Chapter 25
KAT
We head out for dinner. The villa has become incredibly claustrophobic since our conversation this afternoon.
Jax has been unusually silent. After we finished talking, he took his book and sat in the shade on the terrace.
Do I blame him?
A lot of wounds were reopened, and the pain is fresh. Our only hope now is that they can heal over time.
I glance over at the man walking next to me.
I know I was right in letting him read Zach’s letter. I have no regrets.
I turn away. Zach, Sasha and Darra’s lies affected Jax as much as they did me. They started a snowball effect that can’t be undone. I just hope we can put the past behind us and move forward. If not as friends, at least in terms of building a strong working relationship.
Jaxson’s skills are exactly what the FHG and my project need. Caleb was right. His ideas for the new development are next-level and more than I could have hoped for.
We’re shown to our table in the restaurant.
“Mary, Philip,” Jax says to the elderly couple sitting next to us.
“Good evening,” Mary says. “You’re looking better than you were this afternoon.”
My eyes dart to Jax, but he’s focused on the couple.
“I am, thank you. Can I introduce you to my friend, Kathryn Frazer?”
Mary smiles, her eyes sparkling with delight.
“Ms Frazer, we meet again. I wanted to thank you for the champagne and fruit basket. It was a very kind gesture.”
I smile. “You’re welcome, Mary. I hope you’ve both enjoyed your stay with us.”
“Most definitely.”
Her hand moves to cover her husband’s, and he entwines their fingers, before getting up and pulling out her chair.
My heart skips a beat.
Mary stands up.
“This is goodbye,” Mary says, turning to face us. “We leave in the morning.”
“It’s been lovely meeting you both,” I say. “Safe flight.”
Mary walks up to our table, and we both stand. Philip shakes my hand before Mary comes in for a hug. I bend down as she pulls me in tight, her hug is surprisingly comforting. I squeeze her back, my throat thickening.
Mary smiles before pulling back and patting my cheek. “It is possible to have it all. Remember that.”
She approaches Jax, whispering something in his ear. Whatever she says makes him smile.
She turns and winks at me before she slips her arm through Philip’s and leaves.
As soon as they’re out of sight, curiosity gets the better of me.
“What did she say?”
Jax’s cheekbones darken.
“She said. We make a beautiful couple, and I need to convince you of that.”
I cough awkwardly, aware of my cheeks burning.
“It’s okay, I’ve told her a million times we’re colleagues. But Mary’s a romantic.”
The word colleague sticks in my throat.
After everything that’s happened between us, maybe colleagues is the safest term.
“I finished a rough draft of the plans today,” Jax says, changing the subject.
My heart stutters, then relaxes.
Okay. Safe. Work I can do.
“Excellent,” I say, as our waiter appears to take our food order. “We can go through it tomorrow morning. I’ve met with the staff and sent my recommendations back to Head Office. The next three days, I’m all yours.”
It’s only after the words have left my mouth that I realise how suggestive they sound. If Jax picked up on it, he shows no signs of it.
“That’s great. There are a few ideas I’d like to discuss with you. See what you think.”
“How about we meet up after breakfast,” I say, wanting to make it official. “Don suggested we work in the guest library. I had a look around earlier, and it appears to be empty.”
After today, the last place I want to work is in the villa.
According to Baskin, the library is an underutilised space. It’s only used during bad weather, and for clients leaving the island, but as most leave in the morning before checkout, this is rare.
Our food arrives, and we eat in relative silence, both caught up in our own thoughts.
It’s been a long, emotional day. My limbs feel heavy, and my eyes scratchy. I want nothing more than to curl up in bed, read my book and reset.
Once we’ve eaten, we make our way back to the villa.
“Do you want to stop for a nightcap?” Jax asks as we pass the bar.
“I’d love to, but I can barely keep my eyes open. You’re welcome to if you want.”
“I think I might,” he says.
My chest tightens. Part of me wants to be alone, the other wishes for comfort. But Jax is not the man to give it, and I have no right to ask it of him.
“I won’t be late.”
“Don’t rush on my account,” I say, offering him a quick smile before we separate.
I pause, watching him enter the bar.
He’s immediately greeted by a number of guests. He stops, his shoulders relaxing as he talks. He smiles, they smile.
I sigh and turn away, continuing my journey back to the villa.
Jax has always been popular and has a way of putting people at ease. Everyone seems to like him and gravitate towards him. My family included.
Is that why I was so easily convinced he’d been unfaithful?
I’ve always been introverted, guarded. Trust has never come easily to me. My inner circle is incredibly small, consisting mainly of family, the odd friend, like Pen, and the girls I went to uni with, who I catch up with once a year.
I enter the villa and stare at the large bed and down at the tiny cot bed.
I throw caution to the wind, rearranging the pillows the same way Jax did last night, and crawl under the covers.
I lean across and flick on Jax’s bedside light before picking up my book.
I stare at the words, re-reading the same page five times, before giving up.
I replace my bookmark and turn off my light.
I wriggle down the bed, my body sinking into the mattress. I close my heavy eyelids, expecting to dream, but instead there’s nothing, only silence for the first time in a very long time.
I wake up and stretch. Rolling onto my back before turning my head. The other side of the bed is empty, although I can make out the indent where Jax’s head has been.
I sit up and look around. My senses tell me the villa is empty, that Jax is gone. He’s probably swimming.
I pick up my phone. Seven thirty.
Grabbing my gym gear, I head to the small guest gym. Another guest is lifting weights in the corner of the room. He looks up, and we exchange pleasantries before concentrating on what we’re there for.
I start the running machine. It’s not long before my feet are pounding, and my heart rate has increased. I run like the devil is chasing me. Running from the past few months. By the time I’m done, my hair is plastered to my scalp and my clothes are stuck to my skin.
I make my way back to the villa to shower and change.
There’s still no sign of Jaxson.
So I head for breakfast, alone.
I miss yesterday’s pastries. I knew what he was doing. Jax is a savoury man, pastries have never been his thing.
My heart does a flip at the thought. Maybe there is a chance for us to be friends.
When I’m done, I make my way to the library.
I stop in the doorway, my chest constricting.
Jax is already there.
“Good morning,” I say, after taking several deep inhales.
My breath catches when he looks up. His strong jaw and high cheekbones don’t detract from the dark circles under his eyes, as if he didn’t sleep.
“Good morning,” he says. “Did you enjoy breakfast?”
“I did, although I missed the pastries this morning,” I say, before I can stop myself.
“You could have had one,” he says, inclining his head.
“I know, but they’re never the same off your own plate.”
I had a terrible appetite growing up Mum always found I was happiest eating while sat on Dad’s knee, thinking I was eating his food instead of my own. A total Daddy’s girl.
Jax shakes his head, moving some paper to uncover a plate full of mouthwatering pastries.
“Jax,” I say, pulling out a chair, while he grabs a knife and begins cutting them into quarters. The same way he did the morning before.
I chuckle as he pushes the plate towards me, taking a slice for himself.
“Would you like to share mine?”
Our eyes lock.
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I take a piece and bite down, closing my eyes as the sweet, sugary coating fills my mouth.
I moan, smashing my hand over my mouth in horror.
When I open my eyes, Jax is staring at me, his pupils dilated.
I cough, and he chuckles.
I put the pastry on a napkin, Jax hands me, moving it to one side.
“What did you want to discuss?” I ask when I finally manage to swallow.