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She was scared…of him?!
Why?
He wanted to rush over, tell her it was okay and that he was a decent person. The urge to hug her was overwhelming, and he wanted to hit his knees before her, begging her to give him a chance… yet none of that happened.
Jax stood frozen, horrified at the look in her eyes – before seeing her practically run from him. He immediately excused himself and vomited on the side of the building in the grass.
He thought he was trying to take things slow already – and obviously she needed much slower. She needed to feel safe, to take her time, and be given control of the situation… but remind her that he was there, waiting without being pushy – despite the short amount of time he was in town.
As he sat in the car in front of the bakery, Jax waited for her to text him… somehow knowing that she would. He was expecting it, anticipating it, and was bracing himself for the letdown that hadn’t come yet.
Glancing at the clock on the dash of the car, he realized it was three-thirty and assumed that anything after that time, he was going to be ‘safe’ to go in. Picking up the gift bag, he checked his phone one more time, before walking inside the small bakery in Tyler.
He heard the chime, breathed deeply the sweet scents of cakes, pies, breads, and heavy aroma of yeast rising somewhere… before laying eyes on Mary.
Her face was ashen, her eyes wild as the man leaned over the counter talking to her in a quiet voice that couldn’t be heard from where Jax was standing. The idea of her being scared rankled him, realizing that she felt threatened… and he was already moving forward to stop it.
“… Sick of your attitude,” the man hissed at her. “You are nothing. Trash – do you hear me? You are nothing and should be happy that I’ve even…”
“Are you finished?” Jax said bluntly, practically standing on top of the man, ready to pick a fight. “Because if you’ve ordered? You need to move on and quit talking to these ladies here like this. You are giving all men a bad rap.”
“Bug off and wait your turn,” he said annoyed, not even looking at him.
“Mary, did he order?” Jax said abruptly, not looking at her but glaring at the man.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then you’re done, buddy… move along,” Jax retorted, feeling his temper surge as the man called Mary a foul, derogatory term before moving – and he stopped the man immediately, grabbing him by the upper arm like he was ten years old.
“Apologize!” Jax ordered, glaring at the man and shaking him.
“Let go of me or I’m calling the cops.”
“Go ahead,” Jax said softly, his voice low, as he realized his rage at how this man was treating Mary was overriding everything in him. “Better tell them to send an ambulance too, because I do not take kindly to bullies who mistreat my lady.”
“She’s no…”
“APOLOGIZE!” he bit out angrily – only to have the man jerk his arm away and slowly straighten his suit, before marching out the front door of the bakery.
Mary was staring at him, wide-eyed and in shock.
“I am so sorry I lost my temper,” Jax said quietly, feeling his face flush with embarrassment. “I just cannot abide bullies that pick on people.”
“No, it’s… wow,” Mary stammered, looking at him in disbelief. “This is going to be bad. He’s going to be really angry and...”
Jax felt guilty realizing that she was even more alarmed now and looked ready to cry. He needed to give her space, fought every urge within him to pull her over the counter and hug her, and needed to compose himself. He was still seething at that the man was threatening Mary.
“Could I get a cup of coffee – and one of those slices of cake?” he said, trying to put distance between them just so she would stop looking like she was ready to cry at any moment.
She nodded silently, hurrying to select one of the plates of cake covered with Saran Wrap, and poured him a cup of coffee.
“Why don’t you ring me up for a slice for you, too – so we can sit down together when you get off of work?”
Nodding nervously, he saw her grab another slice of cake, putting it on the tray and realized her hands were shaking.
“Mary?” Jax said softly. “Breathe… it’s okay. If you need me to leave then…”
“No!”
