Chapter 3
Jax snagged the beer that Hunter offered and took a healthy swig while he watched his daughter do a flip off the diving board, biting his tongue when he wanted to tell her to be careful. Everyone kept telling him he needed to lighten up when it came to Elle. While he knew they were all correct, it was impossible when you were both the mother and father.
Rusty and Annabelle sat in the round plastic kiddy pool, pouring water over his knees and laughing. Rusty certainly wasn’t a shy kid, but he did tend to be reserved around men. It had broken Jax’s heart when he’d returned from work the first day, and Rusty had said, “You came back and you’re keeping your promise.” The second day, when Jax left for work, Rusty got a little teary-eyed and again was surprised he’d come back. Elle told him that Rusty asked her if he came home every day.
That poor boy. To have a father who popped in and out whenever he felt like it, but didn’t care enough to be a real dad was something Jax couldn’t comprehend. It pained him every day that Eleanor had. She’d only been nineteen and had her entire life ahead of her. Jax might not have loved her, but he knew he’d been the same kind of father he was now. The only difference would be he’d be sharing time with Elle’s mother.
“Kisses, Daddy!” Annabelle stood up in the pool, opening and closing her fingers.
Hunter bent over and gave her a big kiss. “Hey Elle, mind coming over and watching these two crazy love birds while I talk to Jax?”
“Not at all.” Elle climbed out of the pool, wrapping a towel around her waist, which Jax noticed was starting to change. On the way over, Elle had mentioned that one of her friends had gotten her first training bra, and she was thinking she needed one, too. Jax nearly died right there.
He stood, Rusty holding onto his calf, looking up at him with sad, blue eyes. “You want a kiss, too?”
The little boy nodded.
How could Jax refuse? He scooped him up, planting a loud raspberry kiss on his cheek like he used to do when his daughter had been that age. Rusty squirmed and giggled, kicking his little legs. If Jax ever met the boy’s father, he’d punch him before he got the chance to say hello.
“Be a good boy for Elle.”
“I will!”
He set Rusty down and followed Hunter to a table near the deep end of the pool. It always amazed Jax how rich Hunter and his wife were, yet, for the most part, they lived a modest life. They could have a ten-million-dollar home, but instead, they lived in a middle-class neighborhood, drove middle class cars, and both worked. The only real difference, besides their net worth, was they put their money where it counted: helping people who didn’t have the same luxuries. And Claire actually made a difference in the world.
“I take it you heard back from Tex.” Jax had only meet Tex Keegan once, but he was a good friend of Ace’s, their crew chief, and had helped him, and Hunter, with tracking down information about people over the years. Tex was the kind of guy that if you needed someone found, he’d be able to locate them with the snap of his fingers.
“I did.” Hunter rested his ankle over his knee, tipping back his longneck. “Her ex isn’t a very nice boy.”
“Boy?”
“Well, he’s twenty-three, which is so young to be a father.”
“I was twenty when I had Elle, and Scarlet’s only twenty-three,” Jax said, wishing he hadn’t sounded so defensive because Rusty’s father didn’t deserve defending. “Tell me what Tex dug up.”
“For starters, he has a record.”
Jax glanced over his shoulder. The second Rusty spied him, he waved frantically. Jax smiled, waving back. Damn kid was going to steal his heart.
“Please tell me it wasn’t for any kind of abuse,” Jax said, turning his attention back to his buddy.
Hunter was a couple years older, but they had gone through fire training together. Hunter had been shocked that Jax had a kid, and Jax had been shocked Hunter was loaded. Even more shocked when Claire walked back into his life and bam, next thing you know, the dude’s married with babies.
Lucky man.
“Unlawful entry, larceny, and a few possession charges. He’s never done time, only a few nights in county lock-up.” Hunter pushed his sunglasses down and peered over the rims. “His boss at the auto shop said he quit because he got some great new opportunity on the west coast.”
Jax tipped his beer, glancing up at the office over the three-car garage where Scarlet was interviewing for a job as Claire’s assistant.
“Does anyone know where he went?” Jax wasn’t the kind of guy that wished bad things on other people, even criminals, but he so wished this jerk-off was out of the picture, for good.
Hunter shook his head. “His landlord said he didn’t pay his last month’s rent and just left one morning.”
“What the hell did she see in an asshole like that?”
“Not much according to Tex’s sources,” Hunter said, shoving his glasses back. “She broke up with him before she had Rusty. He claimed the kid wasn’t his, she did the whole paternity thing and nailed him for child support.”
“Which he’s barely ever paid,” Jax muttered. He understood she needed help financially, but if this Daniel guy was going to keep fucking with Rusty’s heart, then no amount of money would be worth it.
“She tried taking him to court, but according to the records, she had to bail because she didn’t have the money.” Hunter pushed his phone across the table. “That’s where she was living until a few weeks ago. She was evicted when she couldn’t pay the rent.”
Jax stared at the run-down trailer in a dumpy park. He’d seen worse. Hell, he’d lived in worse when deployed.
“She lost her job waiting tables when she could no longer afford daycare.”
“Jesus Christ.”
Mauve had told Jax things were rough for her niece, but she also said that Scarlet had been making it work. That she was tough, resourceful, and stubborn. Obviously, she’d lied to her aunt until she couldn’t lie anymore. He understood pride. Respected it. He also respected a person who could ask for help when they truly needed it.
“You know my wife does a background check on everyone she hires, right?”
“She hasn’t hired Scarlet.”
“Yet,” Hunter said. “But she did the check anyway.”
“This is beginning to feel like spying. I just wanted to know what happened to her ex. What kind of man he was since she’s babysitting my daughter, and I don’t want that kind of crap to touch Elle.”
Hunter leaned forward and tapped his finger on the table. “Her bad judgment one night doesn’t make for a lifetime of poor decisions and just because he’s a deadbeat, doesn’t mean she’s not a decent person.”
“I never said that.”
“She’s a good woman. All three references she gave talked her up as this strong, independent person, with a good work ethic, and a kind heart. Even the landlord that evicted her and the restaurant owner who had to fire her, which he said he would give her regular weekly hours if she could find regular daycare.”
“Hard to do when you don’t have a job.”
“She’s just a woman who is down on her luck and needs a break. Claire sees this all the time, and I would bet the sports car I don’t have that she hires Scarlet.”
“That would certainly help her get on her feet, and I know Mauve plans on babysitting Rusty to help her, but what if this Daniel asshole shows up? That’s the last thing she and her son needs.”
“This coming from the man who gets his panties in a wad when paternal rights are screwed with.” Hunter held up his hand. “Let’s get to the heart of the matter. You’ve got the hots for Scarlet.”
Jax tried to stop the corners of his mouth from curling into a smile but gave up. “That’s beside the point. I certainly wouldn’t feel threatened if her ex showed up, but it would concern me for Elle, which is why I’m not going to pursue her.”
“Like hell you’re not.” Hunter shook his head, laughing. “You can’t stop looking at her. Man, you’re practically drooling.”
“I am not,” he said, still smiling. Any man with a pulse would notice Scarlet. “But she is super sexy.”
“Really? You think so? I don’t know. I haven’t really noticed her or anything.”
Jax balled up a napkin and tossed it at Hunter. “You’re a married man, and Scarlet is… she’s…well, off limits.”
“To just us married folk? Or any man, other than you?”
Jax sucked in a deep breath, letting it out slowly. “Any man.”
***
“Why’d you drop out of college?”
Scarlet swallowed the thick lump that had formed the second she’d gotten in Jax’s car an hour ago. Between fighting her attraction and wanting this job, her nerves were frazzled to the point she could barely string together a coherent thought. She stared at Claire and cleared her throat. The interview had gone along well enough thus far. Now it was time to be honest because hiding the truth hadn’t been working out too well.
“It was hard enough being a single mother; adding the expense of college, it was just too much.”
Claire leaned back in her large, white leather chair, resting her delicate hands on the armrests. “You wanted to be a social worker?”
“I wanted to do something in social services or maybe women’s health.”
“It must have been hard for you to give up your dreams.”
Scarlet shook her head. “Rusty means everything to me. I don’t see it as giving up anything when I’ve gained him.”
“I like you,” Claire said, smiling. “Starting salary is forty thousand—”
Scarlet went into a coughing fit. No way could she have heard that correctly. The most she’d ever made had been fifteen thousand in one year.
“Are you okay? Do you need some water?”
“No, I’m good. Please continue,” Scarlet said, mentally preparing herself for a different number.
“As I was saying, the salary is forty thousand. You’ll have two weeks paid vacation, five sick days, and five personal days. I don’t roll them over to the next year. I work from home two days a week, and in the office or visiting various programs and shelters the other three, and I expect you to come with me most days. If I need you at an evening function, I usually let you off work that day early, or come in later the next day. I have a full-time nanny, if you need her services, but you’d have to work that out with her. My foundation also has a daycare on site. If you need medical insurance, I can add you, but that comes out of your salary. You can look over the plan and let me know at any time.”
Scarlet curled her fingers over the hem of her sundress to keep them from shaking. Her heart pounded so loud she thought for sure she wasn’t hearing everything right. “Are you offering me the job?”
“It’s yours for the taking.” Claire stood, holding out a folder. “This details of the job offer and all the responsibilities are in this packet. Take tonight and read this. You can let me know tomorrow if you want the job or not.” She leaned across the desk. “I hope you’ll take it.”
“Thank you.” Her hands trembled slightly as she took the folder. She fought the tears forming in her eyes. “I won’t disappoint you.”
“Is that an acceptance?”
Scarlet nodded.
“Well, all right then,” Claire said. The way her mouth tipped up into an elegant smile radiated confidence. “Let’s go downstairs and celebrate.”
Scarlet stuffed the papers in her purse and followed Claire out of the office and down the staircase that lead to a back corner in the family room off the kitchen.
“Do you like white wine?” Claire asked as she reached into a wine cooler.
“I do, thanks.” In the matter of three days, she’d landed a job and not just any job. Her aunt was right. This would be a fresh start. Her only worry now was Rusty.
“You look deep in thought.” Claire set two glasses on the white granite counter adorned with green and light-gray swirls. The entire kitchen looked clean. Crisp. It had white and light-green shaker-style cabinets and a white-washed wood floor.
Laughter filtered through the screen door. Rusty jumped from the side of the pool into Jax’s arms, screaming to do it again. Elle hung on her father’s back, egging Rusty on. He’d managed being a single parent just fine, which gave her hope. But it pained her how being around him affected Rusty. He craved male attention, and Jax was all male. Elle didn’t seem to be as needy around females, but she had Mauve, and from the looks of it, Claire as well.
“It’s been a rough few months, and I’m a little overwhelmed with how quickly things are changing. I’m kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop.”
“I’m a good read of people, and I think it’s more than that.” Claire pointed to the pool. “Rusty sure is attached to Jax.”
“He’s usually more guarded with men.”
“Why is that?” Claire asked.
“His father stopped coming around to see him six months ago.” The only time Daniel ever really spent time with his son was when she pushed it, a decision she now regretted. “Stopped paying child support nine months ago.”
A soft, tender hand rested on her shoulder, sending warmth to her heart.
“Have you tried to find him? Take him to court?”
“I kind of ran out of money and lost the energy.” She leaned against the island, sipping the butter-flavored wine, her taste buds exploding with excitement. The wine she’d been used to tasted like Ethel with a mix of berries. Taking a bit more into her mouth, she swirled it around, savoring every drop. “My mother left my dad when I was four for another man. She married him, and for the next two years, I barely saw her. Then she left that man for someone else and this time moved halfway across the state. I saw her even less. But my dad was so amazing that somehow he managed to make up for the lack of motherly affection. I thought I could do the same for Rusty.”
“Where’s your mother now?”
“On her seventh husband, living in the Panhandle.”
“Do you feel loved by her?” Claire asked.
Scarlet nodded. “One thing about my mother is that she has never lied to me. She doesn’t make promises she knows she won’t keep and neither did my dad. I feel like I’ve been lying to Rusty because I really don’t believe his father loves him, much less wants to be in his life.”
“You’re a good mom, and Rusty will be okay, especially since we’re going to have to make sure he marries Annabelle. Look at them.”
The two toddlers walked across the concrete patio holding hands. “At the last daycare I had Rusty in, the teacher always told me he didn’t play nice with the other children.”
Claire laughed. “My very first nanny quit because Annabelle was too much for her.”
“But she’s so calm.”
“Annabelle? Calm?” Hunter said as he stepped through the sliders. “Your son has put a spell on that child because she’s normally a holy terror.” He waved a baby monitor. “Dallas is awake.”
“He’ll want milk,” Claire said.
“I’m on it.” Hunter breezed by, stopping to give his wife a brief kiss.
Scarlet turned her attention to the backyard and gasped as Jax placed his hands on the side of the pool, pushing his upper body out of the water, showing off what could only be described as a twelve-pack. The water beaded off his tanned skin, gliding down like condensation on a frosted mug.
“Not too bad to look at,” Claire whispered.
Scarlet jumped, startled. “Oh, I wasn’t—”
“Oh, yes you were.”
“Okay, maybe a little.” Every time she could, she stole a glance at Jax. She’d thought she’d been hiding it well, but now that he was shirtless, it would be hard to take her eyes off him.
“I’m told he works out all the time. Hunter says it’s because he’s sexually deprived.”
Scarlet’s cheeks burned as her jaw dropped open. “I doubt that. He’s got to have tons of women throwing themselves at him.”
“In the three years I’ve known him, he’s never had a girlfriend. Hunter has known him for about eight years and said he’s seen him with two women.” Claire held up two fingers. “Two.”
That had to be impossible. Then again, the last time Scarlet had sex was over a year ago and before that had been when she’d gotten pregnant. “Maybe he’s just really discreet.”
“Why don’t you go find out?” Claire raised her glass. “I dare you.”
Scarlet waggled her finger. “No…no…no. I’m not interested.”
“And I’m not blond.” Claire opened the door. “Hey, Jax, can you come here a minute? Scarlet needs help with something.”
“I can’t believe you just did that.”
Claire looked over her shoulder and winked.
Scarlet pressed her backside against the counter, steadying herself as she heaved in a deep breath, her mind trying to find something, anything, that she could possibly need help with so she didn’t look like a complete ass.
“What’s up?” Jax inched closer, his muscles flexing with each step.
“Um…Um… I need your keys. I think I left my bag with my bathing suit in the car.”
He raised his hand, his finger landing on her shoulder. Holding her breath, she glanced down just as he flicked the string to her suit.
“Oh.” Nah. She didn’t look like an ass. She looked stupid. “Guess I wore it.”
“Guess so,” he murmured, his bare toes touching her flip-flops. “Anything else you need help with?”
His dark, mahogany orbs twinkled with a mischievous glint that stole her breath and made her flesh line with goosebumps.
“I think I’m good,” she managed to ground out.
He stood so close, her chest heaved into his hard body.
“I think you need to be kissed.”
“I…I…don’t think so.”
His index finger traced her lower lip.
The room spun. Her insides sloshed around like a teenager about to drive a car for the very first time. Her eyelids fluttered closed against her will as he brushed his mouth over hers, drawing her lower lip between his.
Her legs went limp as she leaned into him for support, clutching at his strong shoulders. His warm tongue sliding into her mouth, swirling, teasing, tasting.
He cupped her face, gently breaking off the kiss. His thumbs fanning her cheeks. “I have no idea what I’m doing.”
“That makes two of us.” She dropped her hands to her sides, hoping he’d take a step back. She needed a little breathing room. “We shouldn’t have done that.”
“Probably not,” he muttered.
“I’ve trying to get my life back on track and right now that doesn’t include—”
He hushed her with his index finger. “We both have other people in our lives that come first. I get it. So, for now, why don’t we enjoy a nice dinner with our kids and friends.”