Chapter 19 #2
The barbecue was more fun now that he knew more people.
Conversation was easier, and even Grayson seemed to have set aside his doubts about him.
The steaks he'd marinated turned out great.
The salad bowl was emptied within minutes, and the cookies were a big hit with everyone, including Kaia, who was no longer trying to put space between them.
Instead, she was making it clear that they were together, and it felt surprisingly good.
He hadn't wanted to be in a relationship with anyone for a long time, but somehow, he'd fallen into one with her.
There was a part of him that still thought it was a bad idea, that there were things she could learn that might not sit well with her, and maybe she would fault him for the gaps in the story he'd told her.
Or maybe she'd understand when they finally talked everything through.
That opportunity had to come tonight. He had to tell her everything.
He wanted her to know it all so that whatever might be happening between them wouldn't be overshadowed by any more secrets.
But they were gathered around the bonfire on the beach now, making s'mores and waiting for the fireworks to start, and he was just going to enjoy the moment for as long as he could. His past could wait a while longer.
As he finished his sweet, marshmallow chocolate dessert, Kaia reached over and swiped her finger across his chin to gather a bit of errant chocolate, then popped it into her mouth.
"Can't waste the chocolate," she said with a smile.
"You have some on your lips," he said, stealing a quick kiss.
She laughed and gave him a warning look. "We'd better stop this game before it goes too far."
"Another game we can play later."
Her yearning sigh nearly undid him.
"I really hope the fireworks start soon," she said. "Because I'd like later to be sooner."
He loved that they were on the same page. They had different personalities, but their differences only seemed to make everything more exciting when they got together.
As if on cue, the first firework was launched from a boat in the sea, and the crowd on the beach let out a collective gasp.
The next one was bigger and brighter than the last. He put his arm around her shoulders as they cuddled together on their blanket in the sand, looking up at a starry sky dancing with lights, the air rocking with every boom.
He couldn't remember when he'd last seen fireworks.
It had been at least a few years. They'd often played concerts on the Fourth of July, but usually by the time the fireworks happened, they were off the stage and doing something else.
Which made tonight feel even more special.
There was no show happening. This was just a small-town celebration on a warm summer night, and he was with a woman who was slowly and steadily invading his heart.
When the show climaxed in a fiery, nonstop display of colors and lights, he felt his heart pounding against his chest, knowing that as soon as they got back to his apartment, there would be more personal fireworks.
"That was amazing," Kaia said.
"You're amazing."
Her eyes glittered with emotion and desire. "I'm feeling the same way about you."
"Care to show me now?"
"Yes," she said, grabbing his hand as they stood up.
He thought she might want to say goodbye to her friends, but she was pulling him across the beach, and with the chaos of everyone heading for their homes or their cars, it was easy to slip away from the group.
When they got into his apartment, he kicked the door closed and pulled her into his arms. They kissed their way across the room, laughing as they ran into the wall, and then kissed again before stripping off their clothes and making their way into the bedroom.
This fiery, passionate, redhead drove everything else out of his mind.
He wanted her with an intensity that was almost shocking.
He barely had time to find protection before they tumbled onto the mattress together.
And an even better show of fireworks went off in his head.
Kaia woke up Tuesday morning feeling happy and content, with her head on Jax's broad shoulder and his arm around her back. She was thrilled not to have to jump out of bed and rush to work. They still had Walter's meeting with Reina later in the day, but until then, she just wanted to be with him.
She felt Jax stir, and she lifted her head to look at him, loving the way he slowly woke up, because it gave her a chance to study him, to give him a soft kiss, and to feel his arm tighten around her back as he opened his eyes.
"Good morning," she said.
"Is it morning already?"
"It's after nine," she replied, her gaze catching on the clock on the nightstand. "We slept in."
"Well, we didn't get to sleep until very late."
"Are you complaining?"
"Definitely not," he said with a grin. "But I think I'm going to need some coffee…and maybe some food," he added as his stomach rumbled loudly. "Sorry about that."
She laughed, loving how intimate they'd become. "I'm hungry, too. Why don't I make us breakfast?"
"That sounds good."
"It will be good if you have eggs, bacon, and bread."
"I picked all that up yesterday when I was at the store."
"Thinking ahead?"
"Hoping to share breakfast with you."
"Then I'll start cooking." She slipped out of bed and grabbed his robe off the hook in the bathroom.
"That was too fast," he complained. "I thought we could, uh…cuddle…for a while."
"I don't think cuddling is what you have in mind."
His eyes sparkled. "Well, it's a good start."
"There's plenty of time for…cuddling…after breakfast. We don't have to pick up Walter until two. I'll get breakfast started."
She headed out to the kitchen and started the coffee before checking the fridge for ingredients.
She heard Jax in the shower and smiled again to herself, still somewhat surprised at how absolutely comfortable she felt with him.
She pulled out the eggs and whipped them up in a bowl, then set it aside as she grabbed the bacon and put several slabs on a cookie sheet before putting it into the oven.
While that was cooking, she decided to use some of the onions and tomatoes Jax had in his fridge to make a better egg scramble.
"It already smells good in here," Jax said as he walked into the room wearing shorts and a T-shirt, looking deliciously sexy.
"Bacon always smells good."
He wrapped his arms around her and gave her a kiss. "You smell even better."
"I haven't even showered yet."
"I don't care."
She gave him a gentle push. "None of that. I need to finish making breakfast. You're hungry, remember?"
"I am definitely hungry." The gleam in his eyes told her he was hungry for more than food, and she loved feeling so wanted.
A sharp knock at the door startled both of them. It was followed by three more hard knocks. And then another three.
"What the hell?" Jax said, concern filling his gaze.
"Do you think it's the photographer?"
"He'd be more likely to be hiding in the bushes." Jax walked to the door and threw it open. He was then almost knocked over by a pretty blonde woman who blew into the room on a cloud of perfume.
She stared at the woman in shock. And she wasn’t the only one surprised.
The woman's gaze moved from Jax to her, taking in the cozy scene, lingering on the fact that she was wrapped up in Jax's bathrobe.
"Is she the reason you haven't gotten back to me?" the woman demanded.
"What are you doing here, Wren?"
"I came to talk to you." Her shocked anger turned pleading. "Please. We have to talk."
Kaia looked at Jax, seeing the grim set of his jaw, the anger in his eyes, but also the emotional tension in his stance.
This was Wren. This was the woman who was the closest thing he had to family.
This was the person he'd spent most of his adult life with, the one he seemed to hate now.
But was it all hate, or was there something else between them?
He'd said there wasn't, but she didn't really know what to think except that his messy and complicated life was now standing in his living room.
As they stared at each other, she felt very much like a third wheel.
"I'm going to go," she said, grabbing her clothes from the floor as she ran into the bedroom.
She stripped off the robe and threw on her shorts and tank top as fast as she could, but she wasn't fast enough as Jax came into the room.
"Kaia, wait," he said. "You don't have to leave. Wren is the one who will go. I just need a couple of minutes to make that happen."
"No." She shook her head. "You need more than that. You can't keep avoiding her. You have to talk to her." She could see the conflict in his eyes, but she could also see that he agreed with her.
"I'll call you when she's gone," he promised.
"Sure."
When she walked out of the bedroom, Wren was standing by Jax's workstation, looking at the guitar he'd been working on. Her gaze moved to Kaia, but she didn't say a word.
Once outside, she practically ran to her apartment, not wanting to see anyone she knew. Thankfully, the courtyard was empty and quiet. As she closed the door behind her, she didn't know what was going to happen between Wren and Jax. But she did know that it had to happen.
She was just afraid her happy bubble was about to burst…or maybe it already had.