Page 7 of Switch

A slow smirk tugs at his lips.“Well, let’s fix that, then.”He holds out a hand.“Jax.”

I stare at him for a second before slipping my hand into his, his grip warm and strong.

“Bella.”

His smirk deepens.“Nice to meet you, Bella. Now, let’s get you home.”

I hesitate, glancing at his leather vest and then back at the carnival. This guy had just saved me from Mike, but climbing onto the back of a motorcycle with a stranger isn’t exactly on my list of great ideas.

“You don’t have to,” I start to say, but he cuts me off.

“I know I don’t have to,” he says, meeting my eyes. “I’m offering. You’re not going to stand here all night waiting for your phone to magically work.”

I chew my lip, weighing my options. He has a point, and honestly, I feel safer with Jax than I ever did with Mike.

“Okay,” I say finally, my voice quiet. “Thanks.”

Jax turns to the two guys who hauled Mike away, his voice steady but firm.“I’ll be back in a few.”

They exchange a look before their eyes flick to me, sizing me up in a way that makes my skin prickle. Whatever they’re thinking, they don’t say. Instead, they just give Jax a knowing nod.

Jax doesn’t acknowledge it, just turns back to me like they don’t exist.“Come on, Bella.”His voice is softer now, but there’s no mistaking the edge of authority in it.

We walk to his bike parked near the edge of the carnival lot. I stop in my tracks when I see it—a sleek black motorcycle, polished to a shine, looking like something straight out of an action movie.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I say, half-laughing, half-panicking. “You want me to get on that?”

Jax smirks, pulling a helmet off the back. “Relax, Bella. It’s safer than a drunk idiot in a pickup truck, I promise.”

I hesitate, staring at the bike like it’s a wild animal about to bite me.

“You trust me?” Jax asks, holding the helmet out to me.

The question catches me off guard, but when I look up at him, his dark eyes are steady, unflinching. “That’s such a subjective question. Do I trust you not to kill me on the ride home? Sure.” I say shrugging, taking the helmet from him.

“Good,” he smirks. “Then let’s go.”

I climb onto the bike behind him, gripping the sides of the seat like my life depends on it.

“You’re going to want to hold onto me,” Jax says, glancing back over his shoulder with a teasing smile.

I roll my eyes but wrap my arms around his waist, the warmth of his leather vest solid under my hands.

As the engine roars to life, I feel the vibration under me and my nerves spike again. But as we pull out of the lot, the cold spring air whipping past us, I feel something else, too—a strange sense of safety.

The night hasn’t gone at all how I expected, but at least now, I’m headed home. And for the first time all evening, I’m not dreading what’s next.

THREE

JAX

The roarof the bike fades as I pull into the small driveway in front of her place. I kill the engine and glance back at her, watching as Bella hesitates before sliding off the seat. Her hands linger on my vest for a second longer than necessary, like she’s grounding herself. Damn, she’s got this look about her—half shaken, half trying to hold it together—and it’s hitting me right in the chest.

I swing off my bike, my boots crunching against the gravel as I steady it. Holding out a hand, I wait for her to take it.

She does—hesitantly—and climbs off the bike, moving awkwardly. Yeah, this chick has never been on the back of a bike in her life. And Iloveknowing I was the one who got to pop this cherry.

I squeeze her hand lightly before letting go.“I’ll walk you to your door,”I say, my tone leaving no room for argument.

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