Dreams of Ivory (8 page)

If she remembered from what Jackson had said in the past, the Cooper brother who liked to cook the most was Justin, and since he didn’t live there anymore, the kitchen might not be put to good use. The image of what the home would look like bursting to the brim with Cooper brothers and their families filled her mind, and she smiled. 

The place was the perfect size to hold the five big Cooper men and their growing families. Only she knew that the brothers didn’t do dinners there every day, meaning Jackson was alone a lot of the time.

She shook her head then jumped as Jackson placed his hand on her hip then moved to stand in front of her. 

“Why are you frowning?” he asked. “What’s wrong? Do you hurt? What can I do?”

“Just thinking about how much I like your house.”

He looked over his shoulder then back at her. “Then why were you frowning?”

She smiled and leaned into him, telling herself it was because her head hurt, not because she wanted to be near him. “I guess that didn’t make sense, huh?”

He ran his hand down her back, and she closed her eyes, savoring his touch.

“Do you want to go upstairs?” he asked, his voice husky.

She opened her eyes as she looked up at him, unable to say anything.

Jackson grinned and kissed the top of her head. “I mean, do you want to go upstairs and lie in the guest bedroom, or do you want to lie on the couch down here?”

She lowered her head, her cheeks burning. 

Well then.

“You have to wake me up every hour, right?”

“Yes, so I think it would be best if you were upstairs. That way you could at least be comfortable while you get no sleep.” 

She rolled her eyes then nodded. She winced as a flash of pain speared at her.

“Okay, no nodding or quick movements for you,” Jackson said as he picked her up, cradling her to his chest.

“What are you doing? I can walk.” Even as she said it, she inhaled his masculine scent. He might have been up all night and smelled vaguely of a hospital, but underneath it all, he smelled of Jackson.

Okay, maybe she’d hit her head harder than she thought.

“I want to carry you.” 

“Well, I guess I won’t complain too much then.”

He carried her up to the guest room and set her on the large queen bed. She spotted her luggage near the dresser, and she glared at Jackson.

“How did you get all my things?”

Jackson shrugged. “I told you, you’re staying here. I had Matt and Jordan get your things and bring them over here. They also closed down the inn since Connie’s out of town.”

“So he went through my stuff without asking?”

Jackson let out a breath and sat down on the bed next to her. “You weren’t completely unpacked so it was easy. Yes, he had to look at some of your things so he wouldn’t crush them or screw up your organization.”

“I could have taken care of it.” Everything was starting to slip from her control. Her car was totaled, her body ached, she wanted a man who probably wanted something different, and now she didn’t really have a place to escape to when things went downhill with Jackson.

Which they would.

Again.

“Seriously, Honor? You’re freaking out over someone touching your stuff, yet you almost died tonight.”

She closed her eyes and rested her head on the pillow. “I know. I’m an idiot. I can’t believe that guy ran that stop sign and drove off.”

“I’ll kill him when I find him,” Jackson growled.

“No, you won’t, Jacks, but thanks for saying it. You might act all growly, but you wouldn’t kill anyone.” At his narrowed eyes, she backtracked. “I’m sure you’d at least maim him though.”

He shook his head and looked as if he were holding back a smile. “Get some rest, and I’ll come in and intrusively wake you up in an hour.”

She groaned and turned on her side carefully. “I don’t know if I want to go to sleep knowing you’ll be back as soon as I close my eyes.”

He ran his hand down her side, and she held back a shiver. She was aching, her side hurt like someone had run her over—close enough—and she hadn’t slept in far too long. It really was the worse time to be thinking about the fact that she was currently on the same bed as the man she used to love.

Used to.

There was no way she could still love him considering she didn’t even
know
this Jackson.

At least that’s what she kept telling herself.

“Get some rest for me, Honor. When you wake up, we can talk about what we’re going to do.”

Her heart raced. “Do?”

“With us sharing a place. It’s going to be weird since I haven’t lived with anyone in a long time, not to mention I’ve never lived with a woman I think I want to see.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Think you want to see? Well, isn’t that the most glorious title I’ve ever heard.”

He shrugged, not looking the least bit repentant. “We said last night that we needed to talk. We’re not in our teens or twenties anymore. I’m not going to ignore the fact that I kissed you like a man who wanted to do much more than that. Hell, I
wanted
to do much more than that, but we need to make sure we’re on the same page.”

“I take it you don’t know what that page is.” Considering she hadn’t even known they’d be looking for pages to begin with, she didn’t blame him for not knowing.

“No, but you don’t either, so we’ll take it slow. The hit-and-run complicates things.” He grinned as he said it so she resisted the urge to throw a pillow at him. Plus she needed that pillow to soothe her aching head.

“We’ll talk tonight.” Then a thought hit her. “Shit. Tonight. My job. We didn’t call my aunt.”

Jackson cursed. “Fuck. How the hell did we forget to call your aunt? The entire Cooper clan knows you’re hurt, and we didn’t call your family. I’m sorry, baby.” He got up off the bed, and she reached out to him too quickly, sending a sharp spear of pain down her side. “Hey, don’t move too quickly.”

She bit her lip and took a deep breath. “Don’t blame yourself for not calling her. I’m not used to relying on anyone or having anyone rely on me. Give me the phone, and I’ll talk to her. Knowing this town, she already knows what happened to me and is waiting for me anyway.”

He nodded and handed her the house phone on the bedside table.

Her aunt picked up on the second ring. “It’s about time you called, girlie.”

“I’m so, so sorry I didn’t call. I have no idea what I was thinking.”

“You were thinking that you were in a car accident and now have the entire Cooper clan taking care of you. Jordan called me by the way so you don’t have to worry. I know you and Jackson have other things to worry about. Namely this new predicament of his and your job tonight.”

“Tonight? Oh hell. I forgot tonight was the first night on the job.”

“Get some rest, and I’ll have Brent take care of it. I’m sure he won’t mind as he’s been taking care of it for a long time anyway.”

She winced at the reminder. “No. I’ll take care of it. I’m not as hurt as it seems, I promise. I’m just a little tired.”

She heard Jackson grunt and looked up as he glared at her. She’d forgotten he was in the room, but it didn’t matter. She had a job to do that she’d been neglecting too long.

“If you’re sure you’re up to it, dear. You only have a couple stops tonight since it’s a slow night. Take Jackson with you though.”

“Why would I do that? I thought fairies worked alone.”

“He’s a sandman, dear. A brand new one with no choice, at that. You and he will both be working the night. Well, didn’t that sound dirty? You know what I meant.”

Honor held back a smile at the way her aunt’s mind worked. 

“I also want him there in case you pass out or another accident happens around you. He’s been around to save your life—or at least witness you almost dying—twice now.”

Honor frowned. It did seem odd that two major accidents had happened to her since she’d moved to Holiday, but, really, she must be just turning accident-prone. Thank God for Jackson though.

“If you’re sure,” she said, her mind on what she needed to do and not on what had happened.

“I’m sure. I’ve already been talking to another sandman I know. He should be in town soon to talk to Jackson about what he can do. I’m afraid it won’t be much other than show Jackson the ropes though. I don’t know of a way to get out of the sandman work other than retiring, and you know it’s at least a ten-year commitment.”

Honor nodded, already knowing the answer. Poor Jackson.

He already hated magic and now he was thrust in the center of it with these new responsibilities of his and the fact that she’d told him who she was.

That little bit of excitement that had grown within her when he’d touched her side started to shrivel up. There was no way he’d want to be with her when she was the tooth fairy.

Fate really was a bitch sometimes.

“I’ll have someone drop by all you’ll need tonight, dear. You’ll be fine.”

Honor snorted. “You say that as if I know what I’m doing.”

“Of course you do. It’s all in the blood. You’ve been ignoring it for so long that you’re just afraid. And, no, that wasn’t a guilt trip, so stop frowning. Take Jackson with you tonight and show him what it is you do. It’ll bring you closer.”

The only reason Honor didn’t roll her eyes at that comment was that it would probably hurt her head, but it was a close call. 

“Fine. Thanks, Aunt Clementine.”

“No problem, hon. And Honor?” Her aunt took a deep breath. “I’m so happy you’re okay. Don’t scare me like that again, okay?”

Honor swallowed hard. “I won’t.” She winced. “Can you call Tucker?”

Her aunt snorted. “Already did. He’d be on his way over now if it wasn’t for me yelling at that boy. You need to work on your magic and on that man of yours. You don’t need your brother lurking about and brooding.”

Honor smiled at the thought. “He does do that, doesn’t he?”

Her aunt chuckled. “Yes he does. Now get some rest and let that handsome Cooper take care of you. You have an easy night tonight, dear.”

She hung up and looked up at Jackson.

“I caught most of that since your aunt isn’t a quiet speaker. I guess I’m stuck with this whole sandman gig, huh?”

Her heart went out to him. “For a bit at least. I’ll help you though. Sandmen work with kids and so do I. We can work together. Plus if you’re here in Holiday, your territory is smaller than most. That’s just how things in Holiday are. I’m sure Justin has a smaller territory with his job with Santa.”

He nodded but didn’t look convinced. “We also have a field trip tonight I hear.”

“Tonight’s my first night working as a tooth fairy. I’m sorry I forgot.”

“You were a little busy trying not to die, Honor. We’re fine. I don’t know that I like that you’ll be out and about so soon after the accident, but I’ll be by your side. You’re too stubborn to listen to good sense.”

She scowled. “Jerk.”

His mouth lifted in a semblance of a smile. “Get some rest, and I’ll do the same. I’ll watch you prance around in a tutu tonight.”

Her eyes narrowed. “No tutu for me. No tiara either.”

“Well damn. There goes my image of you in that get-up.”

“You’re a disturbed man, Jackson Cooper.”

“True. See you in an hour.”

They slept on and off throughout the day, and after eating some soup Jackson had heated up, she felt much better. Her head still hurt a bit, but not as bad as it had before. The doctors had said she’d be fine within a day or two as long as she didn’t bang her head against a wall or something equally as stupid. Her side hurt if she bent the wrong way, but other than that, she was healthy. Yes, she missed her car, but she hadn’t lost her life.

Her aunt had sent over her things for the night so she was ready to go. Unlike the outfit Jackson had joked about, there wasn’t a uniform. She’d be wearing black jeans and a black shirt though because she liked to blend in. She picked up the small wooden box in her bag and smiled. Once she held this, those without magic wouldn’t be able to see her at all. Her aunt had also packed one for Jackson, so they would be safe from prying eyes. They could keep the boxes in their bags or in their hands. As long as it was on their persons and in the middle of its magical duty, they were okay. 

“What’s that?” Jackson asked as he strolled in wearing dark clothes that clung to his toned body.

She swallowed hard and pulled her gaze to his face. It wouldn’t do to pant after the man when she needed to work.

“You’ll see, but you’ll have to carry one. The box will keep you hidden from prying eyes and little kids who wake up when you get into their rooms.”

Jackson frowned as he took the box. “It would be easier for me to just pull the teeth in my office and collect them there.”

Honor rolled her eyes. “Sure, then I could just walk in and take the teeth there. You could send me a bill for the coins as well.”

“I was just saying.”

“I know, but what the tooth fairies do is important. When I take a tooth, I take a little bit of that child’s hopes and dreams with me. Well, not per se, it’s more like I borrow them. When they get older, they lose that part of themselves, and that’s why we have it on reserve. We’re there to make sure that, as kids, they keep that innocence and happiness. When a kid loses a tooth and believes in the tooth fairy, they have the joy that comes with knowing they’ll find a coin or dollar bill, thanks to inflation, under their pillow.”

“Yeah, but their parents could do that.”

“Sure, and because of our magic, the parents believe they
are
doing it, thereby instilling even more hope into the family. If the parents were doing it, though, that reserve of hope and dreams that we have wouldn’t exist.”

“You mean an actual reserve, don’t you?”

“Yep. Right now it fills a few hundred caves and warehouses, I think. My aunt really knows what she’s doing with all of that. We fairies collect the teeth then put them in the box. The box, once we’re free of prying eyes, will magically go to the right warehouse or cave and be stored forever. When we’re on our mission, we’ll be hidden. The box knows these things, I promise. Its presence infuses magic and hope into the world, helping more children smile and keep their innocence.”