by Cathryn Fox
I take a few deep breaths, to calm myself. What the fuck is going on? She’s acting like I’m the bad guy in this situation. Jesus fuck, some guy must have done one hell of a number on her. My insides boil, wanting to kill the bastard that had made her frightened of me. So help me if any guy from her past had laid a mean hand on her, I’ll fucking kill him. That’ll really give the sorority girls something to talk about.
Unable to let this go until I get to the bottom of matters, I inch back and change tactics, wanting the open Rachel from last night back. Then again, we were both so lust drunk, neither of us were in our right mind.
“Rach—”
She points to her door. “Leave, Jaxon. I want to be alone.”
I reluctantly look at the door, note that it doesn’t have a lock. Fuck. Any one of these assholes could come in here and try to attack her. I should pick her up and take her to my place whether she likes it or not. But that would only frighten her more.
“I’m right next door,” I say and point to her window. “Yell out to me if you need me, or text, and I’ll be here in two seconds.”
“I’ll be fine.”
I glance around her room, and pick up her desk chair. “At least put this under the knob.” It wasn’t much but it was enough to keep those douche-bags out.
“Okay, I will.”
She stands. I hand her the chair, and step out into the hall, closing her door behind me. I wait to hear her secure the chair under the door and turn to give a warning glare to every male in the vicinity. Message received, they clear a wide path as I stomp through the house, the fucker who tried to assault Rachel nowhere to be found. Good thing. I’d like to beat the shit out of him, but in the end, no good could come from that
I head home, and with my adrenaline pumping, I’m unable to wind down. I pace, flick the TV on and off again. I open the fridge and search for a beer, but I drank the last one earlier.
Fuck this.
Knowing there isn’t a guy in the house next door who’d dare touch Rachel after my warning glare, I grab my keys, tug on my leather jacket and helmet, and head outside. With the night air so warm, I opt for my motorcycle instead of my car, and climb on. A good hard ride, and a good fuck are the only two things that are going to get my mind off Rachel. I rev the bike, loudly, and glance up when I catch her watching me from her room. I have no idea what I did to make her so angry with me, but she’s on the run and obviously frightened by violence. I’m a guy with a violent past and that’s where I need to keep it, or risk losing my daughter.
I pull out of my driveway, ease into traffic, and make my way to Jericho’s, the pub I rarely get to anymore, but used to hang out at every weekend before Cassie was born. Do I miss it? Yeah, but I wouldn’t change my life for the world. Cassie means everything to me and I’d give up breathing for her. I ease my bike between two big trucks and set the kickstand. Music blares from the open windows of the pub as I walk to the double doors. If push them open, and enter, keeping my back to the wall as I glance around. The smell of stale beer, smoke, and cheap perfume swirl around me, and I grin when I catch my buddies playing pool in the corner. Not much had changed over the years.
“Look what the fucking cat dragged in,” Jericho, my friend and owner of the pub says, as he spreads his arms wide.
“Jericho, long time.” I embrace him and we pat each other on the back as we hug in that typical man way. “Bet you could use a beer or two.”
“Or two,” I say. We part and he gestures to the waitress for another round.
“You here looking for trouble?” Sam asks, as he gives me that lopsided grin that has women dropping their panties. I glance at the pretty blonde on his arm. In the past we would have double-teamed, but those days are behind me.
“Just looking for a beer and a game,” I say, as he puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a welcoming squeeze.
“Missed you, bud.”
“Like the Cleveland Browns miss a touchdown?”
He laughs. “Yeah, just like that. Rack ‘em up,” Sam says and gives his girl a whack on the ass to set her in to motion. “It’s been far too long since I’ve taken your money,” he ribs.
“Fuck you,” I shoot back and we both laugh. A couple of other guys join us, and we shoot the shit as Sam’s girl racks the balls. We flip for a break and I go first, sinking two low balls. I miss my third shot. No surprise considering I’m still shaken up over the incident at Rachel’s.
I step back and give Sam the table. Jericho moves in beside me and I take a long pull from my bottle. He nudges me with his shoulder. “How did you manage to get out tonight?”
“In-laws have Cassie.”
“Back from their trip?”
I nod and watch Sam sink two high balls. His girl presses her breasts to him and gives him a kiss with the promise of so much more to come. “Yeah.”
He nods, a slow easy movement of his head, a good indication that he’s got something other than Cassie and my in-laws on his mind. “Cassie’s good?”
I smile. “Yeah, she’s great.”
“No news from Sarah.”
“Not in a year.” Not since I hired a private detective to find her, and had her served. She’d called me and threatened to take Cassie away if I went through with the divorce proceedings, but it was the only way I could move forward with my life—not that I’ve been doing a great job of that. I begged her to get clean and come home for her child’s sake. Having Sarah in our lives again might not be the best for me, but I thought seeing her daughter again—seeing she is everything—would be enough to help her get clean.
“Then what’s got you so fucking twisted up?”
Shit. Leave it to Jericho to see right through me. “Nothing,” I say but I know him well enough to know he’s not going to let it go.
He takes a drink from his bottle, holds it between his fingers and dangles it by his legs. “Okay, who is she, then?”
I angle my head slowly, and take in Jericho’s concerned look. He really is one of the good guys and always had my back growing up. We go way back, which is why he can read me so well. Deciding there is no sense in trying to hide anything from him I shake my head and ask, “That obvious, huh?”
“We haven’t seen you in a month, and you show up here looking like you want to kill someone.”
“That’s because I do.”
He cracks his knuckles. “Point the way.”
I scoff, and put my hand on my friend’s shoulder. “Those days are behind me. No good can come from me fighting. The in-laws would use that against me, and I can’t risk losing Cassie. She’s everything.”
“And the girl who’s got you fucked up?”
“Neighbor. Fixing her car. Some college douche-bag tried to assault her tonight.”
“Fuck, man, and you didn’t kill him.”
“Wanted to.” I grab the chalk and run it over the end of my cue.
“You serious about her.”
“No. It’s nothing. Just a one-night thing.”
“You’re not acting like it’s nothing.”
“Well it is,” I shoot back.
“K, then.” He rubs the dark scruff on his chin, and I glance at his tattooed knuckles as he calls over a hot brunette in daisy dukes. “Wanda is just the girl to help you get your mind off things.”
“Not interested.”
Fuck, man. Any other time I’d have taken him up on the offer and banged Wanda in the back room. Rachel has gotten under my skin more than I care to admit.
Jericho deep rumble of laughter reverberates through me. He pats me on the back. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
Motherfucker.
7
Rachel
Rachel
* * *
Another Saturday, another nasty customer.
Honest to God I need to quit this job. Then again, it’s not like I can blame the customer for being pissed off. They waited forever for their pizza, only for me to screw the order up. They asked for no olives and I gave
them an all-olive pizza. Well done, Rachel, well done. Goddammit, if I don’t get my head in the game, I’m going to lose this job. Not that the pay or hours are stellar, but it comes with a steady paycheck and I need that. I’ll quit when I find a new job—not that I have the time to look for one. So, for now this is it, and I need to get my shit together.
I avoid my boss as I untie my apron, and shove it into my backpack. He yelled at me twice tonight already and from the look on his face, I’d say he wants to go for a hat trick. I clock out, grab the pepperoni pizza I’d made and just paid for, and dart outside, desperate to breathe in the warm night air. I stand still for one moment to think about my past, my present and my future. A seed of worry moves through me and when the hair on my arms tingle, like I’m being watched, I wrap one arm around myself and hug. No way can Dylan know where I am, right? Then again, it could be the creepy customer who hits on me every chance he gets. I do another quick scan of the streets only to find them empty of anyone threatening.
Everything will be fine, Rachel.
After quickly lecturing myself, I hurry home, and hear the music long before I take the corner and see my house lit up. Once again my mind races to Jaxon, and the way he came to my rescue. I cringe inwardly. I might have been scared when that asshole was mauling me, but the anger on Jaxon’s face not only frightened me, it took me back to a violent place I never want to go again. In that moment, all I could see was images of Dylan holding a baseball bat over his head and threatening to kill me if I left him.
But all Jaxon was doing was trying to protect me, right? His anger wasn’t aimed at me. Maybe not, but it was still unleashed anger, and that kind of uncontrolled rage scares the hell out of me. I breathe deep, and a little sound escapes my throat when I recall the pained look in his Jaxon’s eyes when I told him to leave. It shouldn’t bother me as much as it does. We agreed to a once night of sex only affair, and there was no need for him to run to my rescue.
But there is a part of me that is touched by the gesture. Warmed by it. Sure, my ex was domineering and possessive. Jaxon obviously has the same traits. If I got involved with him deeper, would those qualities eventually turn him into a mean, control freak, and end with me on the run again?
There is a part of me that doesn’t think so.
But then again, there is a part of me that warns never to get close to a guy like that again. I reach my front door, and can’t help but steal a glance toward Jaxon’s bedroom. The light is off. In fact, his entire place looks dark. Perhaps he took off on his bike again, like he did last night after I blatantly told him to leave me alone.
I push through the front door and Val is standing there, drink in hand, with a big smirk on her face.
“So I take it you and slurpalicious have done the deed.”
“Don’t call him that,” I say, suddenly on the defense.
Beer sloshes over her red cup as she takes another drink. “Oh, and why not? You hot for him?”
Of course I’m hot for him, but she doesn’t need to know that.
“Because he’s more than just a body. He’s a father, and a good guy.”
A really nice guy.
I stomp past her, and climb the stairs, pushing my way through the drunken horde of freshmen. I take two steps toward my room and stop dead in my tracks, my heart jumping into my throat.
What the hell?
I blink, sure I’m hallucinating. But when I open my eyes again, the vision of Jaxon installing a lock on my door dances before my eyes.
“What are you doing?” I ask, even though it’s obvious.
His body stiffens and he doesn’t even spare me a glance when he answers with, “What does it look like I’m doing?”
“Ah, putting a lock on my door.”
“Then you have your answer,” he says, not a hint of warmth in his voice. He’s pissed at me, yet he’s still here putting a lock on my door for my safety. I swallow past a gritty throat, my knees a little less stable then they were a second ago. As he twists a screwdriver, I stand still. Shit, I don’t even know what to say about this. He shoves the tool into his back pocket, reaches for my free hand, and presses a key into it. “There is a deadbolt for when you’re in your room, and a lock on the outside for when you’re not home. No one, not even your roommates, will be able to get in when you’re not here.”
I open my palm, look at the new silver key. My heart does a little somersault. “I…”
“Step inside.” he commands in a rough tone. I walk past him, but he continues to avoid eye contact with me. I step into my room, set my pizza on my dresser, and he closes my door, slamming it shut with a little more force than necessary. I practically jump out of my shoes. “Lock it,” he grumbles. I slide the deadbolt in to place and wait. “Locked?” he asks.
“Yes.” He wiggles the knob, and I step back.
“Now you’re safe. No assholes will be bothering you again.”
“Thank you,” I say quietly.
I wait for a moment. Is he going to ask me to open the door again? If he does what the hell do I say to him? I’m so thrown off by this sweet gesture, I’m a bit speechless, and that’s not normal for me.
I step back up to the door, press my ear to it. “Jaxon,” I whisper. Is he on the opposite side of the wooden panel, with his ear pressed to the wood? I wait, and when no response comes, I say his name louder, to be heard over the music. Seconds turn into minute and I suck in a fueling breath. Obviously, we need to talk. I slide the deadbolt, and inch open my door, only to find the hall empty. I back up, and plunk myself on my bed. Goddammit, why does he have to be so sweet?
I pick up my phone and, and pull up his contact information. Should I text him? If I do am I sending the wrong message. I don’t want him to get the idea that I want more from him, but I need to make things right between us. He didn’t deserve to be treated the way I treated him last night.
I stand and walk to my window. The lights in his place are still off. I lift my window, lean out and catch a glimpse of him in his backyard. I peer into the night, the moon providing sufficient light for me to see him strip down to his boxers and climb into the pool. I stifle a laugh as he squeezes his big body into the blow-up rubber ring.
The scent of my pizza hits me, and I walk to my dresser. I pick it up, step from my room and head out into the night. I walk quietly to the back of Jaxon’s house and find him kicking back in the water with a cold beer in his hands.
“Hey,” I say.
His body stiffens, his beer dangling from his fingertips. “What can I do for you, Rachel?” he asks.
I step in front of him, giving him no choice but to face me. I hold the pizza out. “Peace offering.”
He goes quiet, too quiet, his blue eyes trained on my face. I suck in a breath and hold it, as I wait for his response. He finally breaks the quiet.
“Pepperoni?”
“And extra cheese.”
He sits forward, and water splashes around his thighs. My eyes dip, take in his wet boxers, the way they’re clinging to his body, one part in particular.
He scrubs his chin. “You don’t play fair.”
“All is fair in love and war,” I counter, and open the box.
“So what is this, love or war?”
Good question. “It’s friendship. I don’t want war between us, Jaxon, and I owe you an apology. I overreacted, and I’m sorry.”
The lines around his mouth soften, and I revel in the sight of his lips, remember the way his mouth felt on my body.
Glorious.
I set the box down on the picnic table, and hand him a slice, but when I do, he grabs me, gives a little tug, and I end up falling into the rubber pool with an undignified thud.
“Jaxon,” I yelp and brush my wet hair from my face. “What are you doing?”
“You looked hot.”
“Now my clothes are all wet.”
“Take them off.”
“Not likely.”
He shrugs. “Leave them on then.” He takes a huge
bite of the pizza. “This is delicious. Did you make it?” He turns the slice around for me to take a bite. I hesitate for a second. I’ve never shared a slice with anyone before and it kind of feels…intimate.
Then again, nothing is more intimate than what we did last night in his bed, right? I take a bite, and Jaxon brings it back to his mouth.
I chew, swallow and say, “I made it before I left work.”
“Damn, maybe I’ll have to visit Pizza Villa.”
“Try to do it on a night when I’m off. I screwed up a few orders tonight. The boss wasn’t very happy with me.”
His face goes serious, protector mode. Honest to God the man really is a warrior. “Want me to have a little talk with him?”
I laugh. “No, Jaxon. I’m a big girl and can take care of myself and I can’t lose this job.”
He lifts his bottle to my mouth. “Drink,” he says.
I take a pull from the bottle and let the cold beer wash the pizza down. He drinks after me and I wipe my mouth. “Thanks.” He finishes the slice, leans out of the pool, and with a long stretch, grabs another. He offers me the first bite.
We both go quiet as we eat, lost in our own thoughts. Jaxon is a nice guy, and a great father. We’d only just really met, and I don’t want tension between us. We are, after all neighbors—who can see into each other’s windows. And we have to be around each other since I offered my services for fixing my car. Truthfully, I can’t back out of it, because I just don’t have the money to pay him.
I finally break the quiet and say, “Are we okay?”
“Yeah, we’re okay.” He leans toward me, and nudges my chin with his fist, his warm breath washing over my face. “I just need you to know something.” I go quiet and wait to hear what he says as he tugs on his hair and shakes his head. “I’d never hurt you, Rachel. I might have beaten that asshole to within an inch of his life, but I’d never lay a hand on you.”
I look down as my heart crashes against my chest. It’s just so hard for me to trust, but I’m not about to get into my personal life with a man I barely know. Than another thought hits. “I’m not worth the fight, Jaxon.” He opens his mouth like he’s about to protest, but I continue with, “You have a little girl and fighting won’t look good to the courts. If your in-laws ever found out, they could use that against you.”
