by Morgan Fox
“I’m a grown man, Jaxson. I’m not incapable of doing things myself.”
Jaxson frowned. His father had always been a do-it-yourselfer and he always would be. “I know, I just don’t like seeing you in this bed.”
“Me either, but it is what it is.”
“It shouldn’t have been this way.”
His father grimaced. “What are you talking about? What shouldn’t have been this way?”
Jaxson realized he’d spoken aloud. “Nothing. I just wished I’d been here to help you.”
“Don’t worry about me. You have your own life now and from what your mother tells me you’re doing well.”
Yes, he was, but it didn’t change the contriteness that brewed deep within him and had since the day Jefferson died. His brother’s face stared back at him with each glimpse he took in the mirror. He raised his eyes to catch the reflection in the metal of the paper towel holder that hung above the sink in his father’s hospital room. There again was Jefferson’s eyes glaring back at him, reminding him of his death.
“What’s on your mind, Jaxson?”
His gazed darted to his father, his heart ramming into his throat. All at once his chest ached, his stomach knotted, and a wave of unease sprung up from his toes and moved right into the dark thoughts he carried. He swallowed hard.
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t give me that,” his father grumbled. “I’m your father, Jaxson, and I’ve known you for too long not to notice when you’ve got something on your mind. I’m fine. I’m not dying. At least, not yet. So it’s got to be something else that has your face all worry-like. Spill it.”
Jaxson sighed. “I wish it were that easy.”
“It is,” his father countered. “Just say it and don’t worry about that politically correct bullshit. I’ve never been one for pussyfooting around things.” He reached for Jaxson’s hand. “Talk to me.”
“I can’t stop thinking that—” His heart lodged deep in his gut. “It would’ve been better—” He clenched his jaw. “If Jefferson—”
“If your brother what?”
All the moisture fled from his mouth. An unyielding nervousness gripped hold of him. “If Jefferson and I had traded places, things would’ve been better for you and mom.”
There, he’d said it. The words had finally parted from his lips. But sadly, he didn’t feel any better for it.
“Jaxson! Why would you think something like that?” His mother asked, closing in on them. Layton met his gaze, nodded, and stepped from the room.
His father said nothing, just stared wide-eyed with his brows arched high on his forehead. The muscles in his cheeks and jaws flickered with strain.
“Jefferson was always the one you were more concerned with. He was your favorite son.”
Jaxson’s father squeezed Jaxson’s hand, pulling him closer. “We showed more concern for Jefferson because he was carefree and reckless. Jax, you were cautious, levelheaded, and way more intelligent than anyone else your age.”
“Honey, Jefferson was our son, but so are you. We would never trade one for the other. We love you both. You were the older twin by a few minutes and it showed. You took responsibility for everything and you didn’t have to. You placed so much pressure on yourself.” She brushed her hand over his cheek. “I hadn’t realized you felt this way.”
Jaxson turned to look at his father. “Why did you treat me so harsh after Jefferson died? No matter what I did, it wasn’t enough.”
His father’s eyes watered and his lower lip quivered. “I was selfish. I had so much pain in my heart when Jefferson died. I didn’t handle things as I should’ve. Each glimpse at you was a reminder of how much I failed Jefferson. I should’ve been able to keep him from—” He glanced away as more tears filled his eyes.
“We blamed ourselves for his death,” his mother whispered, her voice shaking. “We lost our son and that kind of loss can devastate anyone.”
“It did us,” his father added. He brought Jaxson’s hand to his chest. “Son, I’m so sorry I didn’t see you hurting. I’m sorry I didn’t realize how hard I was on you. It wasn’t fair of us to do that to you. We should’ve handled things better.”
His mother moved closer, wrapping her arms around him. “We love you so much, Jaxson.”
His father held one hand, while he circled his mother with his free arm. For the first time in twenty-some years he sobbed. Letting all the emotion he’d held over the loss of his brother finally escape. Together, he and his parents cried and it felt calming. Peace overcame him.
“I had no idea,” he muttered, easing back from his mother’s embrace. “All these years, I thought you resented me for being the one who lived.”
“If anything, we were angry at ourselves, but never you,” his mother added.
Jaxson’s father brushed a hand over his face, then looked at Jaxson curiously. “Is this why you joined the service?”
He hung his head, sucking in a deep breath. “I did it for a few reasons. I needed a chance to find myself and I’d hoped joining the Marines would somehow make you proud of me.”
His father smiled. “You could’ve become anything and I would still be proud of you. You are my son and nothing will ever change just how much I love you.”
His mother cupped his cheek. “You have become the man I always knew you would. I heard that you were Layton’s knight in shining armor.”
He grinned. “Did she tell you that?”
She shook her head. “No, but she told me what you did for her and that couldn’t make a mother prouder of her son. You put others first, Jaxson. That is an admirable trait and one that makes you a treasure.”
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Who is Layton?” his father asked, his eyes darting from his wife to Jaxson.
Jaxson’s heart soared and his smile grew. “She’s a remarkable woman that I happen to be in love with, and I think it’s time you met her.”
Chapter Eleven
A week later, Layton and Jaxson were back in Dallas and standing in his hotel room. There was still so much they needed to work out. They wanted to be together, but they couldn’t do it while working together. One or both of them was likely to get fired if their relationship was discovered.
“Move in with me,” Jaxson announced like he’d just come up with the most brilliant plan ever.
“Are you kidding me? You live in a hotel. That’s not really me moving in, that’s just you having to pay extra for another guest occupant.”
He chuckled. “I don’t mean here. I mean let’s get a place together. If we pool our funds we could afford anything.”
She eyed him. “Not when we get fired.”
He frowned. “You really know how to ruin a moment.”
She closed the distance between them, wrapping her arms around his waist. “First things first. I need to talk with Sam about job options. I think we need to come clean with them and see if I can transfer over to the other Iron Horse bar permanently.”
His eyes widened. “You’d want to do that? I told you, Layton, I can find some—”
“Shut up,” she barked. “I told you you’ve worked too hard to get to this point and you deserve a chance to manage at Iron Horse.”
“And what about what you deserve?”
She pressed to her tiptoes and kissed him. “I got you out of this deal. I’d consider that a bonus.”
He cupped that back of her head to deepen the kiss. “What about your need for money? That sort of changes if they tell you you’re fired.”
She laughed. “True, but I happen to know this really great guy who’ll let me crash with him in exchange for sex.”
He tsked under his tongue, shaking his head in disapproval. “And here I thought you were done with your hooker friend, Ruby.”
She poked him in the ribs. “Hey,” she grumbled. “I was talking about an exclusive arrangement.”
He laughed, eyeing her mouth and then her eyes. “Oh, you want to proposition me for a plac
e to stay with sex.”
“You make it sound so dirty.”
“I like dirty,” he muttered, gripping her shirt to pull it over her head. “I like all the things you offer.”
“Does that mean I should put in my notice?”
“It means I’m done talking.” He took her mouth as he helped her out of her clothing. First her shirt, then her bra and shorts. Her panties remained. “I have other things I’d like to do right now.”
He placed her on the bed and bent over to suckle her breast and trail kisses down her stomach. Locking onto her gaze, he traced his finger around the hem of her panties and dipped it under to find her wet. She swallowed hard as he slid his finger deep inside her.
“Someone’s excited,” he whispered.
He stood, tearing his shirt up over his head, and shoving his pants and underwear off. His cock sprung forth, hard and ready. He licked his lips and her body grew hotter at the sight.
“I’ll want this every chance I get with you,” he told her, placing his fingers inside the lace at her hips, slowly pulling them down her legs. “I’ll want it morning, noon, and night.”
“Me, too,” she replied, panting.
In a gentle caress, he dragged his fingers along her knees and thighs, encouraging her to spread her legs wide. Then his lips replaced where his hands had been and she shivered as delight-filled warmth ignited inside her.
“I’ll want this every day, too,” she told him. “Your lips on my body.”
“How about this?” he asked, right before his mouth clamped around her clit, sucking and licking.
She gasped, her body arching as he feasted on her wetness. “Oh, yes. Especially this.”
He plunged his finger inside her, fucking her as he sucked her. “What about this?” he asked.
“That, too,” she said as her hands moved to pinch her nipples. He was driving her wild, but it was when his fingers circled her anus and shoved gently inside that she crested over the edge.
Her body shook wildly as she came, his fingers in both her pussy and anus, pulsing in and out as he sucked her clit. Her hands lowered from her breasts to the back of his head, holding him in place. She looked down at him, his eyes on her as she spiraled out of control.
Spent, she closed her eyes and fell back against the bed. He crawled on top of her. She opened her eyes and saw his delicious smile.
She raised up to kiss him, her thoughts diving to the wicked things she wanted him to do to her body. “Get a condom and some lubricant,” she ordered.
His gaze darkened as he slipped from the bed, grabbed the latex, slid it over his hard cock, and climbed back over her. She took the bottle of lube, squeezed some in her hand and covered his cock with it, then she put some on the area she wanted to feel him most. She rolled her hips up, placing her knees over his shoulders and gave him access to her anus.
“I like every wicked thing you do to me.”
He held his breath, as he shoved deep inside her ass. “Damn,” he groaned. “You’re so tight.”
She moaned, her body humming with sensations that only he drew out of her. “I want this, too,” she told him. “As often as possible.”
He rocked his hips a dozen more times. Filling her. He reached between them and swirled his fingers over her clit. She sucked in a breath.
“You were made for me,” he told her.
She cupped his face. “We were made for each other.”
He moved to place his hands beside her head and took her until they both climaxed. Nothing had ever felt more right than when she was with Jaxson and she was willing to bet nothing ever would.
Sated, he led them to the shower where they cleaned each other, washing every inch of their bodies. He pulled her against him, kissing her with so much passion she could hardly keep her legs from buckling out from under her.
“Move in with me, Layton. Be with me always.”
She held his gaze, waiting for the second that fear would consume her, but it never came. Being with Jaxson felt right. The idea of waking up beside him each morning after a long night of love making sounded perfect.
“I’d love to,” she whispered, kissing him until her toes curled.
* * * *
It was the end of Jaxson’s shift, and instead of going home, he paced the hallway in front of Sam’s office. Layton was coming in to talk to Sam about resigning. He wasn’t about to let her do that alone.
Instinct drove Jaxson to call Jason and ask him to come back to the restaurant. He didn’t think either him or Sam would really want to lose an employee like Layton. She was amazing and always put her team and the best interest of Iron Horse first. He prayed something could be worked out and she wouldn’t have to lose her job because she didn’t want to lose him.
I have to do something.
“Hey,” Jason said, coming up the hallway. “What’s so important you couldn’t tell me over the phone?”
“Have you seen Sam?” he asked, bypassing Jason’s question.
“Yeah, she’s checking in up front.” Jason furrowed his brow. “What’s going on?”
“We should wait until Sam and Layton get here.”
“Layton?”
He nodded. “We have something we need to talk with you guys about.”
Jason glared at him. “Did you get her pregnant?”
Jaxson’s eyes widened. “I tell you we have something to talk with you and Sam about, and you go right to thinking I got her pregnant.” He shook his head. “You’re worse than a mother.”
Jason shrugged. “You two were together. Is it really so farfetched to think it could happen?”
No, not really, but hearing Layton’s name in conjunction with pregnancy made him envision Layton with a swollen belly, round and beautiful, and carrying his child. The thought warmed him.
Sam and Layton came around the corner, heading up the hallway toward them. He smiled the second his eyes locked onto Layton’s. Once they were inside Sam’s office, they all took a seat around Sam’s desk.
“All right. What’s got us all meeting like this?” Sam asked, folding her arms in front of her on her desk.
“I need to resign,” Layton said directly.
Sam’s eyes rounded, her face pale. “Why?”
She took Jaxson’s hand in hers, then faced Sam and Jason. “We’re in love and want to live together.”
Sam and Jason did the same thing. They looked at each other, then back to Layton and Jaxson.
“So why does that mean you need to resign?” Sam asked, looking confused.
Layton narrowed her eyes. “We can’t work together since he would be my manager. That’s what you said.”
Sam nodded. “I did, but there—” She glanced at Jason.
“Sam and I have been talking a lot about you, Layton. You’re one of the best employees we have, and hiring Jaxson helped us to see that we not only need a restaurant manager here, but a service manager at my bar.”
“What are you saying,” Layton asked.
“I want you to come work fulltime at my bar as a service manager.”
“You do?”
“You have a way with the staff, you’re reliable, and you put customers first. Promoting you is the least we can do for how hard you’ve been working.” He moved closer to her. “I was drawing up an offer letter to give to you this Saturday when you cover for Zerina.” He locked eyes with Jaxson, frowning. “Had I known why we were meeting, I would’ve brought it with me.”
Layton stood, drawing everyone’s attention toward her. “You really want to promote me?”
“Yes,” Sam cheered. “Now, I’m not thrilled that you’ll be leaving me, but it’s the best thing for you and Iron Horse.” She stood. “I hope you’ll take the offer. Losing you is the last thing I want to see happen.”
Layton smiled, her mouth gaping. “Of course I’ll take it.” She froze, glancing down at Jaxson. “Wait. Does that mean we can still be together and work together?”
Jason moved up and placed his ha
nd on her shoulder. “You and Jaxson will both be managers and located at different stores. There’s no longer a conflict to worry about.”
She audibly sighed as Jaxson stood to hug her. “Congratulations, Layton.”
“I can’t believe it.”
Jaxson cupped her face. “Believe it. Now I think you should come with me and see that beautiful apartment I picked out for us.”
“You picked out an apartment?”
“Actually, I’ve been on a waiting list and they called today to tell me an apartment is now available.”
“Where is it?”
“It’s almost perfectly located in between each Iron Horse. The apartments are called Silvermist.”
Layton’s mouth hung open and her eyes filled with tears. She covered her mouth with her hand. “Those are the apartments I’ve been trying to get into.”
He smiled. “Then I guess it was always meant to be that you would end up with me.”
She wrapped her arms around him. “Yes. I believe I was.”
“It sounds like you guys have some moving to do,” Sam told them, smiling wide.
“Shopping,” Jaxson replied. “It would appear we’re going to need lots of furniture.”
Layton scrunched up her nose and blushed. She pressed to her toes and placed her mouth at his ear. “I would suggest we get a bed first.”
Jaxson lips curled, as she eased back to look at him. “I couldn’t agree more.”
He took Layton by that hand and led her from Sam’s office. Once they were out of earshot, he pressed her up against the wall and kissed her, using his entire body to feel hers.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” she told him as they broke the kiss.
“Me, too,” he said, heading toward his truck in the parking lot. Jason’s words popped into his head. “What do you think of having kids?”
“Like right now?”
He laughed. “No, but with me.”
She paused, the abrupt stop making him face her. “Are you serious?”
“Very. Do you even want children?”
She smiled, her hand pressing against the place on his chest where his heard thundered. “I do. I’ve always wanted a family.”
