Mabel’s use of her full name brought her attention away from the cute picture Jax and the dog made. “Ah, sure. Tea would be good.”
“Milk or lemon?”
“Milk, please. But I can get it.”
“No, no. Guests do not fetch tea.” Mabel’s green eyes twinkled. “Jackson?”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ll go, then, shall I?”
“Such a good boy,” Mabel praised. “There’re those cookies you like in there, too.”
“Snickerdoodles?”
“You can have two.”
He eyed her in consideration.
“Two, Jackson.”
He mock grumbled his way out of the living room, Merlin at his heels.
Charlie gave the older woman an awkward smile. “Jackson?”
Mabel smiled and indicated that Charlie should sit. She took the chair as Charlie sank onto the couch. “I like proper names.”
“Ah.” Charlie fiddled with her hands on her knee as she glanced around. “You have a nice place.”
“Yes, I like it.” Mabel looked around, too, settling back in the chair. The fire creaked in the grate. “It suits me and Merlin very well.”
“How long have you known Jax?”
Mabel tilted her head. “Let’s see . . . I was eighteen when we first met, so that would make it . . . thirty years this March.”
Charlie blinked. “Wow. Long time.”
“Yes.” Mabel let out a sigh. “It’s very annoying that I continue to age while he remains a perfect specimen.”
Charlie bit back a smile. “I don’t think he’d have it any other way.”
“No, you’re right about that.” Mabel smiled, too. “Did you enjoy the motorcycle?”
“Yes.” Charlie shifted. “I didn’t realize it was yours.”
“Had the thing years. Every so often I like to go out on it. Gives me a thrill. Having something throbbing between your thighs will do that.”
“Ah . . .”
“’Course when he visited me last December, the rat, he took it with a promise he’d have it back to me ‘soon.’” Utterly unconcerned she’d just said throbbing in front of a total stranger.
“Rat,” Charlie managed.
“Did you find it arousing?”
Charlie twisted her hands together. Oh, God.
Jax’s laugh rolled in before him as he strode into the room. He placed a china tea service on the central coffee table. “Don’t try to scare her, Mabel. She’s a tough nut.”
“Just making conversation.”
“Uh-huh.” Jax’s blue eyes shone with humor. “Have you shown her your vibrator yet?”
Mabel winked. “It’s green and glows in the dark.”
Charlie glanced between the two with deep suspicion. “You’re kidding.”
Mabel let out a laugh as she rose to pour the tea. Her black hair, coiled in a bun at her nape, shone under the lights. “Sorry, hon, but you’re too easy.”
As Charlie began to relax, Mabel added, “The vibrator’s blue, really.”
“Mabel,” Jax half scolded her.
Mabel passed out the tea with a twinkle in her eye.
Charlie accepted hers with a half smile. She already liked this eccentric woman who spoke of vibrators with an accent of crusted diamonds.
Jax joined Charlie on the couch with a plate of cookies in his hand. He offered it to her. “Want one? Mabel makes really good cookies.”
“Thanks.” Charlie took one and a napkin. “I don’t think I’ve ever tried snickerdoodles before.”
“They’re Jackson’s favorite. I always have them.” Mabel sipped her tea. “Good. You still remember how to brew tea.”
“It hasn’t been that long.” Crumbs sprinkled down his shirt as he bit into a cookie.
“Three months.”
“I saw you last week.”
“A fundraiser.” She waved a hand. “Hardly counts.”
Jax rolled his eyes at Charlie. “Mabel likes to pretend she’s the biggest drama queen.”
“She’s trying to top you?”
A delighted laugh trilled from Mabel’s lips. “Oh, I like you. Tell me, do you really have firsthand experience with Jackson’s staying power?”
“Christ, Mabel.”
Charlie didn’t intend on letting Jax’s friend rattle her. Even so, fire burned in her cheeks. “Not firsthand, no,” she said, “but based on how angry he got, there might be some truth there.”
Jax poked her in the side. “Behave.”
Mabel took another sip of tea, watching the two of them. “Then why did you say it on TV?”
“She’s a media nut.”
“He tried to force my hand,” Charlie countered, sending him a look. His thigh pressed against hers, a strong muscular slice of temptation. Her toes curled. “He knew I didn’t want to wish, so called out the wasps.”
“Jackson.”
Jax shrugged. “You always told me I should be ruthless when it comes to going after what I want.”
“So that’s when he went on Lisette’s Hour and outed you as troubled?” Mabel nodded. “You’re both as mad as each other. Good. A relationship never works if sanity’s involved.”
“Oh, we’re not . . .” Charlie trailed off. Her fingers tightened on the cookie until it crunched. “It’s not like that.”
“Oh?”
As Charlie looked at Jax for help, he raised his eyebrows. “Oh?”
She sent him a sour look, making the sparkle of gold in his eyes gleam brighter.
Charlie turned to Mabel. “He asked if he could bring me here. I wouldn’t have said yes, but I, ah, well . . .”
“She got me shot.” Glee marked his mumble as he munched another cookie.
Charlie expected Mabel to jump from her chair and hurry over, flurries of concern and accusations flying.
Instead, Mabel narrowed her eyes. “That’s your last cookie, Jackson.”
“But they’re so good.”
“Do you want your insides to be yellow with fat?”
The plate was put aside with a grumble.
Charlie frowned. “He was shot.”
“I heard you, hon. I just assumed he’d healed himself.” Mabel glanced at him. “Did you heal yourself?”
As Charlie twisted to him with wide eyes, he shifted. “Yeah.” At her pursed lips, he defended himself. “I thought it might help us bond.”
“I was terrified you’d die.” She smacked his chest before remembering Mabel.
Not that she seemed to mind, though she did frown. “Jackson, shame on you.” Before Charlie could feel stirrings of triumph, Mabel continued. “You should’ve at least got a kiss out of it.”
“I did.” He laughed as Charlie hit him again.
“Barely,” she said. “And there won’t be another. God. I cannot believe you.”
He continued to chuckle as she folded her arms, fuming.
Mabel put aside her teacup and bent to stroke Merlin, who sat by her feet. “You mustn’t be too angry, hon. Jackson’s always been a slippery devil.”
“So I keep realizing.”
Jax slid his hand around her shoulders and squeezed. “Would it help if you shot me?”
Her lips pressed together before breaking into a reluctant smile. “You’re an ass.”
“Noted.” He played with the hair that curled around his hand. “But you’re glad I’m okay though, right?”
“No.”
His chuckle was rich in her ear.
Charlie fought to get the visit back on a normal footing, though what with the vibrator-chatting woman and the aggravating, charming Genie that might be a lost cause. “Did you say you met Jax when you were eighteen?”
“Mm. I was living on the streets at the time as a thief.”
Charlie flicked her eyes sideways, unsure if this was another strange joke. “Oh?”
“Didn’t pay well, as you can imagine. I used my looks to trick men into glancing one way while I went the other. Unfortunately—or fortunately, dependin
g how you look at it—I made the decision to chat up this handsome young man. He collared me as soon as I slipped my hands into his pocket.”
Charlie went along with it, fascinated. “So what did he do?”
“He looked into my face and said ‘Would you like a wish?’”
Charlie’s stomach dropped away. She twisted her neck to look at Jax. “So she’s . . . ?”
“Mabel was my first wish.”
Charlie tamped down on her first instinct, leashing her temper before it could lash out. “Jax?”
“Mmm?”
“Did you bring me here to convince me to wish?”
“Why? Is it working?”
His hand tightened on her shoulder as she made to jump up. “Easy there, powder keg. I was joking. Before you explode, no, that wasn’t why I brought you here.”
“Jackson, what are you talking about? What’s this about a wish?”
Jax looked at Mabel, his hand restraining Charlie’s shoulder. “Charlie doesn’t want one. She doesn’t trust wishes.”
Charlie’s chin lifted. Whatever Mabel threw at her, she could take it.
“Well, that’s plain sensible.”
Jax looked as Charlie felt: stunned speechless.
“Huh?” he managed.
“I was suspicious at first, too. When you’re kicked in life enough, you start questioning anything good coming at you.”
“No, that’s not . . .” Charlie wet her lips. “It has something to do with my mom.”
Mabel lifted one elegant shoulder. “So, you don’t like wishes. So what? I’m sure there’s someone else who’s dying to have the wish.”
Charlie stared, trying to work out if the older woman was mocking her. To her surprise, nothing but sincerity flickered in Mabel’s green eyes.
“That’s what I’ve been saying,” she said. “Only this one is determined to brainwash me.”
“Jackson.”
“That’s not why I brought her here.” He tapped a hand on his knee. “Jeez.”
“Everyone’s entitled to their own feelings. That’s why I wouldn’t mind nibbling on David Jason. That man has charisma.” Mabel’s shoulders shivered as she named the English actor.
Jax stared. “Yeah, okay.” He shifted to face Charlie, cupping her chin with his fingers. “You know you told me about your mom?” She nodded. He shrugged, looking vaguely uncomfortable. “Well, this is as close a match as I can do.”
Down in her stomach, intense marshmallowness erupted, squishing everything and turning her brain to gooey mush.
“Excuse me?” Mabel’s tone was offended. “I’m your mom figure?”
“More like annoying sister.”
“Well.” She sniffed. “That’s better. Not brilliant, but better.”
Charlie allowed herself to smile. He was letting her in. While that terrified her, it also electrified every atom in her body. She was never more alive than when she was with Jax.
Charlie made an effort to brush away the romantic, slightly horrifying thoughts. She broke off a piece of the cookie she still held. “So, what did you wish for?” Cinnamon exploded on her tongue when she popped the piece in her mouth. Divine.
Mabel gestured. “You’re looking at it.”
Charlie followed the sweep of her hands. “Your apartment?”
Merlin noticed the cookie in Charlie’s hands and trotted over, tail wagging ten to the dozen. His eyes got all soft and melty as he put his head in her lap.
Charlie laughed. “Don’t even try it,” she told him. “I’m resistant to charmers.”
“You can push him away if he’s bothering you,” Mabel said.
“No, it’s okay.” Charlie stroked Merlin’s silky ear. “We never had a dog, but I always wanted one. He’s sweet.”
“He’s a monster who always steals the quilt.” Mabel shook her head. “Just like someone else I know.”
“Hey.” Jax looked alarmed. “Don’t even joke—Charlie’s the jealous type.”
She sent him a wry look.
He grinned and stole a piece of cookie.
Mabel rolled her eyes. “Yes, I wished for this apartment. In specific, I wished for the ideal apartment, one with security and space and light, with three bedrooms, a library, a living room, a large kitchen, both an en suite and a general bathroom, and an Upper West Side address with a doorman.”
“She was very specific.” Jax’s voice was droll.
Charlie chuckled. “So did you get it immediately?”
“Fairly soon after I wished for it, Jax turned up at the street corner I was lingering on and flashed me here. He told me that this was my home now, and I haven’t looked back since.”
“Ha. But I bet you didn’t have furniture.” Charlie wiggled her eyebrows. “See, wishes aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”
Jax poked her again.
“That’s true,” Mabel admitted. “But Jax lent me an extra bed from his place and a few chairs, a stove, a few pots and pans . . . the necessities.”
Jax shrugged. “I had a lot lying around.”
She suspected it was more like he had magic and he’d wanted to help an eighteen-year-old homeless girl.
Cue marshmallowness.
She shook it off, saying the first thing that came to mind. “How did you afford rent?” She closed her eyes. “Oh, my God. I’m sorry, that was so rude.”
“Hon, when we’ve discussed my vibrator, I consider nothing off-limits.” Mabel pushed to her feet. “It’s true. I might’ve been back on the streets in a week were it not for Jackson.”
“What do you mean?”
“We really don’t need to get into all that,” Jax hurried to say. “How’s that investment banker you wanted to ride like a cowgirl doing?”
Charlie watched in disbelief as his cheeks tinged pink. The Genie was embarrassed. This she had to hear. “What did Jax do?”
“Seriously, who wants another pot of tea? Mabel, how ’bout you go brew one?”
“He invested in my culinary snack line out of his own pocket,” Mabel explained, ignoring Jax’s low groan. “Don’t be so dramatic, Jackson. It’s not exactly the story about the stripper and the bouncy castle.” Her eyes lit. “Do you remember that? It was the sixties, and—”
“Yes, thank you, Mabel.”
Charlie ignored their banter, gazing from one to the other. “He invested in your culinary snack line? What’s that?”
“I created a popular cookie brand. They’ve become mildly successful.”
Charlie held up what remained of her cookie. “I can see why—these are great.” The revelation smacked into her like lightning. “Oh, my God. You’re Aunt Mabel.”
Mabel smiled as she placed her empty cup on the tea service tray. “You’ve heard of me?”
“Heard of you? I live for you, I worship you. I must buy two boxes a week. I probably paid for that coffee table.”
Mabel laughed. “You’re sweet.”
“Jax must have made a killing on his investment.”
“Actually he’s refused to accept even a cent back. It’s why I put up with him even when he doesn’t call. I expect he’s too busy with his celebrity pals and his million-dollar lifestyle to pay attention to an old friend.” She sighed.
Jax rolled his eyes. “And on that note, we’d better get going.”
“Where?” Charlie allowed him to pull her to his feet.
“We’ve got dinner reservations.”
Mabel’s hands slammed down on her hips. “Hold on a minute there, boy. I haven’t seen you in three months and only get a drop by? Oh, no.”
“But May—”
“No.” Mabel clapped her hands. “You’re staying for dinner. We’ll have so much to talk about—I have photos of Jackson when he rocked the afro.”
Jax glanced at Charlie as Mabel bustled off. “You mind? She’s actually a pretty great cook.”
“Hey, if her dinners are as good as her cookies, I’m never leaving.” Charlie pursed her lips, slid a look toward where Ma
bel had disappeared. “She’s great.”
“Yeah.”
“She loves you.”
“It’s mutual.”
Hesitating, Charlie placed a hand on his chest. “Thank you for bringing me to meet her.”
“Pleasure.”
Jax’s eyes darkened as he covered her hand with his. He stroked the back with his thumb. Apples hit with their sweet scent, knocking her off-kilter as he lowered his head. His lips pressed into skin. She almost moaned.
“Charlotte, do you eat meat or are you one of those only-in-the-bedroom types?”
Jax broke away with a heavy breath. He shook his head. “Don’t even ask.”
* * *
Dinner was traditional fare: roast beef, glazed carrots, and the most divine roast potatoes that melted in Charlie’s mouth. Conversation flowed as smoothly as the 1968 Cabernet Sauvignon Mabel poured.
“She really is great,” Charlie repeated as Jax led her back through the foyer after saying their good-byes.
“I knew you’d like her.” He slanted her a crooked grin as he tipped two fingers in a salute to Stan. “She’s the only other woman I know who gives me a hard time.”
“I don’t give you a hard time . . . all the time.” Charlie grinned. “Besides, who came into my store saying Kate had eyes like ‘diamonds sparkling from a deep, velvet blanket’?” She elbowed him, snorting.
“Hey, that’s one of my best lines.” Jax pulled open the door and ushered her through.
Dusk had given way to the dark, and the city was aglow with fairy lights. The smell of gas and hot dogs and flowers tangled together and floated past.
Charlie shivered.
“You cold?” Jax shrugged out of his jacket and hung it around her shoulders.
“Thanks.” Charlie inhaled the apple scent that clung to the worn material as Jax stuffed his hands in his pockets. “You don’t get cold?”
“Here’s where I’m supposed to say something manly like real men don’t feel the cold, but honestly, I can keep myself warm with magic.”
Sure enough, when she reached out, heat surrounded Jax like an insulated blanket. A laugh was surprised out of her. “You big sissy.”
He mock lunged. “Say that again.”
Laughter squealed as she danced backward, and she gasped as she hit the wall.
He shielded her from the cold as he came in close. His sexy blue eyes glittered like a night sky. “Surrender.”
Her Wish--A Playboy Genie Romance Page 15
