Single Dad Next Door

by Cathryn Fox

  She grins as I pull her close to protect her from the cold wind. I guide her to the doors, and music reaches our ears when I grab the brass handle and pull. The scent of beer, perfume and fried food falls over me, and beside me Rachel goes perfectly still for a second, her gaze cataloguing the room. I look at the room from her point of view, take in the big, tattooed guys hunkered over the pool table in the back. My gaze moves to a group of couples sharing a table and laughing over drinks. There are a few women hanging around, trying to get the attention of the guys playing pool. Behind the counter, I catch sight of Marissa, Jericho’s wife. She meets my gaze and her smile widens.

  I put my mouth close to Rachel’s ear. “You okay?”

  She nods to assure me, but I’m not so assured.

  “Hey, if you don’t want to stay.”

  “No, I do. I want to meet your friends, and play some pool.”

  “Get over here and give me a hug,” Marissa says. I capture Rachel’s hand to lead her across the scratched and pitted floor.

  “Hey, Marissa. Good to see you.” She leans over the counter to give me a big hug.

  “Good to see you too.” Her eyes narrow. “You look different, Jaxon.”

  I scrub my face. “Different good or different bad?

  “Definitely good.” Marissa turns her eyes to Rachel. “Something tells me this sweet girl might be responsible for that.”

  She blushes a little at that, and she looks so goddam sweet, I can’t help but wonder why we’re at Jericho’s instead of home between the sheets.

  Why did you bring her here?

  “I don’t know about that?” Rachel says.

  “Marissa, this is Rachel. She’s my…”

  Marissa has one curious eye on me, and the other on Rachel as she gives her a hug.

  “I’m his next door neighbor,” Rachel pipes in. “And I help out with Cassie.”

  “Cassie is such a doll, isn’t she?” Marissa says

  “She totally is. She’s so funny, too. You should have heard her telling me about the way her dad ruins all her ponytails.”

  I stand back, dumbfounded at the fast bond between the two women. Then again, none of this should surprise me. Rachel is easy to like and Marissa loves everyone.

  She didn’t love Sarah.

  “Get your fucking ass over here, so I can beat it.”

  Rachel turns at the sound of someone yelling to me from across the room. I laugh and rolls my eyes. “That’s Sam. Don’t mind him. He’s still hurting from the time I handed him his ass on the end of a pool stick.” I glance at Marissa, about to order some food and drinks, but she puts her hand up to stop me.

  “A party platter, and two drinks coming up. A beer for you, Jaxon. What can I get for you, Rachel? How about a glass of white wine?”

  “Actually, I think I’ll have a beer, too.”

  “Now that’s my kind of girl,” Marissa says.

  “Come and meet Sam,” I say to her, and glance around looking for Jericho. “Hey Marissa, where’s your husband?”

  She gestures with her head to the back room. “Restocking. He’ll be out in a second and I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you both.” She gives me a little eyebrow wave like she knows something I don’t.

  I lead Rachel across the room. “What’s up, Sam?” I ask, and we lean in for a hug.

  “Well, hey there,” Sam says, and steps around me to see Rachel. “Are you lost?” I shake my head at his antics. He’s a good guy, but a big fucking player.

  He takes Rachel’s hand in his, and she casts a hesitant glance my way. I recognize the look. It was the same one she gave me the day I helped her with her car. I smile at her to let her know Sam is one of the good guys, and she has nothing to fear from him. But as I watch her, my protective instincts kick in and once again, I fight the urge to hunt down the bastard that hurt her.

  “I’m not lost? I’m here with—”

  Sam jerks his thumb over his shoulder. “This guy?” He puts his hand over his heart, like he’s wounded. “Tell me it isn’t so. This guy is nothing but trouble.”

  “Maybe I like trouble,” she says, relaxing into a playful conversation with my buddy.

  “Oh, well then,” he says, changing tactic, as he pours on the charm. “I’m way more trouble than he is.”

  She laughs. “I think you’re way more everything than he is,” she jabs back, not falling for his charm like nearly every other woman who’s ever entered the place.

  You tell him, Rach.

  I smile at my girl, and her quick wit. She comes across as quiet and keeps her head down but she can be feisty when she wants to be—a girl who fights for what she believes in.

  Does she believe in me? Would Cassie and I be enough to keep her around?

  It’s just an affair, dude?

  The song playing in the background changes, and he take’s Rachel’s hand and spins her. “I’m a way better dancer, that’s for sure.”

  Sam is kidding, I get that, but seeing his hands on Rachel sets me into motion. I remove Sam’s hand from hers, and pull her close to me

  “All right, that’s enough. She came with me and she’s leaving with me.”

  The door opens and in walks a couple of my old buddies, Jaret and Beck. They’re razzing each other about something as they come my way, but their laughter fades when they see me standing beside Rachel, with possession written all over me, no doubt.

  “Jaxon, what the fuck?” Jaret asks, as he fist pumps me.

  “Hey Jaret,” I say, then fist pump Beck, whose gaze keeps bobbing between Rachel and me. And why wouldn’t he be looking at us like that? I’ve not been with anyone since Sarah. Not anyone I was serious about, anyway.

  Oh, fuck me.

  “You want to put your eyes back in your head or would you prefer me to do it for you,” I say to Beck, and give him a playful punch to the shoulder. Beck shakes his head at me, and I continue with, “Now say hello to Rachel, so we can get to the game of pool I promised her.”

  Rachel stares at my friends like she doesn’t know what to make of them. They all exchange pleasantries, and Marissa comes by with our food and drinks. She sets them on the table, and then whacks Sam’s hand when he reaches for a mozzarella stick.

  “Hey,” she says. “Keep your hands to yourself, these are for my new friend.” She smiles at Rachel and saunters away.

  Rachel laughs when Sam gives her a wounded look. “You can have my mozzarella stick,” she says, plucking one from the tray and handing it over.

  “I like her, Jaxon,” Sam says as he bites into the snack.

  Me, too.

  “Even if she does have bad taste in guys.”

  I laugh.

  “You like any girl who gives you food.” I nudge Rachel. “Come on, let’s play.”

  She takes a sip of her beer, and grabs an onion ring as I rack the balls. Beside us, Sam and Beck start a game as Jaret goes and gets the drinks.

  “I like your friends,” she says to me.

  “Yeah?” I was hoping she would. “They like you too.” I was hoping for that too.

  “Do you all go way back?”

  “As far as I can remember.”

  A melancholy look crosses her face. “That’s so nice.”

  I grab two pool cues and hand one to her. “Do you still have childhood friends?”

  Her expression changes, becomes almost stricken. “No, I didn’t really…” she glances at the pool table, like she’s looking for a distraction, and I take that opportunity to change the subject.

  “Okay, this is how we put the chalk on the cue.” I do mine then hand it to her. My gaze rakes over her face, and I fucking hate that she has so many demons. I know it’s not my business, but goddammit, I want her to talk to me.

  “I’ll break,” I say. I position the white cue ball, and crack the balls. I sink two low, and explain the rules to her as I move around the table, sinking a few more.

  “Hey, you’re pretty good at this.”

  “Not as good a
s me,” Sam says and Rachel laughs as she offers him up another mozzarella stick. We both take a sip of beer, and I teach her how to hold the stick for her shot. She bends over the table, and a groan I have no control over crawls out of my throat.

  “You okay over there, buddy?” Jaret asks.

  “Fine.”

  “Sounds like you’re having a hard time,” Sam pipes in accentuating the word hard, and the guys all start laughing.

  Clowns, every one of them.

  Why again did I bring Rachel here?

  “Hey, Marissa said you were out here,” Jericho says, coming up to give me a hug as Rachel takes her shot. My friend has that same look in his eyes from the day he stopped at my place. I never did get to ask him what was going on.

  She makes her shot and beams at me. “Must be beginner’s luck.”

  “Maybe I’m a good teacher.”

  “I’m a better teacher,” Sam pipes in.

  “So this must be the neighbor you told me about,” Jericho says, and smiles at Rachel.

  Rachel looks a bit alarmed. “You…told your friend about me?”

  Instead of answering, I say, “Rachel, this is Jericho.” I pat my buddy on the shoulder. “I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him.”

  “Nah, you’d have been just fine,” Jericho says, but we both know that’s not true. “He’s like a cat. He always lands on his feet.” I stare at my buddy. Is he talking about Sarah leaving me? Fuck, I never thought I’d get over that, that my world would have righted itself again.

  Sam takes a shot and grunts. “Jaxon won’t let his new girlfriend play with us.”

  “I don’t blame him,” Jericho say.

  “She’s only with him because he saw her first.”

  “Sam, shut the hell up,” Jericho says and shakes his head. “Even if she wasn’t with him, something tells me she’s too smart for your bullshit.”

  Sam pouts and grins at Rachel as he points to an onion ring. She nods and he scoops it up and tosses it into his mouth.

  “It’s nice to meet you, Rachel.” He takes her hand in his. “Jaxon was very lucky he met you first.” He turns to me and winks, and it’s ridiculous how happy I am that she fits in here with the guys I think of as family. “You’re lucky I didn’t find her first.”

  From the corner of my eye, I catch the alarm on Rachel’s face. Jericho is still looking at me when he lowers his voice and says, “Can I speak to you in private for a moment.”

  13

  Rachel

  Rachel

  It’s late by the time we finally make it home. I stifle a yawn as I exit the car, and glance at my house. At least tonight’s party hasn’t spilled out onto the lawn. The cold weather must be keeping them all inside. I glance up to my bedroom, and it’s pitch dark. A smile touches my mouth. It was so thoughtful of Jaxon to put a lock on my door. Not that I’ve been spending a heck of a lot of time in there.

  As I meet Jaxon at the front of the car, I give more thought to his offer. While I’d like to quite Pizza Villa, is spending more time with him smart? I always prided myself on my intellect, but the things I’ve been doing lately…well, not conducive to keeping a low profile and my brain focused only on school.

  “Tired?” Jaxon asks.

  “It’s been a long day.”

  “Let’s get you inside and into bed. You could use a good night’s sleep.”

  It was true. I did need sleep, but I have no idea how much time I’ll have left with this man and I want to make the most of it. After Mom died and I was left with my father, I didn’t have the luxury of feeling safe, or just letting go. Then my ex came along, and I found myself in another bad situation. But with Jaxon, he’s big and strong—much like the abusive guys in my life—but he’s caring and protective, and doesn’t frighten me at all. In fact, everything about him warms and comforts me, which has my thoughts racing to the bag I packed earlier.

  We step inside the house and the noise next door dulls as we shut the world out. “How about a drink before bed,” I say as we walk shed our coats.

  “Sure. Beer or wine?”

  “I think I’ll have a glass of wine.” I go up on my toes and kiss him.

  As his mood changes, his eyes dim with desire. “What was that for?”

  “I had fun tonight, even though your friend Sam is a little crazy.”

  He laughs. “That’s one word for it.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  Cupboards open and close, followed by the fridge as I hurry down the hallway. I grab my bag and slip into Jaxon’s bedroom. I draw his curtains, then hurry into the cute outfit I borrowed from my roommate. I examine myself in the mirror. Sylvie should be happy to know her costume was definitely going to get some action.

  I crack the door and pad quietly down the hall, I peek into the kitchen but Jaxon isn’t there. With one hand behind my back, I take a few more steps and find him sitting on the sofa, a remote in one hand as he flicks through the stations, a beer in the other.

  Without looking up he says, “Anything you want to watch?”

  “Not really. Anything you’d like to watch?”

  His head lifts, and the remote in his hands falls with a clatter to the floor. “Jesus Christ.” I grin at the heat in his eyes, the way his hand is shaking a bit as he sets his beer down. “There is definitely something I want to watch,” he says, his voice deeper as he crooks his finger to gesture me over.

  “What’s that?”

  “I want to watch my cock sliding in and out of you.”

  A burst of heat zings through me, and I hurry to him. He spreads his legs, and I stand between them. “I told you not to wear this.” His hunger vibrates through me.

  “But I thought you’d like it,” I tease.

  “Oh, I like it. I like it so goddamn much I’m not going to be able to control myself, Rach. I’m going to fucking ruin you.” He pushes his finger into my mouth. “It makes me want to tie you to the bed and destroy this pretty mouth.”

  “Maybe that’s exactly why I wore it.”

  He goes perfectly still. “Rach?”

  I pull my hand out from behind my back, and produce two long pieces of ribbon. Jaxon’s breathing changes, becomes hard. “Tie me to your bed, Jaxon. Destroy my mouth.”

  Without so much as a word he stands, and lifts me onto his hips. I wrap my legs and arms around him as he carries me down the hall, kicking his bedroom door shut with his foot. He settles me on the bed, and stands back, his hot gaze perusing my sexy outfit. I inch my legs open, just to tease him a bit more and a deep rumble reverberates through the room.

  He tears his shirt off and makes quick work of his pants. As he stands before me completely naked, I can’t help but think I won the man lottery. He’s beautiful. Big. Strong. A tough body inked with art, but he’d never do anything to hurt me.

  You are not walking away from this unscathed, Rachel.

  I settle on the bed, and spread my arms. His brow furrows for a second. I study him, take in his posture, the narrowing of his eyes. He thinks this is hard for me, that I’m only doing this for him. I appreciate his concern. But this isn’t just for him. It’s for me too.

  “I trust you,” I say, and his entire body softens. Well, not his entire body. There is still one part of him that’s rock hard.

  “Rach,” he whispers, and steps up to me. He slides one hand down my side, brushing my outer breast. Deft fingers tug at the band on my garter, and when he sees I’m wearing stockings, sans panties, his gaze shoots to mine.

  “You are so beautiful.” He runs his hands along my garter until he reaches my lace stockings. “These stay on.” His hand slides back up to the lace holding the bosom of the short dress together. “So does this.” He unties the lace until my breasts are exposed, then lays over me.

  His mouth settles over mine, and I widen my legs as he reaches for my hands and puts them over my head. “All mine,” he whispers as he buries his face in my neck. “All night. Everything and anything I wan
t.”

  I’m not sure if he’s asking permission or not, so I answer with, “Yesss, please.” The eagerness in my voice does something to him. He presses fast, open mouth kisses to my throat, my chin, my lip, then widens his legs around my body. He sits up, and shifts until his cock is inches from my mouth.

  I moan, eager to take him, but he has other idea in mind. He takes my arms and spread them, then with slow easy movements—likes he’s giving me time to change my mind—he ties me to the bedpost.

  “Yes,” I whisper again, just to let him know how sure I am about this—about him.

  He settles himself between my spread legs and goes back on his knees. He takes a long time to examine his handiwork. His eyes are full of adoration and worship when they finally meet mine, and my heart misses a beat.

  “Jaxon,” I finally manage to say after he swallows hard.

  “Yeah, baby?” he asks slowly, quietly, like he’s gone to a different place in his head.

  “I want you.”

  “I want you, too,” he says, and leans forward to cover my sex with is mouth.

  “Oh, Jaxon,” I cry out as he devours me like a man starved for so much more than just sex. I move my hips and he slides one hand under my ass to lift it. With my body better positioned for what he’s doing to me, he slides his tongue over me, inside me, and I’m already soaring, ready and willing to go anywhere this man wants to take me.

  He inserts a finger and I’m done for. “That is so good,” I say, and clench around him. Each sweet pulse of pleasure takes me higher, until I’m freefalling without a net, but Jaxon is there to catch me, of that I’m sure.

  He laps at me, drinks my every drop like a man dying of thirst. I move against his mouth, wet his entire face with my liquid heat. When I stop spasming, he slides up my body and I taste myself on his tongue when his lips crash over mine. He kisses me hard, deep, then spreads his legs and goes up on his knees.

  “Open that pretty mouth of yours,” he commands.

  I do as he says and he feeds me his cock. It hits the back of my throat and I choke a little, but I continue to take him deeper. I never loved a man’s cock in my mouth until Jaxon. Now I can’t get enough of it.