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

by Barbara Lohr

  Of course she had. She usually did.

  “No, my precious girl. You have not gone too far. You just put words to my dreams. That’s all.”

  “What exactly were those dreams?”

  His lips gave her the answer. Jackson’s kiss held the promise of forever. And with him, forever felt just about right.

  Six Months Later

  Emily could smell the grill outside, and she wasn’t nearly ready. Jackson poked his head in the door of their bedroom. “How are things coming in here?”

  Ripping off a piece of tape, she promptly got her fingers tangled up in it. Lately, she’d been all thumbs. “Oh, I just can’t do this!”

  “Shush, shush.” Jackson kissed her, taking the two gifts from her fingers. “Let your handyman do it. One present for each mother?”

  “Right. Just a couple of onesies.”

  “I think I can handle this.” As he applied the tape more neatly than she ever could, Jackson looked up and frowned.

  “What is it?” She handed him the bow.

  “What is a onesie?”

  She burst into giggles. “Oh, you’ll know soon enough.”

  Setting the packages aside, he took her in his arms. His cheek was nice, a little scratchy, just the way she liked it. “So you’re happy living way out here?”

  “Are you kidding? I can go into town whenever I want. Besides, Victoria kicked me out. Said she wanted to have her own place.”

  “We’ll see how long that lasts.”

  Laughing gently, they sank into another kiss. She’d never get used to the sweet things her husband did for her. When she’d told him about the panic attacks, he’d listened. Then he’d assured her he’d do whatever it took to get her through those. But with scenery like this around her and him by her side, she hadn’t had one since that night. Her life had settled, and she felt secure with Jackson at her side. She might never get over this house set on a hill overlooking the lake. “We may have to put up a fence in a few months.”

  He followed her eyes. “I’ve been thinking about that. Of course, Maximillian and Spartacus will be doing guard duty.”

  The words made her eyes all misty.

  “What is it?” Poor guy.

  “Ignore me. I’m just so emotional. Raging hormones.” Whisking the small package from the bed, she beckoned to him. “Come on. Our parents will be here soon. I want to make sure the appetizers are chilled.”

  Just as she was setting the cucumber strips and blue cheese dressing on the screen porch table, she heard Daddy’s car in the driveway. Her parents had picked up Jackson’s mother, Joanne. Going outside, Emily waved.

  Mama and Daddy got out, and her father opened the back door for Mrs. Hart. The fall weather had stayed pleasant this year. Emily had planted pansies in the pots near the garage. But her father wasn’t looking up at her. He was eyeing the Porsche, which Jackson had just finished detailing. She had no idea how much time he spent fussing over these cars until she married him.

  Jackson went down to meet them, with Emily right behind him. He gave his mother a big hug.

  “When do I get a ride in this thing?” Daddy had been dying to be taken around the countryside, where Jackson could “open it up.”

  “Maybe a little later.”

  Daddy beamed as he followed the ladies up the steps to the deck and into the screen porch. Their marriage had made Emily’s parents so happy.

  “How are you, dear?” her mom said a kiss on her cheek. “Still settling in?”

  “Oh, I think I’m pretty settled.” Jackson’s house was all set, which was a comfort. “I’m handling my business fine. I have more customers than ever.”

  “Don’t get all stressed out,” her new mother-in-law told her. “Let Jackson take care of things for you.”

  “He does.” She smiled over at her husband.

  “And there’s Sasha,” Mama said, going over to say hello to Sasha, lolling in one of the kitty hammocks Jackson had strung up for the cats, one in each corner.

  “She loves this porch,” Emily told her mother. “But she hasn’t decided how she feels about Midnight. So Jackson put up two hammocks.”

  Daddy and Jackson came up the stairs.

  “Are Josie and Bryn coming today?” Mama asked. “It’ll be so nice to see them.”

  “Right. They’re coming and they might each bring someone.”

  “Oh, tell me all about it.” Her mom leaned closer.

  “Later.” Excitement prickling through her, she picked up the gifts from a chair. Jackson had one arm around her as she handed Mama and his own mother the wrapped packages. “We have a little something for you.”

  The grandmothers-to-be exchanged a look. Emily almost caught her dad yawning. Gifts were for the ladies, not for him. My, won’t he be surprised.

  “What is it?” Jackson’s mother lifted the blue bow.

  “Just you wait and see.”

  Face pink, Emily’s mama tore off the wrapping paper, pushed aside the tissue and lifted out a blue onesie, tiny enough for a newborn. Gasping, Jackson’s mother did the same. “Oh, sweetheart,” Mama murmured, while Daddy turned pale.

  Laying one hand softly on her tummy, Emily shared a smile with her husband. When Jackson kissed her, this day felt like the first of many tomorrows. Her best friend was going to make a great daddy.

  ***

  FREE BOOK

  If you enjoyed Emily, Josie and Bryn, you’ll like Steal My Heart, Trevor, which will come out next in the Best Friends to Forever series. Join my newsletter to be alerted and you’ll also get a free novella! Summer Riptide will take you to Gull Harbor and the beach. Read on below for a sample from Coming Home to You, the first book in the Gull Harbor Man from Yesterday series.

  The thumping started when Kate Kennedy reached Greta’s Gifts on Red Arrow Highway. Cheese curls churned in her stomach as she tapped the brakes. Almost home but something was wrong with the kayak strapped to her roof. Gravel crunching beneath the tires, she pulled into Greta’s and parked. The sun bounced off the hood of her SUV, but a cool May breeze bathed her face when she cracked open the door.

  Welcome to Michigan. Her eyes felt grainy from fourteen hours on the road, but she was home.

  Stretching, Kate breathed in the lake, damp and beachy. The tightness in her shoulders eased. Pine trees caught a high spring gust and the familiar rustle made her smile. Her stomach gurgled. Not much to eat the whole ride from Boston except peanut butter and jelly, plus bags of cheese curls washed down with coffee.

  Looking up, she exhaled. At least she hadn’t lost Gator, her green kayak. A red security tie flapped in the breeze. Must have lost the other strap along the way. Kate scrubbed her face with hands shaking from all the caffeine. A semi roared past, kicking up dust. She tugged up the zipper on her hoodie.

  “Doggone it, Gator.”

  The kayak slid a bit farther. Too bad she’d left her small kitchen stepladder in the Boston condo, along with a lot of other stuff. When she yanked the remaining red band, it fell away in her hand. One frustrated shove and Gator retaliated, smacking her square in the chest before clattering to the ground. The pain bent Kate over like a paper clip. She almost didn’t hear the door slam behind her.

  Blinking furiously, she pulled herself up, grateful for the sunglasses. No way would anyone see Kate Kennedy cry. A man ambled toward her in work boots, worn jeans, and shoulders that tested the seams of a beat-up jean jacket. That walk looked familiar and her heart kicked up a beat. He wore aviator sunglasses, so no telling for sure. A black and white dog hung out of the pickup, Great Dane ears pricking forward. Big muzzle, big dog.

  “Need some help?”

  Yep, it was him. Kate’s legs weakened. “No, I’m fine.”

  His eyes shifted to the kayak on the ground. “Doesn’t look fine to me.”

  She fisted her hands on her hips. “I’m fine. And so is Gator.” Her chest throbbed.

  Blue eyes swept like a July wave over the tops of his sunglasses. “Gator?”
/>   She swallowed. “My kayak. Seemed appropriate.”

  “I see.”

  But Cole Campbell had never understood why Kate wanted all her belongings named and in their proper place. Shoot. They’d been on the high school debate team together, and he didn’t recognize her? Maybe it was her recent drugstore dye job. She’d had brown hair in high school. Now she ran a hand over blonde hair, crisp from two days of neglect.

  He swayed back on his heels, a Good Samaritan with second thoughts. The two empty seats of the kayak stared up at them. “Lucky you didn’t lose it on the road. Could have smashed into another driver. You need to batten it down.”

  “Thought I did. It was dark when I loaded it.”

  “Try doing it in the daytime. You could kill somebody.”

  “I left at midnight.”

  “Midnight?” He lowered the glasses and his eyes darkened.

  Her chin came up. “Highway’s quiet at night.”

  “Exactly. You think that’s safe?”

  None of his business. “I’ve, ah, probably got some rope in the back.” She seriously doubted it.

  “I’ll be glad to help.” His eyes flitted from her to Gator and back. A stern mask slipped into place. Cole’s teenage acne had left faint pockmarks that definitely didn’t detract from his macho appeal.

  Was he going to help her or not? Her chest throbbed. Could this day get any worse? The boy she’d been crazy about in high school didn’t even recognize her. Kate’s throat closed. Nothing like feeling forgettable.

  In two thrusts of his muscular arms, Cole had Gator back in the rack on top of her SUV. Disgusting how easy he made it look, but it gave her time to enjoy the view. Cole Campbell had definitely left “gawky” behind.

  “Thank you.”

  Wheeling around, he caught her staring and grinned. “Got that rope?”

  Her face burned. “Sure. I’ll get it. Let me just check Bonita.”

  “Bonita?” He tilted his head.

  “My car.” One glimpse of the pretty blue SUV on the lot and she knew it was Bonita.

  “Sure. Right.”

  Popping open the back gate, Kate launched herself into the tightly packed boxes and bulging trash bags. She must have rope here somewhere.

  “Finding anything? I might have something in the truck.”

  When she heard the scratch of his boots on the gravel, Kate thought maybe he was leaving. Her disappointment surprised her. After all, she wasn’t at her best. If you’re going to run into an old flame… well, a man you wanted to be your old flame… a girl should look hot, not sweaty.

  Kate was sweaty.

  Finally, she climbed out empty-handed. Cole was ambling toward her with a roll of heavy gauge rope.

  “That looks serious.” Her mother wouldn’t even be able to get a clothespin around this sturdy stuff, although she’d probably try.

  “Want to stand on the other side and catch this?”

  “Sure.” I’d hold anything for you. Like my breath.

  While Cole tossed a length of rope over the kayak, his dog watched from the pickup with mild interest. Grabbing the rope, Kate threaded it back and he knotted it securely. “First, I like to tighten the bow and then the stern.”

  “You kayak?”

  Whipping out a Swiss army knife, he cut the rope. “Way too much work. I sail.”

  Of course. She pictured an elegant yacht skimming Lake Michigan. Samantha McGraw would be next to him, tan and trim. Kate didn’t need the instant replay. Had enough of that in high school.

  Cole worked with calm efficiency, the way he’d handled Student Council or Debate Club.

  Oh, yeah. He’d handled their debate group just fine.

  When he turned back, his eyes went to her hair. Smiling, Cole whisked something from the mess. Her breath left her body.

  Maybe she was just tired.

  Or maybe she was desperate for a man’s touch.

  He handed her a cheese curl.

  “Thanks.” She jammed it in her jean pocket and then felt stupid. Was she going to press it in her high school scrapbook? Kate slammed her back gate shut.

  Cole’s eyes rested on the Massachusetts license plate. “Passing through or coming for the summer?”

  “That depends.” He still didn’t know her? She edged toward the driver’s door. “Thanks for your help.”

  Cole cocked his head to one side, like he was listening to her voice. “Sure. No problem.”

  “Got to get to an appointment.” Maybe a shrink. She opened the driver’s door so fast she almost cracked herself in the mouth.

  “Ah, huh. Well, good luck.”

  “Right. Thank you.” Kate needed more than luck this trip. Without looking back, she peeled out and did a U-turn on Red Arrow. In bad need of a friendly face, she headed into town.

  Driving toward Gull Harbor, Kate passed the ice cream parlors, restaurants, galleries, and tourist gift shops. Some looked closed, and she hoped that was just seasonal. Winters could be hard on businesses, and this economy didn’t help any.

  Clancy’s grocery store sat at the main intersection of Whittaker and Red Arrow, just next to Dressel’s drugstore. Kate ducked into the grocery, grabbed a cart, and zipped through the aisles, snapping up basic necessities like OJ, milk, bread and cheese curls. Stopping at the deli counter, she picked up some sliced turkey and cole slaw. Should hold her for a while.

  After stowing the bags in her trunk, Kate glanced across the street. The Full Cup sign swung above the frosted glass door. A cheese crown called to her from Sarah’s shiny clean case. Hardly any traffic on Whittaker in early May and she sprinted across the two lanes. Kate pushed open the door of the bakery and breathed in the scent of warm, fresh pastries. No need to begin sensible eating now. Sour cream donuts, almond braids, cheese crowns and frosted brownies were neatly arranged behind the glass.

  Freshly perked coffee perfumed the air with a hint of hazelnut. Definitely not the roadside stuff. Everything about the place looked the same, just the way Kate liked it. Her irritation eased. Would it be a cheese crown or a brownie? Kate was still deciding when Sarah whirled through the swinging door to the back, patting her brown curls. “Why, Katie Kennedy. Back so soon?”

  “Couldn’t stay away from your cheese crowns.”

  “I know. Me too.” Laughing, Sarah wiped her hands on the apron around her ample waist. Miss Congeniality, hands down.

  “Everything good? Boys and Jamie doing all right?”

  Sarah had married Jamie Pickard, her high school sweetheart now serving overseas. They had two little boys.

  “Yep, as far as I know. One cheese crown coming right up.” Sarah handed over the largest pastry on the tray. She nodded toward the tables at the window. “Got time to chat? Coffee’s free.”

  “Sounds like a plan.” That run-in with Cole after all these years had left Kate’s head fuzzy. She just wasn’t ready to see her mom yet. After pouring a cup of hazelnut coffee, she slid onto one of the wire-backed chairs.

  Sarah settled across the table with a sigh. “Your mother will be glad to see you.”

  “So you know about her stroke?” No secrets in this town. Today that felt good.

  “How’s she doing?”

  “The therapists say she’s improving.”

  “She’ll be tickled to see you.” Supportive to the bone, Sarah always had your back.

  “Picked up groceries and thought I’d stop here.” Kate’s grin felt shaky. “Kinda tired. I started out late last night.”

  “A woman on the highway alone at night?”

  “Cole Campbell already told me that was stupid.”

  “You’re in touch with Cole?” Sarah’s eyebrows lifted into her curly mop.

  Kate brushed the crumbs from her jeans. “My kayak came loose, and he stopped to help.”

  “Really? Always so helpful. Cole’s a mover and shaker here in town.”

  “Samantha must love that.” Kate had heard Cole and Samantha married right out of college. By that time, Ka
te had been dating Brian for three years. High school friends pairing up had been old news.

  But with Cole? Okay, the news gave her a twinge or two.

  “They split up.” Sarah stirred more cream into her coffee. “It’s been tough for him the last few years. He has custody of their daughter.”

  Cole Campbell, a single father? “Thought the mom always gets the kids. Does Samantha live around here?”

  “Nope. California, from what I hear. Anyway, Cole wants to move Gull Harbor ahead.” Sarah glanced at the street outside. “Make some changes.”

  “Things look just fine the way they are.” Kate took another bite of the sweet cheese.

  “We’ve had a rough few years, Kate. Shops have closed or changed hands. Michiana Thyme was sold. Did your mom tell you?”

  Kate shook her head, struggling to swallow. She always bit off more than she could chew. “Nope. She might be a little out of touch now.” Craning her neck, Kate stared down Whittaker at the combination gift shop and diner on the main corner. Been there forever. Now it was sold? Her contentment at being home unraveled around the edges. “I was looking forward to their stuffed French toast.”

  “And I would have been right there with you, not that I need it. Loretta retired and moved to Florida to be near her son. No one wanted to take on the store.”

  “What’s going to happen to the place?”

  Sarah lifted a shoulder. “Town meeting pretty soon. Cole bought it. He’s got plans. Your mom never said anything? She’s always been so involved in Gull Harbor.”

  “She will be again. I have no doubt.”

  Sarah’s eyes softened. “She’ll be so glad to see both of you.”

  “Mercedes can’t come. Too much going on with her company.”

  At least that had been the excuse. Kate didn’t need to spell it out for her old friend. Eons ago, her older sister had borrowed an outfit from Sarah. The fluffy teal sweater and pants had been so pretty. After go-karting with friends, Mercedes returned it with oil stains. Never said a thing about it. Kate had been so embarrassed. Just another page from the book of Mercedes Kennedy. “I’m hoping Mercedes will be able to come soon.”

  “You Kennedy women are strong. Almost didn’t recognize you, Kate. Like the blonde hair.”