Jax

by Lori Foster

Tossing the stick out into the lake, he sat up and watched her strip off her sandals.

  The girl had crazy-beautiful legs, and even her feet were cute—narrow and feminine, her toenails painted a mocha color. Scooting that delectable little tush to the edge of the dock, she dipped her toes in the water. “Not too bad.” She slanted him a coy look. “We should come here and swim sometime.”

  Nope. Don’t think it, don’t think it...too late. A visual of them in the water together speared into his brain. Jax worked his jaw, reached for his cooler and said, “You don’t own the property yet. That’d be trespassing.”

  “I doubt anyone would mind.” She settled back on her elbows, which pretty much got his gaze going over her, tracking the nice topography of her body, the curve of her thighs, the shallowness of her belly, the plump rise of her breasts.

  Luckily, he’d looked away before she glanced at him again, but he was pretty sure he’d have that image seared onto his brain, there to haunt him whenever he tried to sleep.

  Determined to get back on track, Jax pulled a sandwich from the cooler, with a bag of chips, then opened his thermos to take a deep drink of iced tea.

  Manners belatedly kicked in and he asked, “Thirsty?”

  She smiled. “No, I’m fine. I have a bottle of water in my car. Besides, it’s your lunch.”

  “I don’t mind sharing.”

  “Maybe just a chip, then?”

  He handed over the bag, then poured some tea into the thermos lid and set it by her.

  While they munched, birds flew overhead and a chattering squirrel high in a tree cursed them for intruding.

  “Two years ago, the man who owned this house passed away in his sleep,” she said. “He was eighty-nine. His kids don’t live close and had no use for it, but it took them a while to be ready to sell it. It’s been empty a long time, offered as is, and the price is fantastic.”

  Her quiet voice, soft, a little husky, definitely sexy, could mesmerize him if he didn’t guard against it. Again, he glanced up at the house. “It’s risky, buying a house as is.”

  “I know, but I have a big family.”

  He laughed. She had a huge family, scattered all over Buckhorn, living on the lake, in the town proper and a few on the outskirts. He’d grown up with some of them, but knew them all. They were good people, what many would call pillars of the community. Doctors, law enforcement, firemen and everything in between.

  She smiled with him. “Garrett knows houses. Maybe I’ll bring him with me when I go inside.”

  “You probably should have brought him for this trip.” Jax also knew houses, and he could look for her, but it’d be best if he let her family handle it. The less contact he had with her, the less tempted he’d be to get involved.

  Briana rolled her eyes. “The thing is...he’ll try to talk me out of it. He’s too protective, plus he knows Mom and Dad would be happiest if I just lived at home awhile longer.”

  “You don’t want to do that?”

  She shook her head. “I’m twenty-four now.”

  Because he was a year ahead of her in school, he already knew that. “So?”

  “So I spent my life sharing space with two sisters. I adore them, don’t get me wrong. Kady and April are the best sisters ever, and we get along really well, but...” She went flat on her back, one hand resting on her stomach, her eyes watching fluffy clouds move overhead. After a second she turned her face to see him. “I went from living at home with them, to sharing an apartment with several other girls in college. I’ve never been on my own.”

  “And you want that.” He said it as a statement of fact, not a question. He, too, had relished living on his own—but then they’d lost their parents and his siblings needed him. “You can convince your family because you’ll still be close.”

  “Exactly.” Sighing, she closed her eyes and smiled. “This is the best possible solution. I can afford to buy the house, I’ll be on my own, but I’ll only be a few minutes away.”

  That part about affording it made him curious. “You’ve got a job here already?” She’d only recently finished up college. It was a huge leap to go straight into a mortgage.

  “I had a job my last few years of college.” Rolling to her side, she propped her head on a hand and grinned. “I have a business degree, but I didn’t need that to work as a travel agent. In and around my schoolwork, I learned the business and now I’m a regional manager for the Parkside Agency.”

  Regional manager? Huh. Sounded like she’d done really well. “What does a regional manager do?”

  “I keep track of three different locations run by other people, on top of my own travel agent duties. I mostly work from home, but maybe twice a month I travel. Usually just in Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee, but sometimes to the destinations we use.”

  “Out of the country?”

  Sunlight danced over her fair hair as she shook her head. “That’s another person’s job. I’m strictly US and mostly in the Midwest, though I’ve been as far south as Florida and as far north as Michigan. Once to Maine, too. It’s beautiful there in the fall.” She tipped her head. “Do you like to travel?”

  He had no idea, since he’d never had the opportunity. Rather than answer, he pointed out an obvious issue. “This part of the county loses power a lot.” This road in particular was more remote than many others, with only a few houses spaced miles apart. Not much incentive for internet and phone companies to ensure good service. “Thunderstorm, heavy snow, and it goes dark. Wouldn’t that be a problem for you?”

  “Maybe, but I could always head to my parents’ home if that happened and I had to deal with something important. Plus I’ll put in a landline for business calls.”

  It wasn’t his place, but he didn’t like the idea of her being out here all alone. The nearest neighbor, an elderly couple, was a mile up the road. Jax hadn’t noticed any street lamps nearby, meaning it’d be dark as Hades when the sun set. He’d talk to Garrett about it, maybe lay a few hints about security lights and such.

  Suddenly Briana squawked, kicking and flailing and carrying on as if a squid had her by the ankle. She lurched to her feet, crashed into Jax and would have fallen into the lake if he hadn’t caught her.

  In one of her frantic gyrations, she managed to dislodge a thin, long-legged water spider from her knee. The poor thing hit the dock and scurried away in haste while Briana continued to shudder, sprawled over Jax’s lap, one arm around his neck while she slapped at her legs.

  “Hey.” Realizing she was truly terrified, Jax caught her hand, surprised at the red marks she’d left behind on her skin. “It’s okay. You scared it away.”

  Eyes wide, she stared at him, her breath heaving, then she squeezed close and hid her face in his neck. “There were two—and I hate spiders.”

  Two? He glanced around and saw one poor bug, now shriveled, near her hip. He deftly swept it away before she could see it. It fell between the cracks in the dock. “I imagine they feel the same about you now.” Automatically he stroked her narrow back and somewhere along the way, his fingers tangled in her hair. Soft, warm hair that smelled sweetly of shampoo...and woman. “They’re both gone now, I promise.”

  “I didn’t mean to freak out,” she whispered against his skin, making his muscles flex. “I’m sorry.”

  He’d hate to see her if she ever did mean to. Like a small tornado, she’d moved around the dock, destroying everything in her wake. Pretty sure his thermos was now somewhere on the bottom of the lake, along with the rest of his sandwich.

  At least she hadn’t knocked in his compact cooler.

  By small degrees the tension left her and she sank against him, her body relaxing into his, her breathing slowing.

  “Hate to be the one to point this out, but it might not be a good idea to live in the woods if bugs scare you like that.”

  Damn, he felt her smile against his
throat, then she leaned back and laughed. “I can handle most bugs. Bees, ladybugs, worms.” Her gaze moved to his mouth. She made no effort to leave his lap. “It’s just spiders that give me the willies.”

  That wasn’t a “give me the willies” moment. More like stark terror. “You’ll need to really clear the area around your house, then. Spiders like the woods.” He looked at her mouth, too.

  “I will,” she promised, easing closer.

  “Good.” He watched her lips part.

  And somehow, in the seconds that followed, he forgot everything...and kissed her.

  * * *

  BRIANA FOUND HERSELF flat on her back, Jax half over her, and honestly, she didn’t mind one bit. His big hands framed her face and he took her mouth like a starving man.

  She drifted her hands up his chest and over those rock-solid shoulders that were so sexy, they made her toes curl. Spiders lurked nearby; she knew that now—and yet she couldn’t seem to care. Not with his tongue playing over her lips, urging her to open more.

  She did.

  Not with the way he licked into her mouth, his tongue hot, his breath on her cheek hotter. His body shifted, moving subtly against her, and every nerve ending caught fire.

  See, she’d known it’d be like this with him. Hotter, more devastating than any other kiss with any other guy, ever. She didn’t even think about it when she curled one bare leg up and around his denim-covered thigh. She moved her hands down his back, loving the strength beneath her palms, all the way to his muscled backside—

  Jax abruptly sat up, staring at her in disbelief, his nostrils flared, hot aroused color slashed over his cheekbones.

  Trying to catch her breath and assimilate the sudden distance between them, Briana asked, “Did I go too far? No copping feels of your behind?” Voice lowering, she promised, “You have a really nice ass.”

  His eyes closed and he choked out a laugh before roughly running both hands over his face.

  Oh good. She’d made him laugh. Not exactly what she’d intended, but it was better than that stricken expression on his face.

  “Briana...” His jaw locked, and instead of saying anything else, he stood. “Come on. I need to get back to work.”

  Still on her back, her heartbeat gradually slowing its mad gallop, Briana studied him. “So...what’s going on?”

  Looking away from her, he gestured roughly with his hand. “Up. We need to go.”

  “Because?” She didn’t exactly feel like moving yet.

  “Because I have work.”

  Uh-huh. There was more to it than that—but at least now she knew he wanted her, too. She’d hold on to that. “And?”

  Shoving fingers through his hair, Jax turned back to her. “And that shouldn’t have happened. It can’t happen. No,” he said, cutting her off. “I’m not answering any more questions. Now do you want me to carry you up or would you rather take your chances with snakes?” For good measure, maybe to convince her, he added, “And spiders?”

  Huffing out a breath, she sat up and stretched. “When you were kissing me, I forgot about the stupid spiders.” She pushed to her feet and dusted off her backside. After slipping on her sandals, she said, “I think I was too turned on to remember things like spiders existed. You taste really good, and the way you use your tongue—oomph!”

  Without warning he again shouldered her and grabbed his cooler. His long strides up the hill weren’t gentle. She thought he might have even been stomping.

  Stubborn man. Briana laughed, because now she knew he wanted her. He might continue to deny it, but eventually he’d give it up.

  The second he set her on her feet, she blurted, “That one little taste wasn’t enough.”

  Already walking away, he replied, “It’ll have to be.”

  “I won’t accept that,” she called to his retreating back.

  He paused, his head dropped forward, and she held her breath.

  Come back to me, she thought. Tell me the problem. Make me understand and then maybe I can fix it.

  But no, after releasing a long breath, he continued on and got into his truck, even started the engine to get her moving.

  Blast. Taking the hint, Briana turned to get in her car, but added her own spin to the acquiescence by blowing him a kiss and then sashaying a little. When she glanced in the rearview mirror, she saw him grinning.

  Great. So he wasn’t a complete stick-in-the-mud. So far she’d gotten conversation, a short but scorching make-out session...and a grin. Overall she’d call that progress.

  After that kiss, she refused to be discouraged. Even more than that, the kiss made her want him twice as much.

  * * *

  FOR TWO WEEKS, Jax varied his schedule enough that he didn’t see Briana. It sucked because, damn it, he missed her.

  With very little effort, she’d become the bright spot in his week. Otherwise he worked all the overtime he could get, only to get home to Owen and Ella arguing about any of a dozen things.

  Owen was more protective than ever of his sister. Jax thought he probably feared losing her, too.

  Ella had turned her grief into rebellion, letting her grades drop and missing every curfew he set.

  If he didn’t love them both so much, he’d have throttled them both by now.

  Neither seemed to give a damn about housework, though Owen did at least keep the grass trimmed and Ella made sure her own clothes were laundered.

  He needed to lay down some rules, and then enforce them. But how?

  It was almost a relief when on the third week, he saw Briana sitting on the curb, drinking coffee and so obviously waiting for him.

  No, he didn’t smile—not on the outside anyway. On the inside, he lit up like Christmas morning. Damn, she was a feast for the eyes.

  To deal with the cooler morning, she wore pajama pants with little pink dogs printed on them, fuzzy house slippers and an oversize T-shirt. She’d contained her hair in a high knot atop her head, and he thought she was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen.

  Every night he relived that kiss—often letting his imagination carry on to a happier ending than the one he’d supplied.

  He hadn’t had sex on a dock since he was nineteen, but Briana had sure as hell tempted him. That’s all he needed—to be spotted by a fisherman, which would have the gossip traveling at light speed to his siblings and her massive family.

  Not the headache he wanted to deal with.

  Keeping that in mind, Jax tamped down the pleasure at seeing her and tried to put on his all-business face. He went to the back of the truck to get the cans sitting right beside her, saying blandly, “Morning.”

  She smirked. “Oh, be still my heart.”

  Nope. Didn’t want her heart involved at all. “‘Scuse me.” He snatched up a can in each hand and got to work.

  Her sigh was far too deliberately loud for him to miss it. “It would help,” she said, coming to her feet, “if you’d tell me what’s going on.”

  “I’m working.” God, he felt like a bastard. Giving up, he set the now-empty cans aside and faced her. “Briana, listen—”

  “I brought you coffee, too.” Pasting on a beautiful smile, she picked up a thermos and offered it to him. “I realized—well after the fact—that I knocked yours into the lake during my ‘oh God, there’s a spider’ performance way back, hmm, couple weeks ago, right? To show my remorse, this one is even full of coffee.”

  Jax didn’t accept it. “I already bought a new one.”

  Her smile still in place, she said through her teeth, “Now you’ll have two.”

  Never before had he realized just how pushy she could be. “Briana—”

  She plunked the thermos onto the back bumper and launched into a speech. “Garrett went out with me to look at the house. Guess what? I’m buying it.” Closer to him now, she leaned against the truck. “Garrett a
rgued fiercely against it, and the butthead even got my dad and uncles in on it, and Shohn and Adam, too. Can you believe that?”

  With what he knew of her family, yes.

  “But the girls were all on my side, and Amber especially lobbied on my behalf. You know how convincing she can be.”

  Her cousin Amber Hudson—now Amber Poet—was scary when she went into determination mode. If she set her mind to it, Amber could probably convince the lake to flow away from the dam. “Yeah, I know.”

  “And so, with opposing forces arguing it out—” she spread her arms “—I bought my very own house exactly two weeks after a certain tempting hunk kissed me senseless then bid me adieu, ignoring me to the point that I’m out here waiting on the curb—with the garbage—just to say hello.” She ended all that with another stunning smile.

  “You bought the house?”

  “Yup. Without inspections and all that, it takes a lot less time. Plus I’d already been approved for a home loan for more than what I offered, and what they accepted.” She sipped her coffee. “I’ll get to work right away on clearing out all the brush around the house, and an exterminator is top of the list. It needs paint and sprucing up. Curtains and other stuff. But hopefully I’ll be moving in within a couple of months.”

  It was the end of August. If she could get settled before winter, that’d be best. Maybe he could... No. Not his problem.

  Putting on his own smile, one that felt strained, Jax said, “Congratulations. I’m glad it worked out for you.”

  Tipping her head, she asked, “Will you be the one picking up my garbage?”

  Shit. He hadn’t even thought of that. See her every week? On isolated property? Not a great idea. “Maybe,” he hedged, not wanting her to make plans because if he could figure a way around it, he would.

  Without him realizing it, she stepped closer still, so close that his every breath filled his head with her scent.

  “I get that you’re dodging me.” Staring up at him, without makeup and her hair messy, she looked incredibly hot. “Will you at least tell me why?”