Page 6 of Wrong Number, Right Mechanic
“Mom, Jaxon was just leaving.” I said as I shot him a deadly look, a huge grin stretched across his face. “C’mon, let’s go in. I heard a storm is coming.” I slid my arm around Mom’s arm and turned her towards the house.
“A storm? I was just watching the weather. It didn’t mention a storm.”
“Let’s go check on dinner. We don’t want it to burn.” I tried again with the distraction techniques, but nothing worked. Mom twisted her arm away from me and turned back to Jaxon.
“Don’t worry, sweetie. It’s not burning. Are you coming in for dinner?” Mom asked him, a hopeful look on her face. She always liked him when we dated, and even after he broke my heart. She’d never admit it, having always stuck by my side, but it wasn’t hard to miss.
“I’d love to. Lyla and I were just catching up. You know, you’ve always been a great cook, Mrs. Wilkes.” Jaxon said as he walked up beside her, the grin still very much there, yet his eyes were on me, my blood boiling hot. Both desire and annoyance coursed through me, swirling together, ready to combust. I wasn’t so sure it was a good thing.
“Oh, thank you, how sweet of you. Tonight is one of your favorites. Lasagna and garlic bread.” Mom beamed up at him.
“My lucky night, huh?” Jaxon chuckled.
I fell a step behind them, trying to sort my jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings and everything else I didn’t want to deal with.
Yet, unfortunately, Jaxon wasn’t giving up so easily. I should’ve known he wouldn’t. When he set his mind on something, there was no stopping him. An admirable trait, mostly, but sometimes, downright frustrating.
A part of me didn’t want him to give up.
If he wanted me back, he needed to work for it. A simple explanation and apology aren’t enough. The charm might’ve worked on my mom, but the ice around my heart wasn’t melting anytime soon.
“It looks exactly like how I remember.” Jaxon said as we walked inside, and I shut the door behind us.
“Isn’t it comforting?” Mom said as she led us into the kitchen. Before he walked through the door, I reached out and tuggedon his arm. The feel of his taut muscles and hot skin caused an instant reaction between my legs, but I pretended it didn’t exist. His long-sleeved shirt lifted slightly, and I saw inked skin, something he’d never had before. I’d have to find out more.
Jaxon stopped in his tracks and looked behind him at me. I waved him over to where I stood in the living room. My blood roared through my ears, having him so close to me, the heat from his body palatable. “What are you doing?” I asked through clenched teeth.
“What does it look like? I’m having dinner with you and your mom.” Jaxon played dumb, the knowing smirk on his face very telling. Damn him, he really hadn’t changed much.
“No. You need to go. Tell her you got called into work or something. I don’t know. But we aren’t pretending the entire time that we’re okay.”
“I thought we were?”
I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes.
“Okay, okay. I get it, Lyla. Loud and clear. But mark my words, I’m going to make it up to you. I’m also fixing your car for free, no buts about it. My girl isn’t driving around this mountain town with a shitty car, especially in the winter.”
A bit of ice melted my pumping heart chipping away at it. “I can pay you.”
“No. I’m not taking your money. All I want is a second chance. I’ll even ask nicely. Only once, though.” His eyes darkened as they fixed on me, sexual tension sparking between us. “Will you please give me one?”
I said nothing, more tension growing between us. Part of me wanted to rip his clothes off while the other part of me wanted to rip his heart apart and stomp on it like he did mine.
Could I give him a second chance?
“We can go on dates first. How’s tomorrow at seven?”
“You’re really not giving up, are you?”
“No. And I never will. You’re the only one I want, Lyla.”
His genuine sincerity reflected in his gaze.
My shoulders relaxed as my defenses lowered.
“Pick me up at seven, sharp. Have a goodnight, Jaxon.”
“Night.” Jaxon nodded his head toward me and saw himself out.
