Page 28 of The Book Signing

Funnily enough, the same way I did with Abigail. I run my fingers through my hair at the failure of the situation. It was all a misunderstanding.

Fuck, can anything go right this morning?

A laugh in the distance makes me look up, and my eyes collide with Abigail’s, who is standing near the pool with a hand covering her mouth. I guess from a bystanders’ point of view, it would look pretty funny.

I don’t know what’s more annoying. The fact she saw what happened, clearly hearing the whole discussion, or the way her laugh makes me feel happy.

Stomping through the sand, I make my way over to the chair that I left my towel on and wrap it around my waist, then march over towards Abigail. As I approach her, all amusement is gone from her face, as if she wasn’t aware I caught her laughing at me.

I cross my arms and give her a pointed look. “See something funny?”

She smirks and nods. “Was that really an accident, or was she just trying to get away from you?”

I grit my teeth and narrow my eyes. Then I notice something she doesn’t, and my mouth curves.

My focus moves down to her chest. “You know, behind that smug look on your face, I think you’re happy to see me. Well, at least your nipples are.”

Abigail’s eyes widen, and she peeks down, then curses. I give her a smirk when she glances back at me, then turn and walk away, leaving her–and her nipples–stunned. The comeback wasn’t my finest, but damn, the surprise and flush on her face as she looked down at her chest was good enough for me.

I decide to head over to the spa near the pool. It’s small, enclosed for young kids, and very inviting to an adult. Shutting the glass gate behind me, I drop my towel on a chair by, and roam my eyes over the foam that’s floating on top. Just the sound of the spa running brightens my mood and I slide into the hot, steaming water.

I lean my head back and a happy sigh leaves me.

“I love a good foamy spa.”

The temperature is perfect, exactly the way I like it. I need to blow off some steam, because a certain woman is taking up space in my mind. Rather than having her driving me nuts, I should drive into someone else, enjoying the moment of release. I shouldn’t be spending my time arguing and then stupidly pursuing a woman who vowed she wouldn’t sleep with a man like me.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, whilst my brain rewinds the expression on Abigail’s face when I watched her fall apart in the mirror.

“Did you really need to say it so loudly? That was embarrassing,” a whispered voice says above me. I open one eyelid and find Abigail standing there, arms crossed, with a cute pout on her face. She eyes the three steps and walks over to them, climbing into the spa, surprising me with her presence.

I open the other eye and smirk. “For someone who was so promiscuous… I wouldn’t have thought you’d be so flustered.”

Her small gasp makes me stop any further comments as I see her features turn from a pout to bitterness.

Fuck, that was not called for.

I see the fury seeping out of her as she says, “You’re a real asshole, Jaxon.” Her tone is cutting,full of vehemence, and I can see the immediate look of regret. Abigail starts her way out of the spa, the obvious intention to distance herself from me just as her words register. I immediately feel shitty about what I said. Seeing her attempt to leave makes alarm bells go off, because it turns out, I have this fucked up need to be around her. It’s like for some weird reason, I feel the universe is pulling us together. Without thinking, I stand up and wrap my arm around her waist. With fervor, I pull her against my chest and pull her into the middle of the spa.

Her shriek carries over us and a few people turn their heads, but I chuckle and pretend it was all fun and games. Luck is on my side because they don’t seem to give two shits and go on with their business.

“What the hell, Jaxon? You can’t manhandle me!”

Once she’s in the water with me, I let go of her waist and take a step back, processing what I just did. It was wrong, but something snapped in me. I have never gone cave man on a woman. Ever.

“Sorry,” I blurt out, rubbing the back of my neck. Again, I find myself unsure of what to do or say.

Abigail huffs and plants her hands on her hips as she says, “For what? Pointing out the very thing I hate about myself, or that you forced me into a fucking spa?”

“Both,” I whisper, feeling annoyed with myself.

Chapter Fourteen

ABIGAIL

I hope he feels like shit. How dare he insult me like that?

Before I have a chance to retort, Jaxon beats me to it and says, “I think I’m getting a case of separation anxiety.”

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