Page 9 of Forever Home

“What is it, Madison?”

The irritated tone in which he says my name, instead of calling me Madi, makes me stop in my tracks. Jaxson was never someone known to deal well with drama, so it only makes sense that he wants to get all of this done and over with.

Calming the nerves deep inside me, I steady myself. “You’re not really going to agree with Asher and Dante are you?”

“It is a sensible thing to do.”

Sensible?“No, it’s not. Mrs. Kendall left this place to us for a reason, and it wasn’t to sell it. She could have done that herself or had the lawyer do that if it was the case.”

He gazes off into the distance as he seems to take in what I’m saying. He runs his fingers through his brown shaggy hair, the sunlight shifting through the strands, and I drink in his profile while he’s not looking.

God, get a hold of yourself, woman.

He turns back to me.Shit! Did he catch me starting?

As if guessing my thoughts, his eyes run up and down my body before a small smirk pulls at the corner of his lips. “It might be sensible, but right now I need time to think about things.” The way he says he needs tothink about thingsmakes the hair on my neck stand up as chills of pleasure run over my skin.

“Okay…” I reply softly, nodding my head. “ I have to get going. Mom and I already closed the bakery for the day, but I need to get back there. Just promise me you won’t make any rash choices until we all talk about this?”

It’s a long shot asking him to promise me anything, and it’s clear that my request is turning something over in his mind as he nods.

“Weas in you and I?” he asks, “Or,weas in the six of us?”

He takes a step closer and I gasp, my body frozen to the spot. What the hell is happening right now?

“I—” I lick my suddenly dry lips and try again. “I meant all of us…?”

My response comes off more of a question than a statement, that makes him chuckle with a smile as he nods his head. He turns towards his car. “Sounds good. I’ll catch you around… Madison.”

Everything about this brings me right back to high school. From the way he looks to the tone of his voice and the delicious woodsy scent of his cologne. I’m hot all over and flustered as he heads to his car.

Wait—am I seriously standing in the street, watching him walk away like a perfect idiot?

Yup, sure am. I laugh at myself. My days of pining over Jaxson and hoping he’d ever notice me are long gone. Just like my damn pride will be if I keep standing here watching him get in his car.

I laugh again and walk to my car. Jaxson may look like the same Jaxson from years ago, but he isn’t the same boy I once knew.

And my high school crush… was just a crush, nothing more than that.

But damn, did he really have to keep getting sexier with age?

It’s clear that whatever the hell he’s been going through since high school has completely changed him. Old Jaxson was full of life and laughter. The Jaxson that stood before me just a minute ago, was different. I just can’t point out how.

Maybe he’s a little guarded… or maybe he’s a little… darker?

One thing is for sure though, just the sound of his voice makes me want to do sinful things to him.

And if Jaxson Rivers plans on staying around, I might let him.

Chapter Five: Jaxson

“Damn it…” I sigh the moment I close the driver’s door to my black SUV. I’d expected to come back here and see old friends, but I never expected to walk into a shitstorm of a situation. I mean, Mrs. Kendall leaving us the house? Why the hell would she do that?

My fists gripping the steering wheel, I relax back into the driver's seat and let another heavy breath escape me. I gaze out the window, watching Madi climb into her little blue car, pulling away from the side of the road and disappearing from sight.

The damn girl is a weapon of sex and complication. Though I’m honestly not sure why I suddenly have the desire for her that I do. Growing up, she was nothing but a friend to me… but now, God, she’s fucking stunning.

How the hell had I never noticed it before?

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