“Oh yeah?”
I nodded. “You know with the whole taking me in off the streets and saving my life thing.”
He stopped short. “I saved your life?” His shocked tone and wide eyes had me outright laughing, but I nodded.
“You totally saved my life.”
He rocked back on his heels. “Well, in that case, I guess you owe me a corndog.” He nodded toward a stand that had just lifted its gates.
I stared at him, uncertain for a moment if he was kidding or not. “But we literally just ate waffles.”
He met my gaze evenly. “Have you ever tried a corndog before?”
I shook my head and he mimicked the motion with a funny little wince. “Then you don’t know what you’re missing.”
He was already heading toward the stand and I quickly followed behind him, opening my pocketbook to see how much cash I had on hand.
As he ordered, I saw his hand close over my mine, deftly closing my purse again with a snap as he talked to the guy behind the counter. When the kid walked away to get his order, Jax turned back to me. “I was just kidding about you buying my corndog.”
“Oh.”
The kid handed him two disgusting-looking breaded sticks and he handed me one. “My treat.” He smiled as I eyed the odd little stick of meat. “If you don’t like it, you can toss it.”
I gave a little shrug and we continued our walk. I took a tiny nibble. Holy cow, how was this so good? I stared at it with a furrowed brow. It definitely should not taste this good. Jax made no comment as I scarfed down the rest of my corndog—and he couldn’t tease me for my appetite when he’d devoured his in two large bites.
“Now,” Jax said as he led the way toward the rides. “Where were we?”
“We’re checking out the rides and then we’re going on a boat.” I frowned over at him. “You know, I actually did have a plan today to get ready for my friends’ arrival.”
His frown was equally serious. “And I respect nothing more than a good plan, particularly if you’re planning fun.”
I found myself struggling against a smile at his super serious tone. “You’re mocking me.”
One side of his mouth lifted. “Just a little.”
I let out a short breath and faced forward. Honestly too much direct contact with those sexy little lopsided smiles was too freakin’ dangerous. They messed with my head and almost made me forget what I was doing here in the first place.
We reached the first pier of rides and I came to a stop. Jax slowed to a halt beside me and followed my gaze, which was likely a bit insane again. “Don’t tell me you’ve never ridden a Ferris wheel.”
I was so excited by my new idea that I forgot the effect physical contact with Jax had on me and I reached out to smack his arm. “Shut up,” I muttered. “Of course I’ve been on a Ferris wheel.”
“So then why are you looking at it like you’re a caveman seeing fire for the first time?”
I could feel his eyes on me as I stared up at it but I was too busy envisioning the epic reunion kiss with Ted to care that I probably looked crazy. “This is perfect.”
I didn’t even mean to say it aloud but now that it was out there, I realized my mistake. Blood was already rushing up my cheeks.
“Perfect for what?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Nothing. Want to keep walking?”
After a second I felt him fall into step beside me. “You are an enigma, Cat.”
“It’s Catherine,” I said.
He ignored me and once again I felt like we were back to the odd dynamic of the night before. The one in which I was fairly certain he was going out of his way to annoy me. Or make me laugh. Or both.
I really couldn’t tell.
I glanced up at him. “I might be an enigma, but you’re odd.”
He held his hands up. “Guilty as charged. Have you ever been on a boat ride before?”
The sudden change of topic caught me off guard. I had to think about that answer longer than necessary. “Once when I was little with my dad on Lake Michigan. Why?”
He shrugged. “Just want to make sure you don’t get seasick.”
“That’s probably something you should have thought about before buying me a corndog.”
That earned me a cute little sidelong smirk. “So you’re saying we should hold off on the funnel cake?”
I stopped and stared at him in mock horror until he laughed.
“I’m kidding,” he said. “Sort of.”
He gestured for me to keep walking. “Come on, tourist, let’s check out the boardwalk.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked as Willie’s boat came into view as we slowly made our way back to his pier. We’d easily killed an hour walking around the rides, which weren’t running yet, and checking out the stands filled with tchotchkes that were just starting to open. “It’s your day off and I don’t want you to feel like you have to—”
He stopped short and turned to face me with a convincing scowl. “Did I or did I not save your life?” He surprised a laugh out of me but before I could respond, he continued in that stern lecturing tone. “I’m sure you know that in some cultures, if you save someone’s life you’re responsible for them.”
“I see,” I said, pretending to be just as serious as Jax. “So what you’re saying is—you’re responsible for ensuring that I don’t die on this boat ride?”
His grin was quick and wicked before he turned serious again, turning toward the boat and slinging an arm across my shoulders as he steered me down the pier. “What I’m saying is, if this is your first time seeing the ocean, you’re going to see it right.”
My mind went into what I could only describe as a tizzy. I could barely hear over the frantic humming sound in my ears as my mind attempted to process what was happening here.
Just relax. It’s just a friendly arm around the shoulders. It didn’t mean anything, obviously. But my body wasn’t paying attention to logic and this new intimacy made it impossible to reason with my mind. Do not read too much into an arm. Just act cool and don’t think about it. Stop paying attention to the stupid arm!
I was so busy trying to not think about his arm on my shoulders that I certainly wasn’t noticing how warm he was, or how solid against my side. I certainly wasn’t thinking about how ridiculously good he smelled or how perfectly I fit against him.
Nope, nope, nope. Not thinking any of that.
Next thing I knew he and I were standing at the front of the boat—the bow? The stern? I had no idea. Other people were there—very obvious tourists who were taking pictures of one another and applying generous amounts of sunscreen.
The wind whipped the hair that had fallen out of my ponytail so I pulled it all back again as Jax leaned against the railing so he was facing me. The ever-present anxiety started to gnaw at me as I realized what I was about to do. Not that I was scared of going out to sea or anything, but I’d set out with a plan and now I was on a boat. With Jax. What on earth was I doing?
“Do you know you get a cute little crease right here when you’re worrying?” Jax’s lazy, sexy voice had me staring at him with wide eyes. “And when you’re surprised, your mouth makes a perfect little O, like you’re a cartoon character or something.”
I snapped my mouth shut and narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you teasing me?”
His smile was so slow it was like watching a particularly sexy movie scene in slow motion. It should have been accompanied by a soundtrack.
He ignored the question. “What are you so worried about?” I opened my mouth to protest but he interrupted. “And don’t try and tell me that you’re not worried. You are the most open book I have ever met.”
“Funny,” I said. “Because you are the most unreadable guy I’ve ever met.”
He arched his brows a bit as if that surprised him.
I studied him openly for a second. Why not? He was always doing it to me. And as long as we were being honest… “You look like some rock star—”
>
“A rock star, huh?” His sudden smile was impossibly sexy.
I quickly looked away before the sight of it made me hyperventilate. I continued talking as if he hadn’t interrupted. “And last night you were a total jerk, but then today you’re super nice to me, and I don’t know why.”
When I looked back his expression was blank again. “Is that what you’re worried about?”
I rolled my eyes. “No.”
“I told you, I was having a bad night last night,” he started. I could sense another apology coming and that wasn’t what I wanted.
“I know,” I said quickly. “And like I said, I’m sure I was annoying.”
“Not annoying,” he said. “Just…too nice.”
I blinked at him. “Too nice? Is that even a thing?”
He nodded. “Too nice usually means the person is being fake.”
“Oh.” I frowned at him. “And you think I’m fake?”
“No. Not anymore.”
I planted my hands on my hips and tilted my head to the side, unsure of whether I was being insulted or complimented. Or maybe both. Or neither? “At what point did you stop thinking I was fake?”
With a start I realized the boat was moving and I reached out to grip the railing.
“When you started to lose your temper.” His lips tilted upward at the memory. “You’re funny when you’re pissed and trying not to show it.”
I opened my mouth and then shut it again just as quickly.
“And then, of course, when I found you crying in your car,” he continued.
I groaned and turned so I was leaning against the rail beside him. “We don’t have to relive that, do we?”
“Nope, we don’t have to relive it.” I was pretty sure I heard a smile in his voice.
That’s how obsessed I was with his smiles—I was now keeping an ear out for them. Clearly I had problems.
He leaned over slightly so he could talk directly into my ear and be heard over the wind. “We can just enjoy the view.”
I shivered—it was windy, and all. Also, his mouth was way too close to my ear and his voice was dangerously sexy.
Ted, I reminded myself. You are here to win back Ted.
And ensure that my friends and schoolmates had the best last week together they could possibly imagine. It was my job, after all. That’s why they’d voted for me. I’d made promises and they were promises I intend to keep.
With that thought firmly in mind, I turned around to face forward, following Jax’s lead.
All thoughts of plans were blown away by the wind, my mind could only process what was directly in front of me. The ocean, beautiful and blue now that we’d passed the breakers crashing against the shore.
Beautiful, blue…and endless. Terrifyingly, beautifully, awe-inspiringly endless.
I hadn’t realized I’d been holding my breath and it came out as a laugh, one I hardly recognized from myself. With the fresh wind whipping around me and the incredible view before me, for the first time in a long time, I felt…joy. I glanced over at Jax as though maybe he could psychically sense my cheesy thoughts but he was watching me and grinning.
“What?” I shouted over the wind, tucking some hair that had fallen out of my ponytail back behind my ear.
He shrugged. “Just enjoying the view.”
Despite the wind, my cheeks caught fire. At the same time I shivered as some of the seawater misted me with the next gust of wind.
“Here.” Jax shrugged out of his hoodie and handed it over. I almost fought him on it but holy cow he looked good in just that white T-shirt, which was currently plastered to his body thanks to the wind. Besides, he didn’t look cold in the slightest.
I slipped it on and tried my hardest not to notice how good it smelled. I failed. But at least I didn’t make a fool of myself by outright sniffing it or anything.
We stayed like that for ages—I lost track of time. I leaned against the railing facing forward, taking in the beauty, and Jax leaned against the rail with his back, watching me and the scenery.
It was quite possibly the most relaxed I’d been in months. Maybe all year.
The boat eventually slowed down so we were gliding on the water. I was dimly aware of the other passengers who seemed to have lost interest in the deck now that we were just idling along. The noise of the wind died down enough that Jax didn’t have to shout to be heard over it or lean over to talk directly into my ear.
“Spill, Cat.”
“It’s Catherine,” I said. When he called me Cat, like it was a nickname, like we were intimate enough to have shortened names for each other—I felt something. It was a thing that shall not be named and something I definitely should not feel while trying to plan my reunion with Ted.
Ted and I may not have had some crazy passionate love affair but we got along really well. And we had all the same friends. Not to mention, we had similar goals and we’d planned our futures together.
If you make a plan together, you can’t just abandon it, right? I mean, that left the other person with only half a plan, which really wasn’t fair since I was the one—
“You’re doing that frowning thing again,” Jax pointed out mildly. “And not in a good way.”
I met his gaze and forcibly relaxed my facial muscles. “Is this better?”
He smiled at my exaggerated look of boredom and my monotone voice. “Much.”
I couldn’t resist a smile too.
“You might feel better if you tell me what’s bothering you,” he said.
I pursed my lips into a childish pout and faced forward again.
“Come on,” he said. “This falls under my responsibility as your own personal savior.”
I let out a snort of amusement. “My personal savior?”
“Too much?” he asked mildly.
“I think you’ve let it get to your head.”
“Fair enough.” He turned and looked out at the water. “But, for what it’s worth, I’m a good listener. And while I haven’t known you for long, I’ve seen you in various states—including sleeping.”
I looked over to see him giving me a sidelong glance along with a teasing little grin.
“Your point?”
He held his hands palm up. “My point is that I may not have known you for long, but I think I know you.”
The words made my heart leap in my chest before I could stop it. It wasn’t true; he didn’t know me. But my heart responded to those words on its own accord.
Before I could interrupt, he hurried on. “I know you well enough, at least, to know that something is clearly bothering you. Something more than hotel arrangements and car troubles.”
I wanted to protest but couldn’t. A choking sensation in my throat made it hard to swallow and anxiety had me clutching the railing with way more force than necessary.
“And,” he said quietly and in that British accent I freakin’ adored, “As I mentioned before…I am an excellent listener.”
I turned to face him because I needed to see if he was teasing. When that dark, soul-searing gaze met mine I wished I hadn’t looked his way because for some insane reason my eyes filled with tears.
The silence that stretched between us felt thick and ridiculously intimate. Like we were saying something or sharing something. But we weren’t. We were just standing there looking at one another.
Until the sound of a door shutting behind me made me jump like we’d been caught. I spun around to see that another guest had gone inside. “What’s in there?”
“Some seats to look out without getting cold,” he said. “Some people are probably already claiming a good table for the lunch show.”
I turned back to face him. “Lunch?” I repeated stupidly. “Show?”
His eyes took on a wicked gleam. “Yeah, they serve lunch and people perform. It’s a stupid touristy deal but I thought you might enjoy it.” He leaned forward as if letting me into a secret. “You know, since you’re a tourist and all.”
I blinked a fe
w times as it became alarmingly clear that this was no quick boat ride. “How—how long?”
His smile faded. “About three hours, why?”
“Three hours?” My eyes grew impossibly wide and he jerked back a bit in alarm.
“I’m sorry, was there somewhere you had to be? You were talking about going home earlier so I just thought—” He stopped talking when I abruptly dropped my head into my hands.
“No, it’s…” I looked up and took a deep steadying breath. “It’s okay. I can still get everything done.”
He was still smiling but it had turned slightly quizzical. “Seriously, are you okay, Cat?”
“It’s Catherine,” I bit out. “And no, I am so clearly not okay.” I clamped my mouth shut, actively raging against this feeling. It was so hard to explain I had a hard time even explaining it to myself.
He shifted so he was closer to me and lowered his voice. “You know, admitting it is half the battle.” He was so serious that it was clearly a joke and I found myself sputtering a little bit as a cry tried to escape along with some laughter.
“Come on.” I heard the smile in his voice again, but didn’t look up. I was too distracted by his large hand clamping down over mine. I stared down at it as he tugged me away from the railing and led me around the glass-enclosed seating area where apparently there was going to be lunch…and a show?
What kind of show? I never got to ask because another question became far more important. “Where are you taking me?”
He led my past a barrier that was clearly supposed to keep people out and then gently pushed me toward a ladder leading to the top deck, which was above the restaurant-slash-theater, or whatever it was supposed to be.
He didn’t answer, just put his hands on my waist and half lifted, half guided me up the steps as he followed closely behind me. I scrambled the rest of the way up because, well…he was very close behind me and that was making it hard to do anything but move.
Yes, his touch was still a bit like being electrocuted. You’d be flying up the ladder too if you were being scorched at every step. In seconds I found myself on the very top deck, along with some weathered ropes and a whole lot of signs saying this area was off limits.
Senior Week Kiss Page 5
