Page 9 of Against My Fire

“I have to go give a speech. Please don’t leave. I want to spend some more time with you.” I state sincerely and hope that she will agree to stay. I know that Logan can be a bit much and I will have to tell him to take it easy on her.

She puts her hand over mine and I feel that wonderful tingle that she has given me since the day I rammed into her truck. “I will be around here. I won’t leave. But take your friend with you, please.” I chuckle as I get up and squeeze her hand.

I grab Logan’s arm and pull him towards my dad. He protests wanting to stay there and talk to her, but I didn’t want her running for the hills and that is what he will be doing to her.

“She’s a pretty one.” Dad wiggles his eyebrows at me as we make it up to him.

“She is.” I glance back at her to see Luke and Aly standing by her. “Are you ready?”

“As I will ever be.” Dad pats my shoulder as he walks to the small stage we have set up. I will have to speak to Dad about the corporate guy that was at the house. Not tonight, but soon.

Chapter Nine

? Bentley ?

Taylor is the sweetest little boy I have ever met. He took a liking to me as soon as he saw me. I didn’t know that he was Jaxon’s little one. I also didn't know that this was Jaxon’s ranch. Not until Jaxon stood next to me.

Logan did freak me out a bit with all his questions. How do you tell someone you just met that you moved here for a new start? That you are running from your past. One that you can’t mention because of the danger it can cause. I was all too happy when Jaxon agreed to take Logan with him, but I know that won’t be the last I see of Logan.

I want to stay and I want to spend more time with Jaxon. He is pleasant to talk to and I would like to consider us friends. Well, I am friends with his son. Watching him leave my eyes couldn’t help but run over his jean-covered ass. That is what a man should look like when he is dressed.

“If I didn’t know any better, I swear you are drooling.” I look up shocked to see Luke standing next to me with a gorgeous lady on his arm. “Bent, this is Aly, my fiance.”

“It’s so nice to meet you. Luke talks about you all the time.” I shake her hand and we talk for a little while before the two of them head towards the bar to get something to drink.

A man gets on the stage and I presume that he is Jaxon’s dad. He looks a lot like Jaxon, just a little older. Everyone’s attention is drawn to the man on the stage.

“Good Evening everyone!” He starts to talk and the crowd goes quiet. “I would like to welcome you all to Walker Estate’s one-hundredth Jubilee. It has been a blessing to have our ranch in the family for a hundred years. When my great-grandfather started the ranch it was a dream he had and we have built onto that dream. From generation to generation we have continued to expand, and we couldn’t have done it without the community of Piper Falls. Each year we have so many of you helping out with harvest time. Walker Estate would not exist without the Piper Falls community.” Everyone coos at his words and I can see the pride he has to be a part of this community. “As you all know that I have taken a step back and handed the reins to my son Jaxon Walker. He will now add his dream to the ranch and take it to the next generation. I know that he has already started with the horse riding lessons and he still has so much he wants to do. One day he will hand the ranch over to his kids.” He looks at Jaxon who stands off to the side with the biggest smile on his face. “I hope you all have a wonderful evening. Please enjoy yourselves. Right after Jaxon’s speech.” Everyone laughs as Jaxon steps up to the mic. He shares a hug with his dad before he turns towards the crowd.

“Hello everyone. I will keep this short. You all know that each year we raise money for a special cause. We had a silent auction tonight and you all helped us raise money for the Piper Falls Fire Department tonight. Those of you that won the bids will be notified during the course of the evening. I would like to thank the PFFD for all they do for the community. They risk their lives to save all of us. In conjunction with this, I would also like to inform you that Walker Estate will be fixing the back road. I know it is washed away with the rains we have been having and all the potholes. We want to make sure that it is usable for the fire department.” He stops to allow the cheering to calm down. I haven’t seen that road as we haven’t had a reason to use it since I have been here, but I did hear Blake say that it was in bad shape. I’m glad that Jaxon will be helping to fix it. “That is it from me. We will hand over the check to the Chief of the fire department on Monday. Have a wonderful evening.” He walks off the stage and talks to his family for a little bit. His mom has Taylor in her arms who is sleeping on her shoulder as she talks to them.

Shelby appears next to me with a smile on her face. I don’t think I have ever seen her without a smile. She practically bounces next to me with excitement.

“What is up with you?” I ask as I pick my glass up from the table I was sitting at. A waiter appears next to me before I could do anything. She takes my glass asking if I wanted another one. She takes mine and Shelby’s orders before she walks off towards the bar.

“Do you know who you have been talking to?” She claps her hands and I stare at her with confusion all over my face.

“You will need to narrow it down. I spoke to a few people today.” I try to think of who she was talking about. The only one that stood out was Jaxon. Maybe she didn’t know that I knew him.

She facepalms her forehead before she grabs my shoulders making me look at her. “Jaxon Walker, the sexiest bachelor in Piper Falls. He spent so much time with you that the other girls are jealous.” She wiggles her eyebrows at me and I roll my eyes.

“I know who Jaxon is. Well, I didn’t know about the sexiest title. But I have talked to him before.” I shrug off her hands as I turn to look at where he was standing only to see that he wasn’t there anymore and neither was his mother.

“You don’t care what people think, do you?” She asks as she stands next to me.

“Nope…” I say as I pop the P. “It doesn’t matter what others think of you. In the end, you can’t please them all. You need to only care about what makes you happy.” I state as I scan the area. I was hungry and wanted to find food. I saw a few people walking around with plates but haven’t seen the food table yet. But then again, I was with Taylor and Jaxon since I arrived and haven’t moved from my spot.

I almost jump out of my skin when I feel a hand on my lower back and his warm breath against my ear. “Want to grab something to eat?” His husky voice puts a smile on my face.

I am not supposed to get attached and I will fight it, but for right now Jaxon is making me feel good and I want to spend time with him.

“Yes, please.” He chuckles as he holds out his arm to me and I link my arm with his. Shelby gasps next to me and I can’t help but laugh. “Jaxon, this is Shelby.” I wave between the two of them.

“I know Shelby.” He lets go of me to hug her before taking my hand this time.

She blushes as she brushes her hair out of her face. “We were in the same school. Jaxon is just a few years ahead of me.” She fidgets with her hands as if she didn’t know what to do with them. “I will see you later. I am going to go…” She waves her hand at the dancefloor before she walks away. I have never seen her this awkward before.

“You two…” he shakes his head before I can finish my sentence.

---