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Jax lay on his back, no sheet whatsoever giving him modesty. He stretched out naked as the day he was born, and even as his chest rose and fell, and he snored just a tiny bit, the man still looked confident.
She rolled over and landed on her feet at the bedside. Regret washed over her. What had she been thinking having sex with him? Everybody knew about the unspoken rule of not sleeping with the best friend of exes. Maybe if she left now, no one else would find out about it. No harm, no foul. She peered at the clock on the nightstand and almost groaned that it was just after three in the morning. Everyone should be in bed. She searched the dark room and found her panties, jeans, and T-shirt but not her bra.
Damn, where the hell is it?
When searching took too long, she decided to write it off. Besides, if Jax found it, he would not be so stupid as to return it in front of everyone—she hoped. With her shoes in her hand, she tiptoed to the door, checked the hall, and then hurried out. Her room lay two doors down, meaning either she was seriously upset when she tried breaking into Jax’s or she’d subconsciously been jonesing for him all along. The first reason! she decided. Sex with Jax had been good though, insanely good. Her sore body testified to the fact. She could and would spend many nights after this one remembering the experience, but under no circumstances would she ever repeat it. Maybe in the morning she’d also ask Jax not to tell anyone it happened. He would respect her wishes.
At her bedroom door, she slipped her card into the slot, and this time it worked without issue. She opened the door and tossed her sandals on the floor.
“Tae, what are you doing?”
She froze and turned slowly. Daniel stood in his doorway across the hall, dressed in pajama bottoms and a T-shirt. His feet were bare, and his hair was tussled as if he’d been asleep. Had she made too much noise?
“I…uh…” she stuttered.
He folded his arms over his chest and grinned. “The snack machine again?”
She frowned and straightened her back. “I’m not healthy, but I don’t wake up in the middle of the night to eat!” Too late she realized she should have jumped on the excuse. Better that than the real reason she had just returned to her room.
Daniel offered a gentle, understanding smile and raised his hands in surrender. “I’m not judging you. I was wondering if I could talk to you.”
He crossed the hall toward her, and her eyes widened. A whiff of his shower gel reached her long before he did, and her knees weakened a bit. She backed away. “It’s late, Daniel.”
He caught the door as it began closing. She’d made the mistake of moving into her own room, and he followed. “I want to apologize.”
“This isn’t a good idea.”
“A minute. I promise.”
The door clicked shut with Daniel on the inside. Tae stood still, hugging herself. She hadn’t showered before returning to her room. Thoughts of Jax’s scent all over her body arrested her movements and kept her from thinking straight. “Daniel…”
“I was wrong, Tae. I shouldn’t have accused you of being jealous. All you’ve ever been after we broke up was my friend, and I don’t want to ruin that. I don’t want to go into my marriage with this over my head.”
Tae relented. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not that serious. Besides, maybe I was a little jealous. After all, Alise is a lucky woman, right?”
He drew her into a hug, and she stiffened in his arms. A wash of memories rolled over her, and for a second she let them, laying her head on his shoulder.
“We’re good?” he asked.
“Yeah.” Her voice came out raspy. “We’re good.”
She walked with him to the door and held it while he passed through. He made a few more comments, but she looked down the hall. Had she seen movement, or was it her overwrought imagination? All of the wedding party occupied this floor, including Alise, Alise’s mother, and the bridesmaids and groomsmen. That fact alone made it crazy that she’d even thought of sleeping with Jax. Well, it was over, disaster averted. She would put the pleasant memory with Jax in the past, along with all she had shared with Daniel, and wish Daniel well for his future. She said good night to him and then turned into her room to grab a few more hours of sleep before the activities of the weekend celebration began.
Chapter Five
“Miss Octavia Croft! Is Miss Octavia Croft present?” the high-pitched voice called. Tae winced and weaved her way around a small crowd of people milling about. She’d wanted to stay out of sight until the reception dinner, but apparently that wouldn’t be possible.
“I’m Tae Croft,” she said to the slender man in the gray suit holding what looked like a very expensive camera. “You bellowed?”
“Tae.”
She turned and found Daniel approaching. Her breath hitched in her throat, and he grabbed her hand. “Come on. I want you in the photos.”
Her eyes widened, and she tried tugging her hand away. “Are you nuts? I’m not in the wedding party.”
Alise moved up beside Daniel and stared daggers at Tae. Tae blinked at her. You need to check your husband, not me. Tae was the one who had been accosted.
“Alise and I want to take pictures with our best friends,” Daniel assured her. “You and Jax are mine, so it’s our turn. Come on.”
