6. Chapter Six
”Braxton Ranch, please,” Maya said, her voice clipped as she fixed her gaze on the passing storefronts, trying not to think about Jackson in his underwear.
She paid the fare with a generous tip and hopped out onto the sidewalk outside Sarah and Kane’s house, hoping that Jackson hadn’t already tattled to Sarah’s husband in the short timeframe.
”Maya, you look like you need a drink,” Sarah said the moment Maya stepped into the living room.
”I feel like I need a whole bottle,” Maya sighed, dropping onto the plush beige couch. She kicked off her heels and tucked her feet beneath her. ”Jackson and I had a fight. Well, maybe not a fight, but it was a something.”
”Ooh, the clothes-ripping kind of something?” Sarah asked as she perched on the armrest.
”Well he wasn’t dressed, but I remained fully clothed,” Maya snorted. ”Let”s just say if Jackson gets a cold, he has no one to blame but himself,” Maya replied, a wry smile flickering across her face. “It”s like... he”s just so infuriating! Always pushing my buttons, challenging me.”
”Sexual tension?” Sarah arched an eyebrow, a smile titling the corner of her mouth.
”Sexual tensi—no!” Maya waved dismissively. ”It”s not about that. It”s like we”re stuck in this perpetual cycle of ”who can shout the loudest”.”
”Maybe you need a distraction. Something—or someone—to write about. Get your mind off Mr. Tighty-Whities.” Sarah”s tone took a turn toward the mischievous as she leaned in closer.
Maya glared at Sarah. “You knew before I even walked in the door, didn’t you?”
Sarah laughed. “Nothing gets past Kane, and I have alerts on for the fundraiser. It all of a sudden went off about twenty minutes ago showing a near naked Jackson leaning over someone in a cab. I’m assuming that someone was you?”
“Social media takes the fun out of everything.” Maya grinned, “But at least he will sell more tickets for you.”
“What the hell was he doing in his underwear, chasing you in the street? Did he start something he shouldn’t have? By God, if that man did something inappropriate, he won’t be able to walk at the fundraiser.” Sarah grumbled.
Maya shook her head. “No. He didn’t do anything I didn’t provoke him to do.”
“Then why look so sad?” Sarah questioned as she looked at her friend slumping on her chair. “On wait. You wanted him to do more, didn’t you?”
Maya grinned at her friend. “I wanted the option of saying no to more,” she said. “I still haven’t forgiven him for walking away. He does need to squirm more before I decide.”
‘So, you want him,” Sarah said as Maya nodded at her. “But on your terms only. I can work with that.” Maya didn’t like the look that flittered across Sarah’s face. “In fact, I have an idea.”
”God help me,” Maya muttered.
”Use Alex. Maybe you can follow him around for the next few days as well as Jackson. Nothing like a bit of competition to make Jackson work harder to get you.”
“But Alex isn’t interested in me.” Maya sniffed.
“I know, he interested in someone else,” Sarah said, “but he would be interested in messing with Jackson. Those guys are always playing pranks on one another.”
”I think you’re onto something. Make him work for it. ” Maya said, a smile creeping onto her lips. The idea had merit; a little crazy, and exactly the sort of thing that could break her cycle of frustration and make Jackson see what he missed.
***
Maya breezed into the Book Nook Café, nodding at Eve, the owner as she walked by. She spotted Alex tucked away in a corner booth.
”Thanks for this,” she said as she slid into the booth across from him, “I’ll owe you a huge favor.”
”Maya,” Alex looked up from his book. ”Sarah asked me to meet you here. I grabbed you a cup of coffee.”
”She said you can help me,” Maya said. ”So, this man auction that”s coming up,” she began casually, tracing the rim of her own cup with a manicured nail. ”I need a favor and Sarah said you might be willing to help. To help the shelter of course.”
Alex chuckled. “The challenge of making Jackson jealous? Sarah filled me in. Hell yes. I’d do that any day.”
“Excellent, so I need to interview you and maybe be seen a few times together.”
Kane wandered over to them and interrupted. ‘So, I see the plan has begun.” He said as grinned down at them. He nodded at Mayas expression. “Yep, Sarah told me,” he said as he chuckled.
”Kane, don”t start,” Maya warned, but there was no bite to her words. ”This is strictly professional.”
”Professional, huh?” Kane folded his arms, eyebrow quirking. ”I thought that this some half baked scheme to make Jackson jealous?”
”Jealousy has nothing to do with it,” Maya shot back, though a little too quickly. ”It”s about the story. Pure and simple.”
”Relax, I”m just teasing,” Kane said, clapping Alex on the shoulder. ”I wont spill the beans to Jackson. This should be fun to watch.”
”That’s why I’m doing it. It’s about time he got some of his medicine,” Alex said. ”I”ll help you, Maya. But we do this right. No funny business. I’ve got my own person to try to impress.”
”Scout”s honor,” Maya promised, holding up two fingers. She let out a silent sigh of relief as Kane wandered off, likely to concoct his own brand of mischief. Maya waited until Kane was out of ear shot. “Someone special?”
”Olivia,” he blurted out, then slapped a hand over his mouth as if he could shove the words back in. “Crap, maybe me keeping this secret from Jackson won’t work after all.”
”Olivia?” Maya leaned in, her grin spreading so wide it threatened to split her face. ”The Olivia? Owner of the shelter, champion of lost causes, and single mum to the twins?”
”Please, don”t—” Alex groaned. “She doesn’t even know I am interested in her.”
”Hey, no judgment here.” Maya reached across the table, giving his knuckles an empathetic pat. ”Actually, I”m impressed. And a little surprised. I mean, look at you. You”ve got this broody, mysterious vibe going on,” Maya said, gesturing broadly to encompass his tousled hair and deep whiskey-coloured eyes. ”Women love that stuff. You’re like a walking romance novel trope.”
”Broody?” Alex blinked, perplexed. ”I thought I was more... awkward.”
”Tomato, tomahto,” Maya dismissed with a flick of her wrist. ”Point is, you”ve got layers. Like an onion.”
”So, you are comparing me to stinky old onions,” Alex added softly, finally cracking a tentative smile.
Maya leaned in closer. So, what”s your strategy to get her attention at the auction? Flex your muscles, flash a smoldering look?”
”Um,” Alex began, his cheeks coloring, ”I guess I could... maybe do a little wave?” His hand fluttered awkwardly in the air before he quickly set it back down. ”No, that”s dumb.”
”You’ll figure it out,” Maya said with a grin, her gaze flickering momentarily past him. The corners of her lips twitched as she caught sight of Jackson, who had just settled at a table across the room with a newspaper held conspicuously high.
”Is it me or is it hot in here?” she said, loosening the top button of her blouse subtly enough that only someone watching closely would notice—the perfect bait for nosy ex-boyfriends.
”I felt hot as soon as I saw you,” Alex said loud enough for Jackson to hear.
“Smooth Alex,” Maya said as she leaned towards him. “You’re not kidding. You really are awkward.” Maya patted Alex”s hand as Alex groaned at his outburst. “Women love men who look like you but are a bit weird.”
Across the room, Jackson”s grip on his newspaper tightened, a small crease forming between his brows as his eye’s laser beamed on Maya and Alex’s joined hands. Maya knew she was getting under his skin. She reached out, adjusting his collar with a flirtatious smile.
“You know, so you”re ready to ask Olivia out.” Leaning forward, she dropped her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. ”Be yourself. Own it, Alex. It’s you,” Maya encouraged. ”But with a touch more confidence.”
”Confident with women I am not,” Alex replied, “but Jackson looks like he wants to hit something every time you touch me.”
”He is only getting what he deserves,” she assured Alex, her attention split between the man across from her and the one pretending to read about local politics.
The charade continued for a few more minutes. Maya stood, slinging her bag over her shoulder. ”Well, Alex, this has been fun.”
”It sure has. And thanks for the advice,” Alex replied, standing so now he towered over her.
Leaning up on tip toes, Maya placed a quick, chaste kiss on Alex’s cheek.
With one last glance over her shoulder, Maya flashed a triumphant smile at Jackson, whose face was now hidden behind his newspaper. She stepped out into the sunshine, hoping her simple strategy had worked.
She hadn”t made it more than a few steps when Jackson”s voice cut through the hum of the small town”s midday bustle.
”Maya Thompson,” he growled, his boots clicking on the concrete as he caught up to her. ”What”s your game, huh?”
Maya spun around, the picture of innocence with her hands clasped behind her back. ”Game? I”m not sure what you”re talking about, Jackson.”
”Cut the act,” he said, narrowing his eyes. ”Flirting with Alex in there like you”re—”
”Charming, funny, drop-dead gorgeous?” she offered with a tilt of her head, batting her eyelashes dramatically.
”Troublemaker,” Jackson corrected, though the corner of his mouth twitched in spite of himself.
Maya, with her arms now crossed, matched Jackson”s intensity, their faces mere inches apart. ”Ooh, hit a nerve, did I?” Maya”s voice climbed a notch, drawing the gaze of passersby who pretended to be absorbed in their phones but were shamelessly eavesdropping.
”Look,” Jackson said, his voice dropping as he leaned in, sending involuntary shivers down Maya”s spine. ”I know you, Maya. I know when you”re up to something. But stay away from Alex.”
”Or what?” Maya challenged, arching an eyebrow.
”Or—I don”t know, just... stay away!”
Their heated exchange had attracted a small audience, and noticing this, Maya allowed the corners of her lips to curl into a victorious smirk. She”d gotten under Jackson”s skin, alright. Her plan was unfolding beautifully.
”Good talk, Jackson,” she said before turning on her heel and striding away. A glance over her shoulder confirmed Jackson”s intense gaze still fixed on her retreating figure, and she couldn”t help smile.
The game continues.