Page 51 of Fake Dating Daxton Hawk
Daxton sits beside me, handing over my drink. He doesn’t speak and I can tell it’s because he’s holding back his temper.
“So, pumpkin,” I say, attempting to lighten the mood with humor. “I’ve been promoted from your fake date to fake girlfriend?”
He huffs, not playing into my humor. “Did Tom Sanders hurt you or say anything else inappropriate to you?”
“I’m fine. What was that all about between you and him?”
“He was trying to taunt me, implying that he’s fucked my girlfriend.”
I nudge Daxton with my shoulder, still attempting to lift his mood. “I guess that’s ayesto the fake girlfriend promotion?”
“Jordan…” He groans my name.
“Listen, Tom is a jerk. Don’t worry about him.”
Daxton scowls, clearly annoyed I haven’t denied the accusations about sleeping with Tom.
“Nothing happened between us.”
He raises the drink to his mouth and looks away from me, barely convinced. “Regardless, I don’t take well to men being a jerk to people I care about. Especially you, Jordan.”
Me?
My cheeks tingle at the protectiveness of Daxton’s words. At the same time, I’m a little thrown off balance.
Daxton peers back at me when I awkwardly clear my throat. “You okay?” he asks, observing my face. “Sorry, I’m being intense. I can back off.”
“No, I don’t want you to. I’m just not used to people being so caring. Growing up, my parents…” My mouth grows dry and I stutter, thinking about the emotional scars they’ve left me with. I take a deep breath to calm myself. “I often need to tell myself not everyone is like my parents and there are genuine people who I can trust in this world.”
With another steadying breath, I push away my insecurities and take Daxton’s hand in mine. His brow furrows as he looks down at our hands. I’m dying to know what he’s thinking. Before I can ask, he twines our fingers and brings the back of my hand to his lips, placing a gentle kiss. Every inch of my skin buzzes at the newness of this intimacy between us. A moment ago, I made a joke about being his fake girlfriend. But the truth is, I don’t think there’s many fake feelings between either of us.
When Daxton meets my eyes, a softness lies within them. “I’ll always care about you, kitten. Would you like to go for a swim with me?”
ChapterTwenty-Four
Jordan
Daxton picks up a pink flamingo pool float abandoned by the side of the pool and places it in the shallow end of the water, steadying it with his hands. “Hop on.”
“You getting on with me?” I ask, climbing aboard and sitting cross-legged on the flamingo’s back.
“Not enough room for two.” He plunges into the water then grabs the flamingo’s neck and guides me through the other people swimming, directing us toward the pool bridge.
“Fancy. First class service.”
“Only the best for my lady. Watch out, we’re going through the waterfall.”
“Goodbye to my cute hair. Okay, I’m ready.”
He laughs at my joke. I hold my breath and feel the cold stream of water pour over me for a second before we’re beneath the bridge. It’s a little darker in here. We’re alone and I like it. The bridge separates us from the rest of the party, cocooning us in our own world where the trickling of the waterfall on each side of us blocks out the music.
Daxton rests his forearms in front of me on the flamingo’s back, giving me full view of the ink on his shoulders.
“I’m kind of obsessed with your tattoos, but you already know that,” I say, thinking back to my TikTok he watched. “When did you get them?”
“I got the first one when I was eighteen and have been adding to it ever since.”
“Nice. I got my sleeve when I was eighteen too. Is there any symbolism behind your tattoos?”
