Page 57 of My Vigilante Valentine

I went for a cookie, feeling like it was the right time. “Rules?”

He pushed his laptop aside. “If we’re gonna do this, we need to be smart about it.”

“Okay...” I leaned forward, propping my elbows on the table. “What do you have in mind?”

“Boundaries, for starters.”

“Ah, I bet you love a good brick wall.”

He lowered his chin. “We should tell each other what we’re comfortable with and what we’re not.”

I tried very hard not to think about all the things I was comfortable with if they had anything to do with Jax.

And the things I wasn’t?

Well, shoot.

As long as we were staying alive, let’s just say there wasn’t much by way of PDA-serial-killer-bait that I would say no to.

“Makes sense,” I said, proud of how steady my voice was. “I’m listening.”

He shifted in his seat. “Public displays of affection. We need to establish what’s acceptable.”

“Right. Because The Valentine Villain targets couples who are basically all over each other.”

More shifting.

Oops.

“Exactly,” he agreed, and now it was his turn to reach for a cookie.

“So...” I dragged the word out. “What areyoucomfortable with?”

He bit his bottom lip as he thought about it, and yes, the move absolutely had me hoping he’d start with things that involved lips.

“Hand holding,” he said finally, dashing my dreams. “And, I guess... hugging?”

“Sheesh, don’t sound so excited. There’s no harm in a hug, right?”

He angled his head as he chewed, bringing his free hand parallel to the table before tilting it in an“Eh” sort-of move.

I chuckled. “You’ll get used to them.”

“And… what are your thoughts on kissing?” he ventured, his eyes going all swirly and dark again.

But before I could answer, the muted TV mounted in the corner caught my attention. Or rather, the breaking news banner that scrolled across the screen did.

Valentine Villain Causes More Couples to Cancel Dates This Week

The good vibes at our table disappeared the second Jax followed my gaze, and his mood turned lethal as he read the headline. I saw his jaw clench as the rest of his body went still, almost like he was already making tiny adjustments to our approach.

“Guess it’s not surprising,” I whispered. “Four couples in less than two weeks would make anyone nervous to go out.”

He eyed me carefully. “But not you?”

I shook my head.

Jax’s hand found mine across the table, and this time, there was nothing fake about the gesture.

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