“You need a ride?” Jax’s low voice behind me surprised me, that was all. That was the only reason I whipped around like I’d just been jolted by a live wire.
Jeez, Rose. Get a grip.
“Excuse me?”
Simone hovered by the door behind him, out of earshot and looking like she would have preferred to have been anywhere but here.
Jax gave me a lopsided smile that made me want to spin around all over again.
This time I’d make a run for it.
To be clear, smiles didn’t scare me. This guy didn’t scare me. It was just that a smile on this guy—
It was like time suddenly moved backwards and I was left reeling.
He hadn’t smiled at me like that since…
Well, since then. For two weeks that smile was my favorite thing on the planet. I’d known it wouldn’t last. I’d known it wasn’t just for me. But I’d let myself pretend, and sometimes pretending is good enough. It’s better than enough because there’s none of the inevitable downsides that come with the real deal.
I hadn’t seen that smile aimed in my direction in two years and the sight of it now, all sudden and unexpected…
I flailed.
“What did you—why—what—?” My arms knocked over the clipboard that some fool had set beside me on the edge of the stage.
Before I could pick it up, Jax was ducking down and snagging it. He handed it over with a satisfied grin.
Now that smile I knew well.
Cocky and assured, just like Jax. I was used to seeing this smile in the hall. Again, not aimed at me. I’d been invisible to this guy for years now, but at least this smile didn’t set off alarm bells.
I took back the clipboard with some semblance of grace, thank goodness.
“I’m giving Simone a ride home, I thought you might need a ride too since I didn’t see your car in the lot.”
I frowned. He knew my car? He’d been looking for my car?
What was going on here? I took a step back. “Uh, no, thanks. My friend is giving me a ride.”
“I could save your friend the trouble.” His gaze was fixed on mine and I had this horrible sensation of being in the crosshairs of a predator.
One thing I’d learned about Jax back in the day? He wasn’t what he pretended to be. Everyone else might buy his whole laid-back rocker guy image, but I knew better. I’d gotten an inside peek at the real guy behind the smirk, and let me tell you…he was intense.
He had a tension inside him that he hid well, but it was there. A live wire that when exposed made him practically vibrate with this intensity.
I sensed it now.
It was determination or drive or passion or…oh, who knew what it was fueled by. All that mattered was that it was there, and I could feel it and it was…terrifying.
I took another step back and gave myself a mental eye roll.
Jax Hadley was not terrifying. He was just a guy. And right now?
He was a guy with an agenda.
I shifted and made myself relax, taking a deep breath to get a freakin’ grip. “What’s with the sudden interest, Jax?”
He blinked but his smile never faltered. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, first you’re offering to be my knight in shining armor and now you’re offering me a ride home…”
His grin spread and holy freakin’ crap—how had I forgotten those dimples?
I blinked rapidly as my brain threatened to go on the fritz. Had I ever seen those dimples?
I didn’t think so.
Where the heck had he been hiding those when we were dating? I’d been cheated out of freakin’ dimples!
“Is it so wrong that I might want to help out a beautiful girl?” he teased.
He teased. That alone would have had those alarm bells ringing again, but it was that false note in his voice that had my gut sinking.
The guy might have been a hottie, but he was no actor.
Absolutely nothing about this moment rang true.
I resisted the urge to sneer in the face of his fake concern. If he’d begrudgingly offered me a ride I might have bought it but this…? He was up to something.
And I wanted to know what.
I eyed him, taking in his stance—the way he was leaning toward me ever so slightly. With heels, I stood eye to eye with him, and he was so close I could feel his breath on my cheek. He was moving ever closer, making this feel intimate and cozy.
I recoiled. “I’ll wait for Hannah, thanks.”
That stopped him from moving in any closer. “You sure?”
I nodded. “Thanks for the offer, though.”
He started walking backwards, his eyes glinting with warmth and humor and…
Gah! Sexiness. The guy exuded sexiness, which was a talent, in and of itself.
“See you around, Rose.” He winked. The rebel without a cause winked! What the ever-loving—
“Wait!” I called out.
He turned back and—that smirk. I was torn between wanting to smack it off his face and wanting to kiss him until he forgot his own name.
I blinked stupidly at the thought. No, you dope. You do not want to kiss this smug jerk.
He cocked his head to the side. “Change your mind?”
I shook my head as I sought out the mousy girl who seemed to be hiding behind him. “I just wanted a word with Simone before you both leave.”
Simone’s eyes widened. “Me?”
I nodded, thinking quick. “I need your input on the art budget.” I gave Jax my best ingratiating smile. He wanted a damsel in distress? Sure thing, buddy. Here she is. I fluttered my lashes with a coy smile. “You don’t mind waiting, do you?”
Smug didn’t begin to cover it. That slow lopsided grin was filled with so much satisfaction it made me sick. “Not at all.” He glanced over at his friend. “I’ll be in the lobby.”
Simone nodded and we both watched him leave before
