AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I have to work,” she said quietly.
“We could meet up after work or… sorry,” he said sheepishly. “I’m pressuring you and…”
“We’ll see,” she replied nervously.
“That’s not a ‘No’,” he smiled easily. “I’ll take it.”
“You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be?” he asked, looking confused. “Even if you said ‘No’– I wouldn’t be angry or upset. I would be frustrated, because I want to get to know you better, but ‘No’means ‘No’… and I would respect that.”
“Really?” she whispered, stunned.
“Yeah, really…” he replied softly, his eyes warm and gentle. “Do you serve coffee at your work? I could grab a cup there close to when you get off work, so you feel comfortable being in public, you know? I don’t want you to ever feel nervous around me.”
“You don’t mind?”
“I’m hoping it’s really good coffee,” he smiled easily, causing her to laugh nervously. “We can see how that goes and maybe talk a little more.”
“I think I’d like that,” she admitted hesitantly. “I get off work at four tomorrow afternoon.”
“Then I’ll be there around three-thirty – and if you change your mind? I can give you my number and all you have to do is text me… but in Klingon,” he amended quickly, smiling as she choked out an unexpected laugh at the strange request that came so easily from him.
“I figure then you can’t say ‘no’…” he smiled easily, his dark eyes dancing and so full of hope that she was touched. “Because I’d really like to get to know you better, Mary.”
“I guess I’ll have to brush up on my Klingon, just in case,” she smiled shyly.
“Hmm… I guess I’ll need to get a little more creative,” Jax countered, and her breath caught as she realized he was flirting with her. “Can I walk you to your car?”
“I rode with Karen.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t then. Not sure the guy a few bunks down from me would like that very much, nor would he want to hear an explanation.”
“It’s probably best,” she smiled nervously. “But I do need your cell number, or I can’t text in Klingon - or in English.”
“Oh darn…”
His infectious smile caught her by surprise, causing her to laugh again. Pulling out her phone, she silently dialed the number he rattled off and let it ring before hanging up.
“Where are you from? I don’t recognize that area code.”
“Let’s keep a few things to discuss over coffee,” he teased, making her blush slightly as she realized it would give them something to discuss if they both were nervous. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
CHAPTER7
GHOST
Jax was sonervous and giddy that he could hardly sleep last night. Mary was so skittish that he was fascinated, and wanted to know more about her. What happened to make her like that – and why?
She was incredibly beautiful and should have men following her around, but she didn’t even acknowledge or look at anyone. It was like she was hiding behind a shell… and he wanted to hunker down behind it, reassuring her that it was okay to be there.
He thought about getting her flowers but didn’t want her to run, plus he had the little earrings and chocolates he’d gotten her in London. He would bring that gift bag with him, then maybe do flowers another day, trying to spread out the little moments to make her feel special.
Oh gosh… that smile, he thought with a sigh. That breathtaking smile and little stilted laugh was doing things to his nervous system, creating an electric jolt straight to the soul.
When he’d seen her yesterday as Harley was doing the introductions, Firefly elbowed him and whispered one single word – Mary.
Everything in him slammed to a halt as awareness hit him. It was like seeing a sunrise for the first time as her eyes met his, and there was this flare of recognition, an awareness in those hazel depths… followed by such bone-chilling fear that he became violently sick.
