by Jayna Vixen
“Hungry?”
Rhee shrugged, desperate to dispel the awkward tension that cloaked them. “Think they have chicken and waffles?”
It was a lame attempt to change the tone of the evening from intense to lighthearted, but she was pleased that it seemed to work. That particular dish had been her biggest pregnancy craving and it was totally unavailable on the island—until Manali had managed to whip up a passable substitute.
Dax grinned. “Doubtful. Remember that, huh?”
Rhee nodded shyly as she picked up the menu to hide her face for a moment. Oh, she remembered a lot of things. A lot of things, indeed. She swallowed nervously as those particular things came to mind. Just looking at Dax’s hands as he held the menu made her pulse race at the thought of what they might feel like on her body. It felt supremely awkward and strange to be sitting in a restaurant with Dax Jamison. Between her nerves and the nice shirt he was wearing, the situation could almost feel like a date.
Not that I’ve ever been on one! As long as we avoid talking about the elephant in the room, I think I can handle this.
“I’m starving,” he commented casually. “I feel like I could just devour something.”
His eyes burned into hers and Rhee felt color creeping up her neck. Did he just imply that he wants to—oh shit—eat me?!
The ill-conceived notion that this evening would go smoothly was altogether insane. She stared at her menu to avoid that fiery blue gaze. Rhee had never been so glad to see a waiter in all her life. She ordered a mai tai, knowing that it was one of the stronger concoctions. Rhee usually didn’t drink cocktails, preferring a nice glass of red wine, but tonight she was making an exception. Maybe the alcohol will prevent me from freaking out!
“What’s good here?” His eyes seemed to slide deliberately to her neckline.
Rhee flushed, staring back at him. I can’t believe he can just sit there and act like nothing is wrong! Is he…is he flirting with me? Damn my inexperience to hell. For once, she’d like to make Dax Jamison squirm. Unfortunately, Dax seemed entirely unaffected by her presence. He leaned casually back in the red booth, his arm hanging over the back liked he owned it, waiting for her reply.
“Um-I heard the burgers are pretty good,” she said hoarsely, glancing around for the waiter. Where the hell is my drink?!
Rhee drained half the colorful cocktail in one long draught the second it arrived. She didn’t miss the little smirk that played around Dax’s mouth. His beautiful, talented mouth. Fuck! I need to stop thinking these thoughts!
Dax smiled as the waiter returned. “Two burgers, please. Island style.”
When Rhee ordered another mai tai, he raised a brow at her.
“Don’t judge me, Dax Jamison. I don’t get out much.”
Chapter Fourteen
Rhee blamed the alcohol on her stupid decision to find a quiet place to talk. A casual walk on the beach had seemed so innocuous when Dax suggested it. Not! I am such a fucking idiot. Initially, Rhee had convinced herself that explaining things to Dax would go smoothly as long as they stayed in a public place—that way, neither of them could get too riled up. But, it was stuffy in the little eatery and as the evening wore on, it became crowded and loud.
She was conscious of the light brush of Dax’s hand on the small of her back as they exited the restaurant, feeling a flutter in her belly as his long fingers hesitated there just long enough to make her wonder if perhaps, just perhaps, he was still attracted to her. They rode in silence for several minutes until Dax got a text on his phone and swore, turning the car abruptly around.
“Um-where are we going?”
“I know a place.” He looked annoyed, his mouth set in that hard line she was all too familiar with.
“I just hope it’s not too far. I can’t be out too late.” Her voice wobbled for a second but she corrected it as soon as she was conscious of the tremor.
Rhee wanted out of this interaction, and fast. She knew Dax would never hurt her the way Darren had, but she still had that fight or flight feeling that crept up and made her want to flee. It would be fruitless, though. Even in her slightly inebriated state, Rhee knew that running would solve nothing. Before the night was over, she and Dax would talk like respectable adults. They would come clean about their feelings, and her life would go back to the way it was before. Right?
“I’ll have you back in plenty of time, stowaway. I know you need your rest.”
He glanced sidelong at her and Rhee was dismayed to see a brief look of anger on his face. Now he was mad again? God, being with this man was going to drive her crazy! Dax spent most of dinner shooting her hot, hungry looks that had made it impossible for her to eat. He threw in a few innuendos that made her blush but then seemed to back off and concentrate more on his food than on her. In short, his mood swings and inconsistent behavior were driving her nuts. Rhee still wasn’t sure if the man was still attracted to her, or if she was just seeing what she wanted to see. She sucked down two mai tais in an effort to quell her desire but that had backfired big time. Now she had wet panties and a head full of angst to deal with.
He doesn’t want me. Does he?! I can’t be with him anyway. Arrgh!
To top it all off, Dax hadn’t mentioned Sirena at all. His daughter-the whole reason they were enduring this awkward game. If it weren’t for Sirena, she was sure that Dax wouldn’t have given her a second glance. Rhee could tell he was angry, and figured Dax was waiting until he had calmed down a bit before he started down that rocky road. While part of her wanted to jump right in and hash it out, another part of Rhee was grateful that Dax was not so enraged as to immediately freak out on her.
Maybe that’s why he wants to talk about his child on a deserted beach. So he can really let me have it.
Shifting nervously, Rhee tried to put herself in his shoes. Or, well, boots rather. Worried, she came to the conclusion that he had every right to be angry—finding out he was a father like this. No man would want that. Then again, he wasn’t supposed to know! He had to understand her side of it, right?
How could I have stayed?
Rhee sat straight up as the street they were on suddenly became familiar to her. Oh, now she recognized where they were going. Back to the hotel. Back to the scene of the crime, she thought, trying to reconcile her turbulent emotions.
“Dax,” she said weakly. “I agreed to go for a quick walk, not come back to your hotel…”
If he pressed the issue, Rhiannon knew she would be lost. If Dax wanted to take her upstairs, rip her clothes off, and have his way with her, she would be…overjoyed.
No! God, a few drinks and all of my good sense goes right out the window…
***
Dax smiled to himself as he watched the runaway’s poorly concealed discomfort at dinner. Yep, Rhee still wanted him. He knew she did. Dax recognized the signs of desire she emitted. They were so obvious. Almost as if she wasn’t aware of the sensuality she exuded.
Maybe she wasn’t.
Dax clung to his original plan even though his cock protested violently. He was going to let her go. But…it wasn’t just Rhee he would be abandoning, his brain piped up. That little girl would suffer as he had—without a father. Dax bit the inside of his cheek so hard he drew blood. He groaned, eliciting a strange look from Rhiannon.
Rhee picked at her food during dinner, an indicator of her anxiety. Back at the clubhouse, the stowaway always cooked up a storm. Dax noticed that while she whipped up massive amounts of food for the guys and hang-arounds, she never ate much herself when she was stressed out. The sight of her take away box made him re-think his plan to entice, then reject her.
While Rhee picked at her dinner, Dax, conversely, was starving. He wolfed his plate down. Surfing worked up a major appetite. He had forgotten just how hungry he could get. It had been a long time, but when you didn’t have much growing up, you never forgot the gnawing feeling of a hunger that was never quite relieved. Even the smallest of rumbles in his gut encouraged him to eat like he co
uldn’t guarantee his next meal.
Dax smiled to himself grimly at Rhee’s obvious struggle with her own emotions. He had noted with possessive male pride that she still blushed when he teased her. He flirted openly at dinner, and her red cheeks were oh so pleasing to his eye. I’d like to redden her other cheeks. His groin tightened painfully at the thought. Even though she tried to hide it, he could hear the desire in her voice. Rhee was an open book. She always had been. It made it that much easier to manipulate her emotions.
Guilt pricked his conscience as he glanced sidelong at the woman in his passenger seat. I shouldn’t be making her feel bad. He had no right to toy with Rhiannon, no matter how much she had fucked him over. Dax decided to dial it down a notch. While Rhee had certainly filled out in a few places, she was still pretty thin. Don’t need her getting sick.
In addition to the unexpected guilt he experienced at dinner, there was another, more fatal problem with Dax’s pre-meditated, emotional game. As he watched Rhee from the corner of his eye, fiddling nervously with the hem of that sexy little dress she was wearing, his cock argued vehemently in favor of giving in to his own desire. Rhee set her teeth into her full, pink bottom lip, another indication that she was anxious. And turned on. That unique little gesture of hers had always caused him a nearly uncontrollable urge to crush her mouth beneath his own and this time was no different. Dax couldn’t deny it—he wanted her too. In the worst way.
Fuck! He had backed himself into a very gnarly corner. Dax was so frustrated with his poorly thought out plan that he practically yelled at the girl when they arrived at the hotel.
“I have some business to attend to before we continue our evening.” He caught her look of dismay. Rhee’s eyes darted to the elevator and then to him. Dax sighed. “You can wait in the lobby if you don’t want to come upstairs.”
Yeah, that was a better idea. It was much better if she didn’t come up to the suite. There was a rather large bed in his room and he would be hard-pressed not to throw Rhee into the middle of it and ravage her. At the thought of sinking into her hot, velvet sheath, he lengthened further, his cock arguing rather vehemently to get her alone, near a flat surface so he could fuck her into next week.
Dax sent a strict message to his groin to slow down. He needed the stowaway—no, runaway—to stay put downstairs. Away from beds, or any other surfaces for that matter. The fates did not agree with his rationale, however. One glance at the lobby bar told him that leaving Rhiannon there alone would not be wise.
“I’ll wait over there…” She looked perfectly happy to avoid his company.
“Changed my mind,” Dax barked, his grip on her arm tightening. “You’re coming up.”
At her look of startled confusion, he softened a little. “Don’t want to have to break any more noses tonight, Rhiannon,” he explained, jerking his head towards the bar.
As he ushered her to the elevator, the back of Dax’s neck prickled. It only did that when something was wrong. He had learned not to ignore that feeling. He paused, taking a long, slow gander at the lobby bar.
“What is it?” Rhee looked at him quizzically.
“Nothing. Long day.”
Dax looked over his shoulder one last time. He had the distinct feeling that he was being watched. He didn’t recognize anyone in the lobby bar, and nobody looked suspicious. They were all just drunk, and primarily male. Dax chalked up his reaction to being tired and overwhelmed. He placed his hand on the small of Rhee’s back, noting how tiny her waist still was, but noting with a rush of heat, the lusher curve of her ass. Having a baby—his baby—seemed to have made her even sexier. Dax pulled out his phone to text Slade as a distraction. It would take everything in his power to avoid ravishing Rhiannon in the elevator.
***
At first, she was confused at the assessing look Dax directed at the lobby bar. Rhee followed his gaze.
Oh.
There were several men looking at her appreciatively, making her feel conspicuous and uncomfortable in her little black dress. Contrary to the gaggle of slutty-looking haole girls at the corner table, she didn’t like the attention. Rhee stepped closer to Dax and he put his hand on her back. She was grateful that he wanted to protect her from any more nonsense. That made sense. Wait, did it? Why does he care?! Still, going up to his room would be...amazing.
She balked suddenly, but he pulled her along, dragging her into the elevator. The doors slid shut and suddenly Rhee’s mind was filled with extremely inappropriate images. They were in an elevator. Alone. Her breath came faster as she pictured him advancing on her, pressing her against the wall, and…
Thankfully, Dax got a text message and busied himself with his phone so she didn’t have to chance speaking with the man on the way up. Thanks to her dirty, dirty mind, Rhee’s nipples were so achy she wanted to rub them herself. Unconsciously, her hands came up to her neckline to do just that before she caught herself, horrified.
Jesus, what the hell is wrong with me?!
As the doors opened onto his floor, Rhee’s heart was pounding at the thought of being alone in a hotel room with Dax Jamison, the only man she had ever slept with. The man whose baby she had carried. The man who made her knees weak and her pulse race in a way no other man ever had. Rhee swallowed, her tongue feeling thick and foreign in her mouth.
I won’t go in. I’ll wait in the hall.
Dax pulled out his key card and opened the door but Rhee wasn’t really paying attention. She took a small step backwards when Dax held the door for her. She hesitated further, drawing a strange look from Dax. He raised that perfectly sculpted brow at her and gestured for her to enter his suite.
Rhee stood there awkwardly, unable to make her feet move. Until she saw the man standing by the window. A shriek of recognition and joy sprang from Rhee’s lips. Somehow, she was across the room and wrapped in a bear hug, as tears began to slide down her face.
Chapter Fifteen
Dax’s desire to throw Rhiannon over his knee and spank the shit out of her was only growing stronger as the evening wore on. What was I thinking, asking the stowaway—runaway—to dinner!? Even though he was positive she was still attracted to him, Rhee avoided his touch like the plague all night. Now, here she was, throwing herself into Wince’s arms like he was her long lost lover or something. Dax groaned inwardly, recalling Wince’s declaration of love for the stowaway.
Well, so much for hashing it out with her. Duty calls.
“I’ve got something to do,” he barked, startling them out of their cozy little reunion. Rhee pulled out of Wince’s grasp a bit sheepishly, Dax thought. “Take a few minutes to catch up. Rhiannon, I’ll be back shortly to take you home. I’ll have you back before eleven.”
She nodded, looking so obviously relieved, that it just pissed him off more. Dax slammed the door open with more force than he intended but neither Wince nor Rhee seemed to notice.
Fuck, being around that girl again is making me feel like I’m on a never-ending rollercoaster ride!
***
Rhee was more relieved than she cared to admit when Dax stalked off. She knew he was angry, and she desperately needed a moment to clear her muddled head. She was truly happy to see Wince. He had been her friend from the get-go. But, she couldn’t tell him why she left without telling a soul. At least, not until she had explained herself to Sirena’s volatile father.
“I’ve missed you so much, Wince.” she said seriously. “How have you been?”
How have you been? It sounded awkward, even to her own ears. It didn’t escape Rhee that Wince looked tense and guarded even though he had returned her initial embrace without hesitation. She could practically feel the distance in the man. Something had changed between them. Luckily, he didn’t beat around the bush. Wince asked the difficult question point blank.
“What the hell happened to you, stowaway? You just left without a trace. Without saying good-bye.”
“I guess, well, I just needed some time to myself.” Why did she get the disti
nct feeling that he was expecting an apology?
Wince looked perplexed. “So you took off without telling your friends where you were going?”
“I didn’t realize you guys would care…” she responded lamely.
“Not care?” Wince was quickly becoming uncharacteristically angry. “Look, stowaway, maybe you didn’t understand how it works, but the club, we’re family. We made you an honorary member that night. You kind of…shit on that, you know.”
Wince turned away, obviously distressed. He was hurt, she realized. And she was the one who had hurt him.
“Wince, I never meant to disrespect anyone.” Taking a deep breath, Rhee remembered how much Wince’s friendship had meant to her. So had all of her relationships at the club. Well, maybe except Trish. No, that wasn’t true. Trish had patched her up and Rhee had done the unthinkable in return—slept with her man. But, Gray, Hawk, the other guys…Wince was right; they had been like a family to her. Taking a deep breath, she could only think of one thing to say to save this failing conversation. The truth. Well, part of it anyway.
“Mickey was here.”
“What?” His voice rose, revealing his shock.
“The picture you found—the one of my sister on the bike. Her tan lines clued me in. There was a movie we watched as kids…I just put it all together that night. And I knew he wouldn’t let me go.” Rhee gestured to the door, referring to Dax.
Wince was pacing. “You said she was here. Does that mean…” he trailed off, unwilling to say the word aloud.
“No! Well, I-I don’t know.” Rhee’s shoulders sagged. She hoped with all her might that Mickey was still alive, but her leads had dried up long ago and then raising Sirena had taken a priority. Rhee trusted that Turtle would keep checking.
“Did you find anything? Is that why you’re still here?”
Rhee hesitated. There was only so much she wanted to reveal. “I met a guy, a local. He knows everything that goes on around here. He said Mickey was here but she left. Turtle and his boys tracked her off the island in a privately chartered plane. The trail ended there. I got…sidetracked. I was out of money so I found a job. Started volunteering with the local kids. I wasn’t sure what to do next,” Rhee explained.
