Giving her a gentle smirk, Jax leaned back in his own seatand relaxed, keeping one firm grip on the steering wheel. "It was puredumb luck actually. Initially, I was going to go that way, but just as Iprepared to take the turn, something in my gut said go east."
Alessia warmed to that. She was glad he did, and she hatedherself for feeling that way. But this is only for tonight, she remindedherself firmly.
“It was a good thing Garrett wasn’t out patrolling too,” Jaxturned and gave her smirk. “Because I was haulin’ ass.”
“I admit, I am happy to be off my leg and not in the rain,”she said, gingerly massaging her stiff thigh muscles.
Slowing down, Jax waited for a car to pass before turninginto the unmarked cut in through the forest.
“Is it bleeding again?” He gave her leg a worried look.
"No…well, I don't think so," she added, at leastas far as she could tell, there was no blood seeping through her jeans. She wasthankful for that, she couldn't afford another pair to get ruined since herother pair had a huge rip along with various bloodstains.
“I’ll take a look at it when we get inside.”
Slowly, the break and trees came to view, and Alessia couldsee the cabin in the distance. It was hard to deny the flutter of excitementand longing at seeing the structure, knowing that only a few hours ago she wastaking one last look at the place.
Pulling the truck close to the front door, Jax put it inpark. “Stay there,” he ordered.
Curiously, she watched him jump out and come around to herside, all the while squinting from the rain. Opening her door for her, Alessiajumped when she felt him slide his hand behind her back and one underneath bothof her knees.
“Wait!” She squealed, unsure what to do as she felt him pulland lift her out of the truck. “You don’t have to carry me! I only have a limp;I can still walk!”
Rain pelted them both as he turned with her in his arms,walking easily to the porch.
“There’s a bunch of mud all the way to the door, I’m justsaving the kitten and myself the trouble of you slipping and falling,” heanswered matter-of-factly.
Shooting him a furious glare, Alessia considered pinchinghim on the arm. Grinning, he sat her down on the porch and ran both hands overhis hair, wicking away the water. More raindrops clung to the long dark hair ofhis beard. He needed to shave, she mused. It was getting harder to see the finestructure of his cheekbones beneath all the hair, which was a shame, really.
Instead, she said. “Whatever, you’re just a mean old man wholives in the woods.”
Shocked, he took a step back as if hit. “Old?!”
Alessia laughed at his reaction as she adjusted thesquirming kitten in her hands.
“I am not old,” he grumbled as he reached past her andopened the door for her, letting her walk ahead of him into the cabin. “You arejust young and naïve and confusing my wisdom and expertise with old age. Arookie mistake.”
Grabbing some towels out of the bathroom, she sat them downon the table and sat the kitten on top of it. “Ha!” She gave a sarcastic laughover her shoulder as she dried off the kitten’s soft fur.
Stoking the fire in the wood furnace until it blazed withrenewed heat, Jax shut the grate and replaced the poker on the holder beforewalking to the kitchen and grabbing a small can from the cabinet. Pulling out achair on the opposite side of the table, he held out his arms as barriers alongthe table as the kitten curiously walked across the table towards him.
“Yeah, you laugh,” he arched one brow at her. “But I seem torecall you measuring things in a series of “blips” not too long ago.”
Heat rushed to her face as she quickly turned her focus tothe kitten.
“Bastard,” she grumbled under her breath, trying her bestnot to smile and give him the satisfaction.
Jax opened the tiny can, and the pungent smell of tunawafted in the air.
“Meow”
The once soft little meows quickly turned loud and needy asJax sat down the can.
“Aww,” Alessia’s heart constricted at the sight of thekitten’s desperate hunger.
“Go take a shower, you canoohandaweoverMr. Whiskers when you get out,” he ordered while stroking the feasting kitten’sfur.
Reaching over the table, she couldn't resist touching thetip of the kitten's tail. Smiling, she gave Jax a puzzled look. "IsWhiskers his name now?"
