Sydney smiles, then turns to me with questioning eyes. She clearly thinks he’s pretty too. I flush and walk over to grab the water next to my purse, suddenly so parched, I feel like I could keel over.
Jaxon sends the grandparents back but stays with all of us, shooting the shit with the guys for a minute. His eyes are never far from mine for too long. It’s a tad unnerving.
“Girl… I need the tea,” Sydney mutters expectantly, leaning in so close that I can smell her floral shampoo.I’ve got to find out what that stuff is.
“We all do. I haven’t gotten the chance to ask why she was sneaking out of the very same linen closet he exited just a minute before,” Brynleigh states with a playful grin. Sydney’s jaw drops as her head swivels to face me. I want to bury myself in the nearest refrigerator. It’s so flipping hot in here. I’m way too young for hot flashes, right? Right.
“That face says it all. She’s pinker than her shirt, Brynleigh.”
“Yeah, you should’ve been there when they met too. Ha, that was even better.”
I rub my face with exasperation. This day is intent on decimating me. Full burn. Nothing left but ashes from how many times my cheeks have gone up in flames.
“Oh???” she asks with a goofy tilt of her lips.
“Let’s wait for Jane and Ava. They’ll want to be in on this too.” Brynleigh widens her wolfish smile.
“Oh yes, let’s,” I mimic, and they both snort, getting a kick out of my embarrassment.
“What are we missing out on over here?” Trystan asks, bending to press a sweet kiss to his bride’s cheek. They really are perfect together.
“Nothing!” I answer quickly—a little too quickly. Trystan’s eagle eyes and bullshit radar are on high alert. He chews on the inside of his cheek, looks me up and down, then lets his eyes wander to Jaxon.Play it cool, play it cool. You’re already busted, and you know it. Play it fucking cool.When his eyes land back on me, one corner of his mouth turns up, revealing that dashing Trystan dimple we all love. He nods once, then slips back over to the guys, looking at me mischievously.No, don’t embarrass me.I shake my head no to him, and hechuckles, moving his hand in the universal ‘calm down, I’ll be good’ gesture. I’ll be calm when Jaxon leaves the room.
Jaxon notices my flushed face and smiles wider while listening to whatever glory-days story Colin’s reliving. As soon as the man sees his out, he claps Colin on the shoulder and walks my way. I choke on a gulp of water. Sydney and Brynleigh giggle amongst themselves.
“You really seem to have this effect on her today,” Brynleigh notes, and Sydney elbows her in the arm. Ha, karma for the elbow I got from her earlier today.
“Hmmm, I see that. Good thing I know my first aid.”
My eyes bug out of my head, watering as I still splutter on the remnants of water as the girls snicker and walk away.
“Are back blows going to be enough, or am I going to have to pull out my CPR skills?”
“I’ll—”cough“—be okay.”
“Good. Otherwise, I’d be awfully lonely on our date.”
“Smooth.”
Jaxon lets a slow grin creep along the expanse of his unbelievably pretty face, even with all that scruff. I ache to reach out and rub my fingers across it again. It almost dares me to. Jaxon’s eyes flare with heat as he notices me ogling him. Oh, if only the man knew the dry spell I’ve been living in. If you don’t count our little closet interlude, I can’t remember the last time I was touched. I don’t need reminding.
“So, about that.”
“Yes?”
Jaxon’s pager goes off. He sighs, looking down to grab it and muttering, “damn cockblocker.” I snicker, amused at the vehemence laced in those two words. We are not having any luck here today. “Shit.” He looks up at me. “I’ve got an emergency. I’ll find you as soon as I can.”
I nod, but what I don’t see coming is the radio silence that follows.
Chapter 3
Jaxon
Two Months Later
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Fucking pager!I reach over to grab my pager off the nightstand and realize it’s not my pager. It’s my freaking alarm.Onnnnnnmy day off. This is just fantastic. I slap that fucker off, hating myself for forgetting to flick that switch, and mumble another fuck you as it falls to the floor. Groaning, I roll over in bed in an attempt to close my eyes, just in case my exhausted body can sink back into the abyss of my dark room.