Dreams of Ivory by Carrie Ann Ryan

have to. I’m going to talk to my aunt after I eat and try to see what I can do.”
    Rina nodded. “I’m going to look around and see what I can do as well. I might know a sandman that can help. I’ve never heard of one losing their powers and going back to normal—or however normal a Cooper can be—but at least he’d be able to help Jackson deal with these new powers of his.”
    Allison pushed Jordan out of the booth. “I’m going to go get you a drink, Honor. I also planned on just ordering specials for us. You want one?”
    “I can get up and do it,” Honor said. “You shouldn’t be standing.”
    Allison rolled her eyes. “You sound like every Cooper male right now. The waitress called in sick, so our cook and owner’s alone. Technically, I don’t work here anymore, but I’m getting us food. Sit down and go over what you can, and we’ll figure it out. Jackson’s not alone, and you aren’t either. No matter what happened between the two of you in the past, it will stay that way—in the past—but we’ll be here as your friends, no matter what.”
    She walked off, leaving Honor tearing up.
    “She’s right you know,” Abby put in. “We’ve adopted you.”
    Honor stared at these women who were closely connected to the man she desperately wanted to forget but could never let go.
    It seemed things were about to change, and, frankly, Honor liked it.

Chapter 5
    “That’s the last patient of the day for you,” Veronica said as she walked into the exam room, her gaze on her tablet rather than Jackson’s face.
    Jackson finished washing his hands then dried them off, his mind on magic, changes, and Honor, rather than what he should be doing to close up before dinner.
    “Jackson? Did you hear me?”
    He turned toward his receptionist and nodded. “Yes, thanks for everything today. You can go home now, and I’ll close up early.”
    Her eyes widened then narrowed. “What’s up with you today? First, you’re late, and then you barely talked to anyone who came in. Sure, you’re usually silent and broody, but you usually talk a bit to your patients to ease their minds when you have your hands in their mouths.”
    “I’m not broody.” 
    Why the hell did he always have to explain that to people?
    Veronica merely raised a brow and pursed her lips. “Sure, dear, whatever you say. Now you’re telling me I can go home early, and you’re going to close up the place on your own early. Are you going to tell me what’s going on with you? Does this have to do with Honor?”
    Jackson closed his eyes and prayed for patience. He’d told Honor that the town was already talking about them as a couple, and he hadn’t been lying, but hell, he just needed a moment away from it all to think.
    “Go home, Veronica.”
    “Fine, Jackson, but don’t think you can hide from me for long.” She left him alone in the exam room, and he rubbed his temples.
    Hadn’t it been less than twenty-four hours ago that he was magic free and able to stay away from Honor? Now he was a sandman —or whatever the hell he was since he didn’t really feel different—and he was about to go on a date with Honor.
    Oh, he’d said it was so they could talk about things, but really? She hadn’t wanted to be alone with him for the same reason he wanted to be alone with her yet dreaded it.
    They’d have their clothes off within a minute of being alone, and he’d sink his cock into her warmth as soon as he could. He’d felt the sparks when they’d both been on her bed that morning, and it had only been the tension of the events that had stopped him from kissing her.
    It was hard as hell to stay away from her.
    Now they were going to go out in public and eat and try to talk about what it meant to be a sandman and the tooth fairy. Too bad that probably wouldn’t be happening considering that, yes, Holiday might know about some of the paranormal and his favorite booth made most things private, but he had a feeling things weren’t going