Page 2 of Jaxon's Pursuit

I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I haven’t felt this alive for years. Not since my first year of college when I met Preston Gates. The bastard. That was fifteen years ago. Since then I’ve kept myself locked away. I used my camera and built a business for myself that required next to no interaction between me and other people. I didn’t even have to meet customers. I had an agent for that. My wildlife photography is really taking off though and my agent wants me to hold a gallery showing before my book comes out. Get some press.

Just the thought of meeting that many people makes me break out in a cold sweat.Especially men. That makes me sick to my stomach.

This guy makes me feel nervous too but not sick to my stomach. Yeah, I’ve got butterflies. But I’ve also got this boiling warmth roiling in my core.

He’s so big. Tall, muscular. Thighs like tree trunks. Biceps that ripple when he raises a hand and pushes it through his short, dark brown hair. Except for the huge body, he’s actually kinda average. Tall, dark and handsome average though.

Until you see his eyes. They are the lightest, clearest blue. Like an alpine stream with sunlight dancing on it. His eyes sparkle with so much happiness and it pulls me in and warms that cold, dark place that I’ve been hiding in.

“What did you say your name is?” I whisper.

He smiles gently. “Jaxon. You can call me Jax if you want. All my friends call me Jax.”

I shake my head and smile slightly. It’s impossible not to around him. “I didn’t realize we were friends, Jax.”

He breathes deeply when I say his name but the smile never falters. “Of course. I’m friends with all my clients.”

And that’s a dream killer right there. I’m just a job. I frown at him and his smile dims just a little. “That’s alright, Jaxon. I think it would be okay if you train me. Do you want to get started now?”

“Sure. Let’s head in and find a machine. Before we get started do you have anything that you’re shooting for? You know, hashtag life goals.”

“Not really. Just trying to find my inner wild child, I guess.”

He stares at me and I flinch. That has to be the dumbest response ever.

“O-kayyy,” he stretches it out like he’s trying to figure me out. Good luck on that one. I still haven’t figured myself out.

“Lead on,” I smirk slightly, staring at the floor.

“Yep. Let’s get this party started.”

Half an hour later, I’m trying to figure out if Jaxon even knows what a party is. My body hurts. I swear I did like a hundred sit-ups and push-ups. And so many bicep curls that I don’t even think I will be able to lift my arms by the time I come back on Thursday.

But I didn’t run into the bathroom like I did with Finn. Surely that’s progress. That’s what my agent, Rebecca would say. I stayed in the room and other than getting insanely sweaty and almost dropping a barbell on my toes, it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t good either but it wasn’t bad.

Jaxon caught the barbell when I dropped it after he touched my arm, bending my elbow to a better angle.

Yeah, I was super smooth. Ugh. I push my bangs off my face and lift my ponytail to fan my neck. Shit, I’m exhausted. I thought I was in decent shape but obviously not. Or maybe it was just working with Jaxon. I felt out of breath before we even started.

Jaxon steps up to me, pulling the barbell off my chest where I’ve been working on chest presses and skull crushers. When the weight comes off, my arms fall to my sides and I grimace.

“Sore?” he asks, that full mouth quirking up at the side in a funny little smirk that makes my breath catch and butterflies start dancing in my tummy.

“Yeah,” I whisper.

“Well, you go hit the showers and we’ll leave it there for today. You did a great job.” He lifts a hand up like he’s going to clap my shoulder but then drops it and backs away. “So do you think you’ll be okay with me, Ruby?”

I nod slightly and smile. “Yes, thank you.”

He looks relieved and chuckles. “Okay, we’ll pick this up on Thursday then. Have a good night, Ruby.”

His voice drops into a husky tone when he says my name and I can feel those damn butterflies dancing madly in my stomach again but I turn and walk away.

Chapter Two

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Jaxon:

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