Page 15 of Undisputed Player
I managed a grin, letting some of my usual charm slip back into place. "Tea's good, bee. Thanks."
She handed me the mug, her eyes searching my face with that gentle perceptiveness that made her so perfect for Connor. "Are you okay? You seem... off.”
I hesitated, then found myself nodding. "Yeah. Just... met someone today. At Avery's school."
Her lips curved in a knowing smile. "Someone special?"
I shrugged, but the answer was written all over me. "Maybe. She was... different."
Sierra's smile softened, and she glanced at Connor, who was pretending not to listen while failing miserably.
"If she's meant for you, she won't care about the noise," she said quietly. "The fame, the money, all of it. She’ll see past it.”
I looked at her, really looked, and understood exactly what Connor must have felt the first time he saw her. That sense ofinevitability, of fate. The realization that your whole world could change instantly, and there was nothing you could do to stop it.
"Give her time, Jax," Sierra added, her voice gentle but certain. "If she's the right one, she'll see you."
I hoped she was right.
For the next hour, I forced myself to focus on Avery, on the interactive books Sierra had found for her, on the brownies that appeared fresh from the oven.
But my mind kept drifting back to honey-brown eyes and that not-quite smile. To the graceful way Estelle had moved through the classroom. To the gentle authority in her voice when she spoke to the children.
Later, after Avery had exhausted herself playing with Toffee and fallen asleep on the couch, Connor cornered me in the kitchen. His eyebrows rose slightly as he handed me a beer.
"Who is it?"
I hesitated for a second, then decided fuck it. “A teacher at Seaside. Estelle Moore."
"And?"
"And nothing. That's it. Met her, she didn't seem impressed, end of story."
A slow smile spread across Connor's face, the kind that meant trouble.
"She shot you down."
"She didn't shoot me down," I protested, though even I could hear how defensive I sounded. "I wasn't hitting on her."
"Bullshit."
I didn't answer, which was answer enough.
He leaned against the counter, crossing his tattooed arms over his chest. "So the great Jax Easton finally found a woman immune to his charms. No wonder you looked like someone pissed in your protein shake."
"Fuck off," I muttered, taking a long pull from my beer.
"What's she like?" he asked, surprising me. Connor rarely showed interest in my revolving door of women.
I considered the question, trying to find words that would capture the essence of Estelle Moore.
"Perfect," I answered finally. "Not like the usual. She's..." I trailed off, unable to find any other word. "Perfect."
Connor nodded slowly, as if understanding what I meant without needing elaboration. "And that's got you fucked up."
It wasn't a question.
"I'm not fucked up," I insisted, though we both knew it was a lie. "Just... intrigued."
