Chapter 24
Fix You
? Fix You Too - Megan Maroney
feat. Kameron Marlowe
Jaxon
It’s early evening when we make it back to the ranch, and Callie is nowhere to be found. After a string of unanswered texts and a thorough search of the property, I give up and text Mo.
Jaxon: Have you seen Callie?
Mo: I warned you not to fuck with her.
Jaxon: I know. I fucked up. I’m gonna make it right.
Mo: Why should I trust you?
I type out a response, then delete it. This pattern repeats several times before Ruby snatches the phone from my hand and answers for me.
Jaxon: Because I care about her.
Mo: I’m supposed to meet her at the ridge in half an hour. Fix it.
“See? Was that so fucking hard?” She shoves the phone back at me and crosses her arms. “You really are a dumbass sometimes.”
“I’ll drop you off at home if you want.”
“Hell no. I’m not missing this. Is there somewhere we can stop and get popcorn?”
“Fuck you.”
We pull up to the bar a short while later. Ruby excuses herself to take a call while I head inside, muscles coiled tight with nervous tension.
It doesn’t take long to spot Callie at the bar looking like every man’s wet dream in a tight black skirt, and—is that my goddamn shirt?
It’s unbuttoned at the collar, showing off a hint of cleavage.
She has her glasses perched on the tip of her nose as she reaches for a shot glass filled with pale yellow liquid.
I sidle up to her and lean my elbows on the bar. “Whatcha doin, baby?”
She throws back her shot without sparing me a second glance. “Can’t a girl get shit-faced in peace?”
“Not looking like a sexy librarian in a porn movie. You’ve got everyone in this place staring at you like you’re their next meal.”
She snorts and picks up a martini glass garnished with pickles. “You know what really dills my pickle?”
She’s adorable when she’s pissed off.
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my face. “No. Tell me.”
“There’s this preconceived notion that librarians are all a bunch of uptight shrews.
” She takes the cocktail skewer between her lips and bites off one of the pickles.
The way she tugs it between her lips is downright erotic.
“Even in porn movies, it always starts off with some woman telling them to be quiet right before they bend her over a desk.”
“I’m struggling to see the problem here.”
She glares at me. “We’re people. We have feelings, too. And that’s not even taking into account the predatory nature of the porn industry as a whole.”
“Do you know how hot it is to listen to you talk sometimes? I fucking love your brain.”
She sighs and rolls her eyes.
I spin her stool, forcing her to look at me. “Tell me what’s really bothering you.”
She shoves hard against my chest, but I don’t budge. “You. You big dumb idiot.”
Ruby materializes on the other side of her and waggles her brows. She points to Callie and mouths the words, “She’s hot.”
Callie follows my gaze and gasps. “You’re Ruby Lynn Hayes! Did you know your brother is a big dummy?”
Ruby laughs. “Runs in the family, I’m afraid.”
“Jax told me about your truck naming scheme. Do you ever wonder if anybody’s got a truck named after you?”
Ruby’s brow furrows. “Huh. I’ve never thought about it.”
“Someday I’m gonna get my own truck. Not a shitty one like your brother’s, obviously. And I’m gonna name it Ruby.”
“I like her, Jax. Can we keep her?”
“She’s not a puppy.”
Callie leans against the bar to flag down the bartender. Her soft curves press up against the hard surface as her round ass strains against the fabric of her skirt. “Have a drink with me.”
I hate the thought of anybody else seeing her like this, so I grip her hips and position her back on her stool. “I think you’ve had enough.”
Her shoulders slump, and she gives me an adorable pout. “You’re a party pooper, Jaxy.”
I lean in ever so slightly and nip at her plump bottom lip.
Her breath hitches as she gazes at me through hooded eyes. “Are you gonna kiss me, Cowboy?”
I tilt her chin with my knuckles, brushing my thumb along the underside of her jaw. God, I missed her. “Is that what you want, Callie baby?”
She draws in a shaky breath. “Yes.”
“Are you going to tell me why you’re upset?”
She closes her eyes and jerks her head from side to side. “Mmm… no.”
“Then no kisses.”
“Fine. What about a hurricane shot?”
“You’ve got to be kidding.”
She shrugs and finishes the last of her martini. “It’ll make me feel better.”
“Fine.” I flag Cade down and let out a ragged sigh. “My girl wants to do a hurricane shot. You cool with that?”
“So long as you’re the one getting slapped in the face and you both consent, I don’t give a shit.”
I help Callie onto the bar. She parts her thighs as I slide the fabric of her skirt up just enough to fit my hips between them.
The stockings give way to bare flesh, and I realize what I thought were tights are actually a sexy pair of thigh-highs attached to a garter.
She shivers from the slight brush of my fingertips on her soft skin.
I close my eyes and think of something, anything, to staunch the arousal.
Derivatives, land contracts, horse shit.
Cade deposits a shot glass and a cup of water beside us and settles back against the wall to watch the show. He’s not the only one. Half the bar is watching us now.
“You’re sure you wanna do this?” I ask her.
“Yes. Are you?”
“Anything for you.” I pick up the shot glass and hold it between us. “Ready?”
She nods.
Right on cue, the bar patrons start to count down.
Three.
Two.
One.
I down the shot, and Callie throws a cup of water in my face seconds before her palm connects with my left cheek. The burn of the whiskey is dulled by the shock from the slap, but all of it is overpowered by the way my dick is straining against my zipper. Why was that so fucking hot?
Callie takes another shot I hadn’t noticed and throws it back. Before she swallows, she grips my face in both hands and seals her lips over mine. The liquor transfers between us. The sweetness, combined with a flavor that’s all Callie, is the best damn chaser in the world.
I swallow it and kiss her like we’re the only two people in the room. I’m distantly aware of people cheering, lost to the way this woman is taking control of the kiss. She moans into my mouth, and I drink it down greedily.
When she finally releases me, we’re both breathless. My vision is hazy, but I can still make out the slight blush to her cheeks and the lazy smile spreading across her perfect fucking mouth.
“Dirty girl, I thought I said no kisses.”
Her lips pull into a thin line as she tries and fails to hide her devious grin.
“Do you feel better?” I ask.
She nods.
“Good. Let me take you home.”
I toss Ruby the keys and lift Callie into my arms, thankful when she doesn’t fight me on it.
A chorus of cheers follows us out of the bar.
I carefully deposit her in the middle seat before slipping in beside her.
She rests her head on my shoulder and closes her eyes as Ruby drives us back to the ranch.
A soft exhale tickles my neck. “Did I hurt you?”
“You could never hurt me.” I gently press my lips to her forehead and inhale her familiar scent. Being around her again has settled the discomfort that’s been running rampant since the moment she walked away from me.
“You could hurt me,” she murmurs. “I think you might be the only person in the world who hasn’t.”
My gaze flicks to my sister, who’s giving me a subtle look of warning.
“Never.”
Callie’s index finger traces the lines on my upturned palm. The touch is featherlight, but it still makes my heart skip a beat. “I don’t want to lose you.”
I grip her thigh and pull her tighter to me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The truck jostles us as we turn onto the dirt road that leads to my house. Ruby pulls into my usual parking spot and twists the key. “Liam’s on his way to pick me up. I’m gonna walk down to the big house and meet him there.”
“Ok. Text me when you get home.”
Ruby nods. “It was nice meeting you, Callie. I hope you remember me in the morning.”
Callie gives a half-hearted wave and mutters something against my chest about the Ruby Lynn Hayes.
Ruby laughs and closes the truck door, leaving us alone in the dark with only the dim porch light illuminating our path. I cradle her against my chest and carry her into the house, straight through the narrow hallway until we reach my bedroom.
“This isn’t my room,” she says.
“It will be.” I lay her down on the side furthest away from the door and slip off her shoes and glasses.
She shifts onto her side and tucks her hands under her chin, looking up at me through glassy eyes. “Jax?”
My name rolling off her lips still does something to me, something altogether too enticing.
I kneel at her side and trace my fingers across her temple and jaw. “I’m here.”
“Are you going to stay with me?”
“Is that what you want?”
She nods, and her eyes drift shut.
As if I could deny her anything.
I strip out of my clothes until I’m wearing nothing but my boxer briefs and slide into bed behind her, pulling her back to my chest. Her body molds to mine like she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.
I bury my nose in her hair and inhale.
As I begin to drift off, she whispers, “Is this what love feels like?”
Callie
The first hints of spring scent the air. With my shoes dangling off two fingers, I meander along the fence line beside the pasture where the horses are grazing in the field. The soles of my feet burrow into the grass.
I’ve been living on the ranch for two months, and I’m still not used to the beauty that surrounds me at every turn.
The evidence of a harsh winter and the storms that followed has all but disappeared.
The brownish grass has given way to lush green hills and valleys as far as the eye can see, and the light breeze whispers through the trees as the dogwoods sprout their first blooms of the season.
If only my past could heal as quickly as the seasons change.