Jaxon

Jaxon realized Lucy was a lightweight a bit too late to do much about it. She’d finished three mini wine bottles while she watched the sunset, snuggled against him in the back of his truck. She was just about to open the fourth when he swiped it from her hands.

“I think you’ve had enough, Smalls. And it’s time we get back on the road.”

“Oh come on, Jaxon. One more!”

“How about a water instead?” he asked, handing her one.

She tossed it out of the truck bed, pouting. “You’re no fun.”

“And you’re drunk.”

“Am not,” she said leaning over his lap to retrieve the bottle.

“Oh no ya don’t,” he said trying to keep her at an arm’s length without hurting her. But she’d somehow weaseled her way onto his lap and was batting her pretty eyelashes at him, giving her pouty face. Goddamn, she was irresistible. Even when she was tipsy.

“Can’t we stay a little longer?” she begged.

“Lucy . . .” he warned, but the way she was moving in his lap made it hard to think. Shit, he was putty in her hands. Especially if she kept wiggling her fine ass against him. “Fine, one more but take it slow. I’m not holding your hair back if you puke.” Another lie. He totally would.

“Yay!” Lucy howled, bouncing on his lap in the most delightful way.

Shit! If Smalls didn’t get off his lap soon he’d probably earn a merit bag for his tent pitching skills. Jaxon needed to get her off of him quick or his true feelings were gonna be pretty evident. “How about you have your drink and I’ll get us a blanket. It’s getting chilly.”

“Okay!”

Jaxon took his time grabbing a blanket from the back seat of his truck. He needed to put some space between him and Lucy so he could cool off. She was flirty when she drank and that did not bode well for him. He was a guy, not a saint. He only had so much will power and Lucy was quickly burning though it.

Jaxon wanted her—that much he was sure of. But she’d just broken up with her boyfriend a few hours ago. Hell, he wasn’t even sure they were officially broken up. Alex and Lucy probably owed each other a conversation before they started anything else.

“Jaxon, you’re missing it! The stars are coming out!” Lucy called.

He rubbed a hand over his face. This was not gonna be easy.

Lucy

Lucy cozied up next to Jaxon under the blanket, warm and happy, nursing the last of her wine. She rested her head on his shoulder and gazed up at the night sky. “How come the stars don’t look like this in LA?”

“Because everyone who lives in LA is trying to outshine each other,” Jaxon cracked.

Lucy giggled and turned to face him. Their faces were only inches apart and she could see the starlight reflecting off the deep blue pools of his eyes. She’d turned to ask him something, but suddenly there wasn’t a thought in her head other than how much she wanted to kiss him.

Seeming to sense what she wanted, Jaxon stilled. Lucy’s hand slid up to the nape of his neck where her fingertips brushed his soft, dark hair. She moved her hand up further, twisting her fingers deeper into his hair. Jaxon’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment and Lucy pressed closer.

“Lucy . . .” Jaxon murmured, his voice strained.

She closed her eyes, ready to let her lips brush his, but the next words she heard made her eyes pop back open again.

“Not like this,” Jaxon growled.

Lucy blinked in surprise. It took a moment for his rejection to sink in, but when it finally did, embarrassment rushed through her like an ice cold tidal wave. She was grateful that the cover of night helped hide her burning cheeks as Jaxon quickly scrambled to his knees and collected their things from the back of the truck. That’s not what a girl wants. Jaxon couldn’t have run faster if a bullet was chasing him. What the hell had she been thinking?

Just this morning Lucy told Jaxon that they were just friends. Yeah, okay, so it wasn’t the whole truth, but she’d been trying to do the right thing. But that was before Alex ripped her heart out.

Lucy groaned. How had she lost two boys in one day? Alex didn’t want her, and apparently Jaxon didn’t either. He at least returned to help her down from the truck bed, but the damage was done. She felt like an idiot.

Lucy didn’t know if it was the sudden realization that she’d made a complete fool of herself, or if the wine was catching up with her, but she felt like a newborn deer trying to use its legs for the first time as she stumbled to her feet. Her broken leg only magnified her tipsiness.

Always the gentleman, Jaxon was back at her side in a flash, helping her down in his steady arms. She wanted to cry again. How could she feel so much just being in his arms and he feel nothing at all? It wasn’t fair. Why did she always fall for the wrong guys?

As Jaxon buckled her safely in the truck, Lucy found herself wishing she had more wine. All she wanted to do was drown her sorrows and pretend she hadn’t just ruined a good thing.