“Yeah, and I was big mad. Mostly because of feelings Michael evoked from me, and–well–I projected them onto Jaxon. He wouldn’t give up though. Inserting his cocky-ass, swoony face in my circle every chance he could. The man took the job in Kittery to be closer.”
“He must know something you haven’t caught on to yet.” She smirks at me knowingly. “Oh, come on, don’t you see the way that man looks at you?”
“Oh, I see it.”
“I’m not talking about the desire part of it, honey.”
“Are we really going there?”
“I’m not naive, but I’m also not talking about sex.”
“Okay–”
“That man is crazy about you. He thinks you’re it for him.”
My insides tumble, swirling around each other like the koi in Ava’s pond, waiting for their pellets.
“You really think he might love me?”
“You mean to tell me that he hasn’t told you that yet but wanted to meet us?”
“I get kind of skittish about naming the feelings.”
“My daughter’s the one freaking out about love?”
“Mom–”
“Ahem.” A throat clears, and I close my eyes, wondering why it is this manalwayswalks in at the most inconvenient times of a conversation.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt. Jacob asked for a refill.” Jaxon dips his pinkened cheeks behind the door of the fridge, obviously having caught way more of what mom and I were discussing than I’d hoped. When he stands back up, he seems to have mostly composed himself, but his eyes dance back and forth between my mother and me as if he’s considering saying something. I press my lips together in complete mortification.
“That’s so nice of you to grab it for him. I hope he’s not giving you a hard time in there.” She cranes her neck toward the hallway with quirked brows, as if she can even see Dad inthe other room, betraying her nosy nature. Jaxon chuckles and winks at me.
“The Cardinals are winning. He’s pretty happy about that.”
“Then you’re in luck,” Mom answers with a grin.
Jaxon raises the beer slightly in reply and disappears through the doorway, but not before looking back and catching one last glimpse of me.
“Yeah, that man loves you.” Mom sighs wistfully, like it’s the most romantic thing she’s witnessed recently. “Especially if he’s holding back so he doesn’t spook you.”
I reach out and swat at her hand as she snickers. She knows me too well.
Chapter 24
Jaxon
“The ladies seem to be having a good time catching up?” Jacob asks as I hand him his freshly opened beer, tilting it toward mine to clink in cheers.
“They are. I keep hearing them snicker,” I note, sitting back down on the loveseat across from his leather recliner. Tigger swaggers into the room like he owns it and eyes me warily before coming to sniff around the hem of my pants. He deems me acceptable because the tank hops up onto my lap and stands to nuzzle my stubble.
“Tigger, settle down,” Jacob chastises the cat, and Tigger actually kind of listens; he climbs down beside my thigh, turns twice, and lies down. A loud motor of a purr vibrates through my leg, so I scratch behind his ear like I’d seen Holly do. The furball leans into it, and I smile. Okay, the cat can chill with me if he can play nice. I do wonder when the stink-eye will re-emerge. He meant business upstairs, so I don’t for one second think that he’s done asserting his dominance yet. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s lying here plotting my demise. Jacob is watching the interaction with mirth in his eyes, and I smile back.
“So…now that I see the cat somewhat likes you, I have some hope. He hated Michael. In fact, I think it was mutual.”
“Oh, is that right?”That makes two of us that aren’t so fond of that fucker. You just might be my new best friend,I think as I stroke the peach fuzz beneath my palm.
“Yeah, I should’ve trusted the cat. They’re great judges of character. May and I were getting worried she’d never think of settling down again.”