“You know what you need? A nickname. Here, stick your arm in this hole.”
I snickered at the image of him attempting to clothe a wriggling baby.
“What should we call you?” He snapped his fingers. “How about Chunky Monkey?”
Joseph grunted.
“No? Don’t like that one, huh. Okay, then. What do you think about Baby J?”
Joseph laughed, followed by a lot of excited jabbering.
“Baby J it is.”
Their chatter lapsed into silence. I opened the door wider, and I heard Paxton say, “Holy moly, maybe we should’ve gone with Stink Bomb. Come on, Baby J, there was only one condition. You were supposed to save that for your mom. We talked about this. You know I don’t do dirty diapers.”
Thoroughly amused by Paxton’s lengthy discussion with a six-month-old, I decided now would be a good time to put him out of his misery. I walked into the living room. Joseph sat on the pallet.
“Look who’s here,” Pax announced.
I smiled at Joseph. “Good morning.”
“I need to head to work,” Pax said. “And in case you’re wondering, that smell….”
“Yeah?”
“It isn’t me.”
I laughed, and it felt good. “I’m sure everyone at the gym will be relieved.”
He picked up his keys. “I’m sure they will.” He pointed to Joseph. “I just wanted to give you a head’s up that Baby J has a surprise for you. And in case you haven’t figured it out, it’s not a good one.”
I gave him a thumb’s up. “Got it.”
“I need to go. I’ll see you later.” He hurried to the front door, picked up his computer bag, and left.
I wanted to talk to him, but it had been evident that he didn’t have time for idle chitchat. Maybe when he got back home, I’d have the chance to thank him for giving me a respite last night.
I kneeled on the floor beside Joseph. “Well, Baby J, I guess you did just like he asked and saved it for me.” I grinned at the silly face he was making. “Traitor.” I wiggled his nose, making him giggle. “And don’t you dare say Big Orange before you say Momma.”
***
The day went by in a hurry. After putting Joseph down for a nap, I cleaned the apartment and put the panties I line-dried in the bathroom up before Paxton came home.
I’d just sat down to watch television when my phone rang. It was an unknown number, and I quickly answered. My nerves kicked into high gear when I realized it was about the application that I’d put in at Mandy’s, the little diner on Main Street. I desperately needed the job, so I could save enough money to hire an attorney, get my own place, and pay my past due rent.
While I was on the phone, Pax walked in. He leaned his computer bag against the wall by the front door and tilted his chin up in greeting. Years ago when we were dating, an overwhelming feeling of pleasure warmed my body whenever I would first see him after we’d been separated for even a short while. I was convinced that would never change, not if the separation was for a day or a number of years. I couldn’t look at Paxton Mayfield and not be affected. Unable to hide the fact that I was genuinely happy, I smiled, my lips automatically curving upward at the mere sight of him. I waved and turned back around, so I could concentrate on my conversation with the owner.
When I got off the phone, I sat quietly a moment, thinking about Pax’s interaction with Joseph. Hope had been blossoming in my chest since I’d overheard the two of them this morning. Hopping off the couch, I headed toward the kitchen where I found Pax pouring himself a glass of milk.
I stopped in the doorway. “How’s your shoulder?”
He put the milk jug back in the refrigerator. “Still a little sore, but it does feel better today.”
Yesterday evening’s massage replayed in my head, and I wondered if he was thinking of it, too. A quiver ricocheted through my body as I recalled the way his fingers had skimmed my flesh. I’d wanted so much more, and I’d be lying to myself if I didn’t admit that it had hurt when he’d disappeared.
I needed to focus on our conversation. “I’m glad you’re doing better.”
Part of me wanted to talk to him about what had happened between us, and part of me knew better than to ask. We’d forgotten about our pasts, letting ourselves get carried away in the moment. He’d regretted it instantly. That much I could tell.
But I’d reveled in his touch. For just a brief moment, we’d been consumed by the same passion that had once flowed so freely between our bodies, between our souls.
I’d craved that feeling for so long, and even though I’d searched for something to fill the void that he’d left in my heart, I’d never been able to find anything or anyone that could make me feel content and complete like he did.
He cleared his throat, and I realized I was staring at him.
“I, um…I just got off the phone with Mandy, the owner of the diner in town. She wants me to come in for an interview.”
Pax finished his sip of milk and set the glass down with a thud against the wooden table. “When?”
“Right now…as soon as I can get there.”
“On a Friday night?”
I lifted my palms in the air and shrugged. “That’s what she said.” He started walking toward me, and I backed up into the living room to clear the path. “Do you think you could watch Joseph while I go?”
He stopped walking and looked at me.
“I wouldn’t ask, but it shouldn’t take long. I promise I’ll come straight home afterward.”
“Jess….”
“You have plans.” I rubbed my palms together. “I didn’t think about that. You probably have a date. Like you said, it is Friday night.”
He frowned. “It’s not that. I don’t have any plans tonight. But you know I don’t really do babies. It’s one thing to watch him while you’re here, when I know I can get you if I need to, but to be left alone with him….”
“But you did fine with him the night I was…arrested,” I finished softly, ashamed that I’d brought it up. I wasn’t cut out to be a criminal, and I wanted to get the entire fiasco behind me, which was one reason I desperately needed a job. “Please, Pax. I need to get an attorney.”
“You could probably have one appointed to you for free.”
“I know, but I want to control who my attorney is. I can’t take a chance, not when I need to take care of Joseph. Besides, I need to get my own place as soon as I can, too.”
He threaded his fingers through his hair. “Fine. This one time.” He lifted one finger in the air for effect. “But I am not changing any dirty diapers.”
“I’ll change him before I leave. He should be fine until I get back.” Before I could stop myself, I rushed up to Pax, kissed him on the cheek, and took off toward the bedroom, so I could get ready for my interview.
***
Mandy was a middle-aged woman with a kind smile and a thick waistline. The diner was packed, so she whisked me back to her office to conduct the interview. The only work experience I had was as a server, so it didn’t take long for Mandy to hire me. My feeling of relief was instant. And as much as I loved being a mother, it felt good to have purpose in a completely different capacity.
When I arrived back home, Paxton had fallen asleep on the couch with Joseph sleeping soundly on his chest. Toys were scattered around the living room floor, and I stood motionless a moment, taking in the scene from the doorway. Reluctantly, I shut the door. Pax stirred, and I went to take Joseph from him. “I hope he wasn’t too much trouble.”
Our hands brushed together as we transferred the sleeping baby, and I noticed Paxton’s warmth. When we were dating, that was one of my favorite things about him—the warmth of his hands. It seemed like even in the midst of winter, Pax emanated a soothing heat.
I wanted to huddle around him as if he were a crackling fire and I was a half-frozen camper stranded in the midst of a blizzard. Never mind that we were just now nearing the end of August.
“He woke up rig
ht after you left and played a while. He started acting sleepy again, so I laid him up here with me and he conked out pretty quickly.”
My eyes drifted to Paxton’s crumpled dress shirt stretched across the wide expanse of his chest, and I suppressed the longing to lay my head there as I had once done. “Thanks for watching him.” I cradled Joseph against my chest, and Paxton sat up and twisted his body around until his feet were on the floor. I sat down beside him. “I got the job.” I couldn’t keep the excitement from my voice. “Mandy wants me to start training on Monday.”
Pax grinned as he turned to look at me. “Good for you.” The smile fell from his face. “Who’s going to watch Baby J?”
“I don’t know yet, but don’t worry, you’re relieved from duty. I’ll find someone else to watch him.”
“You can’t get just anyone to watch him, you know,” Paxton said. “You should probably do a background check or something.”
“I’ll find him a good babysitter.”
“I’m serious, Jess. Not just any fly-by-night babysitter will do. It has to be someone who likes babies. Someone who’s responsible.”
Amused that he had a list of requirements for Joseph’s sitter, I grinned. “I know.”
“And it should be someone with CPR training,” he continued.
“Pax!”
“What?”
“I’ll find a good babysitter.”
He reached over and gently stroked Joseph’s head, and then he pulled back and stretched his shoulder muscle. “I’m going to grab a shower and head out.”
Paxton disappeared into his bedroom, and I took Joseph to the kitchen, so I could feed him. He’d had a long nap today, and I worried that if I didn’t get him stirring around now, he wouldn’t sleep when it was bedtime.
While I was in the kitchen, I heard the front door open and close, and I knew Paxton had left.
It was a confusing time for me. Pax seemed to genuinely care about Joseph, at least on some level. And at brief moments, we interacted as if we didn’t have years of hurt driving a wedge between us.
I needed to be careful.
I couldn’t let those moments give me false hope.
He’d already devastated me once, the excruciating pain of his abandonment slicing my flesh like freshly sharpened daggers.
I couldn’t survive that kind of pain a second time.
For my own good, I needed to move into my own place as quickly as possible.
Chapter 8
Kettlebell
Paxton
What the hell had I been thinking when I invited Jess to stay with me? I’d counted on my bitterness about the way our relationship ended to prevent any romantic thoughts from surfacing.
But ever since the massage, I couldn’t get Jessica out of my head. I’d holed myself up in my office at the gym, working on an article about getting ripped because I needed to make some extra money on the side. I knew it would take Jess a while to accumulate enough money to move out on her own. Hell, there was no telling how much an attorney would cost, and it would probably take her a while just to make enough money to hire one. I’d spent the last bit of money I’d had in my savings to get her out of jail, and since I funneled most of the profits to my brothers, I desperately needed to sell this article.
I closed my computer and packed it into my bag. On my way out of the office, I stopped by the front desk where Evan was helping a member. Once the member left, I asked, “So when’s the bodybuilding competition? The one where the editor of Muscles & Mayhem is going to be there?”
“It’s about a month away. The last weekend in September to be exact. Why?”
“If Cade’s available to watch the gym that weekend, I might go with you.”
Evan looked surprised. “Why?”
“I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to rub elbows with the editor. I want to pitch some articles I’ve been working on. Maybe even weasel my way in to being one of their regular writers.”
“Well, while you’re at it, schmooze him for me, too. The grand prize includes having your photo plastered on the cover of an upcoming issue, and I want to win.”
I cupped Evan’s shoulder. “You’re on your own on that one.”
He grinned and flexed his arm, his bicep taut. “I’ll be ready.”
“That’s the spirit.” I slapped him on the back, proud of his dedication. “By the way, we’ll need you to cover the gym for a few days toward the end of October.”
“For Hawk and Amber’s wedding?”
“Oh, you already know.”
Evan nodded. “Yeah, Cade’s already mentioned it.”
“All right then. I’m heading home. Have a good night.”
“Since it’s the weekend, most people will be out on the town, so it should be a breeze.”
I tapped the counter. “If you get a chance, take a look at the ad I emailed you and Cade. Once y’all give it the go-ahead, I’m going to roll it out.”
The phone rang, and he paused with his hand on the receiver. “Will do.”
He answered the call, and I gave him a final wave as I walked out to my car. After stopping to pick up Chinese take-out, I headed home. Cade and Seren were supposed to keep Baby J tonight, and I was looking forward to a night of uninterrupted sleep. It’d been a tough week, and I was eager to chillax for the evening. Sunday would be my only day off, and I had every intention of sleeping late.
When I arrived home, the house was quiet. As was customary, I set my computer bag by the front door and walked into the kitchen to set the bag of take-out on the table. I grabbed two plates and forks, opened the containers, and dished out healthy servings onto my plate. Surprised that Jessica had yet to make an appearance, I called to her.
She didn’t answer, and I walked through the apartment, discovering that she wasn’t home. Thinking back, I realized I hadn’t seen her car in the parking lot.
I grabbed a glass of water and my plate and headed to the living room to watch TV. By the time I’d eaten half my food, I realized the house was too damn quiet. What the hell was wrong with me? This was the exact moment I’d been waiting for, and instead of enjoying it, I was irritated by my incredibly loud thoughts.
I finished eating and washed the dishes. The front door opened and closed, and I walked into the living room.
“Hey,” Jessica said, her face turning toward me.
Damn. She looked incredible in a red fitted blouse with matching lipstick, a white miniskirt, and a pair of sandals. “Where’ve you been?” Shit. I’d been curious, but once the words escaped my mouth, I realized I sounded like her self-proclaimed keeper. I cleared my throat and thumbed over my shoulder toward the kitchen. “I only meant that I brought some food home for us, and I was surprised when you weren’t here. It’s Chinese. I knew you liked eggrolls, so….”
Her cherry lips curved into a smile. “You remembered.”
Hell, how could I forget? When we were dating, we were together practically every waking moment. There hadn’t been much that I didn’t know about her. “Yeah, well, you practically begged me to take you to get an eggroll at least once a week.”
“And they’re still my favorite,” she assured me, whisking past me on her way to the kitchen. “Did you get the red sauce?”
“I got the red sauce.”
“Oh, my gosh! It smells so good.”
I followed her and watched as she fixed herself a plate and grabbed a drink. “So did Cade already pick up Baby J?”
She sat at the table, dipped an eggroll into the red sauce, and took a bite. She closed her eyes, savoring it. “It tastes good, too. It’s been so long since I’ve had Chinese. And yeah, Cade and Seren actually came by this morning and picked him up. I’ve had the whole day to myself, and it’s been kinda nice, but it’s been kinda weird, too. Like I don’t really know what to do with myself without Joseph.”
“The apartment looks really good. I can tell you’ve been cleaning.”
“It’s the least I could do.”
I pulle
d out the chair beside her and sat down. “Have you contacted any attorneys yet?”
She shook her head. “No, but I found one that had good reviews. He’s helped some other people get out of situations that are similar to mine.”
Her hair hung in dark ringlets around her shoulders.
“Were you putting applications in today?” I asked.
“No, I just drove around. I haven’t had the opportunity to explore much since I’ve been back in town. I did stop by and talk to Hawk’s mom. She’s agreed to babysit. Cade and Seren said they would help out when they could, too.”
“That’s good. They’re all trustworthy people.”
Unexpectedly, she reached out and touched my face. I stilled, not knowing how to react.
“It’s hard to believe so many years have passed since we were together,” she said softly, her fingers cool against my jaw. Her hand dropped away. “I can still remember the first time I saw you kicked back in the lifeguard stand at the Creekview Community Pool.” A soft laughed escaped her. “I’d never seen anyone so handsome. With your dark hair, your suntanned skin glistening with oil, and your muscular physique, you looked like a Greek god. I used to watch you for hours.”
Her last comment made me smile. “Stalker much?”
She lowered her eyes, her lashes fanning across her cheek. “I wasn’t the only girl watching you.” She lifted her eyes back to mine. “As I’m sure you were quite aware.”
“That was the whole purpose of being a lifeguard—to get the babes.”
She fanned herself. “When Cade took me to that party and pointed you out as his brother, I thought I was going to die. I wouldn’t shut up until he introduced us.”
“And that’s my first memory of you. Standing there in a red tank top and low riding jeans that showed off just a peek of midriff.” I motioned toward her shirt. “I always did enjoy seeing you in red.”
“Why do you think I’m wearing red now?” Her voice was a soft whisper, and I couldn’t miss the longing in her gaze.
Those red lips tantalized me. I wanted to close my eyes, touch my lips against hers, and let the last seven years melt away into oblivion. It would be so easy to give in to the temptation, to be a weak man easily distracted by her wiles. Hell, I’d done just that two days ago. Surely, I wouldn’t fall prey to our attraction again so soon. Not when I was well aware of the ease with which she could reel me in. “Jess, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression.”
Betrayed (Whiskey Nights #4) Page 8
