Page 5 of Jaxon

"Where are we going, Sir Lancelot?"

He turned his head just slightly. He had an incredible profile, finely chiseled jaw and all. "Sir Lancelot?"

"I used to have a pony. That was his name. He was very bouncy—like you."

"Hmm, haven't ridden often, but I always figured the bounciness was a rider problem—not a horse problem."

I tightened my arms around his neck for a second. "You seem to forget that my limbs are wrapped around your neck. Now, giddy up. Where are we going, by the way?"

"The Shack. It's where I live. We can figure out what we're gonna do once we get there."

"I don't want you to get in trouble for this, Jax. I should probably …" My words trailed off as we turned the corner onto a small road. At the end of it, sitting on a hill of patchy grass and weeds, sat a two-story house that looked like something either out of a fairy tale or a ghost story. Three pointed rooflines shaded the unkempt yard below. Multipaned windows, some complete with glass and some patched with wood, dotted the front of the house. Faded wooden shutters flanked the sides of the windows, and a few of those shutters hung tilted as if one good storm could tear them loose. A front porch was lined with carved wooden balustrades, some missing and some still wearing the remnants of an earthy-green paint. A colorful array of surfboards leaned against the railing, and bikes and skateboards cluttered the front porch. A young man, as gorgeous as Jaxon, but with a much slighter physique, was sitting on the bottom step of the porch playing tug-of-war with a brindle-colored dog that looked half shepherd and half pit bull. The man's wavy dark brown hair was long and wild, and it looked as if he'd just walked out of the surf.

He threw the rope he'd been holding, and the dog took off at full speed, nearly taking Jaxon's legs out from under him. "Shit, Cru, watch where you throw that thing."

Jax had mentioned his brother's name was Crusoe. Now the family resemblance was even more pronounced. Different coloring but the same incredible features. Crusoe leaned his head. "Who you got there?"

I tapped Jaxon's chest. "I think my feet can make it from here. Thanks, Lancelot."

Jaxon stopped and lowered my legs. I stepped out from behind him. Crusoe's smile was as breathtaking as his brother's. "Wow, nice catch, bro."

Jaxon shook his head. "Shut up." Jaxon took hold of my hand. Alex had taken my hand in a possessive manner many times, but I much preferred the possessiveness coming from Jaxon. I wondered just how much of my heart I could give to this guy, a complete stranger, before my lovely fantasy day came to an abrupt, cold end.

"I'm Gidge," I told his brother on the way up the steps.

"Crusoe," he said back, "Welcome to the Shack. If I'd known we were having company, I'd have?—"

"Save it, Cru." Jaxon pulled open a squeaky screen door. Another incredibly hot man came around the corner of the entry. His hair was long and wild like Crusoe's, but it was dark blond like Jaxon's and, like Jaxon, he had a short dark blond beard and mustache to go with it. His dark brown eyes twinkled with amusement.

"You are so fucking good at beachcombing, bro." The guy stepped forward and bowed. "Theo Stone, at your service."

"I'm Bridget but since I've received a formal introduction that makes us friends, so you can call me Gidge." I looked at Jax. "Another brother?"

"Oh, hell no," Theo said. "We're cousins."

"Thought you were working with Uncle Colt today," Jaxon said.

"Got off early. Cru and I are going down to the protest at Croft Beach." Theo turned to me. "Some rich asshole thought he could buy our surfing grounds right out from under us, but he's gonna find out that he picked the wrong fucking beach."

"Is there still bread?" Jaxon asked, interrupting his speech.

"Ah, that's why you're so grumpy. This guy is a fucking bear out of hibernation when he's missed lunch," Theo explained.

I wrapped my arm around Jaxon's. "We've had kind of an adventurous afternoon."

"There's half a pizza on the table. LaLa came by and mentioned you might be super hungry once you got back, so we ordered extra."

Jaxon grumbled a "thanks" and led me down a narrow hallway and into a big kitchen. A lopsided pine table sat in the corner with an array of mismatched chairs around it. The pale yellow tile counters were cluttered with dirty dishes and glasses.

"Cola?" Jaxon asked waving his hand at the table and chair.

"Sure." I sat down in a chair, and it wobbled side to side. The cane seat was slightly shredded, which didn't feel great on my near naked ass. "Boy, I'm missing clothes and shoes right now. I guess I didn't plan my escape well."

Jaxon returned with two paper plates and two cans of soda. "Sorry, all the dishes are dirty. It's Griffin's turn to wash dishes, and we're all pretty stubborn about stepping in when it's not our turn."

He picked the biggest chair and dragged it next to mine.

I smiled into my soda can. "Is that the Papa Bear chair?"

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