Page 38 of Attraction & Repulsion

“I meant to ask you, are you a chef or something?” Carson asked.

He looked at her, then back to the red meat. “No. Why?”

“When I was at your house, I saw all of the knives on the wall.”

Jax tossed two thick ribeyes into the cart. “I think it’s important to have the right tools for each job.”

“So you don’t use the same knife to cube a steak and slice carrots?”

Jax gave Carson a repulsed look. “Never.”

They wandered into the dessert aisle. There were so many options to choose from: double-stuffed cookies, bags of hard candy, strawberry wafers, glazed donuts, every flavor of mints.

“So, you were inspecting my house, huh? Any other assumptions?” he asked.

“I assumed you had a Dalmatian, since you’re a firefighter.”

“Can’t. I’m allergic.”

“Allergic to dogs? That sucks.” It was difficult for her to imagine being unable to snuggle a puppy.

Jax grabbed a package of Oreos off the shelf. “Not just dogs. Practically any animal with hair.” He put the Oreos back and chose the off-brand version instead.

“Horses?” she asked.

“Yep.”

“Cats.”

“Swell up like a balloon.”

“What about hamsters?”

That made him think for a second. “I don’t think I’ve ever held a hamster.”

“There’s a pet store up the road,” Carson teased. “We can test it out.”

“You want to put my life in danger?”

“I know how to dial nine-one-one.” Carson winked.

Catching her by the elbow Jax pulled her toward him, pressing their bodies close together, his hand on the small of her back. “Wink for me again. That was sexy.”

She laughed.

“I see you found yourself a new girl,” interrupted a velvety voice.

Startled, Carson tore away from Jax.

Beady eyes adorned with fake lashes trailed up and down Carson, clearly not thrilled at what they were seeing. Hair extensions, long and full, cascaded past the woman’s face. A manicured finger steadily tapped against her inner bicep. The suede boots she wore consumed most of her legs.

Carson instantly recognized the woman from Modern Locks’ website while simultaneously feeling Jax’s body go rigid at the sight of his ex-wife.

“Is this why you won’t pay me anymore?” Kristen pouted, her bottom lip jutting out. “My lawyer will be interested to learn about your new little friend.” Venom curled around each word.

Jax, who still had an arm around Carson’s waist, pulled her closer to his body. “We’re not having this discussion.”

Carson glanced up at him shocked because she had never experienced Jax thisangry. Animosity rippled from him in waves. The muscles in his neck were taut, his jaw ticking.

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