Page 20 of Beach Bum Billion-Heiress
He took one ripped arm down from the doorway and took the bag from me, pulling me closer to him before I was able to let go. His hair was disheveled and his eyes were unfocused, like I'd pulled him straight from a peaceful sleep.
"I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" There. Normal conversation.
He smiled finally, gesturing me inside and staring down at me as I squeezed my way into his apartment. I tried not to touch any of that exposed skin as I slid by, knowing a single touch could start a riot in my body. I wasn't there for that, no matter the fact that I’d never seen that fine of a specimen up close before, and really, the occasion called for caressing and maybe even some stroking. I was only there to let him know about my change in plans as a courtesy among friends. Just friends.
"Had a crazy day at work today. Laid down to watch some TV. Next thing you know, you're knocking on my door with what smells like a hell of a lot better dinner than I had a few hours ago." He rifled through the bag, pulling out cartons as he moved to the small table set up against one wall, like my being there wasn't odd at all.
I spun around and took in his apartment, seeing that it was basically a studio with everything wide open. The kitchen flowed into the living room, which flowed into his bedroom. His white sheets were pulled back and rumpled, proving he'd rolled right out of bed to answer the door. Ripping my gaze away from the site of his warm bed, where his delicious body had laid just moments earlier, was a harder task than I'd ever admit. The apartment was clean but stark, without much in the way of decorations or sense of style.
"You planning on staring at my apartment all night or sitting down to eat with me?" Jax' smooth voice brought me back to the fact that I'd brought us dinner and my stomach was threatening to let out some cringe worthy growls if I didn't eat right away. I smiled, desperately trying to ignore the fact that he'd stretched out in a wooden chair, his body looking like it was on display for me.
I took the opposite chair, my lazy sprawl matching his but in complete opposition to how wound up I felt around him. "So. I have news." My stomach broke in with a growl to end all growls.
He lifted a thick eyebrow. "Wanna eat first before your stomach riots completely?"
My cheeks heated, even though I knew I had nothing to apologize for. I'd worked hard today and there just simply wasn't time to eat until now. I opened up a container and jammed a fork into it, not wasting another minute. If he didn't want to talk yet, fine by me.
He followed suit with a different container and we ate in friendly silence, switching dishes every now and again so we shared everything. He finally sat back and rubbed his washboard abs, like the amount of food he'd eaten would somehow erase his damn fine physique.
I shrugged and kept chowing down.
A few minutes later I had to admit defeat and set the carton down for the last time. I looked up and saw that Jax had been staring at me, a grin making him appear younger than his thirty-one years.
"What?"
"I like how you eat." He hurried on when I twisted up my face in confusion. "Most girls barely eat in front of guys, like they're too dainty to slam some food. You just go for it, and I like it."
I threw back my head and laughed, loving how he liked the very thing that always pissed off my dad. "I forget to eat sometimes when I have a bunch of things going on so when I do eat, I have to pack it in. I figure it evens out eventually."
His continued smile made me feel so good I found another reason to be happy with my change in plans. I wanted Jax to continue to smile at me like that. I wasn't sure when his happiness or approval began to mean something to me, but there it was.
"You wanted to talk to me about something?"
Standing up quickly, I took the cartons to the trash can in his kitchen. I wasn't sure what all I wanted to tell him, but now that I was here, I didn't want to bring him into all the drama that may happen with my father due to this change of mind. He just needed to know I wasn't going to pressure him any longer about the store.
I wasn't sure where that would leave things between us, but I hoped we could still see each other, even though our paths didn't have to cross any longer.
"Can we go outside?" I was wringing my hands, a tell-tale sign I needed to get outside the four walls. Like my voice wouldn’t work properly without pulling in fresh air. That never failed to calm me down and get me on the right path.
"Sure." Jax didn't even question it, just stood and held out his hand for me.
I put my hand in his, immediately feeling the callouses that said he wasn't an office worker like all my previous disastrous dates. He led me to the door and opened it for me, letting me walk out onto the patio in front of him. The door closed softly behind me as I took in the gentle lapping of the water right off the dock. The breeze was kicking up and it was getting colder, so I folded my arms across my body to conserve my body heat. I'd run out of the house with only a pair of shorts and a tank top on, not even thinking about grabbing a sweatshirt. I was in too much of a hurry to see Jax.
Warmth flanked my entire backside as Jax came up behind me, his arms holding me in place as they came around me. His hands grabbed the railing in front of me and I felt sheltered and not the least bit nervous anymore.
"Better?" he whispered in my ear, his breath fanning my neck and making me shiver.
I nodded, hoping his nearness indicated he felt the same about me as I felt for him. If I'd been the slightest bit unsure of my new plan, all that was swept away with the touch of his skin to mine. This was worth exploring.
Speaking into the breeze, I knew he'd hear me, pressed up against me as he was. "I've decided not to pursue purchasing The Surf Shack. Instead, I need your help in a different way."
The sounds of the night floated by, the revving of a boat engine somewhere in the harbor, the clink of silverware in someone's backyard as they ate a late meal. I tried to control my breathing as I waited for Jax to respond. I didn't know why I was so nervous, other than the fact that I really liked this man when I'd never felt that way before. He hadn't liked me at first, and I desperately wanted him to change his mind about me.
Finally, I saw his hand leave the railing, then felt my long hair being pushed to one side of my back, exposing the left side of my neck. His head dipped down and his lips brushed the curve of my shoulder where it met my neck. Shivers of a different kind took over my body at his touch.
"Just tell me what you need and I'll help you. But you better talk quick because after seeing that gorgeous ass of yours multiple times recently, I really must insist on finishing that kiss we started the other day before you ran away." His lips sketched across my exposed skin as he spoke, fueling my goose bumps.
My eyes widened and I went willingly when he spun me around to face him. I stared at him, his jaw locked tight, the bright blue of his eyes making me pause. If I didn't know better, I'd say he was almost angry.
