Passing his dark gaze over the perimeter one last time,Jax’s eyes found hers through the screen netting of the porch with sizzlingfury. Alessia stiffened. Following him inside, Alessia stood nervously by thecouch as he carefully set his rifle back by the door.
"So, are you going to tell me why the hell you wentback out there?" There was a waiting quality to his anger that lit hiseyes. He stood with his hands in his coat pockets but could see from his rigidstance there was nothing at all casual about his mood.
“I wasn’t trying to leave,” she admitted softly.
A flash of some nameless emotion passed over his dark eyesso fast Alessia wasn’t sure if she actually saw it or not before his usualarrogant smirk settled into place.
“I can honestly say I would enjoy watching you make a go atit with that mangled ass tent,” he sneered.
His stinging words only served to remind her of her epicfailure at trying to live out there herself. Looking away, she focused her lineof sight at the dying embers in the woodstove.
A few beats of silence passed before he spoke again, hisvoice gentler this time. “Why did you go out there?”
“I just wanted to update my blog and I can only get serviceby the road,” she replied, lifting her eyes back to him.
Rubbing his beard in agitation, Jax grumbled something underhis breath before giving her a sharp look. “Alessia, why didn’t you just tellme? I have internet here, it’s satellite meaning it slow as fuck, but I have itnonetheless.”
“I didn’t know that,” she defended.
“Did you ask?”
“Did you offer?” She snapped back.
Alessia didn’t expect him to smile so suddenly in the middleof their back-and-forth.
Shaking his head, he shifted on his feet, running a tiredhand through his long hair. "If you want to update your blog, just use myinternet instead of traipsing unarmed through the forest."
“Thank y…”
"And," he began again, and evil gleam returning tohis eyes. "If you are wanting to go back to camping and get yourself eaten,let me know so I can make a prepared statement to the authorities when theycome knocking."
Alessia could tell by his arrogant smirk he was no longerangry at her, so she had no problem arguing back at him. Turning to watch himwalk past her to the kitchen table, Alessia crossed her arms. “Why are you sucha jerk? I only grabbed the tent because I felt bad about littering.”
Jax just made a noncommittal noise in reply as he sat backdown in front of his electronics. Hesitantly, Alessia pulled out the chairopposite him and sat down, careful not to touch any of the equipment.
“So, does that mean just taking a walk to the lake orsomething like that is out of the question?”
He didn’t look up from what he was doing when he answered.“You could, but I prefer you to be armed.”
“The only weapon I had was a knife you lodged so deeply intoa tree I can’t get it out.”
He smirked but still didn't lookup. "Where did you getthat shit knife anyway?"
For some reason, the question mentally stumbled her. Gary'sface popped into her head and Alessia had to shut her eyes at the waves ofanxiety that hit her. Opening her eyes, she stared at the table. "Gary'stoolshed."
Jax grunted as he grabbed a pair of needle-nose pliers nextto him. "Then let it rust and rot in that tree. If you want a knife, Iwill let you borrow one of mine."
Looking back up quickly, she saw that he was still focusedon his work, not looking at her.
“You don’t have to…” she began softly.
“But a knife isn’t really going to cut it in these woods,”he went on, grabbing another piece of wire before soldering it to thedisassembled panel. "Tomorrow, we will practice using a rifle."
"That really isn't necessary. I am fine just…"
Looking up from his work, his dark eyes held hers in a silenttest of wills. “Do you ever want the privilege to take a walk to the lake andback?”
Alessia considered picking up one of the various pieces ofequipment he had scattered across the table and throwing it at his face.
