“Livie.” He put more force into his tone, one he’d used when he’d been a ranking officer in the air force. “Look at me.”
“I’ve got to get out of here.”
She muttered the statement as her eyes continued to search for her shoes. Jax closed the distance between them and grabbed her arms, hauling her against his chest. When she didn’t look up, he slid his finger beneath her chin and tipped her head.
“Relax. We’re adults.”
The flush to her cheeks, the moisture gathering in her eyes had his heart clenching. Yeah, whatever internal battle she faced had nothing to do with him. Jax knew he was just a minor component in her struggle, but he damn sure wasn’t going to let her sneak out of here like they’d done something wrong or dirty.
He wasn’t sorry she’d fallen asleep in his bed. For the first time in years, he wasn’t sorry he’d taken a woman to bed and had her by his side when he woke. He hadn’t done that since his marriage, mostly because he was busy being a single father and didn’t want to give Piper the wrong impression.
“No regrets, Livie.”
She chewed her bottom lip as her chin quivered. “This isn’t supposed to happen,” she whispered. “I’m not supposed to want this.”
A sliver of light cracked open that scar on his heart. “Neither of us wanted this,” he agreed, framing her face with his hands. “But here we are and I’m not sorry. I won’t let you be sorry either.”
Livie closed her eyes and blew out a sigh. “I can’t deal with these emotions right now. I need to find my shoes and figure out how to get out of here.”
He’d let her go, for now, but only because he had a toddler waiting on him who would be coming back up any minute if he didn’t get downstairs.
“Okay. I’m going to head downstairs. I will keep Piper in the kitchen mixing up the batter.” Reluctantly, Jax released her and stepped back. “Check the living room for your shoes and just head out the front door. Try not to make the knob click. Better yet, just leave the door slightly cracked. I’ll close it.”
She nodded. “Okay. Um . . . thanks?”
The fact this strong, independent woman felt awkward and out of her element gave him a bit of hope. He wanted her to be just as confused as he was because he had no clue where this was going or what the hell to do next.
But she was right. They could deal with the feelings later.
“No need for a thanks,” he replied. “I plan on doing this again.”
Her eyes widened as he leaned in for a quick kiss. He turned and left the room, leaving her with her mouth agape and speechless. Perfect, just how he wanted her. Let her think about that for a bit. Because, yes, he had no clue what they were doing, but he knew for certain that he wanted to do this again. He wanted her again.
As he bounded down the stairs, Jax figured he’d give Livie a day to come to terms with how she felt. Most likely she’d try to go back to being all business and focus on the plans for the airport . . . which they didn’t get around to discussing.
Well, she may try to get back to her CEO form, but he wasn’t having that. They’d crossed a line and he’d be damned if he’d let her go back.
* * *
Still barefoot, Olivia stepped into her back door. Two sets of eyes turned to look her way.
“Not one word,” she warned, closing the door at her back.
Melanie sipped on her green smoothie and Jade sank onto a barstool with her own glass of greens. Both were in their running gear, so Olivia had apparently missed out on their morning routine. Seemed to be a habit as of late. This entire town was messing with her life.
“You do the walk of shame, barefoot no less, and not expect us to say something?” Jade asked with a laugh. “It’s like you don’t know us at all.”
Olivia sat her purse on the counter and collapsed onto the barstool next to Jade.
“That must’ve been some kid party,” Melanie stated, a snarky smile on her face.
“I don’t even remember the party,” Olivia moaned. Had that only been yesterday afternoon? “So much happened since then.”
“We can be supportive and nosy at the same time.” Jade swirled the contents of her glass before tipping it back for a drink. “So, you went to the party, then we all went shopping and had a girl day. Fill in from after that until just now and where the hell are your shoes?”
“Probably under Jax’s couch,” she mumbled. “I’m going to need something stronger than a smoothie to get through this. Can someone get me a mimosa?”
Jade threw a glance to Melanie. “Heavy on the champagne.”
“What has happened to me?” Olivia muttered as she dropped her head into the pillow of her crossed arms. “I don’t do one-night stands.”
“Was this a one-time thing?” Melanie asked.
Jax’s parting words led her to believe this was just the beginning. But how could they continue? Wasn’t that just asking for a disaster neither of them had time for? What good would come out of an affair?
Her body still tingled, though. Spending the night in Jax’s bed had been . . . well, glorious. He wasn’t the cocky, egotistical man she’d first thought. He’d been attentive, giving, and oh so thorough.
The clink of the glass by her head had Olivia lifting herself up and reaching for the breakfast drink—because orange juice with anything was considered breakfast.
Olivia took a hefty drink, welcoming the cool, refreshing liquid. She gripped the glass with two hands as she sat it on the counter and stared at her manicured fingers.
“We ended up watching a movie and having popcorn with Piper.”
Melanie’s gasp echoed in the tiny kitchen.
