for My Forever Man was so easy to type. The rest? She labored through it. This reminded her of the first time she’d written a blog post. That had taken her days. The fewer the words, the harder they were to type. This ad had to be short and punchy.

  Sasha curled up on the folders and notes littering her side desk.