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Her voice is low when she speaks again. “I’ve been talking to Gram about her hiring a part-time person so I can go on some of his business trips. I don’t know how much more I can take of him being gone so much. I know that sounds ridiculous and couples do it all the time, but it literally hurts my heart to have to say goodbye to him all the time.”
I reach over and squeeze her hand. “Oh sweetie, I’m so sorry.”
“I can only imagine how hard it must be for you. You two have such a rare and special kind of love. If I’m ever lucky enough to find that, I’m chaining the guy to my bed if he even thinks about leaving,” Nitra tells her.
I let out a laugh, because I can totally see Nitra doing just that. I don’t know her as well as Anna, but she has a strong personality that screams no bullshit. If she wants something, she goes after it.
I smell his refreshing scent behind me before I actually feel Jaxon walk up. He wraps his arms around my middle from behind and puts his face in my hair. The last couple of days I’ve taken to wearing it up. Other than a few curious glances at my scar, no one has outright asked me about it. It’s a huge relief. I have a lot of hair and it’s nice to be able to pull it back when I want to.
“What are you doing here?” I ask in a breathless voice. Having him surround me like he is leaves me with little oxygen. The man is dangerous for my health. Luckily, it’s a good kind of dangerous.
“Nick asked me to tag along with him. Said Anna wants a girls’ day, but he wanted to see her before you both left. Sounds pathetic, but I have to admit I jumped at the opportunity to see you, too. I hate giving up my morning ritual with you.”
“I think she might have something planned to make it up to him.” With a twinkle in my eye, I turn my head to talk to him so she won’t hear.
Jaxon groans in my ear. “Stop. I don’t need that shit in my head. It’s already bad enough thinking about my little sister in any type of relationship. I don’t need a visual as well.”
I giggle and glance over at Anna. She’s turned her stool to face Nick and they’re talking quietly. Nick dips his head and gives Anna a soft kiss. I turn back to Jaxon.
“She’s a grown woman, Jaxon. And she seems like she’s in good hands,” I remind him quietly.
“I know, but she’ll always be my little kid sister. And I’ll always want to protect her,” he mutters back.
I smile at him. He’s such a good guy. He’s tough when he needs to be, but he’s highly protective of the ones he cares about. Why can’t all men be like that?
“Hey Jax, you ready to go?”
“Yeah, give me a sec,” Jaxon tells Nick, and then steps around the side of me. He tangles his fingers in my hair and brings my head back. His lips land softly on mine, and he gives me a lingering kiss. After several seconds, he pulls back.
“Have fun today, angel. Let me know when you get back.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
He gives me one more peck on the lips before he and Nick stroll out of the diner.
Just as soon as the men leave, another set of men approach us. Jack and Jake. This should be interesting. Of course, the very first thing Jack zones in on is my hair.
“Ah ha! I see you finally worked up the courage to show off that beautiful face of yours, girl,” the grizzly old man says.
“Oh lordy,” Jake says, and rolls his eyes to the ceiling. “Don’t start that mess again, Jack.”
“You shut your trap, Jake. I’m talking to the lady, not you.” Turning to me, he says, “Now, where were we? Oh, that’s right. I was about to ask you how you got that scar there on your pretty face?”
I choke on my coffee and spew some across the counter.
“Jack!” Anna and Nitra yell at the same time.
Picking up a napkin, I start cleaning my mess. Out the corner of my eye, I see Jake take Jack by his upper arm and drag him across the diner. Turning his head back to me as he walks, he says, “Jack apologizes, Bailey. Y’all enjoy your breakfast.” With his head facing forward again, I hear him say, “My God, Jack. You really don’t have a filter, do you? You can’t blurt something like that out, you dummy.”
It’s barely audible, but I still hear Jack respond, “What did I say?”
Anna, Nitra, and I look at each other and burst out laughing. Those two old men really are nut jobs. After Anna and I order our breakfast, Nitra sticks around for a few more minutes to chat before she goes and serves other people. After we’re done, we pay our bill, gather our purses, and head out.
* * *
“SO, HOW ARE THINGS between you and Jaxon?” Anna asks, while browsing the bra and panties section in the cute little lingerie shop we’re in.
“They’re good.” I pick up a black body suit that reveals way more than it hides. The sides are pretty much nonexistent. The only thing connecting the top and the bottom is a scrap of silk material that runs from the bust down to the thong. The scrap of material gets a little bigger the closer it gets to the bottom. I turn the body suit around and there’s nothing there except the thong and a string that wraps around your neck.
