Page 75 of Reckless and Rooted
“I think it’s a good fit,” he says to me as he pauses his pacing. I am dead tired, my body feeling like it’s not my own as I float in the bed. I’m not sure I’ve ever felt so tired in my life.
My lips curve into a soft smile, and I ask, “What is?”
Jax looks over at me, smiling at my form. Probably because I look like death. “Lawson. It’s a good name. Strong.”
I nod my head. “You picked it.”
“Nah,” he says in return, his eyes landing on Lawson again as he moves to the rocking chair. He’s a natural as a dad already. I can picture him in the future, teaching him everything he needs to know, and my heart squeezes painfully in my chest. Good pain, not bad.
“You did.” I chuckle lightly, moving with slight pain in my abdomen and adjusting until I am comfortable. “I thought he was a girl.”
Jax smirks, adjusting Law to one arm and relaxing into the chair. “I knew he was a boy. Could feel it.”
“You’d think I would be the one able to feel it,” I reply, sensing the slightly put-out tone of my own voice.
“Doesn’t matter, City Girl. Our boy is happy, and you’re both healthy. All is well.” Jax is so calm, so sure in his role that it gives me my own boost of confidence.
“Are you okay?” I ask, finally having the brain capacity to ask. “You got here so fast. I assume it’s because you were nearby?”
Jax looks up at me for a moment, his lips pursed in thought. “Mitch and I were in Denver.”
I frown, watching him. “What for?”
He sighs and runs his free hand over his mouth. “I hate telling you about this now. You just had a baby. You don’t need stress.”
“Stress?” I push myself up a little, wanting to give him my full attention and not accidentally fall asleep on him.
“We can talk about this once we’re home, City Girl.” His brush-off is all I need to know that this has something to do with those guys a few months ago. I never asked about it, thinking he needed time to figure things out.
But now, with a baby here, with this huge responsibility, I want to know what danger could be lurking in the shadows for Jax and if it is going to affect my son.
“I would like to know what’s going on,” I say, trying for the mature adult response.
“Okay.” He clears his throat, pushing his leg to keep the chair rocking, and looks to me. “Those guys a few months ago, they work for my dad.”
My brows draw together in confusion. “Your dad? I had no idea you talk to your dad.”
He nods his head, looking at Law. “He started coming around a few years ago, found me on the circuit.”
“Okay,” I reply, looking for an answer he wasn’t providing. “What happened?”
“I was an idiot is what happened,” he responds, shaking his head. “I fell for his lines, took him at his word. Pushed Mitch away because I wanted to be right. I wanted to finally have a dad that I could talk to, that would be there for me. But I was far from right.”
Jax sighs, keeping his voice low so he doesn’t disturb Lawson. “I got into it with him, just weed. But it affected memore than it should have.” He shakes his head before looking at me. “But I quit, City. I promise. I don’t do that anymore. I don’t touch it.”
“I believe you.” And I did. We’ve been living together for a few months and not once has he acted like someone who needed a fix to get through the day. I would know. Being in Hollywood, touring the country with musicians, you see everything. Things you wish you could unsee.
He blows out a breath, maybe one tinged with relief, before continuing. “Well, Mitch looked him up because he obviously found me again.” He shakes his head. “But we went there to tell him to back off, to not contact me.”
I frown, watching the man I love intently. “What does he want?”
“Money,” Jax answers, before looking over at me again. “I already paid everything I owe. But he wants more. And it’s not like he hands out receipts for this stuff.”
I nod my head, resting it on my hand in thought before saying, “I could pay him for you, get him away from you.”
I knew he would reject the money, but it wasn’t like I didn’t have enough.
“No. He would take it and then come back for more. Money won’t do it,” Jax replies, looking regretful.
