Chapter Eight
J axon settled into his seat at the back of the auditorium. One of his clients, Cece, had roped him into helping out the local community theater group, convincing him to design their sets. Set design was a new venture for him, but once he understood what they needed, he’d gotten into it. The play was a Sherlock Holmes melodrama with characters popping in and out of windows and doors. It had been a blast to design, and he’d created a four-sided version that would spin when they needed a different set for a new act.
He’d missed opening night by taking the Little Leaguers to Kayley’s Refresher, so he was using his comp ticket tonight. He’d had two, but who was he going to take? Montgomery wasn’t allowed in the theater. Jaxon was flipping through the program when he glanced up and saw a flash of sun-kissed ponytail halfway down the aisle.
Could it be? His heartbeat picked up. Yes, Ivy was coming down the aisle. He was about to rise and invite her to sit by him—seats weren’t assigned for these small, local productions—when he saw Joel step in close and place his hand possessively on her lower back.
No way. She was on a date with Joel? Last night it was Roman, and now it was the brashest Rebel?
Jaxon endured an instant of deep betrayal and then scoffed. When had he ever told Joel he was interested in Ivy? Never, that’s when. They weren’t close. Besides, they were men. They didn’t share feelings. He didn’t have anyone to share his feelings with.
Not anymore, and kind of not even when Candace was alive.
Besides, who could blame Joel? Ivy looked—wow. She’d curled the ends of her ponytail and was dressed in a mint-green dress with a delicate white flower pattern that molded her curviness to perfection. She looked fresh, like spring personified. Joel, in an ill-fitting dark suit, was the Hades to Ivy’s Persephone. Jaxon scowled. To be fair, Joel appeared mesmerized, watching her slide into her chair in a row right up front. His hand hovered right by Ivy’s bottom like he wanted to cup it.
Jaxon almost rose up to rush down the aisle to stop him. But Joel halted and acted the gentleman at the last minute, sitting down beside her and handing her a program. He leaned over. Oh, were they sharing? How sweet. Heads close, they flipped through the program together.
Would they see his name? Know he had helped with the production?
He was being ridiculous. He didn’t need to impress Joel, but Ivy, well—he wanted her good opinion. The auditorium began to fill. He couldn’t see Ivy well, except for her honey ponytail which swam before his eyes.
Lights dimmed once, twice, and then down as Jaxon settled in to watch his set design in action.
*
Ivy couldn’t believe how much she was enjoying this show. It was hilarious. The characters climbing in and out of windows, and Cece’s melodramatic overacting as Mrs. Hudson had her laughing until she had tears in her eyes. The whole production was a local masterpiece and whoever designed the costumes, makeup, and sets were geniuses.
How had she never come to one of these productions? When the lights swooped back up, she turned to her date with a bright smile.
“Joel, this is so much fun, thank you.”
“Come on,” he said, “let’s hit the refreshment stand before the line gets too long.” He grabbed her hand, and she let him pull her along with him up the side aisle. In line, they chatted about the play. Tea wasn’t on the menu, so she ended up with a cup of black coffee and an apple crisp she recognized as her sister’s. It was in a little individual sleeve with a Hollister’s Bakery sticker.
She would have to see about donating some of her own scones for the next theater production. She could order new sleeves with her business name, instead of the plain white ones she used now. It’d be good advertising. Ah, maybe she was learning from her sister.
She turned and bumped into a hard body.
“Oh,” she gasped. A hand raised her cup high just in time to prevent her dumping coffee all over herself.
She blinked up into brown eyes like steeped Darjeeling and lost herself for a moment in a rush of warmth. She blinked. “Jaxon, hi.”
Thoughts of hungry kissing breezed through her brain. His eyes radiated hunger for just a moment. For her?
No, silly, he was probably just concerned she’d spill coffee all over his white shirt. He wasn’t wearing a too-wide tie like Joel. No, Jaxon had no tie on at all. His bright white shirt was open at the neck and showed off tanned skin at his throat. She was suddenly fascinated by his Adam’s apple. He swallowed.
Ivy blinked to clear her head, and found her voice. “Thanks for the rescue. Sorry about banging into you like that.”
“My pleasure.”
Jaxon’s voice was a rumble deep inside her. It rippled down to her toes. She loved Jaxon’s voice. It surrounded her with a sense of safety.
Joel cleared his throat, and Ivy glanced over. He was glaring at Jaxon like he wanted to squeeze that tanned throat.
Oh dear. Not again.
“So, what brought you to the play tonight?” Joel’s tone was accusing.
“Just wanted to see my hard work in action.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“The sets. I designed them.”
Ivy gave a little bounce on her toes. “Really? They’re inspired. I love the way they spin for different scenes. Are there just the two sides?”
“Four. You’ll see the other two in the second half.”
“Can’t wait. And the windows with the shades rolling up at inconvenient moments is splendid. Was that your idea?”
“It was. I read through the play several times before I started on the design.”
Joel yanked on her arm. “We should get back to our seats.”
Ivy hesitated. She wanted to hear more about the set design. It was so clever. “Joel, stop,” she said, wrenching herself free of his grip before she could help it.
“It’s okay,” said Jaxon, at Joel’s flash of irritation. “I won’t spoil the surprise of the second half. Really, you’ll love it.”
“Oh, okay.” She gave a little wave to Jaxon as Joel guided her away.
It took some of the fun out of the second half. She didn’t know why Joel was so possessive. Roman had been the same way. And, in both cases, it was just one date.
They didn’t own her.
Men.
Jaxon, however, had been normal. A friend.
Ugh, a friend. That was what she wanted from Joel and Roman. Just to be friends. With Jaxon, she wanted more. Her mind wandered from the show going on in front of her. She wanted to find what her parents had. She had thought, hoped, that maybe she could find that with Jaxon. If magic could be real.
Her plan had gone completely awry, but did it have to? She could try again. Should she make more cookies? And guarantee that only Jaxon ate them?
The set began revolving and with each inch transformed more and more into a foggy London street, with gas lights and murky corners. Ivy shivered, lost in a world of make-believe. When the set spun again for the final act, becoming a full-sized Victorian carriage in motion and jostling the passengers, Ivy clapped her hands in delight.
The end of the play had her laughing, and the kiss between Sherlock and Irene Adler had the crowd cheering, but Ivy was aware of Joel inching closer. Ivy inched away without trying to be obvious. She twisted the program in her hands. She’d enjoyed this date immensely, but was suddenly wary of it becoming awkward. She knew she had a penchant for overthinking, and that was on her.
At Joel’s hand on her knee, she froze. When he squeezed and inched higher, she shot up and accidentally started a standing ovation. The crowd, applauding wildly, followed suit.
The actors on stage grinned, joined hands, and took a second bow.
As they exited and the applause died down, Joel said, “Let’s go out front and greet the cast.”
“Can we do that?”
“Sure, come on. They love it.” He grabbed her hand, and they wound their way up the aisle with the crowd to the front steps. Half the audience milled about chatting. When the actors emerged, still in costume and full makeup, the crowd applauded.
Joel led Ivy through a receiving line so she could greet each cast member. When she got to Tessa, the Roadies’s outfielder and a casual friend, she gave her a big hug and took a moment to admire her period dress up close. Tessa did a quick twirl, and Ivy couldn’t help gushing. “I loved this show. I had no idea.”
“Is this your first one? I’m a regular cast member now. You should come to the next one. We do four a year.”
“Can’t wait.” Ivy gave Tessa another hug.
When Joel slid his arm around Ivy, Tessa gave her a questioning frown before the next audience member drew her attention.
Ivy lingered as long as she could, chatting with the cast while Joel rubbed her back.
The massage would have felt better if she wasn’t so anxious. She liked Joel. She did. But despite the lack of chemistry, he apparently had expectations.
As the actors moved indoors and she was out of excuses to linger at the theater, Joel drew her into his side and said, “How about a nightcap at Toby and Mac’s?”
“I should probably call it a night.”
At Joel’s nod, Ivy was relieved he didn’t push, that is until he led her onto the town green away from the streetlights.
She stopped short. A walk through the dark, swaying trees in the park-like grounds made her hesitate. “Let’s take a shortcut to our cars,” he said, and launched into a story about his six siblings and how as kids they used to perform their own plays for his parents. When he nudged her along with him, she hated to be rude. It had really been a fabulous evening.
*
After Jaxon finished checking on the set with the stage manager and tightening up some screws that had worked loose, he exited the theater to see Ivy strolling onto the green with Joel. As they vanished into the trees by the statue of Captain Edwin Hazard, Jaxon had to face the fact that Ivy was—what?
First on a date with Roman, now on a date with Joel. What was she seeking?
He had one bright, hopeful moment, then shook his head. Ivy might be ready for a guy in her life, but not a guy leaving town. He needed to face facts. The wiry, energetic Joel had that spring in his step, as he clearly was talking Ivy’s ear off. Joel could keep anyone entertained and distracted. Ivy honestly acted like she was having a great time with Joel tonight, except when he got handsy and tried to jerk her away from their conversation.
Should he follow? What if Joel didn’t respect the boundaries Ivy set?
But what if nothing was wrong, and he charged after them like a lunatic? He wasn’t that guy. Ivy could do what she wanted, could take care of herself. Joel wasn’t some creeper. He was a local and entrenched in this town, a successful mechanic with his own repair shop, well-respected, even if he could be impetuous and pushy.
Jaxon shoved his hands in his pockets. Joel was a teammate. Ivy was her own person.
Face it, Ivy Wayland wasn’t his to protect. He sucked at that anyway. He’d failed the one woman who had been his responsibility to safeguard. He hadn’t saved Candace. How could he expect to do any better with someone else?
Great, he was his own nutcase with a misplaced hero complex brought on by guilt. Jaxon headed to his truck. It, too, was parked on the other side of the green, but he made himself follow the sidewalk and take the long way around.
*
As Ivy came abreast of the statue of Hazard’s founder, Joel spun her around to face him and surprised her with a quick buss on the lips. She was so startled at the abruptness of the move, she froze and stepped back. She felt her back press up against the base of the statue.
Joel took that as an invitation. He moved in. Ivy recognized the trajectory of his hands heading for second base. In a move she’d perfected as a teen, she stepped sideways and caught her elbow in Joel’s side.
Joel stumbled a little, and Ivy took the opportunity to start walking again.
Flustered and breathing hard, she was all the way back to the sidewalk when Joel caught up.
They walked the rest of the way to their cars in silence. Joel was obviously peeved, and Ivy was mentally kicking herself for not recognizing Joel’s lack of restraint earlier. She was so out of dating practice. Joel continued to walk her to her crystal-blue car. She beeped the driver door open and turned, determined to be polite. “I really enjoyed the play, thank you.”
Joel scowled, but not at her. She followed his gaze. Was that Jaxon? She gave him a wave, and Joel swiveled to glower at her. “Uh, good night,” she said, hopping into her Mazda, and starting the engine.
When Joel hopped in his convertible and peeled out of his parking space, tires screeching and leaving skid marks on the pavement, she leaned her head on the steering wheel. How had she managed to mess up such an ideal date?
But she knew.
She was out with the wrong man.
Jaxon strolled up beside her. She rolled down her window.
He studied her face for a moment. “You okay?”
She sought to appear composed and not flustered. “Fine. Thanks for checking.” She watched Joel whipping around the corner toward Endeavor Street.
She might have said more until Jaxon gave a nod and strode off. She sat a moment watching his long strides eat up the distance toward Main. He had just done the friend thing, checking on her. She needed to accept that was all they had, all he wanted. She gripped the steering wheel, seriously considering canceling on Rob tomorrow, but that would be rude. She gave a determined sigh. She would follow through. Roman and Joel had been a bust, and Jaxon wasn’t interested.
Perhaps Rob would surprise her and be the guy she could build a relationship with.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Surely it would be better than sitting home amidst her herb garden, clipping bits of chamomile, mint, and rose hips to make a new tea blend. Well, except that she enjoyed creating new tea blends a whole lot more than the dating game.