Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
By the time she left for her shift at the Books-N-Brew, she was nothing but a bundle of nerves. Her coworkers’ gossip swirled around her the moment she stepped inside, wanting to know everything they could about Jaxon.
Lovie glanced at her with curiosity. “Do you think he’s staying? Here in Darling, I mean.”
“I hope not,” she muttered, then mentally chastised herself.
Liar. You know you hope he does.
Damn traitorous heart.
“Why do you think he moved in with you?” LeLe eyed Tazzy with worry. “Do you think he wants to get back with you?”
“I don’t know. You should ask him,” she replied, avoiding the question herself
because she wasn’t sure she could survive the answer.
LeLe shook her head. “I can’t talk to him. He probably hates me. You know, the trial and everything?
“He doesn’t hate you. You were used the same as he was. And you’re the reason he’s free now.”
Gabi’s nose wrinkled, excitement lit her eyes. “Does he have tattoos? Ooh, tell me—he’s got a story for each one, right?”
Tazzy was going to scream. “Yes, he has tattoos. I don’t know if they have stories.
But I do know why you’re asking. Raleigh will kill you if you get a tattoo," Tazzy snapped. “Why is everyone asking me all these questions about Jaxon? I hadn’t talked to the man for eight years until two days ago. I don’t know any more than you. ”
Everyone stared at her, eyes wide, for a few seconds, then no one spoke to her again. Argh! Jaxon had only been home two days, and she was going crazy already.
A few minutes later, Suzi arrived, notebook in hand, looking for a quote for the Daily Nugget. That was the final straw. Something in Tazzy snapped.
She lashed out, sharp, cutting. “I’m not in the mood, Suzi! Not today!”
Stomping into the alley behind the shop, she opened the black leather saddlebag purse strapped around her hips and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. She had carried them for eight years without ever lighting one.
If she was going to change, she was going to change all the way. The one thing she had never been able to bring herself to do was smoke. It always seemed like a step too far.
She had spent the last eight years pretending she didn’t need to adhere to boundaries no one was there to set. Eight years of working on being independent and strong. And now he was back, bringing uncertainty and confusion with him.
Come to think of it, the knowledge of how he would react was all the reason she needed to smoke one. That would show him.
She turned the cigarette pack over in her hands, trying to figure out how to open it. Yes, she knew it was stupid. Yes, she’d always made it this far and chickened out. But today was the day. She didn’t have a Daddy anymore, so who cared if she started smoking or not?
She opened the pack and tapped on the bottom to work a cigarette free. This was stupid, but something inside her wanted to test her limits, so she did it anyway. She brought it to her lips.
Pulling the lighter out of her purse next, she clicked the roller and lit the flame. How did this work? Should she inhale first or wait till the cigarette was burning? This was silly. She didn’t have to do this to prove anything.
“If you know what’s good for you, little girl, you’ll put that back,” a voice said from the shadows.
Jaxon.
She jumped, dropping the cigarette and lighter. Jaxon stepped out of the shadows, a dangerous smirk curling his lips. He’d followed her to work. Because, naturally, he couldn’t just leave her alone.
“I don’t have to listen to you anymore,” she said, squatting down to pick up the lighter and cigarette. But her pulse was racing. Why was she so excited... alive for the first time in eight years?
Because she was insane, that’s why. Her panties were damp with her arousal, as if even more proof of her insanity was needed.
“You’re right,” he said softly. “But if you don’t, I’m going to spank you so hard, you’ll be able to light that cigarette on your ass.”
Heat flared low in her belly… shock, outrage, and something dangerously close to desire. Damn him.
She smiled, a tiny spark of rebellion flickering.
Then he added calmly, “And in case you need reminding… I never lie.”
And that was the problem. She did remember. With Jaxon, his words weren’t a threat. They were a promise.
She put the cigarette back in its pack. “I wasn’t planning on smoking it anyway,” she muttered, snapping the pack shut and tossing the cigarettes into the dumpster along with the lighter.
Fortunately, the door was right behind her. She turned her back on him and flounced back inside, leaving him where he stood. She couldn’t get his words out of her head.
At least he was honest. He never lied. If he said he would spank her, he would. Eight years apart be damned. Did that mean if he said he hadn’t replied to her letters to protect her... then maybe, just maybe, he meant that too.