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Zing! Her words pierced me with a sharp bite of reality. Is that what Angela had meant? I wasn't a suitable candidate. Her dad was right to treat me with suspicion. I wasn't here because Anne had invited me. I was here because I had the hots for their daughter. I was here because I couldn't get her out of my mind and needed to figure out why, even if it meant enduring a family function, something I'd never done for another woman.
With almost anyone else, I might have thought all this was a ploy to get me to consider 'how good it would be if we were together. And yes, there had been some matchmaking efforts by our moms. But Grace wasn't looking at me with a coy smile or furtive glances. In fact, she looked embarrassed. This girl tried to shield me from an overzealous family. Despite my past treatment of her, she hadn't sold me out.
Huh. Was that what was different about her? I could count on one hand the number of people who'd put me before themselves and still have a couple of fingers left over.
"Be careful, Ms. Hart, or I might begin to think you like me," I teased, trying to shove aside the little warm fuzzies that blew through me like dandelion seeds, soft and gentle but determined to take root.
She snickered and bumped shoulders with me. I clenched my fingers not to reach out and pull her to me. "Well, let's not push it, but you're growing on me. Plus, your skills with a hammer might prove useful again in the future."
"Noted. Continue to impress you with my... pounding abilities. I have more talent where that comes from if you're ever interested." I teased her just to see if I could make her smile. For some reason, that felt important to me.
Blue eyes rolled, but a smile tugged at her rosy lips and lit up her beautiful face. Success!
"You're terrible," she said over her giggles.
"Never said I wasn't." I laughed along with her, wanting to internalize the warmth I felt with her, so I could recall it when those cold, dark shadows threatened to consume me at night.
"Grace? Jaxson? Are you coming?" Anne's voice came from inside the house. I was grateful for the interruption before I did something stupid like confessing how much she was growing on me as well.
16
Grace
I was pleased with how I managed to hide how Jax's earlier kiss had rattled me. Once again, I'd forgotten where I was; disregarded that anyone could walk in on us at any moment. It wasn't fair that I kept putting off his invitations, then turning around and humping him. I'd have to do better to get through the rest of this dinner. It wasn't going to be easy. When he stood near me, my palms grew sweaty, and my stomach got flutters. And when he held his ground with my dad, it was all I could do not to lick him and ask to keep him. But he wasn't mine. He never would be. He wasn't anyone's, and he obviously liked it that way.
At dinner, Jax was a perfect gentleman, holding both my and Angela's chairs until we were seated on either side of him. My mom and dad sat at opposite ends of the table. Faith and her family were seated directly across from us. Light conversation flowed as the food was passed and the first bites were taken. Then Adam began a recount of his week, bragging about traveling to the Capitol to meet with politicians who were willing to endorse his run for a state Senate seat.
I rolled my eyes and reached for the wine bottle. Ever since he'd decided he wanted to go into politics, I swore he could be marketed as the newest insomnia cure. I didn't know how my sweet and generous sister could stand him. By the time we were almost finished cleaning our plates, Adam stopped long enough to give someone else a chance to talk.
"So, Jax, how's the real estate market looking these days?" he asked.
"Pretty good. I've got a few things I'm looking into." Jax reached for the meat platter for a second helping while my mother looked on, beaming as he refilled his plate with pot roast and potatoes. "This is delicious, Ann
e. It reminds me of my mom's, and she's one of the best cooks I know."
"Carolyn always did love to cook. In fact, I think this may be her recipe. We used to swap recipes when we all were first married, her, me, and Julie," my mom commented.
Jax's expression softened. "I didn't know that."
"No, you wouldn't. It was before you were born, before your parents moved away."
Adam ignored the change in subject. "You know, I've got some pull with some of the city government officials if I can be of any help."
Jax nodded and took a sip of his wine. "I'll keep that in mind should I need any," he answered, looking over the rim of his glass at Adam. His tone suggested he clearly wouldn't. My wine glass barely covered my smirk. I liked how Jax didn't find the need to stroke Adam's ego.
”I can—"
"So, Faith, what is it you do besides raise a cute little boy?"
Adam scowled when Jax cut him off. I saw my dad's lips quirk a little, but he quickly shoved a bite of potato in his mouth when he saw me watching.
Faith didn’t have a chance to answer.
"Oh, her only job is to take care of me,” Adam informed Jax. “Once we were married, I insisted she didn't need to work. I could take care of her and her time was better spent maintaining our home. And it means I never have to buy her a watch, right? Cause she's always got the stove clock." Adam was the only one laughing at his joke.
At the end of the table, Daddy's fork and knife clanked against his plate. Mama glared at Adam, while Faith looked down at her lap.
Before I could say anything, Jax said, "That must also make you good with sharp knives, right Faith?" He waited until she looked up at him and then winked at her. "You’re the heart of the family. I'd say that puts you in the most powerful position in the house, wouldn't you? Even the brain can’t operate if the heart doesn’t beat."
