by Taylor Hart
“No, they weren’t, but thank you.”
Jax found it interesting that she underestimated herself a lot. She’d quit singing. Brad had been upset that Jax had read her book, meaning Brad hadn’t read it. He realized he was analyzing her on a professional level.
“Get on in here, boy,” his grandpa said.
Jax moved to his side, putting a hand on his grandpa’s forearm. “How are you doing tonight?”
His grandpa covered Jax’s hand with his own. “Good. Did you have a chance to talk to your mother?”
Jax tensed. “Nope.”
His grandpa shook his head. “This is my Jax,” he told Pastor John. “He’s one of the good guys.”
Jax shook the pastor’s hand and noticed that he had kind eyes. “Nice to meet you, sir.”
“Thank you for your service, son.” Pastor John’s smile widened. “I don’t know if you remember, but I met you when you were young. When you and your mama came to Snow Valley to spend a summer. You were probably eight or nine. You guys came to church, and I remember you out wrestling with the boys.”
Instantly, Jax was blindsided by a memory of a summer day: going to church and meeting a pastor, then being excused to run around the church building with a couple of other guys.
Martha pushed her way over to the bed. “Roy, did you know that your grandson had met our Tia in New York a couple of months ago?”
Later, as Jax parked in front of the flower shop and opened the door for Tia, she nodded to the side of the store. “I’m actually in the back.”
“Okay.” He fell into step beside her as they began walking to the back.
“You don’t have to walk me to my car. It’s pretty safe here.”
“Yes, I do.”
“Why?”
“Because that’s what I do when I’m on a date.”
“Oh, is this a date?” she asked, teasing.
“Might be fake, but it’s still a date.” He winked at her. “And you’re my girlfriend. I always walk you to your door.”
She smiled. “That’s cool.”
His heart pumped faster as he thought about Pastor John and Martha asking them for details about all their dancing. “I just can’t help but think of that old saying, ‘Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when we practice to deceive.’”
“I guarantee the whole town knows by now.”
He hesitated. “I just worry because I really am a horrible dancer. The truth is, I don’t like dancing at all.”
“Well, maybe you’ll like it when you’re dancing with me?”
Was she flirting with him? It was unsettling, but he felt nervous around her. “I think I might.”
They got to her car, a little black Jetta, and she unlocked it. “Thanks for dinner, and thanks for taking me to see your grandpa. He’s such a great guy.”
“Sorry he talked so much.”
“I like that about people in Snow Valley. That’s actually why I came back. Even after last year and …” She trailed off.
“I know something happened with Brad, but what exactly happened to make you quit singing?”
She hesitated. “I’m pulling out the off-limits card.”
He wanted to say that childhood tragedy and past exes were not on the same level, but this was a first date. “Fine, but tell me what Martha meant when she said the kids were asleep.”
She looked uncertain. “Uh …”
“That can’t be off-limits, too—not if Martha knows about it.”
Frowning, she rolled her eyes. “I volunteer at the hospital in the cancer wing. Just for the kids. They don’t always have kids, but right now they have Chandra, a six-year-old with leukemia.”
Jax had to quit guessing what to expect from this woman, because she surprised him again and again.
“What is that look for?”
“I just feel a bit out-leagued.”
Her face reddened. “By me?”
“You sing, dance, write, volunteer …” He listed them on his fingers. “You watch the flower shop while the family’s away. And you’re too humble to take a compliment. You’re a good person.”
“You’re being ridiculous. And what do you mean, I can’t take a compliment?”
“The pastor told you that he liked the arrangements, and you said you weren’t good at it.”
“I’m not.”
He pointed at her. “See? You devalue yourself.”
She narrowed her eyes. “No, I don’t. I told you I don’t sing anymore, and my dancing is fair, not amazing.” She wagged her finger at him. “Plus, I had to learn to dance because Lacey only wanted to play dancing games growing up. And singing … well, it doesn’t matter. And frankly, I love to write and I love the kids at the hospital—so I don’t need compliments about either of those.”
“You volunteer for cancer children. I’m totally out-leagued right there.”
She flung a hand at him. “You kinda protect the country. That’s on a superhero level.”
Fine, his ego liked that she would equate him with a superhero. “Naw, it’s not so black and white as that.” His eyes dipped down to her lips for a second. He liked this woman, and the more he found out about her, the more attracted he became.
“Anyway.” She put a hand on her door. “How about you come to my place for dinner tomorrow? My cousin, Chase, takes over at the flower shop at four. So I’ll have time to cook,” she said, swatting at his arm, “and then we can practice your dancing.”
“Chase. Right. He’s been taking care of Grandpa’s horses before I got here.”
She nodded. “He’s an amazing guy. His wife is pregnant right now. They’re great.”
The people of Snow Valley were connected at every turn. “Small towns,” he muttered.
She laughed. “Snow Valley is that.”
He admired how pretty she looked right now. Her red hair was soft and curled around her shoulders. Her green eyes shone brightly in the moonlight.
“Okay, I guess I’ll go.”
“Hold up.” Dang, he didn’t want to quit talking to her.
She met his gaze.
Unbelievably, he felt nervous. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this nervous around a woman. Not with Karli, that was for sure. “There’s just the matter of the daily kiss.”
“Oh, right. Let’s do it.”
It was an odd thing, kissing on the spot like this, but he wasn’t about to pass up the chance to kiss this woman. He leaned in and touched his lips to hers.
“Hmm,” she moaned.
Pure sunshine filled him as if he were on that beach in Cabo. He didn’t want to push, and they weren’t doing this kiss for show, so he pulled back.
She frowned.
“Everything okay?” he asked, somehow embarrassed like he hadn’t done it right.
“Nothing.” She smiled wider and got into the car. “After yesterday, I was just expecting more.”
He stood there, his heart in his throat. A surprised laugh escaped him.
She started the car and took off, giving him a little wave as she pulled out of the parking lot.
Jax watched her go, putting his hand over his lips where hers had just been. He’d been thrown off-balance by this Snow Valley girl. “Next time I won’t disappoint, Tia.”
His phone buzzed in his pocket—a message from Karli. It was like his ex was tracking him with radar: when he was finally moving on, she was there to confuse him. You never texted me back, Jax. I mean it. I made a mistake, and I miss you.
He ignored it and thought about the kiss he would give Tia tomorrow.
Later that night, while he was cleaning out his grandpa’s dirty kitchen, more like mucking out the kitchen, he got a text from Tia.
You didn’t tell me much about you. If we’re really going to sell this whole thing, I have to know about you, too.
Warmth filled him. To tell the truth, he’d been unable to stop thinking about this woman from the moment she’d told Brad he was her ex in the flower shop. I’m an open boo
k, he texted back.
Right, Mr. SEAL. I already know you have off-limits things.
Is it SEAL guy or Mr. SEAL?
Pick.
He laughed. What do you want to know about me?
What are you doing right now?
Dang, this woman reduced him to feeling like a teenager. I am cleaning out Grandpa’s fridge, and most things aren’t salvageable.
She sent a smiley face. You’re a good grandson.
Jax worried that she was getting the wrong image of him. He usually wasn’t this good of a man. In fact, if he wasn’t in Snow Valley, he’d most likely be at some club with his buddies, trying to pick up women. Not that he should tell Tia that. He figured he was only here a couple of days; why not have fun and let her think that he was some great guy? It’s no big deal. I like things clean.
Hmm … the OCD SEAL. Yes, that fits the picture.
He grunted. That’s true. I don’t know how else to be after being in the military for so long.
For a while, there was no response. Tell me more about you, he sent.
At the same time, she texted, So who was your last ex?
Jax shrugged off his thoughts about how he wanted to bust out her ex’s teeth. He pushed some of the condiments he’d pulled out of Grandpa’s fridge out of the way and sat at the table. A girl named Karli. We were supposed to get married on the beach. She never showed. Somehow, he didn’t feel as vulnerable telling her over text. He opened up the pickles that he’d retrieved from the fridge and smelled them, then fished out one and popped it into his mouth.
I’m sorry. Fake relationships are much better.
He chuckled as he ate another pickle. Yes, they are. He took this chance to ask one of his questions, too. Do you still love Brad? It was a dangerous question, but he wanted to make sure he knew what he was dealing with before he let down too many walls.
Ha ha ha. No. I hate him.
The line between love and hate is often very close. He couldn’t believe they were going this deep already, but it didn’t feel weird.
Granted, the whole relationship was far from normal anyway.
Brad and I were best friends for a long time before we dated. It was one of those relationships that I never really knew when I first started loving him. TMI, not that you want to hear this.
I do.
He broke more than my heart. He broke my soul for a time, and I’ll never forgive him for that betrayal.
He couldn’t resist asking. You have to tell me what he did. If you’re my real girlfriend, I would know, and it’s purely about good reconnaissance at this point.
A long minute passed before he saw the indicator that she was typing.
Fine, I’ll tell you. Last year at the winter ball, I was up on stage singing, and I honestly thought he would propose to me. When I looked out into the audience, I realized everyone was looking past me, not dancing, completely still.
Nerves went through him. He stood and tapped on his phone. Tia.
Unbeknownst to me, there was a YouTube video clip playing of Brad and my best friend kissing and laughing behind me.
Jax nearly dropped the phone out of shock. This town was a regular soap opera. He thought of how angry she’d been in the flower shop when Brad had walked in. No wonder she wouldn’t forgive him. Don’t worry. I’ll be the best fake boyfriend you ever had. And I’ll let you teach me to dance, too. We’ll blow them away at the dance.
I’m counting on it.
The telephone on the kitchen counter rang. This time, Jax knew who was calling: his mother. He ignored it.
Chapter 10
The next day, Tia got a text around noon from Jax. I must have gotten food poisoning from some in Grandpa’s fridge last night. I’m quarantining myself. Sorry, I have to cancel tonight.
Tia bit her lip. The guy was alone. Well, sure, he had his grandpa, but that didn’t really count. She imagined him by himself, sick as a dog, trying to take care of everything. What can I do for you?
Stay away. Seriously, this stuff is bad. I don’t want anyone else sick. Sorry to cancel, I was hoping it would go away.
I’ll send Chase over to do the horses.
No, I already did it. But, sorry to ask you, would you mind checking on Grandpa and making sure he’s good today?
Of course she would. She sent him a check mark.
Her mind went on hyper alert and she texted Chase anyway, asking him to come into the flower shop early. She would check on his Grandpa, then she would check on Jax.
Later, as Tia rang the doorbell to his grandpa’s house, she wondered why there were three huge trash bags piled next to the door. What was going on?
It wasn’t too long before he cracked the door open. “I told you not to come.”
“I’m not afraid of sickness. Let me in. Plus, I have supplies.” She held up the two bags of groceries she’d gotten for him.
“I know you have this insane need to help people, but I’m sick and you’re not getting sick. Go away.”
“You said it was food poisoning.”
“I’m pretty sure it is, but I’m not risking your health.”
She pushed against the door with her shoulder. “Let me in.”
Of course, the door didn’t budge. He shut the door, and she heard, “No.”
Tia hadn’t grown up with a father. It’d been a long time since she’d even thought of her father, but she had grown up with her uncle, Michael Hamilton, who treated her like a daughter. That being said, she’d witnessed how stubborn he could be. Usually, her aunt would outsmart the man to get him to give in.
“Fine,” she said, “don’t let me in, but I’m not telling you what the doctor said about your grandpa. And you’ll want to know.”
After a minute, he cracked the door again. “Tell me.”
“Open the door.” As she inspected him, she could tell that he looked pale.
He glowered at her. “You’re not playing fair.”
Unable to stop herself, she smirked at him. “I know.”
He shut the door.
She sat in the cold for longer than necessary, wondering if he would let her in or not. “Fine, goodbye.” She turned to leave.
The door opened. “What did the doctor say?”
She shook her head, moving toward him. “Nope, not until you let me in.”
He let out a breath, then moved aside. “Fine, but I can tell you, you’d be better off going to Guantanamo Bay.”
The first thing Tia noticed was the smell of Pine-Sol. She glanced around, almost tripping on the bucket in the hallway with a rag still on the floor. This was worse than she’d thought. “Oh my gosh, did you puke all out here?” She moved through the living room and into the kitchen, which was sparkling clean. She put the groceries on the table and determined that she would get the man back in bed.
“No,” he said quickly. “I’ve just been cleaning. I didn’t puke out here or anything.”
The kitchen, the living room, and the hall were clean. Way clean. She narrowed her gaze. “Wait a sec, let me make sure I got this straight. You are sick, but you can’t handle lying in bed, so you’ve been cleaning all day, too.”
He shrugged. On second inspection, he didn’t look as bad as she’d thought he would. “I stayed in bed long enough; then I couldn’t stand all the clutter and filth anymore.”
She pointed to the front door. “So you cleaned all of that out, too?”
“It was junk. Seriously. Old clothes. Papers that were twenty years old.”
Tia marched to the front of the house and pulled the trash bags back inside, one by one.
“What are you doing?” he asked, still keeping his distance.
“You can’t get rid of your grandpa’s stuff while he’s at the hospital.” She left the bags by the front door and glared at him, moving back to the kitchen. “Get in bed. I have soda crackers and Sprite I’ll bring in to you.” She busied herself getting the groceries into the fridge.
“Why are you doing this? And why do you c
are so much about my grandpa’s junk?” He gestured to the trash bags.
Steadying the milk and a loaf of bread in her hands, she said, “Because I’m your girlfriend. And it’s not nice to throw people’s stuff away before they have a chance to look through it.” Her amusement faltered as she remembered the time when her aunt and uncle, in an attempt to help, had cleaned out a lot of boxes that belonged to her mother. She hadn’t even known what had happened until she’d gone looking in the storage shed. She pushed that out of her mind and focused on him.
“I really don’t think you should be here. You could get sick.”
She ignored his concern. “Get in bed, SEAL guy.”
“What did the doctor say about my grandpa?”
“He’s fine.”
“You need to go,” he said.
She was done arguing, so she outsmarted him again. “If you don’t go get in bed, I’m going to come over there and kiss you.”
The look on his face turned to a challenge, and he balanced his weight between his feet and crossed his arms, looking like a brick wall.
“You don’t believe me?” She began to close the gap between them. Getting sick might be worth it.
He jetted down the hallway. “Woman, you’re beginning to tick me off!”
She laughed.
He paused and picked up the rag on the floor next to the bucket. “I’m going to bed, but you need to leave. I mean it.” He pointed at her and backed into a bedroom. “Now.” He closed the door behind him.
It was kinda cute, she thought, as she returned to the kitchen and finished putting the supplies away, leaving the Sprite and soda crackers on the table for him. He tried to be bossy, but it hadn’t worked.
Chapter 11
Jax woke with a jolt, sticky with sweat. After a deep breath, he mentally prodded around for the headache that had accompanied this sickness. It was gone. With a surge of relief, he sat up, not feeling as dizzy as he’d been. He picked up his phone and realized it was three in the morning.
Dang. He also saw a text from Tia.
Hope you’re feeling better, SEAL guy. Call me if you need anything.
