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“Great,” Jackson says before turning to me. “Chelsea, would you have dinner with me tonight?”
Bastien clears his throat, so Jackson adds, “Without this bozo?”
“Hey,” my friend whines.
We ignore him and the rest of the group and turn to leave.
Jackson walks with me through the half-empty lot. “This is me,” I announce when we get to my car.
Jackson places my bag in the open trunk. “Will you text me your address, or should I get it before I let you leave?”
Rolling my eyes, I reach for my phone and send him my address right then. “There. Happy now?”
He leans in to kiss my neck and says, “Deliriously so. I’ll pick you up at seven.”
Jackson walks away and tosses over his shoulder, “Dress comfortable.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
The man reacts instantly, freezing in place. “You have no idea what you just unleashed, little girl.”
The threat in his voice causes an all-over quiver. I can’t wait.
Jackson
The Boozy Bark is busy this early Saturday afternoon. I shudder walking through the gate, knowing this is the same bar slash dog park slash concert venue where Birdie was attacked.
Shaking off those memories, I search for Caleb, finding him among his friends. My son grins when he notices me, standing and hugging me. “Guys, this is my dad.”
Caleb’s male friends offer chin lifts or a handshake. The female companions in the group take in my track pants and snug tee with blatant appreciation. They preen and pose but otherwise keep their distance. Thank God. I’m most likely twenty years younger than their fathers[CH1].
“You want to hang out for a while or just take my one good excuse for being here?” Caleb asks.
“I’d love to stay, but Captain and I have a date tonight.”
Caleb grins and nods. “Sounds like you’ve made it to the final act.”
“I won’t even ask what that means.”
With a nod to Caleb and his boys and not even a passing glance at the girls, I whistle for Captain and head out.
The two of us are clean and shiny when we arrive at Chelsea’s townhouse. I’m carrying a bouquet of roses, minus one stem in Captain’s mouth.
I ring the doorbell, and Chelsea answers a moment later. My mouth dries up when the door opens. Chelsea wears blue linen shorts and a pink halter top. Her light-brown waves are loose around her shoulders.
Chelsea smiles brightly but forgets all about me when she realizes I’m not alone. “Oh my God!” She drops to a knee and gushes over my dog. “Aren’t you a beauty?”
Captain lifts to all fours, and that butt starts wagging. Chelsea scratches Captain between the ears and takes the rose from her mouth. “She’s gorgeous, Jackson. What’s her name?”
“It’s Captain.”
Chelsea laughs. “Of course, it is.”
“I’m glad to see you like dogs.”
“I love them. I’ve had dogs all my life until I joined the Marines. Since then, I’m not home enough to have one.”
Captain is now talking to and loving on my woman as if I needed any more confirmation that this was right.