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She was breathless when she made it to the grassy lawn leading to Jackson’s house. There was a fence containing his backyard, and she pulled on the gate to open it, stepping inside.
Jackson and Eddie were in the yard, play-wrestling. Jackson was on his back, his denim-clad legs bent at the knee, his bare feet planted in the grass. He was wearing a black henley, and his biceps bulged beneath the dark cotton as he held Eddie’s thick trunk, while Eddie yapped and barked and jumped all over him.
When Jackson tried to sit up, Eddie pushed him down with his paws, making him laugh loudly. Eddie jumped back, enough for Jackson to scoot away, before Eddie leapt on him and the wrestling started all over again.
“Okay, okay, you win!” Jackso
n said, laughing, as Eddie finally stopped jumping. “Now sit.”
Much to her surprise, Eddie did exactly as he was told, gracefully planting his haunches on the grass and his paws in front of him, as he looked up at Jackson.
“Good boy,” Jackson murmured, ruffling the pup’s hair. Eddie looked as pleased as punch.
“Have you been training him?” Lydia asked. Their two heads swept around in tandem to look at her. Eddie cocked his head to the side, while Jackson blinked at her sudden appearance.
“Where did you come from?” he asked, a smile curling at his lips. “Is it seven already?”
“A quarter after.” Lydia had the good grace to look apologetic. “I’m late. It took longer than I’d expected to get here. Especially with all those steps.”
He stood and brushed the grass from his top. She tried really hard not to look at the sliver of skin between the hem and his jeans. “Didn’t you get a ride?” he asked her.
“I decided to walk. It’s a lovely evening.”
“So you walked five miles here, to take Eddie for a walk, and later you’ll walk five miles back?”
“I guess.” She honestly hadn’t thought about the journey home. But that would be okay.
“You really need to learn how to drive.”
“Then teach me,” she joked.
“Okay.”
Her mouth dropped open. “I was just kidding. You don’t have to do that. I’d drive you crazy. Literally. The only time I’ve ever been behind a wheel I almost drove into a wall.”
Jackson nodded. “Noted. We won’t go near any walls.”
“You’re serious.”
“I am. You can’t live the next seventy years of your life not being able to drive. I can at least show you the basics. Then when you’re ready you will be prepared to eventually take lessons.”
The thought of Jackson taking her out to drive his car made her feel fluttery inside. It was those damn biceps. Every time they flexed her heart missed a beat. And if he was teaching her to drive, they’d have to flex a lot. And maybe reach across her, to show her how to turn the wheel properly.
“You really don’t have to. I’ve survived this long without learning.”
“It’s fine. We’ll start tonight after you’ve taken Eddie for a walk. I’ll drive you home and explain all the basics. Then tomorrow, I’ll pick you up and you can do some driving.”
She nodded. “It’s a deal.” And one that she would benefit the most out of. She made a mental note to herself to do something – anything – to make his life easier. Something that didn’t involve him looking after a dog or teaching a wild woman to drive.
“Okay.” He didn’t look perturbed at all. If anything, he looked amused. “I’ll go grab Eddie’s leash, and you can take him down to the beach while I finish up some work.”
Jackson sighed and pushed his laptop away. He wasn’t getting any work done. He was too busy looking beyond the screen to the beach below his cliff house. When he’d first looked at this place, it had been the view that had drawn him. The ocean had been part of his life for as long as he could remember. First with his dad’s career as a professional surfer, and when he gave that up for a steadier, more local job, it was Jackson who’d surfed more.
The ocean was choppy tonight. He smiled as he watched Lydia and Eddie run alongside the foaming waves as they crashed against the beach. The sun was halfway beneath the horizon, casting a low, orange glow across the surface of the water. Part of him wanted to be down there, running with them. But he was already too far gone. He liked her. More than he wanted to. She made him smile in a way he hadn’t for a long time. She made him want things he had no place wanting. Things like soft touches and knowing grins. Warm, welcoming lips and soft tender thighs.
He groaned, shifting in his chair. She was leaving in ten days. He had to get through them, and he’d be okay. He was used to people leaving – he’d watched his mom do it too many times over the years. Just keep that protective armor over his heart and everything would be okay.
Eddie jumped at Lydia, shaking his wet body all over her. Most girls he knew would have screamed at that, but he could see Lydia laughing while shaking her hair back at Eddie, who barked with delight.
