Page 11 of Holiday Hookup

I shake my head as I take hold of her shoulders, stopping her from creating a worn path on the floor.

“You don’t need any more added stress. What would you say to staying with me and avoiding all of this?” I ask, motioning to her phone? I watch the moment what I said sinks in because her eyes widen and her head shakes vehemently.

“No, not happening.” Her eyes look anywhere but where I’m standing as I take a deep breath.

“Why not? I have an extra bedroom I’m not using, it’s across the hall so you wouldn’t have to move as much and it’s less of a change for Jaxon.” I know I’m hitting below the belt by mentioning Jax, but I really want her in my space. She worries her bottom lip between her teeth, and I smile, knowing I almost have her convinced.

“I can’t stay with you, Dane. I hardly know you.”

Okay, that’s it. I make my way toward her, her back hitting the wall as I cage her in between my arms.

“Sweetheart, that excuse doesn’t work for us…”

She shakes her head as mine dips, lightly brushing against the shell of her ear.

“Because I remember the way you looked at me in that bar. I remember the way your lips felt against mine and I fucking remember the sounds that left your mouth as I devoured you.”

She moans as my lips kiss the hollow of her throat and her fingers find the loose hem of my shirt, pulling me closer.

“I know you want more, so do I. But right now, I just want to make sure you and Jaxon are safe. Please come stay with me.” I’m begging. I know it seems desperate, but at this point, I just want her near me, and if that means having her and her son living in the room next to mine, so be it. “What do you say?”

“Okay,” she whispers after a few seconds, and for the first time since the night I stopped texting her, I know there’s hope.

Chapter 9

I’m so freaking stupid. Who thought moving in with a guy you kissed then ditched was a good idea? The absurdity of the idea replays in my mind over and over as I pack Jaxon’s bag and then my own, so much so that I decide to call Jenn and see if I am making a horrible mistake.

“Jenn Martin speaking, how may I help you?”

She must not have seen my number because if she knew it was me, that’s not the way she would have answered the phone.

“You will not believe the day I’ve had,” I say, explaining everything that’s gone wrong, ending with the news that Dane asked me to move in with him.

“You said no, right?”

When I don’t say anything, she sighs loudly—too loudly.

“Nel, I love you like a sister, but you’re thinking with your vagina and not your head right now.”

“I am not. He’s right, moving across the hall for a week is a lot easier than taking Jaxon to a hotel and totally flipping his life around.”

She groans as if what I’m saying makes absolutely no sense to her.

“Let me repeat myself. You. Do. Not. Know. Him.”

I know she’s right, but my gut is telling me I should trust him, and for once in my life, I’m going to follow it.

“Jenn, the man spent all morning yelling at my landlord, talking with repairmen, and trying to calm me down after I had a mild panic attack.” She doesn’t say anything so I continue, “Plus he actually asked me if I could stay with friends first. He has really helped me out today.”

“Oh, well… I’m sorry, let me get him his medal of honor.”

I laugh, but I note the worried tone in her voice.

“You know you could have stayed with me?”

That’s when I burst out laughing.

“Jenn, you live in a one-bedroom that hardly fits all your own stuff and you want me to fit me and my son in there too? Not gonna happen.”

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