Page 39 of Hidden Desires

Davis gave him a look and Jackson smiled. “Uh, yeah. He’s a badass Shih-Tzu, too, so he’ll need supervision around other pets and children.”

The lady glanced from Davis to Jackson. Her thoughts were displayed plainly across her face, something which only made Jackson’s smile widened. She obviously had the hots for Davis.

“What my lover doesn’t know is that children wouldn’t be back there, right?” Jackson wrapped an arm around Davis, his fingers hooking inside his back pocket. “Honey, you are just so overprotective.”

The lady frowned at them. Davis, trying his best to play along instead of ramming his fist into Jackson’s jaw, shifted from one foot to the other, hinting for him to remove his arm. Jackson could honestly say he hadn’t seen Davis squirm this much in all the time he’s known him.

“Uh, you’ll have to fill out these papers, and then I’ll have someone give you a tour of the rooms.” She handed them a clipboard. Davis accepted it and jerked away from Jackson.

Once they seated themselves, Davis bent forward and whispered, “I’ll rip your fuckin’ head off if you grab my ass again.”

“You so deserved it.” Jackson glanced at the papers. “Where do we go from here?”

“While they give you the tour, I’ll excuse myself to the bathroom and sneak around the place. If I get caught I’ll say I got lost.” He idly filled out the papers. “A Shih-Tzu. You couldn’t say a Boxer or St. Bernard, something a bit more manly and monstrous? You had to go with Shih-Tzu?”

“It was on the poster behind the lady. Hell, just fill out the paperwork and let’s get this over with.” Jackson glanced over to an elderly lady who eyed them cautiously. Speaking to her, he said, “I still love him, even though he’s bullheaded.”

Jackson ran a hand along Davis’ thigh. The elderly lady turn her head in disgust. Davis’ hard eyes, tight jaw and red face was priceless. Jackson just grinned.

After conning their way into Gallagher’s office and having a look, Jackson and Davis arrived separately at the truck, neither one speaking until they climbed in and were on their way back to Autumn’s clinic.

“Well, the big boy wasn’t at the office today, but it’s definitely him, Jack. He’s got a picture of her on his desk and everything.” Davis turned in his seat. “He’s always considered her the competition.”

Jackson went into full marine mode. “So he’s an obsessed stalker? The if-I-can’t-have-you-then-I’ll-make-your-life-a-living-hell kind? Is that what you think we’re dealing with?”

Davis shrugged. “He has some big guns, Jack. He’s got money, his family name, a whole community backing him—”

“But he doesn’t have Autumn.” Jackson focused his attention on the road. “And as long as I’m around, he’ll never have her.”

Davis stared at him. “You love her, don’t you?”

Jackson busied himself with switching lanes. “She’s just the job.”

“You never fuck the job, Jackson. And don’t deny it. You and my baby sister have slept in the same bed for a few days. Don’t you dare tell me that you haven’t fucked her since you came back and that you won’t fuck her again. I know better.”

Refusing to say more, Jackson pursed his lips. Sometimes the Callahans could be relentless. And they were relentless every time Autumn was the topic of conversation.

“You can ignore me all you want, but you’d better listen to me right now. She’s not like the laundry list of other women you bang then leave the next morning. Like it or not, she is my baby sister. Don’t hurt her, Jackson. She’s been hurt bad enough in this life. Don’t tease her with the idea of something coming out of this thing you’ve got going if you know perfectly well nothing will. It’s not fair.”

Damn it, if Davis wasn’t right. Again.

* * * *

Three weeks went by before Jackson and Davis could finally get away to snoop around Gallagher’s place.

“Pull down that road.” Davis pointed to a narrow, hidden road barely giving Jackson proper time to maneuver the truck. “Our little friend lives back this way, if memory serves me right. Let’s see if he’s at home since it was a long shot at the clinic.”

Jackson did as Davis instructed, turning down the secluded drive. Trees kept privacy, shielding nothing short of a cabin-like mansion from anyone who cared to pass by. Dogs barked at a distance, some growling with fury.

“Are you sure we should be here? It says no trespassing.”

“Where’s your balls?” Davis scoffed. “And to think, you were a Marine.”

“Shut up. I hear those damn dogs and I’d like to keep my balls, thank you.”

Davis grinned. “You never were an animal person. Maybe I’ll pay you back now for grabbing my ass and rubbing my thigh at the clinic.”

“Do and die.”

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