Page 16 of Jaxon

Alex was now seriously regretting his impulsive move. The guy looked as if he might shit his pants as I stomped toward him. His bigger friend seemed reluctant to use any of his impressive muscles, but he moved closer, just in case. I stopped right in front of Alex and made a fast move with my arm. He flinched. I laughed in his face. "You're not worth it. And you're the one punching above your weight. No way you deserve a woman like Bridget."

Hank had gotten to his feet, but Bear had finally stepped in. "This ends here or I call the police. I want all the involved parties to leave …" He stared hard at Griffin. "Now."

Griffin gave him an apologetic nod. We turned to walk away. I held my hand out for Bridget. She paused and stared down at my palm for long enough to break my heart.

"Keep the fuck away from her," Alex sniped.

Bridget looked over at him and then turned back to me. A slight smile crossed her lips as she dropped her hand in mine. "Cowboy, take me away, yeah?"

"Yeah." Her hand was small and warm in mine. The other patrons parted like the Red Sea as Griffin, Bridget and I walked toward the exit.

Griffin smacked open the door. "You know I was gettin' real cozy with two very hot women when you decided to throw your little tantrum over at the restrooms," Griffin said to me. "And now I'm gonna have to buy Bear lunch for a week."

We headed toward Griffin's truck. He looked back at the club. "Guess onlywehad to leave."

"They'd never kick Alex out," Bridget said. "I'm Bridget, by the way. You can call me Gidge."

Griffin reached over and shook her hand. "Griffin Stone. You can call me Fin. And might I add that the enemy comes in a very hot package." Griffin flicked a side-eyed glance my way.

"Enemy?" Bridget asked. "Oh right. I guess you heard."

We reached the truck. Bridget slid to the middle seat, and Griffin and I flanked her on each side. "How is your shoulder?" she asked me.

I lifted it a few times. "Sore but I'll live. How about you, Fin? Did you get a few marbles knocked around in there?"

"Nah, that guy had the right hook of a five-year-old."

Bridget laughed. "I can't fucking wait to tell him that."

I looked over at her. "Maybe it's time to dump the asshole. Does he seriously walk around with a fucking bodyguard, like he's some sort of precious gift to the world?"

"Alex is paranoid, and like Fin mentioned, he fights like a five-year-old. That's a combination that makes a bodyguard essential. Hank is all right. Deep down, he knows Alex is an asshole, but Alex pays him good money. Sorry that all went so south in there."

"I guess this time he really will call the police." My statement caused Griffin's face to snap my direction.

"Police?" Griffin shook his head. "Never mind, I'm talking to Jaxon Stone. Well, where's this taxi heading? The Shack?"

I looked at Bridget to make sure. Her sweet smile told me all I needed to know. "Yep, roll this chariot home, bro."

"Least one of us had a happy ending tonight," Griffin grumbled.

CHAPTER 6

BRIDGET

Asmall party seemed to be happening downstairs. Music and laughter and the occasional flirty giggle floated up the stairs. Since the night was still young, Griffin dropped us off and decided to go hang out with friends. Griffin was as stunning as the rest of them with even more polished good looks, the kind of looks that could propel him to stardom if he wanted, but I didn't get the sense the Stone boys wanted anything to do with wealth and fame. They seemed perfectly happy in their small town, surrounded by family and friends. All of it seemed way more fun than my life.

Jaxon looked sweetly shy as he stopped at the bottom of the staircase. Something told me shyness wasn't in his nature. "So, what should we do?" he asked. Even his strong, stalwart posture looked a little crumpled with awkwardness.

I couldn't hold back a laugh. "Well, we could sit down to a game of cards, or we could go upstairs and get naked and see where that takes us."

He took hold of my hand. "Just when I thought I couldn't adore you more." He led me up the stairs. "Do you like Go Fish or Gin Rummy?" he asked.

I laughed. We reached his room and barely got tucked inside with the door shut before we started ripping off each other's clothes. My sundress came off with one sharp tug.

I hungrily grabbed at the bottom edges of his shirt, but he was so massively built it got stuck in many places as I tried to lift it off him. He winced as he pulled his right arm out. "That Hank has a mean fist," he said.

"We could stop and get you some ice," I suggested.

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