Page 42 of My Vigilante Valentine

“Iamstepping up,” he ground out.

“Then let me help you.”

Everything about Jax went rigid, and there was a flicker of something in his eyes. Was it fear? Frustration?

Maybe both.

But he shook his head, and his answer was firm and final. “No.”

The single word hit me like an anvil, solid and crushing. I stared at him, wheels turning because I wasn’t ready to let this plan go.

Then, I blurted, “Fine. What if Chris and I pretended to date?”

His grimace was immediate, like I’d just suggested we lick a subway pole. In fact, I was pretty sure he’d actually shuddered.

Or was that me?

“Yeah, okay, that would be weird,” I admitted, trying not to laugh. “Forget I said that. I’d hold his hand, but I draw the line at staring lovingly into his eyes.”

Jax rubbed his jaw again, exhaling raggedly.

But I hadn’t missed it—the way he’d twitched at the mention of me dating Chris. Not jealousy. Just… territorial confusion, maybe?

Or maybe, it had nothing to do with Chris. Maybe it was that if anyone was going to fake date me and get to witness my loving looks, he wanted it to be him?

Hah. Get it together, Luna. This is why we don’t make up stories in our head. Back to reality.

Jax paced the small storage room, his footsteps muffled by the old, scuffed linoleum. The tension radiating off him burned intensely enough to steep a cup of tea—strong, bitter, and probably not great for my health.

“Listen, I know dating—fake or otherwise—isn’t at the top of your to-do list, but you have to admit the plan has merit.”

“The plan isreckless,” he growled, turning sharply to face me, eyes dark and stormy.

I held out my arms, refusing to back down. “It doesn’t seem any riskier than the stuff you do to catch the bad guys around here.”

For a long beat, he said nothing.

Then, quieter, almost like it cost him something to admit, he muttered, “It’s not the same. I have… advantages.”

My curiosity ignited faster than a match in a fireworks factory.

Was he finally going to tell me how he moved as fast as he did? Why he was so strong, or how he could dodge a hit like his reflexes were of the superhuman variety?

“Like what?” I asked, straining to keep my voice calm.

He scrubbed a hand over his face.

And then, finally, he leaned against the wall of coffee bean boxes.

I held my breath as he crossed his arms, taking it for the cue that it was:

Jax Thorne planned to open up, and unless I wanted him toclamup instead, I better not make a big deal about it.

Message received.

11

i’m here for it

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