Chapter 15

Ava cut the engine to her Jetta and turned toward Jackson in the passenger seat. His knees were nearly touching his chin he was folded so compact in her little car. In his lap he held her pumpkin pie, a sight so domestic and natural that she gave herself a mental slap.

He was looking at her parents' cozy ranch house in front of them with interest. "Cute place," he said at length.

With the money he made on Phantoms, he could probably fit her parents' house inside his New York apartment. If he felt out of place, he didn't show it.

Worry niggled at her belly. "They're going to think we're together."

"We are together." His tone was too matter-of-fact to be misconstrued.

"You know what I mean."

He attempted to turn and face her, but managed to knock the gear shift instead.

She put it back in Park.

"We drove here together. We're sitting in the car together. We'll walk to the door and go inside together-"