Page 113 of First in Line

“Because I’m pretty sure it’s worth more than my house.”

I think about it for a second before saying, “Given the real estate market at the moment, I’d be inclined to say no. But in Cañon City, Colorado? Yeah, probably.”

She counters the jab with a pinch on my arm.

“It’s nothing, Evie. Only a necklace worthy of a princess.”

“You’re not helping.”

My arm comes around her, and I pull her into me again, until her head returns to my shoulder and we’re both facing the stars.

“I’m sorry you didn’t like this trip as much as I hoped you would.”

“It’s not your fault.” She sighs softly. “You were right. This is your world now. I just… don’t think it’s mine.”

“It was supposed to be. We used to talk about this all the time.”

“I know. But I think I was too young to understand what it actually meant. I loved watching you race. I loved how much you wanted it.” Her fingers absentmindedly play with mine. “But all of this? The traveling, the attention, the noise… I don’t think I ever really pictured it. All I wanted was to help you reach your dream, Jax.”

I swallow around the knot in my throat. “And all I wanted was to buy you a house.”

A small, sad smile appears on her lips before she adjusts herself on me, squirming a little closer. I’m sure it’s not lost on her that I’m fully hard between us, my cock rigid against her ass. But neither of us does anything about it, watching the stars as we let ourselves drift into thoughts of wasted potential.

At least, that’s what I do, telling myself all isn’t lost yet.

CHAPTER

TWENTY-ONE

Jackson

Islam the trunk shut, and the Uber drives away, leaving me alone in front of the Dairy Mill.

My chest is tight with anticipation, my ears drumming with every hectic beat of my heart. I’m about to see my wife again. After over nine months apart, I’m so fucking close to holding her in my arms, to kissing her, to feeling her…

My season ended last week, and I was supposed to stick around a little longer to prepare for the next one, but I couldn’t. I negotiated an early release just so I could see Evie.

As if my mind conjured her, she appears from the back room, holding a mop and a bucket, and begins sweeping the floor. She’s so fucking beautiful, even from afar like this, in her pastel uniform.

Fuck, I didn’t even know it was possible to miss someone this much.

I put my duffel bag over my suitcase and roll them behind me as I cross the road, as if helplessly drawn by her. My eyes never veer away, locked on her as she works, her body gently oscillating with the motions and whatever music is playing in her earphones.

When I push on the door, I’m surprised to find it open. This isn’t the proper procedure, so she forgot to lock it again. But it allows me to get in without her noticing, which will only make the surprise even bigger.

Her strategic sweeping eventually has her turning around, and when she sees there’s a man in here with her, she lets out a small shriek while her hand tugs her earphones down.

“Sorry, we’re cl—”

The moment she recognizes me, her eyes widen, and her jaw falls open. I’m grinning so hard that my cheeks hurt as she stays perfectly still, trying to process the moment. She looks as if she’s seeing a ghost.

To prove I’m not a figment of her imagination, I open my arms and amusedly say, “Don’t I get a hug, princess?”

I don’t think her mind has had time to catch up, given how quickly her body does. She drops the mop and lunges at me, so hastily that she’s with me before the mop even hits the ground.

I easily catch her as she leaps in, wrapping my arms around her hourglass figure while hers hook around my neck, and her legs come to my sides. She holds me so tightly, it’s almost hard to breathe. And I’m not sure she can either, given how hard my arms hold her.

God, I missed how she smells. Her weight against me. The softness of her hair. I’ll never be apart from her ever again. Not for more than a week at a time.