Chapter Three
That night, Megan had a tough time sleeping. Megan had done all the right things to have a good night’s rest. She had an adventurous day, and then came home, had a hot shower, put on her favorite pajamas, crawled into clean sheets under her covers and laid there with her eyes wide awake. Megan’s mind didn’t wander far. Her thoughts were familiar. She’d had those same thoughts many times before. Her thoughts vacillated from thinking that she should go to the parade, enjoy the show like everyone else, and go on with her life; staying in fangirl mode and swooning over Jax Sutton from a distance or whether she should entertain the notions Bonnie and Joanne talked about. Megan tussled under the comforter, trying to find just the right spot that would encourage sleep. Still, it was hard to come by.
Although Jax heard the same conversation from his mother on any number of occasions, this time it was hard for Jax to let it go. Carole thought her desire for grandchildren was hers alone. But that wasn’t true. Jax wanted that too; not in the same way his mother may have wanted, but he wanted more. Jax had an incredible life, and from the outside looking in, Jax had an enviable life. But when things got quiet, when there were no cars to race and no cameras flashing, Jax had to admit to himself that he was lonely. The very thing that women speculated about, that he could have any woman he wanted, was the very thing that kept most decent women away. He spent more nights alone than with anyone. Most women didn’t trust that the hot race car driver could ever be serious about one woman. However, what they didn’t know, is that having one woman, that one special someone, was the only thing Jax desired.
He knew there was something missing from his life. Jax knew it. He just didn’t know how to push past the rumors and the speculation, so he could connect with that one special someone, whoever she was. Jax, like many, had the readily available excuse that he was too busy for a relationship. And in a lot of ways, Jax did lead a very busy life. But, was he really too busy for a relationship and maybe even love?
As he lay awake in his hotel room bed, Jax tossed and turned. He couldn’t seem to get comfortable. It wasn’t that the accommodations weren’t up to par, they were. It was just that Jax’s mind couldn’t seem to settle enough to allow rest.
By parade day, Jax still dealt with the thoughts that kept him from sleeping. However, he had to put his personal angst aside because people were here to celebrate him, the hometown hero. The streets of downtown Chandlerville were lined with men, women, boys and girls, all excited to see Jax Sutton. There were balloons, and ceremonial racing flags and the Chandler County High School band, with their cheerleaders and drum majorettes, all there to celebrate Jax. And just like any dedicated parade, the star of the show rode in a fancy car, with the top dropped, painted out to look like the very car he raced in just a few days before when Jax was crowned the champion.
Also standing along the parade route were Bonnie, Joanne, and Megan. Yes, Megan tried to talk herself out of attending but Joanne and Bonnie would not be denied. They really didn’t have to do a lot of convincing. The conflict was more internal than anything. And yes, Megan fussed over what to wear, changed clothes once or twice, considered whether to wear her hair up or down; pinned or in a ponytail, and then mussed about how much if any makeup to wear. However, at the end of all the muss and fuss, Megan Richland stood on the sidewalk, fresh-faced with a head full of soft blonde curls that framed her face perfectly, and a blouse and a pair of jeans that accentuated the curves she possessed, and a flag in her hand she intended to wave as Jax Sutton passed down the street in front of her.
There were lots of smiles and laughter all around. It was exciting, and Megan fell into the excitement shared by the people around her. Her stomach was in flux; more than when she sat on the couch and watched him race. The butterflies she felt were real and plausible and heightened her level of excitement. As the cheerleaders and trombones moved along the street, it was just a matter of moments before the hero arrived. Anticipation hung heavy in the air and the flags that people held in their hands started to wave as the first sight of Jax Sutton riding on the trunk of a bright red Mustang, with his signature number and company logos etched in the paint cruised slowly down the road.
Even before she could see him, Megan felt it. She knew he was close and when she turned in the direction of the oncoming parade. There he was. Megan could see him, not through a television screen and filtered light, but he was right there. The million-watt smile that beamed brightly on TV was undeniable when Megan saw his pearly whites even from the sidewalk. Jax Sutton was a vision in his driving jumper; the high collar that barely grazed his strong jaw but couldn’t quite cover his thickly corded neck. The patches on the shoulders that accentuated the strength of his broad back and muscular arms.
The car that held Jax Sutton got closer and it seemed like everything slowed down and time delayed. Megan could see how the fabric of Jax’s jumper clung to his muscular thighs. As her eyes trailed up, following the center of his mass, there was a moment when Jax looked in her direction and Megan looked at him and their eyes connected. He held her there in his gaze and Megan saw just how blue his eyes really were. Her mouth trailed to his lips, but his eyes never left hers and when Megan looked up again, Jax was smiling; not randomly but specifically at her. And even though the moment passed faster than it felt, even though Jax was passing by in a moving car, he absolutely stole her breath away. Without even realizing it, Megan’s hand went to her chest and she covered her heart that beat wildly underneath. She watched Jax until he passed and then the moment was over.
Megan stood on the sidewalk and watched until the rest of the parade passed. She saw them but didn’t really see them because Megan was still focused on her heartthrob that just passed feet in front of her.
Jax enjoyed the parade and he appreciated how much his hometown people cared for him and celebrated for him. It was wonderful, and he would have to apologize to his manager for giving her a hard time about it. It was good to be back in Chandler County. The people lining the streets were very excited to see him. There was no way, Jax could ride on the back of the car and not feel the energy they sent his way. The weather was pleasant and everything about the day was going well. And then Jax saw her; a woman standing in the crowd that drew his attention away from everyone and everything else. She was breathtaking and Jax found it difficult to pull his eyes away from her. She was tall, and blonde and beautiful. And for the briefest moment, Jax thought she looked vaguely familiar.
Even after Jax passed the young woman and the parade moved on, he looked over his shoulder one more time just to see if he could see her again. Jax couldn’t get a clear view, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t think about her after the car moved on. Once the parade was over, the crowd gathered around and the Mayor of Chandlerville presented Jax Sutton with a key to the city. The audience applauded and Jax thanked everyone for their support. But he found himself scanning the crowd, looking for the beautiful blonde that caught his attention earlier. Jax didn’t see her. Yet, he thought about her long after the festivities were over.