Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Lauren
I should probably say no. I’m looking forward to the conference tomorrow and want to be fresh for it, but I’m also far from ready for our night to be over.
“Lead the way.”
The grin he gives me makes my heart float. I’m so glad I agreed… until he starts to lead me down a dark alley.
“Jax, where are you taking me?”
“The place is down here. See the little metal bull above those green doors?” He points ahead of us. “That’s it. I promise I’m not going to take you down some side street and get us killed.”
I bite my lip but follow him anyway. He swings the far door open to reveal a large, dimly lit room. There are spikey looking chandeliers hanging from the ceiling that I’m sure cost a fortune and a bar crammed into the center stocked with an absurd amount of liquor bottles.
As I observe the tables covered in linen cloths and let the piano music drift past me, I can’t help but feel like I don’t belong. This place looks fancy.
We make our way toward an empty table, but my phone vibrates in my pocket, stopping me in my tracks. When I see Charlie’s name across the screen, I turn to Jax. “It’s my brother. I should take this.”
Jax nods, but his brow is laced with concern.
I ignore him as I slide the button to answer the call and jog toward the door.
Charlie is probably calling to ask about Dad, and apparently I’m not good at hiding my dread.
I texted him yesterday about the appointment, but I’m sure he has more questions.
I step outside to get some quiet, and realize Charlie isn’t calling me. He’s FaceTiming.
When I answer, his whole face fills the screen. “Hey! There’s my favorite sister.”
“I’m your only sister.”
“But you’re still my favorite.”
“What do you want?”
He frowns. “Can I not give you a compliment just because?”
“You’re more than welcome to, but I don’t know the last time you did.” I lean against the brick wall behind me, thankful I still have Jax’s jacket when a breeze blows up the quiet alley.
“I’m sorry.” Charlie ruffles his hair. “I miss you.”
His words capture my attention. He’s always been stubborn about his decision to leave Roots.
I know it was hard for him to tell my parents he didn’t want to take over the ranch when it’s been what was expected of him since the moment he was born.
I’d assumed he’s been happy in California, but his words now, and the look on his face, have me wondering if he’s just too afraid to admit he doesn’t want the life he left everything for.
“I miss you too. I’m excited to see you in a few weeks. You’re still coming for Christmas, right? You’re not calling to tell me you’re canceling?”
“I’ll be home for Christmas. I’m actually thinking of staying all the way until New Year’s Day.”
“Really?” I don’t know the last time he stayed in Roots for longer than two or three days.
“Really. I’m able to get the time off work, so I figured I might as well.”
I nod, the unspoken truth of why he probably wants to stay longer lingering between us. “Are you calling to see how he’s doing?”
“You texted that he was doing great. Is there a reason I need to worry?”
“No,” I rush out. Everything has been okay over the last few weeks since Dad has stepped back. Although he’s been a little grumpier because of it. He misses working on the ranch.
“Okay, well, I just wanted to call and wish you luck with your conference. I’m really excited for you and proud of you for doing this on your own.”
“I’m not completely on my own.”
“What do you mean?”
“Jax is here with me.”
“Jax?” He moves the phone even closer to his face. “Jax Greer? Like my best friend Jax? The one who used to drive you bonkers because he called you some nickname you hated? That Jax?”
I roll my eyes. “Why are you being weird about this?”
“Because I would think between my best friend and my favorite sister, one of you would remember to mention that you two were going on a trip together.”
I laugh. “I’m still your only sister.”
“And you’re still my favorite.” He sits down on his couch, propping his phone against something. “Is there something going on between you two?”
I hope. “Don’t be ridiculous, Char.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt. You just got out of a long-term relationship. I know things are tough with Dad and the ranch right now, but don’t let yourself fall for someone who isn’t going to give you all the things you want. You know Jax has never been with anyone for longer than a night.”
My stomach turns sour. He’s right. I need to squash the inklings of feelings I have for him before it’s too late. Just because he’s charming and kind and makes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, doesn’t mean he’s going to change his ways for me.
“Is he there? Put him on the phone.”
“He’s inside, but there’s nothing you need to worry about.”
I glance over my shoulder and find Jax standing just outside the door to the speakeasy, watching me closely. Of course he wanted to make sure I’m okay because that’s what he does. But he also keeps his relationships without strings. I don’t know what to think right now.
“What are you doing out here?” I call to him.
“You think I was going to let you stand in some shady back street all alone? Hell no.”
“Put him on,” Charlie demands.
I motion for Jax, giving him a look of exhaustion. “Charlie wants to talk with you.”
He nods and closes the distance between us.
As soon as his face is in the screen, Charlie goes off.
“What the hell, man? Why didn’t you tell me you were going to the conference with my sister?
Have you been making passes at her?” Charlie presses his thumb and forefinger to the bridge of his nose.
“Oh, god! Are you two sleeping together?” Charlie looks like he’s about to barf up his dinner.
Jax looks at me with a hint of betrayal on his face, and I quickly shake my head. “He’s being overprotective over nothing.” I shove my face into the view of the camera and glower at Charlie.
Memories of the way Jax held me tonight while we danced, how he made sure I had enough space in the crowds, and even the gentle way he grabbed my hand flash through my mind.
None of those actions match his reputation for being a no-strings kind of guy, and now that I’m starting to really get to know him, I’m confident Jax deeply cares for me.
Shoving his free hand in his pocket, Jax quickly recovers. “Why would you think that? Don’t you have any faith in me?”
“I don’t know. It’s not like I’ve ever seen you pass up a beautiful woman before. I love you, man, but you can’t commit, and I don’t want someone like that making moves on my sister.”
I can’t believe how harsh Charlie’s words are, but as I watch his face on the screen, I wonder if there’s a reason for his unkind nature, like maybe there’s some underlying motivation.
Even so, Jax looks crushed. He brushes it off, as if he’s unaffected, but I can see through it when he narrows his eyes, keeping his tone light as he asks, “Are you at home right now? Shouldn’t you be out? It’s almost nine o’clock on a Friday.”
“Work sucked. I didn’t feel like going out, and I wanted to tell my sister how proud I am of her for doing this.”
“I am too.”
My heart pounds in my chest like a stampede of horses. Jax is proud of me.
“I guess I’ll let you two go. I know you have a big day tomorrow.”
I take the phone back from Jax. “Good night, Char. Love and miss you.”
“Ditto! And Jax, you better treat my sister with respect, or I’ll whoop your ass.”
“Screw you,” Jax says back, but his tone is not as playful as Charlie’s. There’s an edge, and the pink on Jax’s face that brings him to life is evaporating by the second.
I hang up, turning back to Jax. “Should we head back inside?”
“Actually, I think we should go back to the hotel. Charlie’s right. This weekend is important to you, and I don’t want to be a bad influence.”
My heart softens for him just a little bit more, but when we take the whole trip back to our hotel room in silence, the butterflies in my gut start to feel more like termites eating away at me.
I don’t understand what shifted so quickly.
I can’t help but wonder where things would’ve gone tonight if I hadn’t picked up the phone.
It felt like we were on the cusp of something, and I really want to see where that could lead.
I don’t just want to kiss Jax, although I’m sure it would be amazing.
I want to be with Jax because he makes me feel unlike anyone ever has, and I think he feels the same way about me.
When we’re back in the room, I set my purse down on the desk in the corner and rifle through my suitcase for my toiletry bag. “Do you want me to do my skincare routine for you tonight?”
Jax doesn’t even look up from his suitcase. “No, that’s okay. It’d take too long. Let’s just go to bed.”
I try to hide my disappointment as I head to the bathroom. He’s completely shut down.
By the time I head back into the bedroom, Jax is already changed into a plain white T-shirt and plaid pajama pants. He wordlessly passes me into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
He takes what feels like an eternity. It’s probably only a few minutes, but it’s long enough for me to convince myself whatever vibes I felt tonight were in my own head.
I’ve been stupid to think we could become something.
I’ve been down this path before. When we first met, I thought there was a spark between us, but he watched Austin swoop into my life, and he practically swooped right out of it.
When he draws the covers back on his side of the bed and slips underneath them, I go rigid.
I’m too aware of his warmth and the muscles I know are barely hidden by that shirt he’s wearing.
I can’t stop thinking of every tender and beautiful moment we shared tonight and how they’ve suddenly melted away.
He flicks the light off on his side of the bed, and the room goes dark. “Good night, Freckles.”
He’s so close. His words are so soft. Chills spread across my arms even though his presence makes me feel hot enough to start a fire.
“Night.”
“Sleep tight.”
I lie there thinking about the way he flirted, the cheeky smirks he gave me, and the feeling of his toned muscles under my hands as we danced.
My heart sticks on the way he looked out for me when I stepped out to take my call and how he gave me his jacket and checked on me throughout the concert to make sure I was having a good time. That can’t mean nothing.
His breathing quickly deepens as he drifts off to sleep. How on earth do men do that? It takes me ages to fall asleep on a good day.
I continue trying to piece tonight together, desperate to make sense of everything that happened from the good to the bad moments. Then Jax rolls over, tossing an arm out and draping it over me, making my heart stop beating in my chest.
His breathing is slow and even, telling me he has no clue what he’s doing right now. I should move, but being wrapped up in Jax’s arms feels too perfect, like it’s exactly where I should be right now. I barely let myself breathe, out of fear that he’ll wake up.
As I relax into his touch, my mind quiets.
I’m not thinking about my dad, Charlie’s warnings, Jax’s reputation, or all the things I have to do for the conference tomorrow and the ranch when I get home.
I just have one thought resting in my mind as I drift into a deep sleep: I’m falling for Jax Greer.