Page 18 of Mr. Arrogant

“What did you say?” Bindy looked around Jaxon so she could see Sofie.

Jaxon didn’t miss the glare Alana sent Sofie.

“I said that’s so nice of him.” Sofie cleared her throat.

Bindy’s face softened. “He’s been the perfect gentleman,” she exclaimed.

London, Alana, and Sofie all pretended to choke on their food and drinks. They fell into a fit of laughter while Bindy looked at them, amused.

“Really?” Jaxon snorted. He shook his head and bit back a grin.

They thought they knew him well. He could be a gentlemen when he wanted. Bindy had been correct. They had met at the resort’s gym. He had seen a blonde with mile-long legs working on her squats while holding a twenty-pound dumbbell. He had gone over near her to grab a couple of dumbbells when he’d noticed she was crying while working out.

“Are you okay?” Jaxon asked.

“I will be, I guess,” the blonde replied. She sniffed and placed the dumbbell back in the rack with its mates. She scrubbed at her cheeks with her hands and stared at herself in the mirror. “I probably look horrible.”

“You look fine for someone who obviously is going through something,” he stated.

She didn’t look bad, but there were red splotches on her face. Jaxon didn’t do well with crying women or kids. He glanced around, but there were two other people in the gym, and they appeared to be together.

“Is there someone I can go call for you?”

She snorted and shook her head. She took her hair down from the bun and began fixing it. “To be honest, I’m supposed to be here with my husband for our honeymoon, but he ran off the night before we were to be married with his best man.” She turned to him with her red-rimmed eyes. “Am I stupid for coming here on my own?”

Jaxon immediately felt sorry for her. He could be an ass at times, but there was a good guy inside him. She was obviously hurting. One thing Jaxon respected was the sanctity of marriage. He had grown up with a wonderful example of a perfect marriage. His parents were still in love with each other after all of these years. He wanted that with his future wife.

“No, I don’t think it’s stupid for you to take a paid vacation that I’m sure you helped pay for. Why waste it?”

“He paid for everything.” She sniffed.

“Even better,” he joked.

That won him a smile.

“Hi, I’m Bindy.” She stuck her hand out to him. When she smiled, she could be considered pretty.

“Jaxon,” he said and took her hand in a firm shake. “Question for you. How did you not see what was between your ex and his friend?”

That earned him another smile. After that, they met at the gym and lifted together.

“I’m not that bad,” Jaxon muttered. Bindy needed an ear, so he’d lent her his. He would have to admit if he would have met her before coming to the tropics, he would have invited her out for a night of pleasure to keep her mind off her pain. But now all he could think about was the woman who sat next to him and had yet to speak with him.

So Jaxon did something the hadn’t done before.

Befriended a woman he hadn’t slept with

“Thanks for having me,” Bindy said. She waved at everyone.

They were in front of the restaurant. London and Alana appeared to like Bindy. Sofie was just so damn stubborn. She had yet to speak to him. Each look he’d received held a threat to his life.

“Don’t be a stranger while still on the island,” London said.

“Goodnight,” Alana said. She gave a little wave before turning to Sofie.

The girls entwined their arms and began walking away. London tossed him a wink then jogged after the girls.

“Come. I’ll walk you to your bungalow.” Jaxon rested a hand on the small of Bindy’s back.

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