Page 52 of His Secret Obsession

My heart performs a little flip-flop, and I place a gentle kiss on his chest. “So, we have a few months to get this out of our systems, yeah?”

He swallows. “Yeah.”

“We’ll make the most of it,” I whisper.

“Of course we will.”

Neither of us says anything after that, and I resolve not to bring the subject up again. I don’t want to talk about our past when we have so little time to enjoy each other in the present. I’m going to spend the next few months soaking up every second I can get with Jax Parker. Then I’m going to hold onto those memories when I walk away.

Because I will have to walk away.

I cannot be his dirty secret forever, and I’m not delusional enough to think that he would ever choose me over his own brother.

He’s a protector at heart, and he’ll deny both of us if it means he can shelter his baby brother from the betrayal.

Despite my tumultuous thoughts, sleep tugs at my consciousness and pulls me under again. I succumb willingly,still held in his arms like I’m something precious while his fingers graze up and down my back. The action doesn’t feel causal and neither do the sweet endearments that have been slipping out of his mouth, the possessiveness he displays, or the warm embrace that makes me feel cherished and protected.

No, it doesn’t feel casual at all.

Not to my heart.

Pounding on the front door startles me awake, and I come to with a yelp. Jax curses beneath me as I bolt up in the bed, my hand flying to my chest. My heart bangs against my rib cage as I rub the sleep out of my bleary eyes. Jax scrambles out of the bed, yanking his feet into a pair of Wranglers. I quickly climb out of bed as well, frantically scanning for my own clothes. Another round of pounding makes me jump.

“Hold your horses! I’m comin’!” Jax bellows, before turning to me with a frown and lowering his voice. “Stay here until I know who it is.” Then he’s barreling through the doorway, his heavy footsteps loud as they descend the staircase.

I scowl at the now empty space, picking up Jax’s discarded shirt from last night and throwing it on. It goes far enough past my thighs that I don’t have to worry about flashing anyone. “Like hell am I going to stay behind.”

I rush out of the room that still smells like sex, taking long strides to catch up to him. He notices me just as his hand wraps around the door handle, and his eyes flutter shut before pinning me with a disapproving expression.

“Jesus, Maddie. There could be a robber at the door, and you want to answer it half-naked?”

“A robber is politely ringing your doorbell at eight o’clock in the morning?”

He points a finger at me. “I’m warning you right now, whoever is on the other side of this door better not stare at those sexy as fuck bare legs. If they do, I’m going to jail today.”

I bite down on my bottom lip, but a choked laugh still escapes. His lips twitch, and he shakes his head before pulling the door open.

A sheepish-looking Andrew stands in his work uniform on the other side. With him is a frail-looking, elderly woman with silver hair. She wears a floral-patterned dress with a green cardigan sweater and the brightest shade of red lipstick I’ve ever seen. She gives Jax a wide grin before her eyes immediately dart to me. She looks me over, her expression lighting up with something I can’t discern.

“Andrew? What the hell are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be working?” Jax crosses his arms over one another, frowning before his gaze slowly moves over to the woman. His tense stance relaxes, and he moves forward to kiss her on the cheek.

“Everything okay?” he asks her.

“Oh sure, I get a‘What the hell are you doing here?’” Andrew begins, mimicking Jax’s deeper voice. “Meanwhile, you fuss over her.” When he jerks his thumb towards the woman, Jax gives Andrew a dark scowl.

“Stop it, the both of you! I want to meet your lady friend.” She winks at me, holding out a hand. “My name is Mary! I used to babysit the Parker men. I hope this one is being a gentleman.” She nods towards Jax, and I chuckle quietly before stepping forward to shake her hand.

“I’m Maddison. I’m…uh, staying here for a while,” I finish lamely. Her responding smirk seems a little too knowing.

“We actually come bearing bad news,” Andrew says, his eyes sliding to Mary.

Her smile slips, and she gives Jax an apologetic grimace. “I’m sorry, dear, but I may have had a little accident.” She holds up her index and thumb finger in a pinching motion.

Jax gives her a curious look. “What kind of accident?”

“Well, I may have accidently hit the gas pedal instead of the brake when I was turning into the driveway of the shop. And I sort of hit your sign out there.” She winces. “I’ll pay for the damages, of course.”

“Are you okay?” There’s a flash of concern on his face as he scans her up and down before spinning on his heel to grab a set of keys that hang nearby. “Do you need to go to the hospital? I can take you—”

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