Page 75 of Game Changer
We sit out on the deck until the sun goes down, which is really late here because we’re farther north.It’s lovely, the air still warm and soft and freshly scented.But soon after darkness falls, the mosquitoes arrive.
“Jesus!”I slap at my arm.“I’m being attacked.”
“Uh oh.Let’s go in, then.”
“Aren’t they biting you?”
“No.They never bother me.”
“Well,that’stotally not fair.”
Inside, the windows are open to air out the cottage, but the screens keep the bugs out.I settle onto the couch.
“There’s enough wood here for a fire,” Jax says.“I’ll get one going.”
“That would be nice.”
“I’ll see if there’s bug spray around.There are usually a few cans of Deep Woods Off here.”
He opens the damper and sets to building a fire, looking impressively competent.
Jesus.I’m getting turned on watching him start a fire.
“Were you a Boy Scout?”I ask.
He laughs.“Nope.Never had time for that.Hockey took all my time.”
“Mmmm.I guess.But you know how to chop wood and start a fire and water ski.”
“That’s just from spending summers here.Grandpa made me chop wood, and I learned to start a fire from him.”
“And you learned to play hockey from your other grandpa.”
He flashes me a smile as he strikes a match.“Yeah.”
Soon the fire is blazing.With the darkness beyond the windows, it’s so cozy and charming I could just melt into a puddle of bliss.“I want to stay here forever,” I announce.
“Yeah?”He takes a seat on the couch too, at the other end.“Even with mosquitoes?”
“Bastards.I’ll douse myself in DEET.It’ll be fine.”
We exchange a smile, full of contentment, tranquility and…okay, a little tingle between my thighs.And when Jax’s eyes darken and his mouth softens as he looks at me, I think he feels something too.
I think about what Brielle said—what would be wrong if something happened?Jax and I are both single.Neither of us is looking for any kind of relationship.
But I know this isn’t the right guy to be my “rebound.”He’s Steve’s teammate.That’s a huge complication.It wouldn’t be fair to put Jax in that position.Except…nobody knows we’re here.Other than my girls.And they won’t tell anyone.
Heat starts low inside me and spreads through me until I feel like I’m glowing like the fire.
No.We can’t do that.
15
Jax
We spend the next few days touring around the park.We wander out onto the pier to gaze at the water, walk the town and explore the shops, which delights Molly, and swim in the lake, which doesnotdelight Molly.
“Holy shit, this water is cold!”she squeals on our first venture in.
