Page 14 of Kiss Me

“Really?” His brows rose as he tilted his head. “You look younger.”

“Yeah, I hear it all the time. I’m hoping it will work in my favor when I’m older.”

Silence fell upon us once again. Obviously, I would need to keep the communication flowing.

“So, what’s your favorite color?”

Jax threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh, giving me hope that he hadn’t totally shut down. “Really?” he choked out.

“Well, I could ask about the weather, but we both know how bad it is.”

“Is it that bad being stuck with me?” he asked with a hint of sadness in his voice.

Looking him over in the candlelight, a smile tipped my lips. “It’s not so bad when you’re talking to me.”

“Yeah, about that. I’m sorry.” He took a deep breath and exhaled loudly as he let his shoulders relax. “I’ve never been very social, but after my mother’s death, and then my girlfriend breaking up with me because of my scar, I holed up here and kept to myself.”

“Oh Jax.” My hand covered his and squeezed, producing a little zing, but I kept it there for comfort. “I’m so sorry about your mom. When you told me about Christmas being her favorite holiday, I heard the fondness in your voice, but I thought you were just a momma’s boy.”

“I guess you could call me that.” He stopped to clear his throat. “Especially now that she’s gone, and I know what I’m missing.”

“That makes sense, and it’s sweet.” I knew I should probably stop while I was still ahead, and he shut down on me again, but I couldn’t help but ask, since he was talking to me and opening up. “Did the two happen close together?”

“Depends on how you look at it. It had been about six months since…” he looked down, running a hand through his messy hair. I had a feeling he had repeated that motion quite a few times while I had been tucked away in my room today. “The incident in the bar was around six months after she died. I was finally over the roughest part of losing her. It was still hard, though, but I was… better, I guess.”

He shrugged like he couldn't find the appropriate word. “Then my girlfriend could barely look at me without bursting into tears, only for her to break up with me.”

With my hand still on his, I squeezed again and held it. “I can see how that would be hard.” Leaning forward in my seat, I asked, “Do you think your scar makes you ugly or scary?”

I took a deep breath in as I waited to see if he’d answer or leave.

“When people look at me, they look away after getting a good look at my scar. What else am I supposed to think?”

“I think it has to do with your demeanor. First, your size draws attention. You’re tall and in great shape. That’s going to draw anyone’s eye. Second, you’re gorgeous, so women are going to look, and men are going to be jealous.”

“And the third?” he asked with a shy smile.

“Are you fishing for compliments?”

Jax shrugged, and I laughed. “Okay. Third, I’ve already mentioned your voice. Seriously, you could do voice over work or be a book narrator. You’d have all the ladies swooning.”

He turned his head and held my gaze. “Is that what you’re doing? Swooning?”

“How could I not?” I pursed my lips fighting a smile. Maybe, just maybe, I was starting to break through.

“I wish I could see myself as you see me. Even in the darkness, you see so much.”

The sadness in his voice made tears sting the back of my eyes.

“Me too. I know I’ve only known you for a couple of days, but…” I paused trying to decide if I would lay myself bare for him. Was it worth it when I’d be gone soon?

“You can’t stop now. I thought we were getting to know one another.” He smirked at using my previous words against me.

“You want to know what I was about to say?” I asked with a tilt of my head. He nodded almost too eagerly. What the hell was I being so timid for? I might as well spit it out. “I was going to say that I’ve been drawn to you since the moment I woke up. At first, I thought you were my angel, then I heard your voice, and I was a goner. I know I haven’t seen you in the full light of dayyet, but from what I’ve seen, you’re gorgeous. Inside and out.” I gave him a pointed look I wasn’t sure he could read in the dim light. “You didn’t have to take me in or help me. I can’t remember the last time I felt anything like this for another person, if ever. There’s something about you that I can’t explain.”

Jax sat with his mouth open before he cleared his throat. “I don’t know what I was expecting you to say, but that wasn’t it. Is that really how you feel?”

Giving him a small smile, I answered, “I wouldn’t have said it if it wasn’t true.”

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