Jax approached, looking like an actor walking onto a movie set. The moonlight made him sexy and dangerous.
“Hi.”
“I wondered if you’d be out here.” He stopped and put his hands in his pockets.
I laughed softly. “Yeah, I came out here to give this special horse a carrot.” Lola neighed as I rubbed her neck.
“Cool.”
I looked at my carrot and then the horse. Lola was a big animal, and I knew she had big teeth. The last thing I needed was a finger getting chomped off.
As if he had read my mind for the umpteenth time in one day, Jax took the carrot and broke it into a few pieces. He slid my hand in his and ran his fingers lightly over my palm, sending a shiver up my spine.
“Just keep your hand flat. If you bend your fingers, she might nip you.”
He placed the carrot in my hand and then put his hand gently on my wrist, guiding it toward the horse. Lola ate the carrot, and when it was gone, he took my hand in his, lacing our fingers together. I looked at our hands, palm against palm. Every time mine had been in his, it’d ended up being almost an out-of-body experience.
I pulled my hand away, maybe a little too quickly. From the corner of my eye, I could see him studying my profile. What was he thinking? Was he wondering if there was a chance he might get lucky tonight? Well, I was too. I knew the effect he had on me, and I had no flippin’ control when it came to Jax.
“Would you want to hang out at my place for a bit? Then I could walk you home when you get tired? Maybe have hot chocolate and play some video games.”
I smiled up at him. “Let’s go.” Exhibit A, Your Honor—no self-control.
We walked up the hill and his house came into view. We both were silent. I couldn’t think of one word to say. As we approached, I felt like I was walking into the lion’s den, and I wasn’t afraid of anything but myself.
We entered and I followed him to the kitchen. I sat on a stool while he got out a container of hot chocolate mix and poured some milk into a pot on the stove. I held in a giggle when he pulled a can of whipped cream from the refrigerator (Oh yeah, baby), caramel sauce, and sprinkles.
“Daisy makes Austin and me a container of homemade cocoa mix every fall, and it’s the bomb. I don’t know what her secret ingredient is, but it works.”
I was pretty sure she’d say her secret ingredient was love, and even the thought made me smile and roll my eyes in unison.
“Okay, let’s let that simmer for a bit.” He clapped his hands together, making me jump. “Time for me to kick your can in video games.”
I followed him into the living room. He went to the mantel and grabbed two game controllers while I plopped down on the couch. Then I suddenly realized if I sat on the couch, I’d be too close to Jax. One whiff of that orgasmic cologne, and it’d be on.
I quickly hopped up, but not quick enough to avoid Jax’s scrutiny.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, yes, I’m fine. I just think I’ll sit in the chair. Yeah, it looks super comfy.” Lie, lie, and lie.
“Okay, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to see the T.V. very well. Do you want me to move the chair? You seemed to think this was good placement last night, but maybe it should be closer.”
“Oh no, it’s good. I have super-duper eyesight. I think I’ll see the T.V. just fine.”
The term “super-duper” was an unlikely choice for me, and his narrowed eyes told me it didn’t come off as natural as I’d hoped.
“Okie dokie.” He pointed at me as if we were playing a weird word game, so I gave him a thumbs up.
He got the game going, and he was correct. I couldn’t see shit. He was winning while all I could manage was squinting from across the room. Damn.
“I’ll get our hot chocolate, be right back.”
“Okay.”
I hated to lose and needed to hatch a plan for a comeback victory, stat.
He went to the kitchen while I cruised over and took a seat on the floor close to the T.V. It was a fantastic plan because I’d be able to win the game and, at the same time, not be too close to the dude with pecks I wanted to run my tongue over. A win/win situation.