Chapter Seven #4
Jonah silently cursed Cord’s name for putting him in this position amongst his friends, especially Ethan.
Jonah immediately reached out the next day and explained what happened, offering his apologies on behalf of Cord, telling him their plan to rectify it.
As always, Ethan was completely understanding.
Their relationship spanned a decade and involved more than most friendships.
He simply said, “Accidents happen, Jonah. Roxanne’s fine, and I have no doubt your brother will do the right thing. ”
Clearly, Roxanne hadn’t shared the whole story with her brother.
“Yeah.” Jonah cleared his throat. “Not one of Cord’s finer moments.”
Emory smirked. “I probably shouldn’t admit this, but it sounds like something I might’ve done. Totally dodge the calls and hope she went away.”
Ethan angled his head, narrowing his gaze at his wife. “You’re right. You shouldn’t admit that.”
“Young and stupid. We’ve all been there. Even you, babe.” Emory snorted, glancing over at Jonah. “Don’t let him fool you. E did some dumb shit back in the day.”
It was hard to imagine Ethan doing anything irresponsible, but as his wife pointed out, they were all young once. However, he wouldn’t allow that excuse to be used in this situation.
Jonah forked his food. “Yeah, well, twenty-one is old enough to know better.”
“I was a ball of chaos at twenty-one.” Emory snickered and her gaze lifted past his shoulder. “I was wondering where you went. Get over here and eat. Your food is getting cold.”
From her teasing tone alone, he didn’t need to look to know who she was talking to.
Roxanne slowly rounded the table, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
Her long black hair fell over one shoulder, the edge reaching the tip of her breast. She sat and glanced up.
They were now directly across from each other.
“We were talking about the accident. So, Jonah, when are you doing the repairs? Tomorrow, right? At your house?” Emory asked, smiling.
He watched Roxanne jerk her head to Emory, who refused to meet her stare. Instead, her eyes and amused grin were set on him. If he had to guess, Roxanne had already told her friend she wasn’t planning on going. Emory was working as an ally for him, and he wouldn’t waste the opportunity.
Jonah cleared his throat. “That’s the plan, right, Roxanne?”
Her gaze shifted to him, and he watched as she licked her lips.
He arched his brow, daring her to tell her brother, who was sitting next to him, that she wouldn’t let him do the repairs.
He hadn’t been sure exactly why she’d had a change of heart.
He gathered it had something to do with their run-in at the bar.
Admittedly, he could’ve handled that situation better. A hell of a lot better.
He, along with everyone else at the table, waited for her to answer. But Roxanne remained silent. T walked over, taking an open seat at the head of the table.
“Why is everyone so fucking quiet?”
Emory propped up on her elbows. “We were talking about the little fender bender. Jonah offered to do the repairs, which I think is a fabulous idea. At least you know it’ll be done right.”
While Jonah appreciated her confidence in his abilities, she was laying it on thick. Jonah continued eating, staring across the table at Roxanne. Occasionally, she’d peek up and then immediately avert her eyes. If he had to guess, she was hoping it was the end of the conversation. It wasn’t.
“When are you doing the repairs?” T asked.
Jonah pulled his gaze away from her to address T. “I pick up the parts tomorrow morning. Roxanne’s bringing the car over at noon. Should only take a few hours.” Jonah rested back in his chair. T nodded and turned to Roxanne.
“You gonna stay there and hang out or you want me to come pick you up?”
The corner of his mouth hiked as he watched her fidget in her seat. Roxanne seemed conflicted about how to answer, or maybe she wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. Jonah did. Against his better judgement and all rational thought, he wanted her to stay.
“You should stay,” Emory elbowed Roxanne’s arm. “I mean, it’s only a few hours.” Her teeth gleamed against her red lipstick. She was damn proud of herself.
“I’ll play it by ear, T. If that’s alright?”
“Yeah, I’m around if you need a ride back.”
Her answer shut down the topic and moved on to T asking about finishing the loft in his detached garage. Roxanne remained unusually quiet during the exchange. She left as soon as she finished eating, and T, Stone, and Jonah went outside to look at the garage.
An hour later, he walked back into the house to say his goodbyes. He opened the back door and slipped into the mudroom. The chatter of female voices was in full force. He stopped in the doorway, and all talking ceased.
“Hey Jonah,” Cassie said with so much enthusiasm, he smiled.
“Hey, I’m heading out. Just wanted to thank you for dinner. Everything was great.”
She beamed, walking toward him, stopping a foot away. She was tiny and had to crane her neck to look up at him. “Well, thanks for coming. You’ve got an open invitation here anytime.”
“Thanks.” He glanced around and lifted his hand with a short wave. “Night.”
They said goodbye, and when he breached the outside door, he swore he heard a hushed voice say, “Go walk him out.” He paused, looking back at the empty doorway, and smirked. If he had to guess, it was Emory’s suggestion, but Roxanne wasn’t listening.
He walked down the steps, giving a last farewell to Stone and T, who were in the backyard, and rounded the house and down the driveway. He’d just come up to T’s truck when he heard the front door open. He glanced over his shoulder.
Roxanne stood on the landing, staring back at him. She hesitated for a second, then walked down the stairs and made her way toward him. He drew in a breath, prepping himself for what was coming. She hadn’t changed her mind about tomorrow. Roxanne just wouldn’t say it in front of her brothers.
He cursed under his breath and turned around, continuing down the driveway and the sidewalk to his truck. “I’ll see you tomorrow at twelve.”
“Jonah, wait.”
Her heels clicked against the pavement, but he didn’t stop. She couldn’t back out if he didn’t give her the chance. If he had to guess, Roxanne was the type of woman who often got her way. Not this time.
His strides were long and quick. She’d have to do a walk-run to catch up to him.
“Are you seriously going to make me run in heels?”
He continued walking. “I am if you’re gonna try and tell me you’re not gonna show up tomorrow.”
“Jonah, please!”
He stopped at the back of his truck and turned. It wasn’t until now that he noticed the height of her heels.
“Look,” she smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes, “like I said in the text, I appreciate you offering to do the repairs, but it’s unnecessary. I mean,” she cleared her throat, clenching her jaw, “maybe it was half my fault.”
Bullshit! He didn’t believe that and neither did Roxanne. This was just an excuse to get out of him doing the repairs. “We both know Cord is solely responsible for the accident.”
Roxanne’s lips twitched, and she glanced up through her lashes. “Yeah, that was a total bullshit lie.”
Jonah chuckled, brushing his hand over his chin. “Then you’ll come and let me do the work? I’ll even sweeten the deal with beer and pizza?”
Her lips spread into a taunting smile. “Now, that sounds like a date. I’m pretty sure your girlfriend wouldn’t appreciate that.”
And there it was. His initial suspicions were confirmed.
“I don’t have a girlfriend.”
She quirked her brow. “What about Rachel?”
Jonah folded his arms across his chest. “What about her?”
“I figured from your date the other night that you two were together.”
“We had dinner.” It was the truth, but he wouldn’t go into further detail with her. Jonah stepped closer. “And you’re seeing the wrong men if car repairs are your idea of a date.”
Roxanne seemed to completely ignore his comment.
“So, Rachel wouldn’t mind?”
He dragged his hand over his mouth, concealing his smile.
“I don’t know, but I’m not asking her either. We don’t have that kind of relationship.”
“But you do have one?”
“Occasionally, we enjoy each other’s company.” Jonah sighed. “Twelve tomorrow. You’ll be at my house?”
Roxanne grasped her hips, looked down the street and blew out an exaggerated breath.
“You’ll be there, yeah?”
“Are you going to rat me out to my brothers if I don’t show up?”
He smirked. “Probably.”
She snorted and shook her head. “So, you’d really throw me to the wolves? Expose me to their wrath?” She cocked her head. “Thought you were one of the nice guys?”
He rested his arm on the back of his truck. “Trying to be, Rox.” Her eyes glinted when he used her nickname. “They’d give you hell, huh?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, we can’t have that.” He paused, enjoying the flirtatious banter they had going. Enjoying it a little too much.
“I’d prefer not to.” She folded her arms, which in turn, pressed against her breasts. It was a true test of gentlemanly manners not to look. He half wondered if she’d done it on purpose.
“So, you’ll come?”
The corner of her mouth curved into a sexy smile. “Yeah, Jonah.” She paused and lowered her voice. “I’ll come.”
He nodded, resisting the urge to adjust himself.
“Goodnight, Rox.” He purposefully used her nickname as he turned.
He listened for her departing steps, but the street remained silent.
He got into his truck, not daring another glimpse her way.
She was too beautiful for her own good and his own self-control.
Playing with fire.
He rolled down his window and started his truck. He’d just grabbed the gearshift when her silhouetted figure appeared in his window. His truck was high, and when he glanced over, they were at eye level.
It was impossible to miss the heat in her eyes.
It probably mirrored his own. He would’ve given just about anything to know what she was thinking.
Asking her was off the table. Instead, he was left giving his best shot at a staring contest. Not a bad deal for him.
He was the lucky bastard who got to stare into her blue eyes.
He lifted a brow, and his lips followed.
“Been a long time since I’ve been stared down.”
She smiled. “Do I make you nervous?”
“Are you trying to?” He countered.
“Nope. Just trying to figure you out, is all.”
“We can save ourselves from chronic dry eye if you just ask me what you wanna know.”
She leaned forward, resting her arms on the sill of his window. “I have an idea. How about I come over at twelve? You can do the repairs. And then,” she paused, “we can go out to dinner.”
“That sounds like a date.”
“Because it is,” she whispered.
Fuck! The idea of taking her out on a date had played over in his mind countless times. But that’s where those thoughts would have to stay. Getting involved with her wasn’t an option. It would never work. Jonah’s life wouldn’t allow it.
“I work with Ethan.”
She smirked. “Does your contract with him forbid you from having dinner with me?”
“He’s also my friend.”
She squinted with amusement. “These sound like excuses.”
They were. And apparently, not good ones. He ground his teeth and felt a spike of pain in his gums. How the hell was he supposed to respond?
“I can’t.”
She flattened her lips. Her eyes lost a bit of their earlier humor, but she was doing her best to mask it. He heard a deep intake of breath before she shrugged. He expected her to back away, but he was discovering Roxanne did the polar opposite of what he expected. She leaned closer.
“If you don’t want to have dinner with me, Jonah, then just say it.”
Two words. It was all he could muster. “I can’t.”
She snorted, and he caught the full effect of her disappointment. She backed away, about to let go of his door when he reached out, lightly grasping her wrist. She quickly glanced down and then lifted her eyes to meet his stare.
“Said, I can’t.” His voice was raw and graveled. “Never said I don’t want to.”
Her eyes widened, and for the first time tonight, he’d surprised her. From her expression, she’d doubted his interest. Now, he laid it out, though it changed nothing. He wanted her, but still he couldn’t have her.
He immediately tensed when her hand rested over his knuckles then flipped his palm up. He watched as she wove her fingers through his. If anyone caught sight of their little interaction, it would resemble two lovers.
“Rox …” he said her name without thinking. He was caught in the moment. She squeezed his hand and smiled.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at twelve for our non-date. I like IPAs and my pizza with pepperoni and mushrooms.” She winked and pulled away slowly, not releasing his hand until the last second. He watched her saunter back to the house from his rearview window.
Playing with fucking fire.