“I don’t know if love is enough.”
“What do you mean? Of course, it is.”
“I can’t survive you leaving me again, Jax.”
“I’m not going anywhere. Look, I shouldn’t have left in the first place, but I thought I was giving you what you wanted. Turns out I’m way too greedy. You’ll never escape my clutches again.”
Her laugh is soft, but with a hint of sadness.
“You say that now, but I’m serious. You’ll want your own kids someday.”
“We’re back to that?” A sudden lightness strikes my senses. Once she realizes the truth, everything will be okay. “No, Dixie, I wouldn’t.”
“You say this now, but you don’t know.”
“Jocelyn—”
“You’ll change your mind someday, and then what? Where will we be?”
“Jocelyn—”
“I can’t have any more kids, Jax.”
“Neither can I.”
“I…wait, what?”
“That’s why I’m one hundred percent positive I’m not that kid’s father. Besides not sleeping with her, I’ve been sterile since I was born.”
“How’d they even know?”
“The technical term is undescended testes. Basically, before I was born, my balls stayed inside me too long and cooked the sperm.” I shrug, my joke falling flat.
“Oh, that’s horrible. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Stubborn, I guess.” I run my hand along my chin. It’s time for me to own up to my feelings. “I wanted you to trust me. Without trust, we have nothing.”
“I know you didn’t sleep with that woman. Even before—”
She stops midsentence and starts rubbing her knee. A nervous habit I noticed years ago. “If we had stayed together—”
“We wouldn’t have had children,” I finish for her. There’s a sense of loss in her eyes. I see it.
“So, when you said things happen for a reason back at your property, you meant my kids.”
“You have three great kids. And as much as I hated our time apart, I’m glad it happened.” I drop my hand to her thigh and squeeze. “You know, I love them, too.”
Her eyes glisten as she raises a shaky hand to her stomach. “Um, I have a confession.”
“Okay.” The way she’s acting, I imagine the worst, like she banged her ex last night.
“I was actually going to call you today, so I’m glad you came over. Telling you in person is so hard though.”
Son of a bitch, she surely wouldn’t have.
“It’s just…” She looks at the ceiling as if she’s summoning courage.
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Who, Carl? God, no.” She leans her head back as if I suggested she was paid to throw a game. “It’s nothing like that, but he did come over last night. I think he was checking to see if you were here.”
I would’ve been had I not needed to do a few things first.
“Anyway, he kept talking about you and what you had done. The more I defended you, the madder he became. But he let something slip.”
“Like what?”
“He knew about that girl coming on to you at Arti’s.”
“How would he know that?” It only takes one quick beat for it to click in place. Son of a bitch. “Please don’t tell me what I think you’re going to say.”
She gulps. “He paid that woman to come on to you.”
Heat torches my skin as I pound a fist into my thighs. He’s so dead. “Why?”
“A sick attempt to win me back. I don’t know; he’s crazy. I think he developed lead poisoning from his bullet wound.” Her laughter holds no humor. “He knew there’d be a scandal and thought he’d use it against me.”
“That’s fucked up. He messed with my life. My reputation. Fuck, he messed with us.”
“I don’t think he meant for it to get so out of hand. He didn’t give you enough credit because he figured you’d cave at her first attempt.”
“Is he at work?” I’m on my feet, ready to go pounce the bastard.
“Yeah.” The hesitation in her voice calms me somewhat. “You have every right to press charges against him. You do what you have to do, but Jax, he’s still my kids’ father.”
“I’m going to go talk to him.”
“What will you do?”
“Just talk for now. And don’t worry, whatever I do won’t involve the police. That I can promise, but I can’t guarantee that I won’t kick the shit out of him.”
“I’d actually buy a ticket for that.”
“While I’m gone, pack the kids’ bags for the weekend because I’m taking you guys somewhere.”
“Where?”
“A place that’s long overdue for a visit—Bowling View. Your hometown.”
“Wow. That’s random. But okay, I’ll call my parents and let them know we’re coming.”
“Be ready in a couple of hours. I’ll be back, but first I have a score to settle.”
The cold air that greets me when I exit the elevator does nothing to simmer my anger. I have one thing in mind, find the conniving bastard and beat the shit out of him. That may be two things, but the guy needs a reality check. It’s not like hitting him is a real option, we’re fucking adults, but when I leave here, his dickless threats will end.
I bypass the cubicles on my quest to his office and ignore the glances from the occasional onlooker. They either mistake me for a client or don’t care. My tan cargo shorts and black tee hardly blend with the other suits, but their lack of security baffles me. I half-expected to bribe my way in here.
“Sir, can I help you?” a petite, older woman asks when I bypass her desk. His office is just to the left.
“I’m here for Mr. Burger.”
“Do you have an appointment?” Her eyes narrow and stray back to the computer screen. That’s all the pause I need to push onward.
“Don’t need one today.”
“Sir, you can’t go in there.” The click of her heels follows behind me, but she fails to reach me in time. It wouldn’t matter if she caught me. Nothing is preventing me from bursting through his door.
Carl’s head snaps up, his eyes widening. “It’s okay, Patty. Shut the door behind you.” He waits for her to leave before addressing me. “What do you want?”
“What I want is for you to leave Jocelyn alone.”
“That’s impossible. We have kids together.”
“I don’t mean for you not to be a father—in fact, you could actually do a better job. What I mean is for the manipulation to stop. Quit trying to dictate her life. Having kids together gives you parental rights, not controlling rights.” I creep closer to his desk and stop within a few inches.
“Who she exposes my kids to is my business.” He straightens in his seat. “They’re impressionable.”
Impressionable? “I’m a baseball player, not some thug off the street.”
“My kids don’t need to be exposed to the company you keep.”
I place my hands, palm-side down, on his desk and lean forward. “Who exactly would that be?”
“You’re the one with the questionable paternity suit.”
“That’s bogus, and you know it. You brought this shitstorm upon your family, not me.”
“We all know it’s just a matter of time before you cave. You always take what isn’t yours.”
“What the fuck did I ever do to you?”
“It’s your type. Athletes. You’re all the same, cocky and arrogant.”
“What? You still have unresolved issues from being left off the team?”
He blanches. “How’d you know?”
Know what almost flies from my mouth. Thank God, I had enough sense to stop it and change tactics. I cross my arms as I stand back up and act as if I know what we’re talking about. “Everyone knew.”
He grinds his teeth together, and his signature tic makes an appearance. After a few moments, he finally says, “I had every right to be on that team. My stats were as good
as yours.”
What the fuck? When was he ever considered for the team?
“If your stats were as good as mine, then you could’ve gone to any college.”
“Penn State was the only college considering me. And they gave that spot to you. You took everything. My spot. My girl.”
“You ended up with the girl. It was you who fucked that up. I had nothing to do with it.”
“Yeah, well, you got to her first. I’m not stupid. I know she never got over you.” He springs from his chair and pounds his fist on the desk. “You’re not taking my family.”
“You’re such a selfish prick. Do you even love her? Because if you had, you would’ve seen the subtle changes in her. Like how keeping her from traveling made her unhappy.”
“She was fine. Our marriage was a good one.”
“One you dictated. How could you have spent ten years with her and not know her?”
“You think you do?”
“Yeah, I know more about what makes her tick from just the short few months we spent together back in college.”
“Isn’t that special.”
Damn, this guy is too much. Arguing with him is getting me nowhere. “Leave us alone, or else my lawyer will be on you quicker than you can say lawsuit. For the sake of the kids, I won’t go to the police, but I will tell AJ about this. He’s the one who drank the drink that bitch spiked. Going to the police will be up to him.”
“You have no proof.”
“We have the surveillance footage that shows her spiking it.” Hopefully, he believes this bullshit, but who knows? The bar may have caught it on film. “We were just waiting for a name.”
His face blanches, and for the first time since I walked in here, fear coats his eyes. “Fine. If Jocelyn wants to fraternize with you, be my guest.”
“We’re done here.” I turn to leave.
“I got the best years out of her anyway.”
His words spin me back around. “What?”
“You heard me. She’s had three kids. Figure it out.”
In one quick movement, I grab him by his shirt collar and slam his back against the wall. My forearm locks over his upper torso and angles to pin him in a choke hold. He tries to throw a punch, but I press my free hand into his shoulder and shake my head.
“Give me a reason to pummel your ass, right now.”
He slackens at my words.
The door swings open to a frantic voice. “Mr. Burger, should I call security?”
“By all means, involve the cops.” My lips curl into a snarl, and I ease my hold just enough for him to speak.
“No. I—” He lets out a strangulated cough. “I have this handled.”
She lingers in the doorway, and my patience has run its course.
“Unless you want to witness your boss piss his pants, I suggest leaving.” No further words are spoken until the door clicks shut.
“What do you want?” He squirms under my weight, but I don’t move.
“Your compliance.” I tighten my hold when he lets out a garbled laugh. “You’re in no position to negotiate. Remember this, asshole, the girl went public. Every Goddamn news reporter knows her name. As soon as she resurfaces, she won’t be hard to find. How much do you think it will take for that girl to sing like a canary? I do believe my pockets are deeper than yours.” I push against his neck tighter. “If you so much as even cause Jocelyn to sigh, I’ll sue your ass faster than the cops can tally the charges against you. Do you understand?”
Pure venom spits from his eyes, but after a moment, he nods.
“This is how it’s going to be. You’ll only contact her if it’s kid related. If she wants to move out of the city or out of state, you’ll ask for the new address. If she wants to take the kids on vacation, you’ll buy the fucking tanning lotion. You will not cause her any problems. Understand?”
“Yes,” he chokes out.
I release my grip, and he sags against the wall. Damn, I always knew he was a wimp, but I didn’t know how badly. I start to walk away. “And get used to seeing me around. Unlike you, I’m actually in love with her. She’s not a possession.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
JAX
Current day
I place my hand where it’s meant to be—on top of Jocelyn’s thigh. The drive to her parents’ house yesterday can only be described as torturous. That may be a slight exaggeration, but the combination of her perfectly tanned legs and the inability to touch her proved to be as hard as hitting for the cycle. But I stayed a good boy for the kids’ sakes. Not that I haven’t touched her in front of them before, but given our recent hiatus, the last thing I want is for the kids to become confused.
Her body relaxes under my palm, and the cutest little sigh escapes her mouth. If I had to sum up my feelings into one word, I would compare it to home—warm and satisfying. Speaking of home, Jocelyn is taking me to her favorite place in Bowling View. Luckily, her aunt took over the grandma’s estate, so the land remained in the family. The area she’s showing me now is a place of solitude for her, and I feel honored she’s sharing with me.
“Your parents are great. They went all out with the southern hospitality.” Her mom had one hell of a meal prepared for us. Southern fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and gravy with some greens on the side. I see where Jocelyn gets her cooking talents from.
“We like to keep people fed around these parts. They seemed to like you, though.”
“They’ve been very welcoming, considering recent events.” With the television networks putting my personal life on full display, her parents’ first impression of me was the guy who cheated on their daughter and dissed his own child. As if.
“I talked to them after the story broke. They understand. Of course, they don’t know about Carl’s involvement.”
My fingers grip the steering wheel tighter. There’s still a part of me that wishes I decked him, but I need to let the issue lie. I seriously doubt we’ll have any more problems with him. Which leads me to face the question that has been bugging me since last night.
“When we first arrived, what did your mom mean by looking into the bakery?”
She lets out a groan. “I was hoping you’d forget about that.”
And the uneasiness deepens a little more. “Not a chance.”
“There’s a bakery here in town.”
“The one you loved growing up?”
“Yeah.” She cocks her head and eyes me. “I’m surprised you remember. I only mentioned it once.”
“I told you I remember everything about you.” That earns me another smile, but I hope it’s enough. I don’t like the direction this conversation is leading.
“The owners are finally retiring and putting it up for sale. Mom had the brilliant idea that I should move back and buy it.” She squints her eyes and nose. “I may have agreed that’s a good idea.”
“But you don’t like living here?” My reply comes quick and a little desperate sounding.
“It’s nothing I’ve decided on, yet.”
“But you’re thinking about it?” Having her live in New York City is bad enough. If she moves down here, I’ll never see her. The closest stadium will be in Atlanta, and that won’t work. I have plans on bringing the kids and her to Philly whenever they’re free. I have plenty of money to take care of the expenses.
“I was, but nothing concrete. I’m tired of the city, and thanks to my recent unemployment, it’s an option. You know, since I’m single and all.”
“I remedied the last part pretty quickly.” I wink at her and relish the pink tinting her cheeks. I love how she still blushes after all this time. “So, where’s this elusive bakery at?”
“We’re almost to it. Right on Main Street.”
“I think it’d be worth your time to check it out.”
Her eyes sweep to mine. “I’m not sure I really want to move now.”
I don’t want her to move, but I don’t want to be the only reason she passes up an opportunity. Fuck, Carl d
id that enough for her. “We’re stopping to look at it.”
“No, Jax, I don’t think it’s necessary.”
“Checking out real estate is very necessary. You want to make an informed decision, right?”
She smiles. “Yes.”
“And don’t you need someone who’s an expert at eating to taste the merchandise?”
“Yes.” She shakes her head. “And I suppose you happen to know someone who fits that bill?”
“I happen to be the best taste-tester on the team.” I pull up to the curb because their huge doughnut-shaped sign is hard to miss. I intertwine our hands when we head to the shop.
A guy plows through the door right as we step toward it and almost knocks Jocelyn over.
“Jocelyn,” the inconsiderate prick says.
“Hi…” Her vacant stare makes me chuckle. Memo to self, never let Jocelyn wager my money. Her poker face needs vast improvement.
“It’s me, Devin.”
“Of course. Sorry, I haven’t had enough caffeine this morning. Mom’s making Dad go decaf. How have you been?”
“You look good.” He gives her a once-over, and I move my arm to the small of her back. His eyes trail my hand, but he doesn’t look at me. He can’t keep his eyes off her.
“You…do too.” She lies. He looks like a balding, bloated toad. A case of too many six-pack nights. But I might be a little judgmental.
“Gotta get some doughnuts for my kids.” He holds up the sack.
“Sorry, Devin, this is my boyfriend, Jax.”
The prick finally takes his eyes off her and turns to me. His eyes widen as soon as recognition sets in. “Holy shit, Jax Carrigan. Man, I thought you should’ve won MVP. You got screwed.”
When his hand reaches for mine, I reluctantly remove mine from her back and shake it. “Nice to meet you, and thanks.”
“Damn, I can’t believe it’s you. You—”
“Well, we have a full day planned, so we need to get going. It was great running into you.” Jocelyn makes her way inside, and the prick dares to check out her ass. It’s a good ass, but it’s not for public display. I step behind her, blocking his view.
His “later” fades away as the door clicks shut, and my attention shifts to Jocelyn’s dreamy childhood bakery. I swallow, taking in the appearance. What a dump. Substantial-sized brown rings stain the ceiling tiles—some old, but some fresh. Brown and tan square asphalt tiles line the floor in an intricate pattern, but I bite back the swear word. Removal will be expensive due to the asbestos weaved in the backing. I can practically hear the cha-ching of the dollar signs adding up. The counter seems original to the building and has the potential to be nostalgically cool, but it needs a good sanding down and restoration.
Swing For The Fences (Bad Boys Redemption Book 2) Page 24
