Chasing The Sun (Angel Sands 7)

Jackson blinked. “Boyfriend?” he mouthed. But he didn’t protest.

Maybe they could have a bit of fun here. There was nothing like a game of pretend to make somebody laugh.

Lydia grinned at him, hoping he would go with it. “I was just telling my boyfriend,” she said, emphasizing the word, “that Eddie would look amazing in these jackets.”

Jackson bit down a smile and shook his head, but didn’t correct her.

“And I was just telling my… girlfriend that Eddie doesn’t need a jacket. God gave him a coat already.”

She squeezed Jackson’s hand. He was definitely going with it.

“I guess so,” the assistant said. “But it’s a way to show our furry babies how much we love them, isn’t it? Look at Buffy here. She loves being dressed up. Every day she gets to choose a different outfit.” She leaned down to ruffle the pug’s fur. “But you know, if you’re not ready for a full on outfit, why not start with a neckerchief? We have some great ones at the counter.”

“Yes,” Lydia said, smiling at Jackson. “We should get Eddie a neckerchief.”

“I don’t know how he’s survived this far without one,” Jackson agreed, deadpan.

She scanned his face. Yeah, he still looked like he was enjoying himself. Maybe it was time to take it up a notch. “Do you have matching daddy and doggy neckerchiefs?” Lydia asked, trying hard to keep a straight face. “Wouldn’t that be perfect, sweetheart?”

Jackson narrowed his eyes at her, but his lips were still curled up. “How about a mommy and doggy matching set?”

She clapped her hands together. “Yes! We’ll all get one. Won’t that be wonderful?” She hugged him, pressing her face into his chest to hide her laughter. “You always have the best ideas.”

“I live to make you happy,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

She managed to keep the laughter down long enough for them to pay for three jaunty red neckerchiefs. But as soon as they were outside, she found herself bending over to stop from peeing herself.

Because Jackson’s face was just so, so delicious.

“Remind me to never take you shopping again,” he told her, putting the bag with the coffee machine down. “And also, you’re wearing that scarf the next time you take Eddie out.”

“Your face, oh my god, wasn’t that fun?” she managed to splutter.

He blinked, as though it was a difficult question. “Yeah…” he finally said. “I guess it was fun.”

She managed to stand, rolling onto the balls of her feet to press her lips against his cheek. He hadn’t shaved again, and the roughness of his beard sent a shiver through her. “I owe you one,” she told him.

“More than one. About a hundred. Why is it you create chaos wherever you go?”

She shrugged happily. “It’s a gift.”

“It sure is. And what was with calling me your boyfriend?”

“Sometimes it’s fun to pretend to be somebody you’re not. Like being a kid again, playing make believe.” She eyed him carefully. “It’s a way I stop thinking about all the things that worry me.”

His mouth parted as he took in her words. Slowly, he ran the tip of his tongue along his plump bottom lip. Lydia didn’t think she’d ever met a guy with such a perfect mouth. She wondered what it would feel like to press them against her…

Then his phone rang, chasing the thought from her head.

“Again?” she asked. She’d never met anybody who got more phone calls and messages than she did before.

Jackson pulled his phone from his pocket, sighing when he read the screen. “I gotta take this one,” he said. “Give me a minute, okay?”

The way the light drained from his eyes made her feel sad. She’d almost got him there, dammit. “Sure. Take your time.”

He slid his finger to accept the call, and lifted the device to his ear. “Mom?” He paused. “Yeah, I got your messages, I’ve been busy, that’s all.”

Jackson walked away to take the call so Lydia didn’t have to hear the gory details. Exhaling heavily, he leaned on the tiled wall while his mom let out a stream of consciousness over the phone.