Page 19 of Traitorous Lies
Giving her his first real smile in hours, since before they’d been run off the road, Jax pulled her against him and held her in a tight embrace. “I swear to you, Monique. I will take care of you and get you back home safe and sound.”
“I believe you,” she murmured, nuzzling her face against his neck.
Those simple words, spoken with such a pure heart, wiped the smile from his face. This woman believed in him with zero reason to, and all she was going to get for her blind faith was a heavy dose of betrayal.
November 1st
1:12 P.M.
“It is not!” Monique exclaimed, absolutely positive she was right.
There was no way that could be true.
That just wasn't possible.
Nobody could like that.
“Totally is, princess,” Jax said, and the corners of his mouth twitched a little, making her doubt that he was telling her the truth. Unfortunately, she didn't know Jax well enough yet to always know when he was teasing her.
Yet.
The word had slipped into her mind without conscious thought on her part. But as she considered it, Monique realized she did want to get to know Jax better. She’d liked him from the first moment she laid eyes on him, and the way he’d killed for her was surprisingly hot, and oh so protective. It definitely appealed to her poor little neglectedheart, and she absolutely loved how he was so attentive to her, constantly checking on her and doing little things to make the whole ordeal a little bit easier.
Yep, getting to know him better when they were safe was a must.
Maybe that spark she’d felt at first, the pull toward him that only grew stronger the longer they spent together, was all wrong. Maybe this wouldn't go anywhere. Maybe it would turn out to be nothing.
But maybe it would turn out to be everything.
How could she not give it a chance?
If it turned out to be nothing, no harm, maybe she’d at least wind up with a new friend. That would be something because she didn't have many of those. Most people only saw her last name and thought if they attached themselves to her, some of that wealth and prestige would somehow rub off onto them.
Not Jax though. He seemed to like her more the more he found out she wasn't the Kerr princess she was made out to be.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Monique planted her hands on her hips and studied him closely. “I think you're lying to me, Jax. There is no way in the world that anyone’s favorite food could possibly be cheesy pasta with fruit. Fruit! Apples, pears, and oranges. They do not go with pasta. Full stop. It sounds disgusting!”
His laugh rang out through the quiet forest, and the sound seemed to lodge inside her, unfurling with warmth through her limbs until she was sure she was staring at him with an almost lovestruck smile.
“You should laugh more,” she said without thinking, that was probably way overstepping, but it was true. He had a great laugh, so strong and carefree, and she sensed it wasn't something he allowed himself the freedom to do very often.
“I think you're right,” he said. The smile fell from his face, but it wasn't replaced with a frown, merely a look of contemplation, like he was truly considering her words. “I think that maybe I’ll have more to laugh about from here on out.”
Did he mean …?
It was probably way too much to hope that he could mean he’d have more to laugh about because she’d be part of his life going forward.
Yet she hoped for it anyway.
Because the air between them seemed to be growing hot and heavy,Monique steered the conversation back to safer ground, not wanting to push too hard too fast just because Jax was the first man she’d found herself truly interested in in a long time. “So are you just trying to trick me, or do you really eat pasta with fruit?”
“Day for tricks was yesterday if I'm not mistaken, princess,” Jax told her, amusement dancing in his dark eyes.
They were nice eyes.
Set in a nice face.
Chiseled jaw, just the right amount of stubble, and thick, long lashes. Beneath his white shirt and suit pants she would bet anything that his body was spectacular. Most of the men she’d dated might go to the gym on occasion, but they didn't really work out, and they hadn't served in special forces. Jax’s body would be a work of art, all hard planes and defined muscles.
