4. Jaxon
CHAPTER FOUR
Jaxon
I couldn’t believe it.
Lila was Lila Harper.
The same Lila I’d spent the last few hours fantasizing about, the one who had made my damn knees weak at 35,000 feet, was Nate’s little sister.
The sister he’d always talked about protecting, the one he complained always attracted such sleazy guys.
Lila freaking Harper .
The situation was so surreal I half expected someone to pop out with a camera and tell me I was on some sort of hidden camera prank show.
“Jax, you good?” Nate asked as we left the airport, clapping me on the shoulder with the oblivious cheer of someone who didn’t know he’d just ruined my life.
“Yeah,” I managed, though my voice sounded strained even to my own ears. “Just… it was a long flight, and I didn’t know your sister was aboard…”
Not that I knew Lila.
This was the first time I’d met her.
“Well, she’s been gone a while. Hardly anyone around here recognizes her anymore.” Nate grinned, clearly thrilled to have her back. “Man, you should’ve seen the line of guys who used to follow her around. Had to scare half of ‘em off myself.”
I forced a chuckle, my stomach doing a full somersault.
Of course you did.
Lila glanced up at me then, just for a second, her hazel eyes wide and panicked before she quickly looked away again. She clutched that damn corgi of hers like it was a lifeline, her cheeks bright pink.
You and me both, sweetheart.
“Anyway,” Nate continued, oblivious to the tension crackling between us, “we’re having dinner at the house tonight to celebrate her being back. I already called the crew. You should come.”
I hesitated. “I don’t know, man…”
“Come on,” Nate insisted, waving a hand like it wasn’t even a question. “She’s family, and you’re family, too. My dad wants us to all be together. Plus, she’s gotta meet Ryan and Colt at some point.”
Ryan and Colt?
Great.
If tonight wasn’t already shaping up to be a clusterfuck, adding those two into the mix would certainly do it.
Lila hadn’t said a word, but I could practically feel the unease radiating off of her. She was still avoiding looking at me, and I didn’t blame her. This situation was a nightmare for both of us.
Nate frowned, crossing his arms. “You’re coming, right?”
It was the way he said it—like it wasn’t actually a request—that made me nod before I could think it through.
“Yeah,” I said finally, my voice resigned. “I’ll be there.”
Lila’s head snapped up at that, her eyes meeting mine for the briefest of moments before she turned away again, her face burning.
Nate grinned, clearly pleased. “Perfect. I’ll see you at six.”
And just like that, he was off, steering Lila toward his car with Biscuit still in her arms. I stayed rooted to the spot, watching them go, my thoughts an absolute wreck.
What the hell had I gotten myself into?
It didn’t have to be a big deal, did it?
So what if I’d just hooked up with his sister?
It was a one-time thing.
Nobody had to know, and I’d keep it that way.
Surely Lila didn’t want Nate finding out either…
Ugh, this was going to be one hell of a night.
* * *
Dinner was already in full swing by the time I walked into Nate’s father’s dining room at just after six.
The long, worn oak table was packed with plates of food, bottles of beer, and laughter that echoed off the walls.
The crew was all here—my family by choice, and now, apparently, Nate’s real family too.
Lila was sitting right in the middle of it all, her smile tentative but growing as the conversation flowed around her.
God, did she have to be so damn beautiful?
She was making it real hard for me to want to keep my distance.
“Jaxon!” Ryan called out from across the table. He was leaning back in his chair, balancing it precariously on two legs like the overgrown kid he was.
His dark brown hair was sticking up at odd angles, and there was an unmistakable mischief in his eyes. “Look who finally decided to grace us with his presence. We thought you were too busy chasing after?—”
“Ryan,” Colt cut in sharply, his warning tone doing little to hide his grin. “Knock it off.”
Ryan smirked but leaned forward, letting his chair thump back onto all four legs. “What? I’m just saying it’s about time he showed up. We’ve been holding down the fort without him.”
I shot him a look as I shrugged out of my jacket. “You mean you’ve been stuffing your face without me.”
“Guilty as charged,” Ryan said, holding up a chicken drumstick like a trophy. “But don’t worry, there’s still plenty left. Adam made enough to feed an army.”
“He has to, with all of you around,” Colt chimed in, his voice smooth and easy like he had all the time in the world.
Ryan’s brother was always the picture of confidence, his green eyes twinkling as he leaned casually on one elbow. His sleeves were rolled up, revealing forearms covered in soot stains from a long shift at the firehouse earlier.
Colt had this natural charisma that seemed to draw people in…he knew it too.
“Speaking of armies,” Colt continued, gesturing at Ryan, “you want to tell Jax about how you nearly set the workhouse kitchen on fire during breakfast this morning?”
Ryan groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “Oh, come on, man. Are we really doing this?”
“Yes,” Colt said with zero hesitation. “We are.”
Lila perked up at that, her hazel eyes lighting with curiosity.
“What happened?” she asked, her voice soft but carrying enough warmth to draw the attention of everyone at the table.
Ryan, of course, groaned even louder. “Nothing happened. I just… maybe left the toaster on too long. That’s it.”
“Left the toaster on?” Colt’s grin widened as he leaned forward. “You stuck a bagel in there, walked away, and forgot about it until the smoke detector went off. We’re the fire department. Not the best look for us to have a blaze right in our own kitchen.”
“Twice,” Nate added, raising an eyebrow as he grabbed another beer. “Don’t forget he did it twice.”
Ryan threw his hands up in mock exasperation. “You guys are unbelievable. I save lives for a living, and you’re gonna drag me through the mud for a burned bagel?”
“ Twice ,” Colt repeated, holding up two fingers for emphasis.
The table erupted in laughter, and even Lila couldn’t hold back. Her laugh was soft and musical, the kind that made you want to hear it again.
She shook her head, looking at Ryan with a mix of amusement and pity. “I thought firefighters were supposed to be good under pressure.”
Ryan pointed a finger at her, his grin turning sheepish. “See? I don’t need this from you, too, Lila. You’ve been here for what, a day? And you’re already siding with these guys?”
“Well,” Lila said, a teasing lilt in her voice as she glanced between Ryan and Colt, “you’re not exactly making it hard.”
“Ouch,” Ryan said, clutching his chest like she’d wounded him. “You’re supposed to be the nice one.”
“I am,” Lila said innocently, though the sparkle in her eye suggested otherwise.
“Nice my ass,” Colt muttered, taking a long sip of his beer. “She’s been out of town for what, ten years? And she’s already sharper than you.”
Lila blushed at the comment but didn’t deny it. Instead, she turned to Nate, clearly eager to steer the conversation away from herself.
“So,” she said, her voice tinged with curiosity, “what’s this about a charity calendar? Dad told me about it earlier.”
That got the reaction she was clearly hoping for.
Ryan immediately perked up, while Colt groaned and muttered something under his breath.
“You want the deets?” Ryan asked, leaning forward like he was about to tell the world’s juiciest secret. “We’re doing a fireman calendar this year. All for the kids’ burn unit at the hospital.”
Lila raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “A calendar?”
“Damn right,” Colt cut in, smirking as he sat up straighter. “Twelve months of pure, unfiltered Medford fireman charm.”
“More like twelve months of us all making fools of ourselves,” Nate muttered, though there was a hint of pride in his voice.
Ryan waved him off. “Ignore the grumpy old man over there. He’s just mad because he’s Mr. March and has to pose with a bunch of tulips.”
Nate scowled. “It’s not tulips. It’s a garden hose. And it’s for charity.”
“Oh, a garden hose,” Ryan teased, waggling his eyebrows. “That’s so much better.”
Lila laughed again, covering her mouth with her hand as she turned to Colt. “And what about you? What month are you?”
“December,” Colt said with a smug grin, leaning back in his chair like he’d just won the lottery. “Gotta end the year on a high note.”
“More like end it with hypothermia,” Ryan cut in. “The idiot insists he’ll be doing his shoot shirtless. In the snow.”
“It’s called dedication,” Colt said, completely unfazed. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“It’s called stupidity,” Nate muttered, but he was grinning now, too.
Lila shook her head, clearly trying not to laugh. “I’ll admit, I’m impressed. That’s a pretty great cause.”
Their bickering carried on, but I barely heard it because Lila’s laugh cut through the noise again. It was softer this time, almost shy, but just as potent.
I couldn’t stop looking at her, couldn’t stop the heat rising in my chest every time she smiled or tilted her head.
She was a magnet, and I was already leaning toward her without realizing it.
Her hazel eyes found mine, and it was like the world tipped on its axis. Her smile softened, turning just a little more personal, like maybe she was feeling this pull, too.
My grip on the back of the chair tightened as the heat swelled between us. I needed to get a grip… fast.
I forced myself to sit, sliding into the seat next to her before my feet betrayed me and carried me somewhere I didn’t belong. Close as I was, I could smell her. She smelled like warm vanilla and a hint of citrus that made my pulse kick up another notch.
“So, Jaxon,” Lila said, turning to me with a look that was way too knowing, “what month are you in the calendar?”
My fingers froze mid-reach for the mashed potatoes. The playful challenge in her tone hit me like a sucker punch, and my brain scrambled for a response.
“Uh…” I rubbed the back of my neck, trying not to think about how her shoulder brushed mine when she leaned just a little closer. “October.”
Her lips curved, and that spark in her eyes told me she wasn’t about to let me off easy. “October? Let me guess. Pumpkin patch? Maybe holding a rake?”
Ryan jumped in before I could answer, grinning like the damn Cheshire Cat. “Oh, man, I wish. That would’ve been perfect. But no, Mr. October gets to flex his hero status with a rescue dog.”
“Aw.” She leaned in just enough that her breath brushed my arm. “Big, tough fireman with a soft spot for dogs. You’re really laying it on thick, huh?”
My jaw tightened. The heat between us was back, sparking to life like someone had struck a match. She was bold—too bold—and I had no idea how to keep my cool under that teasing stare.
I turned to her, locking eyes, my voice low enough that only she could hear. “Careful, Lila. Keep teasing me like that, and I might start to think you’re flirting.”
Her smile didn’t falter. If anything, it grew almost coy, her hazel eyes shimmering with mischief. “And what if I am?”
Damn it.
My chest tightened like a vice, and I felt every single muscle in my body tense up at her words.
She was trouble.
I had to say something, anything to steer us out of this spiral, but my brain wasn’t cooperating. All I could think about was how close she was, how her laugh had a way of disarming me, and how her presence alone was throwing my world off balance.
Lila didn’t back down, leaning back just slightly in her chair, that knowing look still plastered on her face. She tilted her head, watching me like she was waiting to see what I’d do next.
Her confidence was unnerving, but it was also… intoxicating.
“Don’t start something you’re not ready to finish,” I murmured, my voice coming out rougher than I intended.
She raised an eyebrow, her lips parting as if she were about to say something, but then Colt’s voice cut through the tension like a bucket of cold water.
“Jax, you’re not seriously hogging all the mashed potatoes, are you?” Colt asked, pointing his fork at me with mock indignation.
I blinked, realizing I still had the bowl in front of me, my hand frozen on the serving spoon. “Uh, right. Here.”
I shoved it across the table, my movements stiff, as though it might somehow snap me out of the spell Lila had cast on me.
She bit her lip, clearly trying to suppress a smile as she reached for her drink. I glanced at her out of the corner of my eye, hoping the conversation would move on, that someone would say something stupid enough to distract me from the fire she’d just lit inside me.
But no.
Nate had to pick this exact moment to speak up.
“So, Jax,” he started, his tone casual but his expression loaded, “you settling into the new place okay? The apartment above the Grady brothers’ shop?”
“Yeah,” I said quickly, grateful for the change of subject. “It’s not bad. Close to work. Quiet.”
“Too quiet for you, I’d bet,” Ryan chimed in, grinning like the devil. “Bet he’s already bored out of his mind.”
“Better bored than dealing with your kitchen disasters,” I shot back, smirking.
The table erupted into more laughter, and the weight of Lila’s gaze lifted.
But even as I tried to sink into the rhythm of the conversation, to let myself enjoy the chaos of family and friends, I could feel her beside me. Her laugh, her scent, the way she was watching me like she was cataloging every move I made.
I was in trouble. Big trouble.
And the worst part? I wasn’t sure I wanted to get out of it.