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wipes.
    Ennis smiled and set to work on tending to Jeshebet. Jackson didn’t know what to make of it. Ennis was like a natural with her. She never broke eye contact as she cooed and babbled. Ennis smiled at her and babbled gibberish back at her.
    “You’re really good with her,” Jackson said in awe. “She’s very picky about who she likes.”
    Ennis tickled Jeshebet’s cheeks and she cackled with delight. “My sister has kids,” he said. “When my nephew was born, he attached to me instantly. There were many impromptu diaper changes.”
    Jackson’s heart swelled. Humans weren’t so bad. Though the little wiggly ones were still questionable. Ennis affixed Jeshebet’s new diaper, and Jackson slipped into place with her basket. He and Vegas would find her parents soon enough. Once Ikestanski got back from vacation in Tampa, he’d be back on the case.
    As Ennis settled Jeshebet in her basket, he murmured at her. “Clean up aisle four, we have a baby on the loose.”
    Jeshebet erupted into giggles.
    “So, why did you come all the way out to the middle of nowhere?” Jackson glanced to the driver side of the Bug. A thick manila folder full of papers sat in the passenger seat. “With the last car on the lot, as you say.”
    Ennis fell quiet. He laughed, but it came out as a sad, remorseful sound. “Chasing a ghost,” he said softly.
    Uh-oh. Jackson mentally crossed him off the dating-material list. He clung tighter to the baby’s basket. Now, how to make a quick escape without seeming weird about it?
    “My boyfriend vanished into thin air one day,” Ennis said, squinting at the blazing daylight.
    Oh. Shit. Another weirdo. He and Cillian would be the best of buddies.
    Jackson frowned. He had to take the high road about it. He was Cillian’s new boss, after all. And Vegas….
    Jackson bit the inside of his cheek. He couldn’t think of that anymore. He’d lost the bet. It was best to just accept defeat and move on.
    Their eyes met, and Jackson feigned interest to cover for his hurt.
    Ennis tilted his chin to the car, indicating the manila folder. “I’m a journalist, and my editor gave me a lead that he’s here.” His gaze softened. “The guy that runs the Charms of Zephyr. That weird charms and crystals place. You know him, right?”
    Oh. God. Cillian really was perfect for him.
    “Kinda…,” Jackson said with a catlike smile. “He’s nice.” Crazy. “Kind of different.” Crazy. “Really friendly.” Crazy.
    Jackson cursed himself. He’d failed his driver’s test on taking the high road.
    Ennis nodded. “I’ve been trying to get the nerve to approach him. I wouldn’t know what to say.”
    Jackson blinked. Wait. What is happening? He put it together. “He’s your boyfriend?”
    “I’m pretty sure,” Ennis said. “I just freeze every time.”
    Jeshebet blew spit bubbles, and Jackson reached in the basket to dab her mouth.
    “Why did he leave?” Jackson asked. Cillian may have rubbed him every wrong way, but hearing about him from Ennis’s perspective was heartening.
    Ennis chuckled. “He’s… well… how do I put it? Pretty spacey.”
    Jackson slapped his hand over his mouth, trying to hold in his cackling. But his shoulders shook, and he failed and burst into gales of laughter. Oh. This was pure gold. He swallowed down air, trying to calm down. “Sorry…,” he wheezed. “Sorry. Trust me. I know all about that.”
    Jackson paused as his ah-hah moment hit him right between the eyes. If he could reunite these star-crossed lovers, would Vegas see the light? Would Vegas finally see what had been right in front of him the whole time? Ennis seemed genuine about Cillian. Would the feeling be mutual? It couldn’t hurt.
    And if the feelings weren’t there, at least Jackson would get them to talk. And Jackson knew he’d have to face the inevitable of his bubbly, bright-eyed employee being an item with the chef.
    “Tell you what. Vegas knows the guy pretty well. I’ll have him