Page 37 of Fierce-Jax

“You most certainly were when you were a teenager. Then in college, you were always on the defense.”

“Because Dad was smothering and overbearing,” she said.

“Just like you’re doing with Gianna. Or you have. It’s natural for a parent to be that way,. I’ll get more information out of Gianna, but I think it’s nothing more than kids being kids. Somemean girls pick on others there and maybe this boy is trying to get ahead of it. My guess is he’s picked on a lot.”

“So he’s targeting Gianna to get the attention off of him?” she asked.

“Could be something as simple as that, but your daughter will not put up with it. She’ll give it back. Just like her mother.”

“That’s because she was raised right,” she said, lifting her chin.

“Like your father raised you to do, so relax. It’s a learning experience and we’ll get to the bottom of it. Enjoy your night.”

It was the tone of voice her mother had that made Dillion wonder if her mom guessed she might be going on a date.

No, no way. She’d been late before to have dinner with vendors or other work-related events. Even after-hour interviews.

She’d just said she had a dinner meeting and would be home late.

If her mother suspected she was going on a date, she was positive there would be a hundred questions.

Questions Dillion had no answers for and even if she did, she didn’t think she was going to answer them.

“Thanks, Mom. For everything.”

“You’re welcome,” her mother said and hung up.

Dillion looked at the clock and saw it was almost five.

Thank God all her patients and staff were gone too.

She didn’t want anyone around to see her leaving at the same time as Jax. Or him coming to get her. It was too soon to get those kinds of questions.

They’d leave together and drive to the restaurant he’d chosen not that far away.

When he texted his schedule was open the rest of this week and for her to pick, she decided on today so that she didn’t lose her nerve.

She didn’t want to.

Not when she’d put up this air of confidence yesterday to make sure things weren’t awkward.

But the more she thought of her first date after so many years, the crazier she was making herself.

The doubts on if she was ready or not.

She wouldn’t cancel though. She couldn’t.

She jumped when there was a rap at the glass door to her office.

She’d been sitting in the reception area talking to her mother and contemplating her life choices and there was Jax on the other side smiling at her. Her tense shoulders released in his presence.

He just had a way about him that she needed in her life.

She got up and unlocked the door, then walked back to get her jacket and bag on the chair.

“You’re early,” she said.

“Probably late if you’re sitting there waiting for me,” he said.

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