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.”
I look up at him from the cat with all seriousness.
“You guys weren’t far off from the truth of that.”
“She wasn’t too keen on dating again, huh?”
“No, that would be an understatement. But I wore her down.”
“I like that you didn’t give up.”
“She’s worth every bit of the hard work and then some.”
Jacob’s smile widens with approval. I swig the last of my beer a tad nervously.
“Do you love her?”
The swallow lodges in my throat and takes a moment to go down. Jacob’s eyes widen in alarm.
“I’m sorry. I probably should’ve waited til you swallowed that, but I don’t know when we’ll get time to have a man-to-man discussion again.”
I hold out a finger, eyes stinging as I force the muscles in my throat to cooperate, until I’m finally able to suck in a breath and blow it out slowly.
“I don’t want you to see that as panic. There’s no panic here, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say serious talks with my girl’s dad don’t make me nervous.”
Jacob lets out a hearty laugh and slaps a knee while still waiting for my reply.
“In answer, yes. Yes, I love Holly. I’d have told her by now if I weren’t scared she’d freak out and run from it.” Holly’s dad’s head tilts in contemplation, searching me for any bullshit and finding none.
“So, she’s the flight risk?”
“Yes, sir. She’s catching on though. I walked in on the conversation when I grabbed your beer. May’s setting her straight.” I shake my head, seeing Holly’s flushed cheeks all over again.
“Good. I knew your answer already. I just needed to hear it. I recognize love when I see it. She’s feeling it too. I’m sorry that she’s fighting it so hard, but those scars that boy left on her heart– I’m so disappointed in him.”
“I promise that I’d never do that to her.
I’ll prove it to all of you. Most of all, her.
I want to be clear with you that I intend to give her everything, if she’ll have me.
She’s just not ready to hear it yet, though.
But I thought you should. Face-to-face. I don’t know when I’ll get another chance for that. ”
Respect washes across his features, and his eyes warm.
“You want to marry her?”
I nod, keeping my eye contact strong and sure.
“Tomorrow, even–if she’d have me. She’s just not there yet, and I won’t rush her.”
“You know, that other fucker never even asked me. Never even told me how he felt about her. I should’ve known then that he wasn’t truly serious.
Excuse my language, but that’s all he deserves from me.
” I nod again in agreement. He wasn’t worthy of my Holly.
After a moment of contemplation, Jacob turns to me with a soft smile.
“When the time comes, ask her. Don’t come to me again for a blessing.
You already have it. By coming here and showing me that you were willing to answer all these questions and more, while still being patient with her healing, shows me you deeply care about what’s best for her.
You’ve shown me what kind of man you are.
You will be good for her. Thank you, Jaxon.
This does my heart good. I know your parents are proud of the man you’ve become. ”
A bag of bricks lifts from my chest. A weight I hadn’t even truly realized was there.
With this part out of the way, I feel like the rest of the visit is going to go well.
I’m glad Jacob is a straight-shooter. In some ways, at least, I can see that Holly gets it from him.
We watch the rest of the game, cheering when the Cardinals take the win.
Jacob stands tall and stretches before adjusting his belt and reaching out a palm to me in approval and a goodnight. Tigger takes that as his cue and jumps his tubby butt off the couch as I stand and clasp his hand in mine firmly.
“It was nice having another guy to watch the game with. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Goodnight, sir.”
“Jacob.”
“Goodnight, Jacob.”
Jacob pats me on the shoulder and winks.
“May, let’s get on to bed and let the kids have the TV!” Jacob hollers, walking toward the kitchen and peeking his head in. “Well, I would take my wife on to bed if I could find her. I bet they’re outside.”
I follow him to the screened-off back porch. A small candle sits on the table in front of the two women, curled up with their feet tucked under them on the outdoor couch.
“Well, isn’t this a nice little chatting place?” I observe, looking around and making sure that May knows I like her decorating skills. May smiles widely, delighted with my flattery.
“It’s one of our favorite places. You should see it all lit up with the string lights, but Holly and I didn’t need all that jazz tonight.”
“I bet it looks lovely.”
“May, let’s head off to bed so these youngsters can have a few moments before they have to part ways for the night.” Jacob eyes Holly and I both, making it clear that he’d like us to still stay in our separate rooms. Holly rolls her eyes, and I clear my throat in acknowledgement.
“Goodnight, you two,” May coos. She presses a soft peck to Holly’s cheek and pats my forearm before heading off to bed, leaving us as we call out our goodnights. I slide my hands into my pockets, feeling the energy change the moment the back door closes. Holly seems nervous.
“How’d the game go?” she asks with wide eyes, a little bit of a blush coloring the outer round of her cheeks in the candlelight.
I smile and look out at the back yard, noting the neighbors’ homes are a decent distance away on all sides.
I may not get to hold her in my arms tonight while we sleep, but I damn well will not miss out on the chance to get her in them now.
“Went well. Cardinals won seven to five.” I rock back on my heels and wait for her to ask me to come closer.
She’s skittish right now. Probably about what I overheard.
If only she’d overheard the conversation her dad and I had, then she’d really be squirming.
Holly bites her lip and looks to the right before her eyes come back to mine, and a sense of anticipation builds.
Not only does she appear nervous, she looks…
hungry. “Do you need anything else to drink before I sit down?” I ask, eyeing her intently.
“No, I have water,” she answers quietly, raising her bottle next to her thigh to make her point.
I step toward her, rolling my sleeves over my forearms, and watch her eyes take in the little movements with fascination.
Her respirations increase as I move closer and sit down next to her.
A soft smile graces my lips, growing wider when she reciprocates.
“How was your chat with your mother?”
“Uh,” she squeaks before clearing her throat. Cute. “Good. We had a nice time catching up. Dad talk much?”
I lean back, resting an arm over her shoulder before pulling her into my side. She switches her tucked feet over to the other side but shivers a little next to me.
“We talked some. You cold, Sweetheart?” I ask, looking around for a blanket and finding one behind my left shoulder. I flick it out, avoiding the candle, and tuck it over our laps. She melts into my side even more, and I relish it, imagining more nights like this.
“Much better, thank you.” She sighs, and I press a soft kiss to the top of her hair in answer, no words needed. “So, what did you guys talk about?” She looks up at me curiously.
“Oh, the game. And you.”
“Oh?” she asks wide-eyed as she tilts her head further up so she can really look at me. Those beautiful eyes have me locked in. Damn, I’m such a goner.
“You are stunning in this candlelight.”
“You’re changing the topic.”
“Uh-huh…” I answer with a smile, leaning in closer, hoping to catch her lips in a moment if she’ll let me.
“You’re not going to share with me, are you?” she asks, twisting my shirt in between her fingers a little and pulling me closer still. Just a few more inches…
“Uh-Uh,” I whisper, closing the distance as I shake my head slowly, eyeing how her breath hitches and her breasts stretch her shirt as she begins to pant lightly. I love watching how I affect her. I nuzzle her nose gently with mine, reaching up to twirl a strand of her silky hair around my fingers.
“Jaxon?” she pants. I’m going to make her ask.
“Yes, Cupcake?”
“Kiss me,” she rushes out on a whoosh of light breath, and I melt for her.
So softly, I brush my thumb along her jaw, weaving my fingers into her hair at the nape of her neck as I tilt my lips to the side, making her wait a few precious more seconds for the moment my lips make the barest whisper across hers.
The smallest sound escapes her as her lips part, sucking in a shaky breath that has my blood pumping hard, lighting up my body with pent-up tension from a whole evening of being close but not being able to touch her or kiss her the way I’ve been dying to.
I pull her lips closer, sealing the deal and slipping between them with my tongue.
My thumb traces along the front of her throat, loving the way her little hum of approval feels beneath it, and I hum back in encouragement.
We take our time, exploring each other’s mouths until she’s clutching at my shirt and we’re both panting.
“I missed you,” she says breathily.
“I was just in the other room, baby.” I smile, knowing what she really means and feeling happy in the marrow of my bones.
“But not being able to just kiss you any time I want was…was…” she searches for the word, but her mind is clouded from my kisses, just the way I like it.
“Torture?” I ask, nuzzling against her nose as she pulls at my shirt like she’s dying to rip it off of me and fighting herself.
“Uh-huh…” she answers in a small voice filled with need, and something inside me snaps a little. I’m fighting to rein it in.
“Fuck, I feel like I’m back in high school,” I breathe out huskily before pressing my lips back to hers, more insistently this time.
“You gonna make out with me on my parent’s back porch, Jaxon?”
“Depends. Are your parents the type to be snoopy?”
She shakes her head.
“Then, fuck yes, I’m going to make out with you better than any of those high school boys ever dreamed of doing.”