Betrayed (Whiskey Nights #4)

by Suzannah Daniels

  “No!” I yelled, barging in, throwing my purse on the floor, and slamming the door behind me. “Give him to me!” I marched over to Rachel, holding my hands out for her to hand Joseph to me. “Give him to me now!”

  “Whoa.” Paxton’s voice, deep and even, sounded from behind me. “What are you doing here, Jess?”

  I turned toward him. “I take it you weren’t expecting me?” I turned back toward Rachel and snatched Joseph out of her hands. “I can’t believe you let her hold my baby.”

  “She was just holding him while I went to the restroom. What’s going on? And I thought you weren’t going to be home until after midnight?”

  I pointed at Rachel. “I want her out of here!”

  Rachel smiled. “What’s the matter? You don’t like competition.”

  I turned to Pax. “Either she leaves or I do.”

  He looked confused. “What’s going on?”

  “She’s a jealous little thing, isn’t she?” Rachel asked Paxton.

  I put Joseph in his playpen and turned back to the two of them. I crossed the room, wagging my finger angrily in Rachel’s direction. “I lost my job because of her.”

  “You were fired?” Paxton asked.

  “Yes,” I hissed. “She came into the diner calling my son a bastard. So I slapped her.”

  “Is that true, Rachel?” Pax asked.

  “Well, she’s not married.” Rachel smirked. “I’m pretty sure that makes him a bastard. And from what I hear, Cade’s the father, and yet, here she is living with you. Wow. I guess she can’t figure out which Mayfield brother she wants.”

  “That’s enough!” Paxton thundered.

  “What?” Rachel asked. “No one wants to hear the truth, do they?” She closed the distance between them. “You’re picking her over me? She’s been with your brother. Do you really want to raise Cade’s bastard son?”

  Paxton grabbed her by the arm. “What the hell’s wrong with you, Rachel? You’ve been a mother. How can you stand there and insult an innocent child?”

  “How can you pick her over me?” Rachel asked. “Why do I have to lose everyone I care about?”

  Paxton grabbed her by the shoulders. “I know you’re going through a lot of shit, and I know you’re angry. But you need to let that anger go, Rachel, because it’s going to destroy you. It’s going to eat you up and turn you into someone you don’t want to be. Listen to what you’re saying. You’re insulting an innocent child. A child, Rachel.”

  “A child that belongs to your brother.”

  Paxton released her. “Jessica’s right. You need to leave.”

  “But Paxton…you told me you couldn’t be with me because I wanted children. And now you’re with her, the mother of your brother’s child?”

  “Stop saying that!” he roared.

  “He isn’t Cade’s child,” I informed them both quietly. “Not that it’s any of Rachel’s business.”

  Pax took her by the arm and led her to the front door. “Rachel, please go. I’ll talk to you later, but you don’t get to come here and insult a defenseless child.” He motioned to me. “And you don’t get to come in here and insult Jess.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “She wasn’t lying. Y’all are having sex, aren’t you?”

  Pax turned his gaze on me. His lips pressed into a thin line before he looked back at Rachel. “The two of you are discussing my sex life in the middle of a diner?”

  Rachel pointed a French-manicured nail in my direction. “She told me you were pretty damn satisfied. I think it’s obvious what she was trying to suggest. Are you denying it?”

  I crossed my arms over my chest and waited to see how he would respond.

  “Of course I’m denying it,” Paxton assured her.

  Her plump lips curved into a smug smile as she looked at me triumphantly. “So you are a liar. Didn’t I tell you he would never want you?”

  “Wait just a second, Rachel,” Pax said. “I’m not denying that we had sex. I’m denying that I’m satisfied. Normally, I don’t feel the need to discuss my sex life in public, but since you insist on bringing it up and insulting everyone in the process, then no, I’m not satisfied. In fact, I think I’m going to make love to her again just as soon as you leave my apartment.”

  Rachel’s expression went blank as she stared at Paxton in shock. Once his words registered, I could see the sadness on her face, and I almost felt sorry for her.

  Paxton’s voice turned low and soft, as if he were talking to a child. “Look, Rachel. I told you that the two of us wouldn’t work, and I told you that before I had even talked to Jessica. What happened between the two of us had nothing to do with her. So if you’re angry, then you need to take it out on me, not her, and definitely not her baby. I know you’re under a lot of stress, and I’m here for you if you ever want to talk, but only if you treat Jessica with respect.”

  Rachel didn’t respond. She just stood quietly, absorbing his words.

  Paxton opened the door. “We’ll talk later.”

  Rachel looked at me and then walked through the open door.

  Paxton shut it and locked it behind her. He pulled me into his arms and kissed my forehead. “I’m sorry.”

  I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed, soaking in his strength. “Paxton, she called Joseph a bastard.”

  “She’s mad at the world right now.”

  “That doesn’t excuse it.”

  He tightened his hold on me. “No, it doesn’t. You just have to remember she’s deflecting her anger with me onto you. If you see her again, just walk away from her. You can’t let her get you into anymore legal trouble.”

  “And speaking of that, I have to get out and find another job tomorrow. I only have two more weeks to get my attorney paid in full.”

  “I’m going out of town with Evan next weekend to a bodybuilding competition in Atlanta. The editor of Muscles & Mayhem is going to be there looking for articles for upcoming editions of the magazine. If I can get something lined up with them, then maybe I can find some way to help with the cost of your attorney.”

  I shook my head. “No, I don’t want you to help. I want to find a way to come up with the money on my own.”

  “And what if you don’t? Do you want to risk going to jail and being separated from Joseph?”

  “Of course not.”

  “I can’t even promise anything. I’m just saying that maybe, if you need it, and if I can get something going with my articles, I might be able to help you. If I can’t, I don’t know. Maybe I can still come up with a way to help you. I’ll know more in a few days.”

  “Thank you, Paxton.” I looked into his warm eyes, a ring of soft browns circling his pupil and fanning out into shades of green. “Thank you for taking up for Joseph. And for me.”

  He kissed me on the corner of my mouth. “You’re welcome. Why don’t you take a hot bath while Baby J and I finish watching the game?” He shot me a mischievous grin. “I wasn’t kidding when I said I wasn’t feeling very satisfied.” He cupped my butt and pulled me against his growing erection. “Anything you can do to help?”

  I cupped my hand over him. “I think so.”

  He smacked me on the butt. “Then go, before I decide I can’t wait that long.”

  Releasing me, I watched as he turned and scooped Joseph from the playpen. “Where were we, Baby J, before those silly girls interrupted us? Oh, yeah. Touchback. A touchback is when the ball is down behind the goal line….”

  Emotion welled in my chest as I watched Joseph look up at him, his eyes wide as he hung on every word that came out of Paxton’s mouth. I wanted Joseph to have a lifetime of moments like this, moments that I couldn’t give him on my own.

  Knowing that Joseph was in good hands, I took a hot bath, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t feel the need to rush. Paxton’s ability to care for a child had come as a pleasant surprise. But I also knew better than to get too comfortable. I was starting to view us as a family, and I knew that Paxton had an entir
ely different perception.

  But for tonight, I was going to let the warmth wrap around me. I was going to savor it and let the joy of this moment overshadow the events of the day and the fact that I didn’t have a job.

  I would worry about everything else tomorrow.

  Tonight it was just Paxton, Joseph, and me.

  ***

  The next morning, I awoke with Paxton’s arm wrapped around me protectively, his chest pressed against my back. Joseph slept soundly a few feet away in his crib, and he had only woken once during the night, whining a couple of times before falling back to sleep.

  I could hear Paxton’s deep even breathing, and I lay awake, reveling in the contentment that I felt, a contentment that only he could give me.

  I knew I shouldn’t, but I closed my eyes and dared to imagine a life with him. How would it feel to sleep in his arms every night? To watch him teach Joseph about tools and sports and girls?

  Before I came back to Creekview, Cade had been the only person I could lean on since my mother passed. He had tried to get me to talk to Paxton, but I had refused, thinking Paxton could never treat me or Joseph civilly. He had been so angry with me after he had learned that Cade and I had kissed. And I had been angry with him for breaking my heart and leaving me, for refusing to talk to me.

  Maybe I should have forced him to talk to me after he’d broken up with me. If I had, maybe we wouldn’t have wasted so many years apart.

  I took a deep breath, willing myself to stop playing the what if game. None of it mattered now. The only thing that mattered was what we did from this point forward.

  I had no idea what was going through Paxton’s mind long-term, and I was terrified to ask. For now, I was content with our newfound truce, and I would take from it whatever he was willing to offer. I needed a reprieve from the loneliness, even if it was only temporary. I just hoped it didn’t come back and bite me in the butt. If he left me again, would I delve into an even deeper darkness than before? I had to be careful for Joseph’s sake, too. I didn’t want him to grow too attached to Paxton if there was no real future for the three of us.

  Paxton’s hand moved up to cup my bare breast. “What a great way to wake up,” Pax said, his voice raspy from sleep.

  I smiled, enjoying the feel of his hand on my skin. I wouldn’t mind waking up this way every morning for the rest of my life, but I didn’t voice that thought.

  I rubbed my fingertips along his forearm. “Good morning.”

  “Morning, babe.” He kissed the top of my head and pulled me tightly against him.

  “I’m going to see if Mrs. Hawkins will watch Joseph today, so I can hunt for a job.”

  “It’s Sunday. Wouldn’t it be better to wait till tomorrow?”

  “Restaurants don’t close for the weekend, and I need to find something as soon as possible. Aren’t you going to work today?”

  “Yeah. In fact, I need to get going. It’s a hell of a lot harder to get motivated with you in my bed.” He nuzzled my neck. “I can think of a few things I’d rather do than go to the gym.”

  I rolled over on my back, his hand following me as it moved from one breast to the other. The sheet just covered our waists, and he propped himself on his elbow, watching his hand circle each breast in turn.

  “Like what?” I asked, a smile playing on my lips.

  “Like this.” He bent down and took my nipple in his mouth. He kissed the valley of my breasts, his lips skimming a trail along the flat of my abdomen.

  It was thirty minutes later before he finally left the bed. While he went to shower, I hugged his pillow, breathing in his scent. He’d left me completely sated, and I squeezed my thighs together, the sensations he sent through my body still lingering.

  The way he made me feel was invigorating and exciting, yet terrifying at the same time. I couldn’t stop myself. My love for him had been rekindled into a raging fire, and I was afraid it would consume me.

  I watched him as he got dressed for work, sliding his muscular arm into a dark gray dress shirt. “You’re not wearing your gym clothes today?”

  He glanced at me in the dresser mirror and winked. “I just had a workout. I’m taking my gym clothes with me. Instead of working out this morning, I’ll work out this afternoon after Evan comes in.” He turned around, watching me as he buttoned his sleeves. “This is exactly how I want to find you when I get home. Naked and in my bed.”

  I laughed. “I can’t make any promises.”

  He ran his fingers through his hair, leaned over, and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. “I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “Oh, you will?”

  “Damn right.”

  “Hmm. Then I might consider it.”

  His thumb stroked my nipple. “You do that.” He straightened and turned, casting a glance at Joseph in his crib. “I’ll see the two of you when I get home.”

  “Bye.”

  When I heard him leave the apartment, I threw my legs over the edge of the bed and got up. Joseph was still asleep, but he wouldn’t be for long, and I needed to take a quick shower.

  It was early afternoon by the time I dropped Joseph off at Mrs. Hawkins’. Since there weren’t many restaurants in Creekview and I had totally embarrassed myself at Mandy’s, I opted to drive to a neighboring town to hunt for work. I checked several restaurants, none of which had any openings. Finally, I noticed a Help Wanted sign on the door of an old brick building with no windows.

  Thirty minutes later, I was once again employed, and they wanted me to start in a matter of hours.

  I called Mrs. Hawkins, planning to go by and pick Joseph up for a while, but she assured me that he was having a blast playing with Hawk, Amber, and Hawk’s brother, Jace. I was going to find someone to pick him up before it got too late, but Mrs. Hawkins assured me that she didn’t mind keeping him until I could pick him up after work.

  So I went home to grab a bite to eat and try on my work uniform.

  I heard the front door open and close, and then I heard Paxton call out, “Jess.”

  “I’m in the bedroom.”

  He continued talking as he walked through the house. “Right where I want you.” He pushed the door open and paused, the smile on his face quickly replaced with a frown. “What the hell are you wearing?”

  “It’s my new uniform.”

  He closed the distance between us, his fingertips tracing the outline of my cleavage visible in the low cut, black metallic bra top. His eyes drifted down my exposed midriff to the low rise matching short shorts. “Oh, hell no.”

  “What?”

  “Turn around.”

  I crossed my arms over my chest. “I am not turning around.”

  “Where the hell are you working?”

  “The Squirrel’s Tail.”

  “That strip club over in Ridgecrest?”

  “So you’ve been there?”

  “That’s beside the point.”

  I stared at him. “So what is the point?”

  “You aren’t working there.”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Really? You want to be a stripper?”

  “I’m not stripping. I’m just serving drinks.”

  He pointed to my uniform. “In that?”

  I gritted my teeth. “It’s just temporary.”

  “You need a respectable job.”

  My ire began rising. “I had a respectable job, and your girlfriend got me fired.”

  “Number one. She’s not my girlfriend. And number two. You’re not going anywhere looking like that.”

  “I have two weeks, Paxton. Two weeks to come up with the rest of the money for my attorney. Not to mention that I need money, so I can find Joseph and me somewhere to live.”

  “And what about Joseph? What happens when he’s old enough to find out his mother worked in a strip club.”

  “Who’s going to tell him? You? You’re the only one who knows, and I have no intentions of telling anyone else. And it’s just until I can get on my feet and find a
nother job. Paxton, my back’s against the wall, and unlike you, I don’t have any family I can go to for help.”

  He frowned, realizing the truth of my words.

  “No.” He shook his head. “Hell, no. You’re not going to work there.”

  “You can’t stop me.”

  He stood akimbo, the muscle in his jaw ticking. “You wanna bet?”

  I took a step toward him, our bodies mere inches apart. Looking up at him, I asked, “What are you going to do, Pax? Are you going to ask me for a commitment? Because the way I see it right now, you have no say over anything I do. I’m not your girlfriend. Are you asking me to be? Because that’s the only way I’m even going to consider not taking this job.”

  His mouth pressed into a hard line. His eyes bore into mine. His breathing was heavy, and he was pissed. But just as I expected, he made no offers of commitment.

  “That’s what I thought,” I whispered. I turned away and shoved my arms into a gray fleece jacket, zipping it up and covering my body. Then, I stepped into a long black skirt with an elastic waist and pulled it up over my shorts. I shoved my feet into a pair of flip-flops, grabbed the thigh high boots that went with my uniform, and left the bedroom.

  As I closed the front door, I heard Paxton curse, his deep voice bellowing through the apartment.

  In all honesty, I wasn’t any happier about this arrangement than he was, but I had responsibilities. I was on a time crunch. I didn’t have time to find the perfect job, and if I could just get myself over the hump, I would do things differently.

  When I graduated from high school, I was filled with grandiose dreams. I certainly never expected to find myself driving to a hole-in-the-wall strip joint to serve beer to ogling men.

  I fought back tears. I had thrown a lifeline of sorts to Paxton, fishing to see how serious he was about our relationship. If he had told me that he wanted to be with me, really be with me, then I would have gladly refused this job. If I had felt that I had him on my side, that he and I were a team, then I would have had hope that maybe there was another way out of my predicament.

  But just like so many years ago, he refused to tell me that he wanted me to stay, that he would stand by me, that he would be with me. And just like so many years ago, I was left finding my way in the world without him.