She turns to Jax. “She broke her leg riding her motorbike over a massive jump Jed dared her to go over. You’d think that was enough, wouldn’t you? Oh no, nothing is ever enough for my Laney. The next day, she got herself back to that track, put herself back on that motorbike and tried the jump again, just to prove Jed wrong. She fell off and broke her wrist.”

I huff and put my head in my hands.

Jax laughs.

“This doesn’t surprise me,” he says.

“See, even Jaxson knows what kind of girl you are.”

“Aunt Bett,” I scoff. “You know I had to take the jump again, Jed would have never let me live it down.”

“And at what cost?” She waggles her finger at me.

I roll my eyes and glance at Jax, who is staring at me with a grin. I look away just as a knock sounds at the door and I hear Jed yell out, “Laney, let us in!”

Kyle looks to me. “That’s Jed.”

He turns and opens the door, glancing at Jed and Mitch. He makes them go through the usual checks anyway, because it’s his job, and the two men let him without complaint. When they’re free to enter, Jed is the first to charge over and scoop me up into his arms.

“You’re crazy, fucking crazy.”

“Jed, you watch your mouth!” Aunt Bett scoffs.

“Hush, Mother, she’s hurt.”

I laugh and push back. “I’m fine, I’m just going to resemble a panda for a few days.”

“Unacceptable. You, princess, should always look like a butterfly.”

That’s Jed, always so dramatic.

Mitch steps up next and pulls me into his arms, holding me tight. I let him, needing his comfort. When we pull apart, he takes my face gently in his hands. “You okay, Laney girl?”

“I’m okay, nothing a few days’ rest won’t fix.”

“Fuck, you had me worried.”

I step back and glance at Jax, who is watching Mitch with a hard expression. He couldn’t be jealous, could he? My heart swells a little at that thought.

“Jed, Mitch, this is Jaxson Shields,” I say, waving my hand at Jax.

“Awesome to meet you, dude,” Jed says, stepping forward. “I stayed in your hotel last year. Epic.”

Jax takes his hand and smiles. “Thanks.”

Mitch is up next, and he studies Jax a minute before extending his hand. “Good to meet you, man.”

Jax nods and shakes his hand, but I don’t miss the way Mitch’s jaw tightens, because I know he squeezed far too hard.

“So, give us all the juicy details,” Jed says, sliding a chair out and flopping down. “What happened?”

“She’s not allowed to share details of her cases with anyone,” Kyle grunts.

“What’s up the fun police’s ass?” Jed mutters, glaring at Kyle.

I burst out laughing. “His head, now leave him alone.”

Everyone laughs now, well, everyone except Kyle.

“Did you try to give him a blow job like you did Nak?” Jed teases.

“I did not give Nak a blow job!” I protest. “I fell into his crotch.”

Jax’s brows shoot up. “Share,” he demands.

Jed turns to him. “She was trying to take him down, and ended up open mouthed on his…”

“He had clothes on!” I protest.

“Sure.” Mitch grins. “We’ve all seen Nak, it was no accident.”

“You’re telling me,” Kyle mutters.

I glare at him. “Shut up, Kyle, you’re only jealous it wasn’t you.”

He crosses his arms. “I don’t swing that way.”

“That’s not what I meant,” I say.

“Okay, kids,” Aunt Bett says. “That’s enough. I’m trying to make soup, it won’t be good for the soul if you’re all arguing.”

I smile at her. “Of course, Aunt Bett.”

For the next hour we all talk and laugh, seemingly at ease with one another. Jed tells us what he’s been doing, and they fire questions at Jax, which he answers with ease. When the soup is served, we all eat some, even if none of us actually feel like it, because Aunt Bett made such an effort. In the end, we all enjoy the warmth the soup brings.

Aunt Bett leaves just after that and Jed and Mitch tell me they’re going to follow. I get another big hug from Jed and Mitch holds my face in his hands, kissing my cheek softly and murmuring that he hopes I get better into my ear, and then they’re gone. I turn to Jax, and he’s watching Mitch go with a tight jaw.

His eyes finally move to me and he says in a tight voice, “Come on, you need to get some rest.”

He leads me back to my bedroom and pulls the covers on my bed back, saying nothing. His body is stiff and he’s looking anywhere but at me. I grab my nightie and go and change, then return to him staring out my window. “Is everything okay?” I ask.

He nods.

I walk up behind him. “Jax.”

“Are you sleeping with him?”

I blink.

“With who?”

“Mitch.”

I snort. “You already know the answer to that.”

“No,” he says, turning. “I fucking don’t.”

“What’s the problem,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “I don’t understand why you’re angry.”

“He’s in love with you.”

“And Tori is in love with you, but do you see me acting like a spoiled ass?” I spit.

His jaw tics and he growls, “He can have you.”

I narrow my eyes. “I’m sorry, what?”

“He can fucking have you.” He steps closer, leaning down. “And I can’t.”

Oh. Now it makes sense.

“No, he can’t,” I say, staring at his deep grey eyes.

He reaches up, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “If you wanted him to, he could.”

“But I don’t, Jax.”

He closes his eyes, almost pained. “You have an amazing family, amazing friends and you’ve made all your dreams come true. You’re an impressive woman, Delaney. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

“Even a man like you?”

His eyes open and he holds my gaze. “A man like me can never have a woman like you.”

“Why not?” I say, stepping closer, until our bodies are flush.

He reaches up and runs his thumb over the swelling on my cheek. “That’s why,” he says, his voice thick. Then he leans down and brushes his lips over the sore spot, before pulling back and turning his back to me. “Good night, Delaney.”

Then he walks out, leaving me completely speechless.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Being home is both good and bad. It’s good because I’ve been able to get the rest I need, but bad because not seeing Jax for the last two days has been hell. He hasn’t spoken to me, hasn’t called to see how I am, nothing. I know he’s trying to stay away from me after the moments we’ve been having, and I understand why, but it still sucks.

Big time.

Jed and Mitch have kept me company, but both of them have to work so they’ve only been coming by at night. I’m trying not to bother Aunt Bett and Uncle George too much, though I did go over and carve with Uncle George last night. Now I’m at my apartment, I’ve finished cleaning it, I’ve gone to the store, and I’m still restless.