chapter 29
Jaxon
I NEEDED TO SEE HER.
After dealing with Sharon all evening, who seems to care more about trying to fuck me than her actual case, I couldn’t wait to see Scarlett. I left the office and drove straight to the library. I didn’t plan for what happened there to happen, but now I’m sitting at dinner feeling happy, sated, and much more relaxed.
“Can you stop smiling?” Scarlett asks, laughing. “You should see your face.”
“Can’t help it if I’m happy,” I say, picking up my chopsticks. “And less stressed.”
“Always happy to help you de-stress,” she says, licking a drop of sauce off her lips. “Is the case not going well then?”
I haven’t told Scarlett about Sharon and how unprincipled she is because I don’t want her to worry, but maybe now might be the time to open up a little and let her know what’s been going on.
“Sharon is a diva. She thinks because she’s a television personality and she’s famous that no rules apply to her,” I start, sighing, feeling a migraine coming on at just the mere thought of the woman.
“So she’s difficult? You think she wouldn’t be when it’s her case, and her money and life that you’re dealing with.”
“She’s . . . unprofessional,” I say slowly, then clear my throat. “It’s making my life harder, especially when I’m not . . . interested.”
Scarlett places her glass of ginger beer down and studies me. “Are you trying to tell me gently that your client is hitting on you?”
I cringe as the words leave her lips. “To put it mildly. And she’s been accused of sexual assault. You’d think the woman would learn.”
She purses her lips, then does something I never thought she’d do in this moment.
She laughs.
“So you have to go to work, try to win the case, but in the meantime you also have to fight her off?” she asks, smirking now. “I must say, I can’t blame the woman. You in those suits . . . Mmmmm.”
My jaw tightens. “Seriously? That’s how you’re going to react to another woman making it her mission to bed me? By objectifying me?”
“Women get objectified every day; it’s only fair,” she returns, sticking her tongue out at me. “Come on, Jaxon, you’re a good-looking man. You should be used to such attention by now.”
“I’d expect a little . . . I don’t know . . . jealousy?” I admit, lifting my chin. “She runs her hands over me whenever she gets the chance, you know? My shoulder, my hand. Nothing is off-limits.”
“Is that right?” she says, laughing even harder now. “Nothing is off-limits? So has she touched . . . anything farther down south?”
“No,” I say, dragging the word out. “Why? Would that get a reaction out of you?”
I sound grumpy, and I don’t even bother trying to hide it. Inside though, I love how secure Scarlett feels. Knowing her past, I’d have thought that she might be a little insecure, which is why I didn’t tell her about it. Apparently, I was wrong. In fact she’s finding the whole thing entertaining, at my expense might I add.
Scarlett tries to school her expression but fails because there’s still amusement written there. “Well, it’s not like you’re tempted in any way, are you? I trust you, Jaxon. I know you’d never do anything to hurt me.”
I soften instantly at her words. “Of course I wouldn’t, and hell no, I’m not even tempted, but that’s not the point. It’s like no one has ever told the woman no, and now I have to deal with it. She’s unbelievable. Rejection doesn’t do anything to her ego no matter how many times I say no, it’s like she thinks I’m playing hard to get.”
“Want me to take her down?” she asks with a straight face.
“Yes, actually I do,” I grumble, taking a bite out of a dumpling.
“Seriously though,” Scarlett says, clearing her throat. “All jokes aside. Is there anything you can do about this? Maybe have telephone or video-call meetings? She can’t touch you if all communication is via technology.”
“That’s actually a good idea,” I say, nodding. “I don’t know how long I could claim to be too busy to meet with her in person though. She’s my main case right now and my priority client.”
“Might lessen the personal meetings though,” she says, sitting back in her chair and tucking her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know. I’ll try to think of other ideas for you without having to file a sexual harassment claim and getting shit from Hunter and Tristan for the rest of your life.”
They really would give me a heap of shit, too. I wonder if I could get Kat in on a plan, maybe get her to say something to Sharon from a legal perspective. I’m this close to telling her to find a new lawyer. I’ve never given up on a case though, and I’d hate to have to do that. I’m sure I’d be given shit for that in the office, too.
“Maybe you should be a lawyer,” I tell her, smiling at how she tries to fix the problem for me with a level head.
“I’m happy being a librarian for now,” she says, winking. “Especially when my man decides to drop in unannounced and have his way with me against a stack of books.” She pauses, cringing. “Yeah, let’s hope I don’t get fired over that one.”
“Are there cameras in there?” I ask, really hoping there aren’t. I’d feel like shit if Scarlett lost her new job that she already loves.
“Just around the building,” she explains. “Not inside. I wouldn’t have even kissed you if there were. Making a porno is not on my bucket list.”
“What if it’s on mine?” I tease, laughing when she rolls her eyes at me.
“Then it’s something you won’t be ticking off, buddy.”
“We’ll see,” I mutter, watching her closely. She just arches her brow, like Yes, we will. She’s so different from when I first met her now that she feels comfortable and free to be herself. It’s been such an amazing thing watching her grow.
“Have you ever played beer pong?” she randomly asks. She must be thinking of her night with Valentina and Demon.
“A few times in college,” I reply, playing it down. I partied a lot in college. I was one of those typical frat boys, and when I wasn’t studying my ass off, I was drinking my ass off. I never even cared about getting into any shit because I’d just call Demon and he’d have my back. What nobody probably knows, even the Wind Dragons MC, is that I’m the one who gave him the nickname Demon back when we were in high school. He broke so many girls’ hearts, I used to tell him he was like the devil. He replied by saying he wasn’t that bad, he didn’t even mean to hurt any of them. Which was true. He’s a good-looking man, and women have always swarmed to him. My reply to him was Fine, maybe you’re not the devil, more like a demon, and the name stuck.
“I want to practice so next time I can beat everyone,” she says, a scheming look passing over her face.
“Okay, we can play,” I tell her. “Why don’t we mix things up a little and play strip beer pong?”
“You have a one-track mind, Jaxon,” she chastises, her tone giving away her lack of annoyance. “Are you going to eat that?” she asks, pointing to the last dumpling.
“No, baby. You eat it,” I tell her gently, then watch as she does so. It hits me then, as I consider her, just how crazy I am about the woman sitting opposite me.
How crazy in love I am with her.
Fuck.
I don’t know when it happened, but I fell in love with her.
She swallows her bite, then glances up at me through her long lashes and smiles. “Do you want dessert?”
I shake my head, mind still blown by the revelation.
“Me either,” she says, rubbing her stomach. “I’m paying.”
That snaps me out of it. “No, you are not.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. What’s my money meant for then?” she asks, scowling at me. “To sit in the bank and collect dust? I like to spoil you sometimes too, you know.”
“Buy something for yourself,” I suggest. “I don’t know. Buy another house, a car, a vacation. Do whatever you want, but when you’re with me I’m not letting you pay for anything. I don’t know why you bother to continue to fight me on this.”
“Because it’s not fair. Gender equality, Jaxon, get with the program. Everything should be fifty-fifty in this relationship. We both hustle, we both spoil each other, we both clean.”
“Did you see that on a meme? Because I’m pretty sure I did,” I reply, brow furrowing. “And you don’t let me cook or clean. So you’re being a little hypocritical right now.”
“Fine,” she says, lifting her chin. “I’ll pay for dinner, and tomorrow night you can cook.”
I cringe inwardly, both because I don’t want her to pay and I don’t want to cook, but I can’t back down now. “Fine.”
Fuck.
I make decent money, and if it’s not to spoil and take care of the people I . . . love, then what the hell is it for? When she reaches for her purse, I can’t take it.
“Nope, I can’t do it. I’m paying. And I’ll cook dinner tomorrow night. I’ll make a scene.”
She slides her wallet back in and expels a deep sigh. “You are something else, Jaxon Bentley.”
“I’m yours,” I state simply.
That’s the bottom line.
She has to deal with me, and I have to deal with her.
And I’m more than okay with that.