“Okay, this is how we put the chalk on the cue.” I do mine then hand it to her. My gaze rakes over her face, and I fucking hate that she has so many demons. I know it’s not my business, but goddammit, I want her to talk to me.
“I’ll break,” I say. I position the white cue ball, and crack the balls. I sink two low, and explain the rules to her as I move around the table, sinking a few more.
“Hey, you’re pretty good at this.”
“Not as good as me,” Sam says and Rachel laughs as she offers him up another mozzarella stick. We both take a sip of beer, and I teach her how to hold the stick for her shot. She bends over the table, and a groan I have no control over crawls out of my throat.
“You okay over there, buddy?” Jaret asks.
“Fine.”
“Sounds like you’re having a hard time,” Sam pipes in accentuating the word hard, and the guys all start laughing.
Clowns, every one of them.
Why again did I bring Rachel here?
“Hey, Marissa said you were out here,” Jericho says, coming up to give me a hug as Rachel takes her shot. My friend has that same look in his eyes from the day he stopped at my place. I never did get to ask him what was going on.
She makes her shot and beams at me. “Must be beginner’s luck.”
“Maybe I’m a good teacher.”
“I’m a better teacher,” Sam pipes in.
“So this must be the neighbor you told me about,” Jericho says, and smiles at Rachel.
Rachel looks a bit alarmed. “You…told your friend about me?”
Instead of answering, I say, “Rachel, this is Jericho.” I pat my buddy on the shoulder. “I probably wouldn’t be where I am today if it wasn’t for him.”
“Nah, you’d have been just fine,” Jericho says, but we both know that’s not true. “He’s like a cat. He always lands on his feet.” I stare at my buddy. Is he talking about Sarah leaving me? Fuck, I never thought I’d get over that, that my world would have righted itself again.
Sam takes a shot and grunts. “Jaxon won’t let his new girlfriend play with us.”
“I don’t blame him,” Jericho say.
“She’s only with him because he saw her first.”
“Sam, shut the hell up,” Jericho says and shakes his head. “Even if she wasn’t with him, something tells me she’s too smart for your bullshit.”
Sam pouts and grins at Rachel as he points to an onion ring. She nods and he scoops it up and tosses it into his mouth.
“It’s nice to meet you, Rachel.” He takes her hand in his. “Jaxon was very lucky he met you first.” He turns to me and winks, and it’s ridiculous how happy I am that she fits in here with the guys I think of as family. “You’re lucky I didn’t find her first.”
From the corner of my eye, I catch the alarm on Rachel’s face. Jericho is still looking at me when he lowers his voice and says, “Can I speak to you in private for a moment.”
13
Rachel Rachel
It’s late by the time we finally make it home. I stifle a yawn as I exit the car, and glance at my house. At least tonight’s party hasn’t spilled out onto the lawn. The cold weather must be keeping them all inside. I glance up to my bedroom, and it’s pitch dark. A smile touches my mouth. It was so thoughtful of Jaxon to put a lock on my door. Not that I’ve been spending a heck of a lot of time in there.
As I meet Jaxon at the front of the car, I give more thought to his offer. While I’d like to quite Pizza Villa, is spending more time with him smart? I always prided myself on my intellect, but the things I’ve been doing lately…well, not conducive to keeping a low profile and my brain focused only on school.
“Tired?” Jaxon asks.
“It’s been a long day.”
“Let’s get you inside and into bed. You could use a good night’s sleep.”
It was true. I did need sleep, but I have no idea how much time I’ll have left with this man and I want to make the most of it. After Mom died and I was left with my father, I didn’t have the luxury of feeling safe, or just letting go. Then my ex came along, and I found myself in another bad situation. But with Jaxon, he’s big and strong—much like the abusive guys in my life—but he’s caring and protective, and doesn’t frighten me at all. In fact, everything about him warms and comforts me, which has my thoughts racing to the bag I packed earlier.
We step inside the house and the noise next door dulls as we shut the world out. “How about a drink before bed,” I say as we walk shed our coats.
“Sure. Beer or wine?”
“I think I’ll have a glass of wine.” I go up on my toes and kiss him.
As his mood changes, his eyes dim with desire. “What was that for?”
“I had fun tonight, even though your friend Sam is a little crazy.”
He laughs. “That’s one word for it.”
“I’ll be right back.”
Cupboards open and close, followed by the fridge as I hurry down the hallway. I grab my bag and slip into Jaxon’s bedroom. I draw his curtains, then hurry into the cute outfit I borrowed from my roommate. I examine myself in the mirror. Sylvie should be happy to know her costume was definitely going to get some action.
I crack the door and pad quietly down the hall, I peek into the kitchen but Jaxon isn’t there. With one hand behind my back, I take a few more steps and find him sitting on the sofa, a remote in one hand as he flicks through the stations, a beer in the other.
Without looking up he
