Page 34 of Sexted By Santa
“The little dictator has demanded it.”
I tilted my head. “You really do everything for that girl, don’t you?”
“She’s family.”
He crouched back down to pull cords from the box, and I joined him, giving my own nervous hands something to do. I probably wouldn’t get a better opening to ask him to come to Henry’s dinner party. “Speaking of family…”
“Yeah?” he asked without looking up.
“I kind of told my Aunt Henry I’d bring you as my plus one to her dinner party.”
Jaxson didn’t even pause, still pulling at cords, unknotting and unthreading them in a careful dance of green plastic and colored bulbs. “Another fake date? Careful, Christian. I’m going to think you actually want to spend time with me.”
His voice was light, joking. He had no idea how it twisted me up, because Ididwant to spend time with him. I’d been too quick to agree with Henry about bringing a date, too quick to think Jaxson was the answer to my problems.
But it was foolish. If I’d learned anything from my experience with Fynn—and the string of bad relationships that came before him—it was that I couldn’t simply be with a man because I wanted him. A successful relationship required a lot more than attraction.
“Henry was worried about me and pressing me to let her set me up,” I said stiffly, self-conscious after Jaxson’s joke. “I really can’t abide setups.”
Jaxson grinned at me, making my heart jolt. “You never know, you might do better than a fake date with a neighbor.”
“I don’t want to do better,” I said irritably.
His eyes met mine, searching. “Is that so?”
Why did this conversation feel like such a landmine? I tugged at my wool coat, feeling hot, even on the cold December day.
“I know it’s an inconvenience. It’s all adults, and Tori probably won’t find it as fun as the holiday party, but you could bring her if necessary. And, uh, I could help you with these lights in return? One favor in exchange of another, like before.”
Jaxson sat back on his haunches and studied me for a minute that seemed to stretch into an eternity. I was overcome by the urge to fidget, but I forced myself to remain still and meet his gaze. He had the prettiest blue eyes: not light like the sky, but a deeper almost royal blue that was layered and textured with different shades. Despite his age, his eyes seemed to belong to someone much older. Life had made him that way, perhaps. Becoming a father so young, being responsible for another’s life. Or maybe Jaxson was naturally an old soul. Whatever the reason, I didn’t feel like I was sharing this moment with a young man, or someone the least bit vulnerable to me. If anything, I felt as if he had power over me.
Jaxson was too appealing. He was a danger to the boundaries I’d set up to protect myself against another disaster like my marriage to Fynn. I had to remember that old soul or not, he was only twenty-six. Far too young to be anything more than a friendly fake date or two to me.
“When’s the dinner party?” he asked.
“Friday night.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I’ve promised Tori she can spend the night with a friend. Friday could work.”
“You’ll go?”
He glanced down at the mess of lights. “You’ll really help me with this?”
“Yes,” I said. “But it’d be easier if we could use my lights. I have some still new in the box. It would speed up this process.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I haven’t seen you put up lights in a couple of years.”
“Not recently, no. I only did it for Fynn.”
“Your husband?”
I nodded sharply. “Ex now.”
“I’m sorry.”
I wet my lips nervously. “I feel I should give full disclosure.”
“About what?”
