15. Jax
FIFTEEN
jax
Every time she leaned over, I imagined what Natalie’s tits looked like without that sweater over them. Envisioned the color of her nipples, my thumbs running over them, taking them into my mouth.
She really did have incredible breasts.
“I guess we’re done being coy?” she asked.
“Seems so,” I said, trying to think of anything but Natalie’s tits. As it was, the seat was getting mighty uncomfortable.
“You have to realize no amount of charm will override my desire to keep that land.”
We’ll see about that, sunshine.
“Why is that inlet so important to you? By now you must have read through most of the reports. The environmental impact will be minimal.”
Her frown said it all. “I suppose.”
Surprised she admitted as much so easily, I pressed. “So this is really about your rowing program. Surely we could find another spot for that.”
“Like I said—”
“I know, there isn’t time to move it this summer. But what if the sale included a stipulation that you had access to the shed and dock until your rowing season was over?”
I’d managed to surprise her. “Would the buyer agree to such a thing?”
“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But if all went well, the sale probably wouldn’t even go through until June. I can’t imagine it would be a deal-breaker.”
When Natalie’s lips pressed together, I could tell the idea I’d been considering all day wasn’t very impressive to her. One thing I’d learned about her was that Natalie could be stubborn.
Took one to know one.
“Think about it,” I said. “Maybe we can all get what we want here.”
With that, I got up to clear the table. Natalie immediately stood too.
“I got it,” I said. “Will meet you in our regular spots.”
As soon as that was out of my mouth, I realized how familiar it sounded. As if we had spots, which, to be fair, we did.
If she thought my statement odd, Natalie didn’t question it. By the time I cleared off the table and joined her, Natalie was sitting as she always did, with her legs crossed, staring out at the lake. Only difference was that this time she held a wine glass between her legs instead of a coffee mug. And, of course, it was dark. White bulb lights from the dock and a few boats still trolling the water, plus the light from inside, prevented it from being pitch black.
“You never answered my question,” she said, as I sat down.
“Which one?”
“Who the hell are you, Jaxon Hayes?”
“Ahh, that one. Like I said, there’s not a lot to me.”
“Bullshit. I looked up the whole Army Ranger thing. Most regular people do not make the cut.”
“You looked it up, huh?”
Natalie shrugged, as if it were no big deal. But it was a big deal. She was as curious about me as I was her.
“Like I said, the Ranger thing was just me being a typical middle child, trying like hell to stand out with two brothers who got all the attention. My older brother because he’s perfect, and my younger brother because he’s such a pain in the ass no one could ignore him, even if they tried.”
She laughed. “I have a perfect older sister too, so I totally get that. Although I’m still not buying the ‘no big deal’ thing. Seems to me like a pretty big deal. Your parents must have been really proud.”
Didn’t matter if it had been years. Thinking of my dad was like a gut punch every time. “They were. Especially my dad.” I looked over at her. With Natalie’s typical animosity toward me gone for the time being, I added, “I lost him a few years later. Was stationed in Afghanistan when he had a heart attack, so I never got to say goodbye.”
“Oh Jax, I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks. I think about him every day. But yeah, he was so proud. Told all his friends.” I smiled at one particular memory. “One year I was home for Christmas, and my dad, brothers and I went to a local bar. An old friend of his complimented the three of us, and my father for being such a good role model. My father put his hand on my shoulder and began to regale the poor guy with a story I’d been able to share without compromising OPSEC.”
“OPSEC?”
“Sorry. Operational security. Probably ninety percent of my time as a Ranger can’t be shared, despite my family begging for details.”
“Got it. So why did you get out?”
“Mostly for that reason. Every time I went dark it took years off my mother’s life, or so she told me. Then with Dad...I just couldn’t do that to her anymore. Plus, being deployed? It just felt like my time was up.”
“Do you miss it?”
“Being deployed, no. The other guys? Yes, I do. We stay in touch, but...” I trailed off, my mind wandering back to the first time we’d gone outside the wire in Somalia. Of all the memories, I wasn’t sure why that one popped into my brain.
And then something occurred to me.
“You called me Jax.”
Natalie obviously hadn’t realized it. She took a quick sip of wine to cover up her smile.
“Can’t take it back,” I said. “It’s gotta be Jax from now on.”
“But that was your prize,” she said. “Although I have to admit, if you lose the land, that doesn’t seem to be much of a consolation.”
I didn’t plan on losing the land, but since we were getting along, I wouldn’t point that out.
“Nice try,” I said. “But it’s too late. Jax it is.”
Natalie rolled her eyes. “Fine.”
I needed to distract myself from thoughts of that kiss, as if I’d suddenly be able to stop thinking about it. About Natalie naked. Underneath me.
“Your turn, sunshine. Tell me something I don’t know.”
Natalie took a big breath in and then exhaled. It was the most relaxed and unguarded I’d ever seen her.
“I’ve never been out of the country.”
“No?”
“Nope. Which is why I’m so excited about the wedding. I’ve never even had a passport before now.” She side-eyed me. “I hear you’re coming.”
“I am. Looking forward to it. Sicily is a really unique place.”
“You’ve been there?”
“Once, though just for a few days. I was stationed in Vincenza, on the mainland, at one point. A few guys and I made our way over to Sicily for a few days while on leave. One of them had ancestors who lived there.”
“Have you been to where the wedding is?”
“Cefalù? Nah. I’ve heard of it though. Supposed to be a nice place.”
“Mazzie raves about it. She and Gian met there.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“You know...” She took a sip of wine. “They didn’t get along very well at first. Mazzie thought he was a big, huge playboy and wanted nothing to do with that.”
I kept my mouth shut. Gian was a big, huge playboy, as she put it. At least when I’d known him.
“They seem like a great couple,” I said instead.
“They are.”
With both our wine glasses empty, I got up, planning to refill us, when Natalie stopped me.
“If I drink any more, I won’t be able to drive home.”
I didn’t think twice. “You can stay here.”
For a second, she actually considered it. Natalie watched me, contemplated what an overnight at my place might entail, and dismissed the idea. I could tell even before she opened her mouth she wouldn’t be staying.
“That’s probably a bad idea.”
I disagreed. “I actually think it’s a great idea.”
“You would.”
The damned bet. If I could take it back, I would. Then again, the only reason Natalie was even speaking to me cordially was because she expected to keep the inlet. Without that possibility hovering over us, she likely wouldn’t even be here right now.
I’d gotten myself into a fine mess.
Of course, I could abandon the purchase completely, no strings attached, and pull Natalie into my arms, and my bed, right this second. But as much as I’d love to do that, I had at least a shred of discipline left in me and knew it was an even worse idea than the bet itself.
“Suit yourself,” I said, trying to sound as if it didn’t matter. As if I didn’t care if she stayed or not.
Truth was? I did care.
Too much.