Page 25 of His Secret Obsession

“Is that a trick question?” He can’t be serious. But he merely arches an eyebrow, waiting expectantly, the self-entitled asshole. “Did you forget the part where my cheating ex-boyfriend lives there?” I ask dryly.

“Not for the next three months. That’s plenty of time to save up for your own apartment.”

My heart begins to pound as my adrenaline rises at the thought of this crazy, hair-brained idea. It could never work. Me and Jax in the same house? It’s dangerous for a multitude of reasons. Until recently, we barely got along. And here lately, I’m noticing more and more how unfairly attractive he is. Not to mention, my still very confusing and conflicting feelings about the way he watched me with Luke.

Although, I don’t particularly like the idea of sleeping on Hazel’s couch for the next few months. My neck already feels like it has a permanent crick in it. But I get the feeling that being alone with Jax on a regular basis is going to be riddled with temptation. Just the idea of it makes me nervous and antsy. And…weirdly pleased, which in turn makes my palms sweaty. My brain scrambles to come up with another excuse.

“Word is going to get out that I broke up with him. If people know I’m still living with you, they’re going to talk.”

“Ah, I see,” he says quietly.

“Yeah, exactly,” I say, relieved and only a little disappointed we are both on the same page now.

“Then I’m sorry,” he continues, tapping a credit card on the counter.

I give him a perplexed look. “Why? You have nothing to be sorry about.”

“I’m sorry I gave you the impression that I give a single fuck what other people think about me,” he snaps. Something flashes in his eyes.

Oh.

He grits his teeth. “What time do you get off work?”

“Uh—in like five minutes,” I say, hesitating only briefly, my eyes darting to the nearest clock.

“Good. Meet me outside when you’re finished.” He grabs the bags of pillows that he definitely doesn’t want.

“Why?”

“Because,” he says, giving me a stern look. Honestly, it’s pretty fucking hot. “We’re going to get your shit off of Hazel’s couch and go home.”

Home.

The word makes my heart squeeze, and I remain silent for a moment. I feel my resolve crumbling. “I haven’t agreed to that yet.” The protest sounds weak.

A deep chuckle rumbles out of his chest, and it makes my knees tremble. “I wasn’t asking, sweetheart.”

With that, he turns and walks out the door. My head slowly turns towards Hazel, my mouth still hanging open.

“What the heck just happened?” I ask.

“Are you still sure you don’t want to bang his brains out?” Hazel asks, giving a pointed stare towards the door. “I’ll ride him if you won’t.”

“Hazel! You are absolutely shameless!”

I throw a wadded-up receipt paper at her while she cackles.

Jax

“Why are spiders so smart?” Andrew asks. I groan from underneath a Jeep, his black work shoes appearing in my line of vision as he stands next to the jacked-up vehicle. Briefly, I wonder if banging my head against the garage floor will make him go away.

“Don’t you have a job to do?” I mutter, cursing when a wrench slips from my hand. It clatters to the floor, the sound making me flinch.

Andrew, as usual, isn’t at all perturbed by my attitude. “Because they can find everything on the web!” His boisterous laughter has me clamping my lips together.

I grunt. “Get the fuck back to work.”

“Oh, come on. That was funny!”

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