Page 27 of Jaxon

"What are you going to do?" Griffin asked. "Throw magical pixie dust over the beach?" Jules, with her small stature, massive blue eyes, button nose and long golden hair always got the pixie comparison. When she was little, it was easy to imagine her floating out from some magical forest like a fairy. We always called her pixie. In our defense, Jules literally spent a year wearing the silver wings Jade had sewn her for Halloween, so it was hard not to make the comparison.

Jules swallowed her bite of cake. "Hmm, best cake ever, Aunty," she said to Britton. Then she looked solidly at her brother. "No pixie dust required. No brute strength and brawn. Just brains. And that is all I'm going to say."

"Well, if Jules says she's found a way to save the beach, then I believe her," Stella said. They were the only two girl cousins, so they always had each other's backs. For the rest of us, we were wiser to the world. Like Jade said—no amount of strength or determination worked against power and money. Now, if only I hadn't found myself tangled up with a girl who was surrounded and controlled by that same power and money.

CHAPTER 12

BRIDGET

Dad's mood was even more foul than usual after I got home. I fixed myself a plate in the kitchen and hurried upstairs to eat it in the solitude of my room. The run had given me a good appetite. I was in the middle of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a food that held good memories because my nanny, Megan, a sweet, apple-cheeked woman who I adored and who was one of the few bright spots in my day, used to make me one when I came home from school. The chef, at the time, Scarlett—her lips and hair and even her personality matched her name—would scowl at the peanut butter sandwich as if it wasn't fit for human consumption, and that made the sandwich taste even better. Tonight's sandwich was interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. I knew Dad's knock, and the sound of it always made me stiffen.

"What?" I said back sharply to mimic the sound of his knock.

Dad poked his head inside the room. "I'm going out. I've still got your car in lockup."

"What, no shackles tonight?" I asked.

"Close that damn window. The air conditioner is on." He pulled his head back and snapped the door shut. He'd been on the phone most of the evening, and while that wasn't unusual, some of the calls sounded very tense. I had no idea what was going on, but it was something that was putting him in an even shittier mood than usual. Thankfully, I couldn't have cared less about anything taking place in his life, so I didn't ask him what was going on. Not that he would have told me. He always kept his business practices to himself. Ivan and his crew, bigger than the usual two, had been strolling the grounds and the perimeter of the house like bloodhounds. We had a high-tech surveillance system, so it seemed like overkill, but I supposed Dad wanted to keep them busy.

I propped pillows up against the headboard and sat back with my laptop. An ocean breeze floated through the open window, fluttering the light drapes around like the wings of a bird. I Googled "Stone Motorcycles" and their website popped up. Jaxon looked just like his dad, and his mom was a tiny, adorable woman who looked as if she knew just how to handle her big men. A lump formed in my throat as I looked at Jaxon. He was wearing a blue T-shirt with the shop logo as he straddled a motorcycle. I didn't have his phone number, but now I knew where he worked. That sparked a moment of joy. I could visit him at work. I slumped back. It was too dangerous. Dad would make sure they lost their lease, and their business would be ruined.

I slapped shut the computer, tossed it aside and rested back on my pillows. At least Alex hadn't tried to contact me since our last chat. It was so nice being free of him, even if it was just for an afternoon. The sound of a motorcycle revving broke the otherwise silent night air. The motorcycle rumbled away. I closed my eyes and let the cool coastal breeze wash over my limbs. The puffs of air carried with it the whispers of a late night, early morning fog. I was just about to drift off when the same motorcycle rolled past the property. Again, it revved its motor.

I sat up and walked to the window. The bordering wall and trees made it impossible to see out to the road, but the motorcycle had driven off because I could no longer hear it. At the end of the driveway, the iron gates moved slowly inward as Dad's limo rolled toward it. The car drove out. I watched it purely for the joy of knowing he wouldn't be in the house for the next few hours. As I pulled my gaze away, a flickering movement caught my attention. The security lights around the property provided a few spots of near daylight level illumination, but tall trees and walls cast enough shadows around the property to negate the usefulness of the security lights. Ivan and his pals had been walking the grounds like Secret Service at the White House. None of them had noticed the person who'd slipped inside before the gates closed.

I pressed my face closer to the window screen and stretched up to search for the figure that had just breached the security system. My heart raced, but it wasn't out of fear. It was excitement. It was dark outside, but I could still see enough of the intruder to know he was big, very big. The motorcycle noise now made sense.

I stared hard at the trees bordering the east side of the property. I sucked in a thrilled breath when Jaxon appeared between two maples. He was staring up at the house and specifically at my window. Mine was probably the only window with light. With Dad gone and most of the staff home for the night, the house was nearly empty.

I waved and waited. He waved back. I squealed with excitement, but that was quickly replaced with a frightened gasp. Two of Ivan's men were walking toward the east side of the property. I motioned with my hand for him to go. He understood and disappeared back into the trees.

I rushed around my room. I pulled on my sweatshirt and shoes, then headed down the stairs. The two men were getting closer to the tree area. There was no sign of Jaxon.

"Excuse me," I called. "Excuse me but I was sure I heard some noises over in the pool area." I motioned toward the west side of the house. The two men turned in unison, like robotic soldiers, and headed in the direction of the pool.

I waited for them to be out of view and then made a mad dash for the trees. I stood beneath their billowy branches and looked frantically around. "Jaxon?" I called into the shadows. "Are you there?"

His arm snaked around my waist from behind, and he planted a warm kiss on the side of my neck. "Evening, my beautiful princess. So glad you escaped your tower."

I spun around in his arms. "Uh, does that make you the prince or the roguish bandit waiting to carry the princess off to his lair?"

His mouth covered mine, and he muttered "uh huh, the second one" against my lips. I circled my arms around his neck to bring his mouth down harder against mine, and his hands smoothed down my back and over my ass. He yanked my hips closer to his. His erection pushed urgently against me. I turned instantly into a hot, delirious mess. Voices in the distance broke the erotic trance that had overtaken us.

"Shouldn't those dicks be inside watching porn or old cop shows or whatever guys like that do to get off? How are you at climbing walls or security gates?" he asked.

"Not too bad, but we could just use the pedestrian gate. I know the code." I took his hand and led him toward the exit.

"Yep, way better idea, and I just happen to have my trusty steed with me this evening."

"Does that steed have two tires and a very loud roar?" I asked, then stopped. Ivan was walking our way. "Shit, there's Ivan." I pulled him back into the trees, and we ducked behind the thick trunk of a mulberry.

Jaxon wasted no time returning to the kiss. "Shit, darlin', I've been hard all day thinking about having you in my arms again."

I had no control when it came to Jaxon. Even knowing full well Ivan was nearby, I couldn't stop from melting right into his arms. His hands cupped my ass, and I rubbed my pussy against his cock straining under his shorts. We got carried away, and Jaxon pressed me up against the tree.

"Ouch, not the same as a smooth wall."

Jaxon helped me away from the tree. "Sorry, wasn't thinking because I'm about to explode if I'm not between your thighs soon." Jaxon leaned out. "Boy, that guy and his ramrod straight posture. I bet his idea of fun is counting the bullets in his gun. He's going the other way."

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