10. Jax #2
It seems this is the only topic she’s going to bring up from that night since she’s stopped talking and is looking at me for a response.
It’s probably for the best that we don’t bring up how we almost kissed.
All it will do is bring up the things I want to do to her that I shouldn’t want to do.
Best to leave the subject dead and buried.
Besides, it will probably never happen again.
It can’t ever happen again.
“You’ve apologized before at the restaurant, so apology accepted again, but please, you don’t need to keep apologizing, Kiley. Also, you’re welcome. I wasn’t going to just stand there and let that guy be all over you if you didn’t want him to be.”
“Well, thank you again, and if you don’t mind, can we keep that night to ourselves? There’s no need for my brother and dad to know what transpired.”
I definitely don’t want Killian or Keegan knowing about that night. “Hey, not a problem.” I pretend to zipper shut my mouth. “My lips are sealed.”
“Jaxy, my boy, you’re here!” We both turn around and see Killian standing at the door.
Shit, how much of that did he hear?
“Dad, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to take the night off.”
“You know I can’t sit still at home.” He comes toward us and embraces Kiley. “I was driving your Ma crazy just piddling around the house, so she told me to get out of there, and here I am.” He lets go of Kiley, and then it’s my turn to get one of his hugs.
“I don’t think she meant for you to come here when she told you to get out of the house, Dad.”
“Well I’m here and two of my favorite people are here as well, so that makes me happy.”
“Actually, can you both sit down for a few minutes? I had an event idea I wanted to run by you.” I give them a hopeful look, and they both nod.
“Let me just ask Gina to man the bar.” Kiley goes to where Gina is standing to talk to her.
“Bring us some pints, will ya, Ki?” Killian calls out, and she nods. “Please, sit down, Jax.” He points to a table, and we take our seats.
We shoot the shit while we wait for Kiley and I update Killian on how the road trip went. Kiley returns shortly with three glasses—two Guinnesses and a water.
“No pint for you?” I inquire because as long as I’ve been coming here, I’ve never seen her drink a beer.
“I don’t drink on the job, and even if I did,” she points at my glass, “it would never be that. That stuff is disgusting.”
“Agh. She never did have good taste,” Killian jokes before taking a big sip of beer. He puts down his beer, wipes his mouth with his napkin and leans back in his chair. “Alright, Jax, so what’s this idea of yours?”
I lean forward, putting my forearms on the table and clasp my hands.
“With the holidays coming up, what do you guys think of hosting a meet and greet here at the pub? I can get some of the players to come, and we can sign autographs, which will hopefully lead to increased sales with the extra foot traffic.”
Kiley and Killian look at each other before turning their surprised expressions back on me. “Seriously, Jax? You can make that happen?” Killian asks.
“Yup, already got a couple of guys lined up.” I pull out my phone and look at our schedule.
“I think the Wednesday before Christmas would work because we actually will be stopping at the Children’s Hospital that morning to give out toys.
That will last a couple of hours, so we can stop for a bite to eat, and then come here for the rest of the afternoon into early evening.
” My gaze slides from my phone back to them. “What do you think?”
Killian looks at his daughter and asks, “Lassie, do you think that’ll be okay?”
Kiley glances at her dad before shifting her gaze to me. She takes a moment and stares, but I see the change in her eyes, like she sees me differently than she has before. She swallows before nodding her head. “That would be really wonderful, Jax. Thank you for thinking of us.”
Her eyes are shining with warmth and gratitude, something I’m not used to seeing from Kiley. I like it. I like it too much.
“Then it’s settled. I’ll get it squared away with the fellas and let our Community Relations Director know the plans.”
“Come here, my boy.” Killian leans over and gives me a tight hug. I look over his shoulder at Kiley, who smiles while she stands. “It really means a lot that you’re trying to help us, Jax. Thank you.”
I pull out of his hug and grip his biceps. “You know you mean a lot to me, Killian. This is just a small way I can repay you for your kindness and generosity.”
“You don’t need to repay me for anything. That’s what friends do for each other.” He lets go of me and picks up his glass. “Now, let’s cheers to this.” He taps his glass to mine and then to Kiley’s. “Sláinte!” I say it back and salute him before taking a sip of my beer.
“I better put this on the calendar in the office and get back to work,” Kiley announces. “See you around, Jax. Good luck on your next road trip.”
I feel disappointed as soon as she turns to leave. It’s as if she took some of the light with her, and this is the first time I’m noticing how she commands a room with her presence.
As Killian jabbers on about his new ideas, I watch Kiley walk to the kitchen door.
She stops short and turns to catch me staring at her.
She gives me a sexy I caught you smile that goes straight to my dick.
She walks into the kitchen, and I shift in my seat.
I try to focus on Killian, but that smile is now engrained in my memory and no doubt will haunt my thoughts later on tonight.