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Jackson glanced at her. “Why Eddie?”
“It rhymes with Freddie the Teddy,” she said. Why were Brooke and Jackson looking at her as though she was from another planet? It made perfect sense, and was so easy to remember.
“If you want to take him home, I’ll keep his details on file in case his family shows up,” Brooke said, biting her lip. Her eyes were twinkling as she looked at Jackson. “And we can give you some food and the basics to start you off.”
Jackson looked from Lydia to Brooke, and back to Lydia again. He swallowed hard and opened his mouth, buyer’s remorse written all over his face. “Um…”
“That would be great, thank you so much,” Lydia said quickly. Maybe Eddie would be good for him. If he was as much of a workaholic as Griff believed, having something to come home to might make him happy. “Thank you for checking him over,” she said, giving Brooke a hug. “We owe you big time.”
“You’re welcome.” Brooke laughed. “And I’ll ask around about the owners. Who knows, you might only have to take care of him for one night.”
Jackson nodded, looking almost relieved.
It took them five minutes to get Eddie back out to Jackson’s car, and then coax him into the backseat, next to Freddie the Teddy. Brooke had given them a collar and leash, plus a box full of food, treats, and toys that made Jackson’s mouth drop open. “Do you really think he needs all this stuff?” Jackson muttered as he stuffed the box into the trunk next to Lydia’s suitcase.
“I guess so.” Lydia shrugged, tickling Eddie beneath his chin before closing the back door. “I mean, I’ve never had a dog before, but I figure they need a lot of stuff.”
“But you said you knew all about dogs.” Jackson lifted his cap from his head, raking his hands through his hair. “That’s what you said in there.”
“A lot of my friends have dogs. And I really like them,” Lydia said with a smile. “I mean, how difficult can they be?”
Jackson stared at her open mouthed, then slammed the trunk shut, shaking his head as he walked around to the driver’s side. “One favor,” he muttered. “That’s what he said. One damn favor. Griff owes me.”
Lydia felt bad for steamrolling him into this. But what choice did she have? The thought of Eddie all alone in a cage made her tremble. “I’m sorry,” she said softly as she climbed into the passenger seat. “I’d take him with me if I could.”
Jackson’s jaw was tight. “It’s okay,” he managed. “As long as we find the owners fast. I haven’t got time to take care of a dog and run a business.”
Lydia reached out to touch his cheek, because he really looked like he could do with some human contact right now. “Oh, you have a scar,” she said, noticing the shiny skin zig zagging along his jaw, between the dark shadow of hair. She traced it with her finger, and Jackson closed his eyes for a moment. “How did you get it?” she asked him.
“An accident when I was a kid.”
“Surfing? Griff told me you were all daredevils.”
“Scree skiing.”
“Oh.” She was still touching his jaw. It felt nice. Warm and bristly. “Sorry to hear that.”
“It’s fine.” He sounded less tense now, thank goodness. Pressing his lips together, he blew out a mouthful of air. He had such a pretty mouth. On any other guy it might look out of place, but for him it fit perfectly. She’d wager a hundred dollars he was a really good kisser. It was impossible not to be with lips like those.
“So I should get you home now,” Jackson said, his voice low. From the back of the car, Eddie let out a bark, as though he agreed.
She nodded in agreement. “I guess Griff and Autumn are wondering where I am.”
“I already messaged them,” Jackson told her, turning on the engine.
“You think of everything.” She pulled her hand away from his jaw, so he actually had room to drive. “Thank you.”
“Sure.” His knuckles were bleached white where he gripped the steering wheel.
“I’m so glad it was you who picked me up today. Anybody else might have thought I was weird.”
His jaw twitched as he pulled out of the parking space, and drove to the parking lot exit. “Thinking you’re weird?” he managed to say. “Imagine that.”
4
“You got a dog?” Ryan Lewis, Jackson’s dad, asked, staring down at Eddie, and looked back at his son, his eyebrows raised. “Where the heck did he come from?”
“It’s a long story.” Jackson wasn’t sure he had the energy to go through it all, and he definitely didn’t have the patience to listen to his dad’s laughter. “I’m just looking after him until his owner is found.”
