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“It’s not like him, you know—to care. You mean something to him, even if you think this is all new. For him to come to me and ask for help…that’s a big deal for him. From the outside looking in, it might seem small, but for Jax that’s massive progress in his growth. I don’t know what you’re doing to him, Kennedy, but please, keep doing it.” He turned and walked down the stairs. “And if you ever need a listening ear from a neighbor, my couch is always open.”
I bit into one of the cookies as Eddie walked away, my mind filled with lingering thoughts of what it meant that Jax had gone searching for someone to help me. I simply hoped he was reaching out for help for himself, too.
* * *
I’d never knownlandscaping could be extremely sexy before the day I watched Jax pick up a shovel. Each day he and Connor came over, I found reasons to be outside, and each time I caught Jax looking my way, I’d get a brand-new case of butterflies filling my stomach. He didn’t really talk to me much, and when he did, the conversation was pretty much about the landscaping.
Late one Monday afternoon, the Kentucky sun was beating down on us as if it had no care in the world for darkening our skin fifty shades. I kept refreshing the guys’ water as they were hard at work throughout the day. When I came out with a pitcher of ice water to fill up their glasses once more, I almost tripped over my feet upon seeing Jax.
There he was, shirtless and kneeling in the dirt as he was planting a rose bush. His body was rock hard, and his tan skin glistened in the sunlight. His white T-shirt was tucked into the back pocket of his Levi jeans, and I was officially back to my Joe-from-Youstalking vibes.
Had his butt always been that magical and plump? Geez, all I wanted to do was walk over to him, place my two hands against his butt cheeks, and squeeze.
Look away, look away, look—
“Is that for us?” Connor’s voice said from behind me, making me jump out of my skin, and the pitcher of water in my hand went flying forward, crashing right into Jax’s body.
“Fuck!” he said, rising to his feet from the chill that engulfed him. He jumped in place, shaking off the water.
“Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, rushing over to him. “I got spooked, I’m so sorry,” I said, reaching for the first thing I could think of to dry him off: the T-shirt in his back pocket. And now I was rubbing my hands up and down Jax’s chest.
Up and down his abs.
His abs…
So. Many. Abs.
Is that a six-pack party going on there? Or did I just count eight? And why, oh why can’t I stop rubbing him down?
“Uh, I think we’re good, Kennedy.” Jax smirked.
“Good, good, yes, we’re good,” I muttered, still rubbing.
He laughed and placed his hands on my arms, halting my movements. “It’s okay, really.”
Oh, Jax, if only you knew how more than okay we are right now.
“Right, of course.” I stepped back, his shirt still in my hand. “Sorry, I was just…I lost my focus for a minute.”
Connor chuckled. “What were you staring at?” he teased.
My face heated and I was certain both of them could see the embarrassment rising high in my cheeks.
“Yeah,” Jax asked. “What caught your attention?”
All that junk in your trunk, sir.
I shook my head. “Oh, uh, a squirrel—chasing a cat,” I blurted out.What?“I mean, a cat chasing a squirrel.” They both arched an eyebrow in confusion. I waved my hands. “You know what? Doesn’t matter. Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine. We are about to stop for the day anyway,” Jax said, running his hand through his dripping wet hair. The water droplets dripped, dripped, dripped right down his chest, chest, chest, and oh my gosh, did I watch those drops slide down every inch of him.
What is wrong with me?Had it been so long since I’d seen a shirtless man that I was now fixated on Jax’s chest?
Though, to be fair, not many men had chests like his.
“Okay, I’ll start loading stuff into the truck. Jax, in the meantime, why don’t you talk to Kennedy about that thing you and I spoke about the other day,” Connor mentioned.
Jax shot Connor the dirtiest look and hissed through his clenched teeth. “Now’s probably not the right time, Connor.”
