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Going? I thought I was watching him. Once Ty was out of earshot, I’d clarify. Ever-changing plans were definitely part of my daily schedule.
“Gotta go, Grama is calling me.”
Before he could escape, Jaxson picked him up and gave him a hug. Jean-clad legs and cowboy boots kicked as he tried to wrestle free from Jaxson’s hold. “Listen to Grama. Love you.”
“Love you too, Dad.”
Ty raced to the house. In his yellow shirt he looked like a lightning bolt. “I wish I had that much energy.” Even standing, Ty bounced. I cleared my throat. “Do you need me to watch Ty at all today?”
A devilish smile appeared on his face. Those dimples. That scruff. It was all enough to make a girl go crazy. “Change of plans. I thought I could go with you this morning on your jog. I heard you mentioning it to Mom last night. Maybe spend some time together this morning before I have to work.”
It wasn’t until now I noticed Jaxson wore low slung black running shorts with a light-blue wicking shirt. “You’re running with me?”
Jaxson was taking an interest in me. Things I liked to do. It wasn’t a one-way street, but the beginning of building something else I wasn’t used to. Charles never took an interest in my hobbies.
Hesitantly, he responded, “If you want company.” Jaxson’s confidence trailed off.
The thought of running with Jaxson nearly had me bouncing in place like a little girl. “Yes. Yes. Of course. It’s just unexpected. I didn’t mean to sound like I didn’t want you to come. Let me grab my watch.”
Traipsing inside, Jaxson followed. As soon as the door shut, my body was gently pushed against the door. Jaxson’s mouth was on mine. Slightly pulling away, we smiled against each other’s lips. Our breath mingled as I asked, “Did you sleep well?”
“I thought about us all night.”
The kiss deepened for a few seconds before he stepped back, taking a deep breath.
“You really know how to swoon a girl. How is it you didn’t date before?”
Part of me dreaded the answer. Was I the same as the girls before me?
Jaxson watched me closely while making sure he had my full attention. “I messed around from time to time. I wasn’t interested in anything more. I’m not messing around with us, London. This isn’t a casual fuck. I’ve never misled anyone. I want you to understand this. I wouldn’t have my boy involved if it was.”
In one swoop, Jaxson helped ease my apprehension. I gave him a small kiss before saying, “Well, I’m glad you changed your mind.”
With my hand on his stomach, I felt his rigid abs. His subtle spice smell nearly had me wanting to sniff him, but I remembered myself. There was no need for the already long list of embarrassing acts I’d committed in front of him. Time for a subject change. We needed to get out of here before our obvious attraction took us to the next level sooner than intended. “Are you ready to be put through your paces?”
“You bet.” He wagged his eyebrows and I blushed at the verbal innuendo I’d walked right into.
Sex. Wow, it had been a long time. My libido was ready to cash in the rain checks. And trust me, it was becoming more outspoken by the moment. Just the thought had me panicking. What if I wasn’t any good when it was time? I’d only ever been with Charles. Behave. Maybe the Thunder Down Under Vibrator Millie gave me should be used to calm me.
Hands touched my shoulder. “London, baby, breathe. We’re not rushing this. Why do you look scared shitless?”
It was best to be honest. “I’m nervous. I’ve only ever been with one person. What if I’m terrible? What if—”
Lips silenced me and I melted into the man who captivated my attention. “It’s me and you. Anyone else in our past doesn’t matter. I’m one lucky bastard to have another chance with you. London, I want to know everything about you. No secrets.”
I beamed. Honesty was something I thrived on. “No secrets.”
THE HEAT FROM THE SUN felt good on our morning jog. The air smelled fresh after the slight rain passed through last night. I tried to keep my eyes on the ground as we jogged in order to not look at the way the shirt clung to Jaxson’s sweat-sheened body. He was in insane shape. Nearly done with the jog, it felt good to run for an hour.
At the quarter-mile mark from home, we slowed to a walk for the cool down. The whole time I’d spilled my guts about everything from Charles, to dancing, to prison. Around Jaxson it all came out—almost lifting a weight, knowing he knew everything. Patiently, Jaxson listened.
Finishing with my journey to Colorado, I asked, “So, have I scared you away yet?”
He raised his eyebrow and scoffed. Our bodies moved closer. “Hardly.” Fingers wrapped around mine. I licked my lips to hide the insane smile that wanted to spread across my face. The pace slowed.
As the silence lingered, I wasn’t sure what else to say. Saving me from rambling, Jaxson said, “Crystal, Ty’s mom, was not who I thought she was. She knew all the right things to say and was interested in the same things. Then, I found out it was all an elaborate lie when she accidentally texted me versus her friend. I started digging and found out our relationship had been a setup from the beginning.” He took a deep breath. “After that . . . from time to time, I heard about her drinking and doing drugs with her new richer boyfriend from mutual friends. No one ever said anything about a baby. She told them the baby was someone else’s, so they didn’t mention it. Ty had been born tiny and she said he was premature. People bought it.”
The muscles in Jaxson’s throat bobbed as he swallowed. “Almost a year later, Ty was dropped off on our doorstep in the middle of the night. I made it to the front door in time to see taillights disappearing. Ty was screaming. Turned out he was nearly starved to death. He was the size of a six-month-old when I first got him.”
