Chapter 50
fifty
“Holy crap! This line is insane!”
“Told you,” I grin at Reyna as she cranes her neck to peer at the long line of people stretched out behind us. “I’m just thankful we got in line for Dunk-A-Hunk as early as we did. Jax says it’s one of the booths that brings in a huge chunk of the donations every year.”
“Think we’ll make it in time to dunk him before he takes a break?” Noia asks.
There’s another splash and a loud cheer rolls through the crowd as I check my phone. “We should. He still has like, fifteen minutes.”
I’ve been itching to do this. Jax has been shooting me side glances the whole time we’ve been in line, not even trying to hide the fact he’s undressing me with his eyes.
Now that we’re official, he’s all about PDA, which is something I’m not quite used to. But if it means Jax is touching me, I guess I’ll just have to put up with it. Which means I’m going to have get back at him for it in a more creative way—like dunking his sexy ass.
Little by little, we shuffle forward, until it’s finally my turn. The teenager running the booth hands me three softballs with a flirty grin.
Perched on a tiny wooden seat, Jax’s skin glistens. Mohawk plastered to his head, his dark eyes lock onto mine with direct challenge. “Think you got the arm for it, babe? Or are you just here to admire the view?” he calls out over the loud rock music they’ve got playing.
“Nah, I just think you’re starting to look a little too comfortable up there,” I shout back, a wicked smirk spreading across my face.
A familiar tension works its way into my shoulders as I test the weight of the ball in my hand.
I’ve spent enough years teaching power yoga to know exactly how to channel my strength.
More than confident I won’t need to use the other two balls, I take a deep breath, focus on the bullseye, and let it fly.
CLANG!
When the ball hits the center of the target, the mechanism releases instantly. With a startled shout that ends in a massive splash, Jax disappears under the water.
The crowd erupts in a roar of cheers. Noia lets out a high-pitched whistle, and Reyna is clapping happily behind me as I let out a triumphant cackle.
Seconds later, Jax’s head breaks the surface like a sleek, tatted-up sea monster.
His slick skin catches the afternoon light as he swipes a hand down his face to get the water out of his eyes before he points a finger at me.
The look he gives me is pure, unadulterated heat—a silent promise he won’t be the only one getting wet today.
My heart skips a beat, and I blow him a cheeky kiss before stepping aside for Reyna, who’s next in line.
Noia bumps my shoulder. “Looks like someone’s gonna get some payback later,” she whispers.
“God, I hope so,” I murmur back, skin tingling with anticipation.
The announcer’s voice crackles over the loudspeaker, drowning out the music for a second. “Alright, folks! Time for a fresh hunk for you to dunk!”
Jax hauls himself out of the tank, muscles rippling, water sluicing off his body like he’s in some sort of freaking slow-motion commercial for an expensive cologne.
Grabbing a towel, he gives his head a quick shake, spraying water everywhere. Tossing a wink in my direction, he disappears behind the curtain to dry off and change.
When I see who’s up next, my eyebrows shoot up. Gripping the hem of a T-shirt that looks a size too small for his muscular chest, he pulls it over his head, and the crowd—which is mostly women—goes nuts.
“Isn’t that Lizzy’s twin, Logan?” Noia asks.
“Sure is,” I murmur, watching him.
Logan Cade has a rugged edge that screams: “I fight fires for fun.” His smirk says he knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to every woman within a fifty-foot radius. He scans the crowd with a practiced, easy grin, but when his gaze passes over our little group, his eyes lock onto Reyna.
Grin faltering only for a moment, his eyes narrow into sharp chips of emerald as a flicker of what looks like recognition crosses his face before the sexy grin is back. Climbing the ladder, he situates himself on the dunk seat.
I side-eye Reyna, who looks as if she’s been struck by lightning. Eyes wide, mouth slightly parted, a deep, rosy flush has made its way across her chest and up her neck, and she’s gaping at Logan like she’s seen a ghost.
My inner matchmaker starts doing backflips as I nudge her arm. “You okay?”
Reyna blinks, tearing her gaze away from the broody hunk. She looks stunned, her chest rising and falling before she shakes her head and looks over at me.
“Yup. I’m golden,” she says, looking down at the pink ticket clutched in her hand.
When the announcer calls out, “Next!” a wicked, predatory gleam flashes in her eyes. It’s the kind of look a hunter gives its prey right before taking the deadly shot.
Holding the ticket up in the air, her voice is suddenly full of excitement as she calls out, “That’s me!” as she marches up to the throw line with unflinching conviction.
Logan is watching Reyna, jaw pulsing, gripping the edges of the seat so hard his knuckles are white. The tension in the air between them is practically humming.
Tearing his eyes away from her, he grins at the crowd and raises a fist. “Let’s do this thing!”
Cheers ring out, and I glance over at Reyna. The look in her eyes is almost feral as she moves up, hands her ticket to the volunteer, and takes the softballs.
“Ten bucks says she hits on the first try,” Noia snickers.
“No shit,” I snort, crossing my arms. “She looks like she wants to drown his ass.”
Eyes laser-sharp and focused, I watch as Reyna’s eyes lock with Logan’s. When she gives him a sly smirk, he tips his chin, and she lets the ball fly.
CLANG!
Logan doesn’t even have time to brace himself before he’s plunging into the water.
“Damn,” I grin. “Remind me never to get on her bad side.”
As Logan resurfaces, soaking wet and looking far less smug, a pair of hands slide around my waist from behind. The scent of chlorine fills my nose, and I lean back against Jax’s solid chest.
“He had it coming,” he murmurs into my ear, his voice a low vibration that makes my toes curl. “Logan’s been a grumpy prick all morning.”
“Maybe he just needed to cool off,” I tease, turning in his arms.
Jax pulls me closer. “Forget Logan. I believe I owe you payback for that bullseye, sweet cheeks.”
“Hey,” Noia laughs. “Am I gonna have to tell you two to get a room?”
Placing a quick kiss to my lips, Jax pulls away. “No time for that, unfortunately. I’ve gotta get over to the batting cages. Meet up with me later?”
“Sure.”
He turns to Noia. “Don’t let her out of your sight.”
“Don’t worry. She’ll be fine.”
As Jax walks away, I admire how his shorts cling to his perfect ass. The man is a walking thirst trap, and he’s all mine. The thought sends a little thrill through me.
“Careful. Keep that up and your eyes will burn holes in your boyfriend’s butt,” Reyna laughs.
“Can you blame me?” I grin, finally tearing my gaze away. “Anyway, what was that between you and Logan?”
Reyna blushes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, please,” Noia snorts. “The sexual tension between you two was so thick if we’d been any closer we would’ve suffocated.”
“How about we go get something to eat instead?” Reyna sighs, clearly trying to change the subject. “I’m starving.”
Noia and I exchange a look that says we’ll let her off the hook—for now. “Sounds like a great idea. Let’s hit the food trucks.”
The air is thick with the sweet scent of funnel cakes, cotton candy, and grilled meat as we weave through the crowd. Kids dart between booths clutching oversized stuffed animals while groups of teenagers cluster in line at the rides.
The energy is infectious, and despite the lingering worry about the Triple Six, I find myself relaxing for the first time in days.
“Tacos!” Noia points to a row of food trucks.
After loading up on street tacos and lemonade, we find a picnic table under a large oak tree. The shade is a welcome relief from the midday sun.
“I need to hurry and eat,” I tell the girls. “Got a another yoga demo in like thirty minutes.”
“I’m coming with you,” Noia says. “What about you, Reyna?”
“Lizzy asked if I would help do temporary tattoos at the Skin & Ink booth.”
“Sounds fun.” Before I can bring up her obvious connection to Logan, my phone buzzes with a text.
JAX
All good?
I smile to myself.
Yep. Stuffing my face with tacos.
JAX
Make sure you stick with at least one of the girls at all times. Ryder’s guys are here, so if you see a guy following you, this is him.
The next text that comes through is a photo of a guy who looks nothing like someone who would’ve been in the military.
Wow. He looks so… normal.
JAX
That’s the point, sweet cheeks.
I stare down at my phone, relief washing through me knowing someone is watching my back while Jax is busy.
“Bathroom break?” Noia asks, gathering up our trash.
“Yes, please.” Chugging the last of my lemonade, I get up. “The line is probably going to be insane.”
We say goodbye to Reyna, who heads in the direction of the Skin & Ink booth, eyes darting back and forth—probably checking if Logan is nearby. I’m definitely going to have to make it a point to get the scoop on what’s going on between those two.
The line at the portable toilets makes me groan. As we wait, I scan the crowd, nerves tingling. Ever since Dylan’s call yesterday—when I’m not distracted by Jax or work—I’ve been on high alert.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, just... you know. Keeping an eye out.”
Noia nods in understanding. “Don’t worry. Between Jax, Ryder, and his Marine brothers, you’re covered. Plus, you’ve got me.” She flexes her biceps.
“You’re the bestest friend ever.”
“I know.”
The rest of the day goes by pretty fast. I get so caught up in what I’m doing, the next thing I know the sun is starting to set.
“You ready?” Noia asks as she tucks the last yoga mat into the box. “I’ll walk you over to meet up with Jax.”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.”