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They’d definitely taken a leap backward.
“We didn’t get around to talking about the airport the other night,” he told her, remaining by the fireplace.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that why you’re here?”
“Not really, but I was giving you an easier topic than what I really want to discuss.”
She glanced over her shoulder toward the laughing and chatter from the kitchen. Then she moved farther into the room. Jax held his ground and waited for her to come to him. He wasn’t going to beg and he sure as hell wasn’t going to make this easy because he was turned inside out . . . she may as well be suffering, too.
“Would you rather start with why you’re ignoring my texts?”
Without looking at him, she leaned against the window frame and stared out into the evening. “What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to acknowledge that you’re just as torn up as I am.” He pushed his hands into his pockets and decided to be brutally honest. “I know this complicates the hell out of things, but you can’t just ignore me.”
“I was doing a good job of it until you showed up.”
Laughing, Jax closed the space between them. She looked too damn rigid and fearful. He was glad she could at least attempt humor.
“You didn’t honestly think I’d let you off that easy, did you?”
Her hair waved down over her shoulder and he smoothed it away with the tip of his finger. She trembled, only proving she wasn’t as immune as she pretended to be.
“Maybe we should talk about the plans for the airport.” She turned to glance over her shoulder, those pale pink lips begging for his touch.
Without thinking twice, he leaned in and captured her mouth. He didn’t touch her anywhere else, but just that simple kiss was already so familiar, so right, he lingered a little longer than was smart.
When he eased back, her lids fluttered open. “You can’t do that.”
“I just did and I plan on doing it again,” he assured her. “I did come to discuss plans, but I also want you to be fully aware that just because I’m a guy, doesn’t mean I take this lightly. Something is going on between us and I’m not going to let you scare yourself away simply because it’s not what you wanted.”
She glanced back out the window and nodded. “You know nothing can come from this. I’m not staying long.”
So she’d reminded him a few dozen times. At this point Jax wasn’t sure if she was trying to convince him or herself, because he was starting to see a little crack in her defensive barrier. She didn’t want to like Haven, she didn’t want to stay here longer than necessary, and she didn’t want to like him. Yet here she was . . . doing all three.
He glanced around the room. “Looks like you’re gearing up to sell.”
“I can’t keep this house,” she told him as she turned to fully face him. “I have no need for a house in Haven, especially one this size. I think once I do some minor touch-ups, it will sell pretty quick, but painting one space has turned into working in every single room.”
There was no doubt the home would sell fast. The location was close to town yet still out where there was a little land, the neighborhood was great, and Haven was thriving and a hot spot for those wanting to be close to Savannah.
Livie’s childhood home was just outside the main part of town. It had a huge yard for children, five bedrooms, two staircases leading from the kitchen and the foyer up to the second floor. The old Georgian charm was everywhere you looked, from the built-ins to the original crown moldings to the curved staircase just inside the front door. The gleaming hardwood floors in some of the home were original and he’d bet there was more beneath the old carpet.
This house was a thing of beauty and he’d hate to see it go. Paul had loved this house. Even when he’d been alone and sick, for a time all he’d say was how many great memories he’d had here and he wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“I was going
to ask you first if you were interested.”
Her quiet statement caught him off guard. He hadn’t thought about buying it for himself. Hell, he doubted he could afford it. This house was more than double the size of his cottage. It wasn’t like he and Piper needed a ton of space, but this yard was so much nicer and it was actually on the side of town where the airport was.
“I doubt that would be possible.”
She tipped her head. “If you’re referring to finances, I can—”
“No.” Like hell he’d let her lower the price. Couldn’t a man have some pride? “Piper and I are fine where we are. We love this house, we loved Paul, but you need the closure and if selling is how you’re going to do it, then so be it.”
She opened her mouth as if she wanted to argue, but closed it and nodded. “Okay, then. Why don’t you sit and we’ll discuss the plans? Jade and Melanie have already put the ball into motion for a grant.”
