They both shake their heads, and I search for something else to say. I’m about to ask them about their tans, when Judy says, “Cassie is a very special girl.”
“Yes she is,” I agree. “Very smart, too.”
“She needs stability.”
I think about my own childhood. “All kids do.”
“I’m glad you understand that,” Karl says, his eyes narrowing. “She can’t have people coming and going from her life. It’s not healthy.”
Dammit, he’s right, and I never should have inserted myself into their lives or blurted out that I was Jaxon’s girlfriend. I have no idea what happened to Cassie’s mother, or why these two seem to hate Jaxon so much, but when Cassie told them I was his girlfriend, I jumped on it. Not because I wanted that to be true. I don’t. But because I didn’t want them to think he was an irresponsible man who had women coming and going from Cassie’s life.
Needing to busy myself, I fill a carafe with water and pour it into the coffee maker. As I reach for the coffee grounds, I shake my head at this insane turn of events, considering less than an hour ago, I was trying to sneak away, prepared never to set eyes on Jaxon again and find another way to pay off my vehicle repairs. Now I’m pretending to be his girlfriend.
Way to make a mess of things, Rachel.
“Do you live here?” Judy asks. The question takes me by surprise. Then again, I am in his clothes so why wouldn’t they jump to that conclusion.
“I actually live next door. My bathroom was occupied after work, so I used Jaxon’s shower, and forgot to bring a spare change of clothes.”
I suck in a breath of relief when I hear footsteps running down the hall, putting an end to the interrogation.
“I’m ready,” Cassie says, and leaps into her grandfather’s arms. Jaxon tugs on a t-shirt as he comes in behind her,
Cassie reaches out for her grandmother’s hand, and I stay put in the kitchen, as Jaxon walks them to the door. I press start on the coffee maker and even though I don’t want to eavesdrop, I can’t help but hear the tense exchange regarding Cassie’s return time on Monday. A few seconds later, I turn to face Jaxon in the kitchen. I expect anger—after all I never should have announced that I was his girlfriend—but what I see instead tugs at my heart.
“Thanks,” he says quietly, and drives his hands into his pockets, forcing them lower on his hips.
“You shouldn’t be thanking me.” I lean against the counter, and fold my arms over my chest. “I think I might have made things worse for you.”
“How so?”
“They think I’m your girlfriend, Jaxon.”
“Yeah.” He frowns. “Why did you do that, anyway?”
“I didn’t like the way they were looking at you. Like you weren’t a good father. I didn’t want then to think you brought a different girl home all the time.”
He sways on his feet. “I don’t.”
“I know.”
One brow arches. “How do you know that?”
“Neighbors, remember?” No need to tell him I watch from my bedroom window all the time. He grins, and spears his fingers through his hair. “They didn’t seem to like me very much,” I add.
He shakes his head. “They don’t like anyone.”
“They really don’t like you.”
“No kidding. They blame me for…” He goes quiet—like he’d said too much already—and puts his hands over his head. He grips the door frame until his knuckles turn white. This is all very much a sore spot for him. I stand facing him in silence, the only audible sound in the room the coffee percolating. I want to ask about Cassie’s mother—why she abandoned them, and if that’s what his in-laws blame him for—but can’t seem to bring myself to do it.
“I made coffee for you,” I say. “I should get going.”
I step toward the door he’s occupying, expecting him to move, but he doesn’t. Instead he stands there, his hands dropping to his sides, intense blue eyes trained on me. My God, he’s the nicest looking man I ever set eyes on and I want him again.
“Last night,” I begin. “That probably shouldn’t have happened.”
“But it did.”
“It can’t happen again.”
“Why not?” There is a teasing edge to his voice. “You are my girlfriend.”
I’m also trouble. Trouble he doesn’t need in his life. If my ex ever came looking for me, no way would I want to bring that kind of danger into this household. Not that I don’t think Jaxon can take care of himself. Of that I’m certain. But Cassie needs rainbows and butterflies, not crazy, jealous ex boyfriends who pose a danger. She’s clearly been through enough already. So has Jaxon, judging by the pain ghosting his eyes.
“Jax—”
He presses his thumb to my lip, and warm sensations travel all the way to the needy juncture between my legs. “Rach,” he says. “I want you again. Tell me you don’t want me, and I’ll leave it at that. I swear to God, I’ll never ask again.”
I open my mouth to tell him I don’t want him, but instead find myself saying, “I…I want you.”
Oh, God how I want him.
He bends forward, presses warm lips to mine and my body instantly heats. He steps into me, his big hand going to the small of my back to anchor my body to his. His arousal presses against my stomach, and a whimper of need catches in my throat. I kiss him back, palm his body, but then a small working brain cell sounds alarm bells in the back of my brain, reminding me of my goals. It takes every ounce of strength I possess to break the kiss, and push back.
“We can’t do this.”
The heat in his eyes evaporates in an
