Chapter 20 #2
I say the first thing that comes to mind. “I’m just wondering if you’re ever going to grow up.”
“What?”
“Your behavior. It’s…disturbing.”
“Why would you say that?”
“Because it is.” I keep my burning gaze on her confused one. I don’t dare look anywhere else.
She takes a sip of her whiskey and hostility flicks in her eyes. “You sit there as if you’re on a throne, all holier than thou like the king in a deck of cards. But Jaxon, I see the real you.”
“Is that right?”
“Yes. You’re just a jack pretending to be the king. As a matter of fact, I’m going to call you Jax from now on so you know you aren’t fooling me.”
I smirk even though I started it and because she’s acting like a brat. “There’s one thing you’re missing, little one.”
“What’s that, Jax?”
“Whether I’m a jack or a king, they both wear crowns. I guess that means I’m mightier than you.”
Her face turns red and she growls. I sip on my Jack Daniel’s and let her fume for a second.
I recline while keeping my hand on my glass. “Since you shared how you feel about me, would you like to know what I think about you?”
“Why not? It won’t be any skin off my back.”
“You want the world to see you as some kind of atomic bomb when we both know you’re just a little firecracker. Maybe you’ll cause a pop and a burn but nothing earth-shattering.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You’re a young lady and have a lot to learn before anyone will ever see you as the woman you want to be seen as. If you want your business to succeed, grow up. Become the queen you’re meant to be.”
There’s a moment of silence where she seems to take it in. She straightens her back and her gaze hardens.
“I was being nice to you, Jax. I’ve done nothing to make you see me as the way you described.” A sliver of hurt cuts through her expression. She tightens the lace draping she’s using as a cover-up. “I looked up to you and—”
“My apologies.” Greg steps into the kitchen. “Lorna’s armoire fell over on her.”
“Is she okay?” I shift in his direction.
“She’s fine.” He joins us at the table. “The furniture is another story.”
“That can be replaced.” I lift my glass and take another sip.
He glances around and notices our drinks. “When in Rome.”
He gets up and makes himself a glass of The Macallan neat while he asks me more about my housing decisions. I expect Livianna to leave, but she stays right where she is, staring at me.
She listens intently to what I describe as my perfect living arrangements. She even gives her father some great suggestions based on what I’ve said.
I peek her way a few times to get a read on her, but she’s got one hell of an iron mask on. I can’t penetrate it. It’s unnerving because picking up on people’s reactions and emotions is something I’m skilled in.
I stumble over my words more than once and keep moving around in my seat like I’m a two-year-old in church. Greg and I finish mapping out what type of home I’m looking for while Livianna remains seated.
“Thanks, Greg. Let me know what you find.” I stand to leave.
He gets to his feet. “I’ll have one of my agents tour a few that may be a fit. If they are, I’ll get you out to see them.”
“Perfect.” I take my drink to the sink and extend an olive branch. “Livianna, it was nice to see you again.”
She slips out of her chair. “You too, Jax.”
“Livianna!” Greg scowls at her. “That’s not what he goes by. Do not call him that. Show him some respect and use his full name.”
“Sorry, Daddy.” Her shoulders roll forward. “I didn’t know it meant so much to him.”
Greg’s phone rings and he asks Livianna to see me out. He excuses himself to the living room to take the call. She strolls up next to me, putting her whiskey on the counter.
I lean over and whisper to her, “There’s a reason my name is Crowne. You’d be best not to forget that.”
She spins to me. “Why are you kind one minute and like this the next?”
“I only respond to your actions, Livianna. Think about that.”
“What did I do today that made you flip? We were talking and getting along.”
“Then you got mouthy with me.”
“You started it when I asked you why you were looking at me like you were mad at me. You told me to grow up, so how did you expect me to act?”
I think back. Why did I say that to her?
I was upset by her getting a better drink than mine. I stare at her.
My world tilts off-kilter and I start to slide off into some other galaxy where I’m not in control. I step back and shake my head.
Livianna’s eyes gloss over. “I thought you understood me.”
“I don’t know why you’d believe that. We’re nothing alike.”
“How do you know? You don’t even try to get to know me.”
“Livianna—”
“You helped me that night when you were here with Cindy. You made me feel safe and I calmed down. I thought we were moving past from how poorly I treated you the first time we met. And you go off about how disturbing I am? What did I do to you?”
“You were…”
Well, shit!
I can’t tell her she was causing some strange effect on me. I huff a laugh. The realization hits me square in the eyes.
I’m not upset by what she was doing. I’m bothered that I’m attracted to an eighteen-year-old woman.
It’s my behavior that’s disturbing. I cave into myself and wonder how the hell I let this happen.
“Livianna, I need to leave. This whole interaction is wrong.”
“Before you go tell me why you hate me.” Livianna’s expression drips with hurt and tears roll down her cheeks. “Tell me, Jax. What is it about me that you don’t like? Why do you think I’m such a horrible person?”
I’m in a predicament. On one hand, I want to soothe her pain and on the other, I want to push her away and forget she ever existed.
I run my palm over my beard and frown. “I don’t feel that way.”
“What way is that?”
“I don’t hate you.”
She dries her face with the sleeve of her cover-up. “Then how do you feel about me?”
“Jaxon?” Greg comes back into the room with a warning tone filling his words. “What did you do to make my daughter cry?”