There is just something about the woman that makes everyone love her.
I know I do.
I try to push that thought aside, knowing that if I go down that road again, there is a good chance of getting hurt, of allowing my heart to be crushed to dust.
But as I walk her to her door that night, as I wait for her to find her key in her always oversized bag and then look back up at me with those entrancing green eyes, nothing could stop me from pressing my mouth to hers. Nothing could stop my arms from reaching around her body and pulling her tightly against mine, feeling every inch of her warmth seep into me.
The smell of her perfume hits me in the nose and spurs my actions, causing my hand to reach up into her hair and pull her chin up closer to mine, tilting my head to deepen the kiss, and the little moan that leaves her throat makes me wish I’d taken her back to my place instead.
Just when I think to suggest it, the porch lights flicker, making me release a groan at the familiarity of it and Felicity hiss while looking at the door. “I’m thirty, Dad!”
“You still live under my roof, young lady,” he calls back through the closed door.
I look at her, a grin stretching across my lips with her body still pressed to mine, and she looks back at me, unable to hold back the laugh that escapes.
“Just like old times, huh?” she asks, reaching up to scratch at my back, the exact same way she used to do, and I wish like hell I’d taken her to my apartment.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?” I tell her, seeing uncertainty slip into her expression.
“Jax—”
“Tomorrow.” I interrupt, not wanting to hear the excuses, not wanting to end this night on some fight, just wanting one thing in my life to go well.
Finally, she relents, letting me go, and nods. “Okay,” she whispers, a sweet smile gracing her lips. “See you then.”
20
jax
Bonnie Helix was actually reallyfunny.
Since being home, I haven’t made a lot of time to get to know my little brother’s girlfriend. They’ve been through enough stuff that giving them some space was what my family thought they would need.
But now, since we were planning to work on the rodeo school together—or at least try to—I was getting to see a side of Bonnie that I never have before.
“I can’t believe I did that,” Bonnie says, her eyes watering from the choking she inflicted on herself.
We were currently seated at Belle’s Bakery, a staple in our hometown and a place all of us kids used to come to all throughout high school. Bonnie had ordered a cinnamon muffin, and right after Aveline Hart—Belle’s daughter—had sat it in front of her, she took a huge bite, inhaling the cinnamon and promptly choking.
That wasn’t the funny part.
After the choking had finally calmed down, and I was sure that my brother’s girl wasn’t about to croak in my care, shelooked me dead in the eyes and said, “Don’t worry, I’ve choked on far worse.”
As her cheeks reddened in realization of what she said, I laughed so hard that I had tears coming down my face.
“Please pretend you never heard me say that,” she says, her cheeks still flushed as she takes a sip of her coffee.
“I will not,” I shake my head, still grinning. “That was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
She smiles just slightly then, clearly embarrassed but used to it. “Trust me, hang out with me long enough and you’ll hear my word vomit plenty.”
“Sounds good to me.”
We settle into discussion then, her with a vision for what we need to do and me following her lead. It seems Bonnie has done her fair bit of research.
“So we need the town’s council to approve it, which the mayor used to be in rodeo school back in his day, so I’m hoping that will persuade him.”
“Who’s the mayor these days?” I ask, a crinkle to my brow in question.
