Loving and Loathing Vegas Read Online Free PDF Page B

his fingernails into the computer mouse. “Uh-huh.” He kept his tone neutral.
    “He really likes you, you know.”
    “He’s nice.” Jackson clicked through the different windows.
    “See? He’s not at all weird.”
    Jackson smirked.
    Vegas went silent. Only the sound of Jackson clicking through the windows filled the space.
    “Hey, um, I need to tell you something,” Vegas said, and Jackson didn’t mistake his flustered tone.
    It was probably about him spanking off, but Jackson wasn’t going to call him out on it. And his impenetrable pride kept him from admitting his heartbreak. Merry fucking Christmas.
    Jackson refreshed his e-mail window and blinked owlishly at a Craigslist message. “Holy shit…,” he whispered and clicked it open. A photo of a studious, somewhat surly blond man slowly loaded on the screen. The guy’s spiky hair wasn’t really his thing, but it would do in a pinch. His peculiar half-rimmed glasses were a bit charming.
    And the guy was located in Tez.
    Jackson grinned up at Vegas. “Eat it. I have a date for Christmas.”
    But Vegas’s somewhat crestfallen expression hit him in an odd way. After a moment, Vegas smiled kindly, but it was tinged with sadness. “Yeah. Awesome,” he said. He snapped his fingers and pointed in the direction of the kitchen. “Anyway, I’m going to get the pie dough going.”

Chapter Five
     
    T IME WAS of the essence to score a date by Christmas, and Jackson’s choices of available men in Tezcatlipoca had dwindled to next to nothing. He had to make this one count, and Christmas was only a week away. Things would have been easier if he could have made it out to Santa Fe. He’d have his pick of young available bucks in rutting season. His eager Grindr hookups missed out on his prime real estate when they rejected him because of a stupid thing like a ninety-mile drive to Nowheresville. But Vegas had stipulated they had to be in love. He didn’t exactly specify if the love had to be mutual.
    Jackson sighed. The love definitely wasn’t mutual between him and the incubus of his dreams. He couldn’t think about that now. He was about to make someone’s dream come true of dating a hot stud… with a baby.
    It would be an awkward date while carting a baby around. Jeshebet lost her mind around Vegas, and with her sobs that could shatter glass, it was clear that she had a strong dislike for him. Hate was a strong word. She was just a baby. And according to his Internet research, children are taught how to hate.
    Vegas named her. Did she not like her name? Who knew how human babies worked? Jackson didn’t have a fucking clue.
    Hopping up the creaky wooden steps to Gary’s Grub Shack, Jackson summoned his confidence. He’d have a date out of this rendezvous for sure. He adjusted his grip on Jeshebet’s basket, and she cooed at him.
    “No crying, okay?” he murmured to her. “You really need to work with me here.”
    She blew a spit bubble in response.
    Guh. She was cute. But. Guh .
    Jackson opened the café door, and the bell chimed overhead. Old Gary regarded him with his perpetual scowl and then resumed wiping out a coffee cup. Jackson gave him a thin-lipped smile, playing it cool while visiting Eaven’s competition. Old Gary gave Jackson a once-over, and Jackson swallowed. He stood a little straighter as Jeshebet giggled. It was no big deal. Just a guy with a baby. A baby who’s not his, but just suck it up about the assumptions.
    Just as well that they didn’t exchange a single word. Jackson found his date sitting in a corner booth, his attention buried in a notebook. Okay. Intellectual type? He could work with this.
    “So, you’re Ennis, right?” Jackson asked as he put on his best smile. Kindness and innocence should be the trick. He slid Jeshebet’s basket onto the plush seat next to him.
    Ennis closed his notebook and sealed it with the elastic band. He nodded. “And you’re Jackson.” He smirked. “Is this the part I tell you that you