Untouchable: Kohl Family: Johannah & Jaxon

by C R Riley

  "Kendra!" Johannah scolds her friend. "Stop. He hasn't ruined anything for any of us. But she's right, we have plans tonight, sorry."

  "Chicks before…"

  "Don't say it, Kendra. Don't get all pissy because you screwed up something way before we even arrived here. Something that has nothing to do with Jaxon." Johannah grabs her cover-up and a water bottle before she plops down in the shade again. "Tell me what he said."

  Kendra glances down at Geoff. He seems to be doing his best to act like he isn't interested in this conversation. Except they all know that not to be true. He's seemed miffed after he discovered the text messages that have been flying back and forth between Wes and her. Things have definitely cooled off between the two of them. Although each has done their best to make do and not cause trouble.

  Paige sits up now as well. "Why did you even get involved with him in the first place?"

  "Oh, for Pete's sake, why do you think Paige?" Kendra raises her sunglasses so they rest on her head. "Have you ever really looked at Wes? I mean seriously, looked at the complete package. Cause let me tell you, he most certainly has one."

  Johannah throws her hands in the air. "Good grief, I don't need to know that Kendra."

  "Then drop it," Kendra warns her.

  "Good advice," Geoff mutters from his spot.

  "Exactly," Kendra addresses him. "It's not as if it ever meant anything."

  "What did he say?" Johannah can tell her friend is trying to make it sound like no big deal. The problem is, she has known Kendra for far too long and realizes it is a big deal.

  Kendra pulls her sunglasses back down and drops to a more relaxing position. "He claims that when I get back, we are having a serious conversation. No more of this doing as I please. It's time for me to settle down and take a good hard look at him as the one I settle down with."

  "No way!" Paige's surprise makes Kendra snort.

  "Tell me about it, Paige. Imagine me settled down with the COS of all people. I don't think anyone would believe it. Although I do imagine I may once again find favor in my mother's eyes if I did." Kendra rests her chin on her hands. "I'm honestly thinking about it."

  "How long have you all been seeing each other?" Johannah asks right before Geoff stands and stretches.

  "Ladies, while this is all so very interesting, I'm going to go cool off." He informs them before he jogs off for the water.

  "You broke my friend's heart." Jaxon stands, deciding to join Geoff.

  "Oh, please. I only broke his plans to bed me before this vacation was over with. Not that that hadn't crossed my mind…"

  "Kendra, please stop." Johannah hates it when she gets like that.

  "Can't say I disagree with you about that one, Kendra, but still you led him on and you know it." Jaxon strolls off for the beach as well.

  All three ladies inspect Austin, who is currently passed out next to Paige. She nudges his leg until he opens his eyes, throwing her his best smile.

  "Hey."

  "Napping or playing possum?" Paige squints her eyes at him.

  "Napping. Honestly. What did I miss?" He yawns, which proves he isn't lying. "Oh. I see the guys have decided you all need some breathing room. Sorry."

  Austin stretches tall before he sits up. He seizes Paige's face with one hand and then plants a sweet kiss on her lips. "Later, babe."

  "Later." Paige blushes as she watches him strut away.

  "Paige McGraw, when did you and Blondie hookup?" Kendra gets this mischievous smirk on her face.

  "It's not like that." She tries to deny it. "What? It's not, I swear."

  "And yet he kisses you before he leaves to join his friends. Making sure to mark his turf before he disappears." Kendra sits up. "I know what I'm talking about."

  "You have no idea what you're talking about, Kendra." Paige retaliates. "Austin is not like that. Although last night he suggested he might want to continue seeing me after this week. Asked me if I might be interested in something like that."

  Kendra moves under the shade with the other women. "And what did you tell him?"

  "I might be interested," Paige elevates her eyebrows. "I mean I couldn't shout, you bet your sweet tushy I'm interested, now could I."

  "That's my girl." Kendra winks at her. "What about you, Jo?"

  "What about me? You still haven't answered my question."

  "Six months. We have been sneaking around for the last six months, okay. And three months before that, he was doing his best to get me to go out with him. The man drives me crazy, Jo." Kendra puffs out her cheeks and smiles the biggest smile of her life. "Who knew a man who refused to put out, could keep me interested. I didn't know men like him existed. He asked me to marry him before we left. Got down on one knee and all that crap. All I could do was stare at him like he'd lost his cotton-picking mind." Kendra falls back onto the sand.

  "What did you tell him?" Paige whispers like it's a secret or something.

  "That he was off his rocker for thinking that I was marriage material. Then turned and ran like the chicken I am." Kendra admits. "I refused to answer my phone, door, or any other form of communication until that text he sent me Sunday morning."

  "Do you love him?" Paige titters, and it is way too blissful sounding for Kendra's liking.

  "Yeah. I believe I do, which is why I never hooked up with Geoff. And don't let him fool you. The two of us had a very deep conversation about it all night Monday. He has been encouraging me to do what my heart is advising me to do. Says he can tell I'm fighting myself over this whole thing more than I should, and that he gets that. He'd be fighting it too if he were in the same boat. Told me Wesley must be one heck of a guy if he is willing to give me time to come to terms with what he already knows."

  "I always thought Wes was a prick. Who knew that deep down he was a gentleman?" Johannah laughs. "He hides it well."

  "Tell me about it." Kendra props back up on her elbows and stares at her friend. "Now do tell."

  "I don't know." Johannah's eyes travel down to the water where the guys are tossing a football in the surf. "He says he wants this to work between us. However, the reality of it is, we both work very demanding careers and live on opposite ends of the country. Sorry, Paige."

  "I get it. Except you work way more hours than I do. ECTF keeps me busy, but not so busy I don't have time for a relationship. I actually get downtime and have dated way more than you." Paige smiles. "Sorry, Jo."

  "Nope, you're right. I'm willing to give it a shot; although once life sets back in, I'm not sure how it will work. I can't just move across the country, or transfer like Paige could if she wanted to. My job right now is in Washington. Unless I plan on giving it up, or Jaxon plans on relocating his entire company, the probability is low."

  "Relocating my company would take some time, but very doable." Three heads whip around to find Jaxon standing next to the cooler. "I mean, like you said, your job is in Washington. It's not like they are going to relocate the White House, just so one of their agents can essentially have a life, right? But I could relocate my main office to Washington fairly easily. Maybe I should have Seth check into that for me."

  "Who's Seth?" Paige asks as the three of them watch him jog back with three bottles of water in his hands. "And if he relocates, does that mean Austin would as well?"

  "Maybe we should have asked him that when he was up here." Kendra laughs as she elbows Paige. "That man has it bad, Jo, if he is willing to up and move his company just like that."

  Johannah's phone rings. She glimpses down at it before answering it. "Yes."

  "Where are you?"

  "I'm on vacation, Dill. What do you want?"

  "I know that, Jo. I mean, where are you right this second. I just landed."

  Johannah remembers spotting a Coast Guard helicopter flying over them about thirty minutes ago. "On the island? I'm at the beach. Where are you?"

  "Turn around, sis."

  Johannah jumps up and takes off running toward her brother Dillon, still all dec
ked out in his gear. "What are you doing here?"

  Dillon's expression warns her it's not just because he wanted to see her. "I came to pick you up. We've got a plane to catch sis. Dad's been in an accident. Not good, and Mom didn't want you to have to fly home alone. I was out on a routine training exercise when I took the call. Come on, let's go. Hurry it up."

  Johannah doesn't even stop to think about what she has to do. She runs inside the guesthouse and hurriedly changes before the rest of the group even has a chance to miss her. Kendra and Paige are used to Dillon dropping in like that when they are in his vicinity. So, it doesn't seem strange at first, until she doesn't return. That's when they decide to see what's going on.

  Kendra sends her a text fifteen minutes after his arrival. Where are you?

  Jo: Dad's been in an accident. Don't know all the details yet, but Dill and I are leaving for Virginia. I'll let you know more when I do. Tell Jaxon I'm sorry.

  And just when she was about to send a message back, Jaxon appears. "Where is Hannah?"

  "She left with Dillon. He's taking her back to Virginia. Her father has been in an accident. She told me to tell you she's sorry." Kendra watches all the color disappear from his face as his mask slides back into place.

  "Who is Dillon? And how does she plan on getting off the island?" Jaxon pulls out his phone.

  Paige points to the helicopter flying over them heading back to the mainland. "He's her younger brother. Coast Guard chopper pilot. Which, as you can see, is how she got off the island so fast."

  Jaxon shades his eyes as he looks up and then watches all his hopes and dreams vanish just like that.

  Chapter Nine

  Jaxon was able to arrange a flight for Kendra, Paige, and himself to leave later that afternoon. The other guys were staying behind to pack up and planned to join them in Virginia the following day.

  They land around eight that evening. Kendra forwards him the information he needs before they go their separate ways. Paige and her are heading to their respective homes for the evening. They will catch up with Johannah and him in the morning.

  He doesn't even seem to mind when both women dare to hug him goodbye. Right now, he is completely numb. Knowing Hannah is hurting is worse than the pain he experiences from being hugged by two women he hardly knows.

  Martin was able to arrange for a car and is now driving them both to the hospital. He has never been more thankful to have a driver than he is right now. His mind is on Hannah and her family. No one has heard anything from her since she left. She isn't answering any texts from Paige or Kendra, so they are in the dark for the time being.

  Will she be happy to see him? Or will she send him away? Notify him, he overstepped his place by showing up here after only knowing her for a few days.

  At first, he thought he had sent her running by admitting he would move his business for her. It had been on his mind to do so anyway, since he couldn't imagine living so far away from her. Then to hear her voice her doubts about a relationship working, unless one of them was willing to do just that. That was all he needed. No way he was losing her. All because his company headquarters were in Southern California. He'd fix that as soon as he could.

  "Mr. Cristiano, we're here," Martin tells him as he opens his door. "I was able to discover the family is in a waiting room on the third floor. The smaller one, right outside of surgery."

  "Thank you, Martin." Jaxon climbs out and quickly locates the elevators. He takes a deep breath as he prepares himself to face a bunch of strangers.

  How many brothers does she have? Would they like him? Did it matter to Hannah if they did or not?

  He is following the signs when he hears her voice echoing down the hallway. She doesn't sound upset, although she is certainly not happy about something.

  "What do you mean he isn't there? What? Why would he do that?" Johannah circles in his direction, looking so defeated. "Never mind. I believe I found him." She hangs up the phone and shoves it in a hidden pocket of the sundress she slipped on earlier.

  "Hey." Jaxon slowly walks toward her. "I heard…"

  Johannah doesn't wait for him to get to her. Instead, she pushes off the wall, moving rather hurriedly, and falls into his arms. "I'm sorry I left without giving you a heads up. I wasn't thinking. I just needed to get here."

  "At first, I thought I was going to have to kick some guy named Dillon's…" Jaxon stops when a man taller than he steps out of the waiting room and stares him down. "Dillon, I presume."

  "No. I'm Patrick. Dillon is behind you, man." He signals right before Jaxon feels a very large hand grip his shoulder.

  Oh, crap.

  His entire body stiffens as the heat from that hand burns his skin. He can sense the panic setting in, so he takes a deep controlled breath, hoping to maintain his cool.

  "Don't touch him!" Johannah immediately removes her brother's hand and then twists it in a way that has the other man complaining. "I swear, you all are idiots."

  "You were serious about that." Dillon rubs his wrist. "My bad. I figured you were pulling my chain, protecting him."

  Hannah takes her hand and places it on the shoulder Dillon grabbed. The effect of her touch removes most of the sting and replaces it with her soothing warmth. "Sorry. I tried to tell them you didn't like to be touched."

  "No problem." Jaxon stares into her eyes. "So, does that mean you thought I'd show up like this?"

  "Well, not necessarily like this, but yes, I thought maybe you'd come." Johannah glances over her shoulder at her brothers and gestures for them to give them a few minutes. "Since I left without an explanation, I thought that might have you curious about why. Plus, if you missed me, as much as I have missed you since my sudden departure, if that is the case then…"

  "Definitely the case, Hannah." Jaxon tugs her tighter against him.

  "Who the heck is Hannah?" A different male voice asks from behind the wall.

  "Oh, geez. We might as well get this over with. Just know that I am not responsible for what happens inside that room. You are the one who showed up without me warning you about my family. I did my best to give them a little heads-up. Dill played twenty questions all the way here. You ready? I can't promise you they won't bite, but I can promise they won't touch you."

  "We can hear you, Hannah. Now unless you want me to prove you wrong, bring your daring friend in here and introduce us." Another male voice orders from inside the room.

  How many brothers does she have? Jaxon signals he is ready, even though he is pretty sure he's not.

  Johannah takes his hand and pulls him along behind her as she steps into the waiting room. There are a total of four sizeable men sitting straight across from them. Each one looking very much like they don't trust him. She is going to slaughter them when she gets her hands on them once they are alone again.

  Jaxon waves once at the men, but it's the woman who stands the moment she sees him that catches his eyes. She is older than he expected, although her beauty cannot be hidden by age. Nor can her surprise when she gets her first impression of him. He is pretty sure Hannah has never been seen with someone who looks as lethal as he probably looks right now.

  "Ma’am. I'm Jaxon Cristiano, your daughter's boyfriend."

  "I thought you said he was just your friend?" Dillon says at the exact same time Johannah has something to say about his proclamation.

  "Since when did we decide you were my boyfriend?"

  The other three men chuckle. Until their mother turns to face them, momentarily shutting them up. "Now Johannah, give the man a break. He came all this way to support you. I believe…"

  "That he shouldn't have just assumed he was my boyfriend, all because of that. We need to discuss that particular matter in private before he gets my mother's hopes up. Or has my four protective brothers on him like a dog after a meat bone." Johannah shakes her head before she makes introductions. "Anyway, Jaxon, this is my mother Rochelle Kohl. Call her Mom, otherwise, she gets testy."

  "You can call me Mom if
you'd like, but don't feel obligated to do so, Jaxon. Rochelle is just fine if you are more comfortable addressing me that way." She starts to extend her hand but pulls it back, remembering what Jo told her.

  Jaxon bravely offers her his hand, knowing having Hannah so close will make it easier. "It's nice to meet you, Rochelle. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to make things easier. Don't hesitate to ask. Nothing is too big or too small."

  Rochelle shakes his hand briefly, and Jaxon appreciates that. "The pleasure is all mine, Jaxon. Right now, I believe we are good. Thank you for your offer and also for coming to support my daughter."

  "Now to introduce you to the lugs I call brothers. Caleb is the shaggy looking one, my oldest brother." She points to the man sitting with his arms crossed, wearing an FBI t-shirt. He looks like he has been up for hours. "He, as you can distinguish, works for the FBI. My guess is he looks the way he does because he has been working some case and has been at it for days now."

  Caleb nods. "Just about to head home when I got the call. Nice to meet you, Mr. Cristiano."

  "Oh, good grief." Johannah moves on. "Next is Nathan, better call him Nate, or he gets his panties in a wad. Also, older than me by the way, as if you couldn't tell by all those gray hairs."

  "You are the one who put those gray hairs there, baby girl. So, Jaxon, what is it you do for a living?" Nate doesn't waste a second.

  "We'll get there, eventually. The other two bums are Dillon and Patrick, my baby brothers. And as you may have guessed, they are identical pains in the butt."

  Both men smile proudly at her announcement.

  "Dillon and Patrick are pilots. Dillon for the Coast Guard, while Patrick is a fighter pilot for the Air Force. Adrenaline junkies. Cocky as all is heck. Don't take them seriously, ever. And never, ever let them see you sweat."

  Too late for that bit of advice.

  Jaxon addresses them all. "Nice to meet you. I own my own company, Cristiano International."

  Nate whistles his approval. "Dang little girl, you sure do know how to hook em'. Going after the big fish, so you can retire before I fire you."