Page 21 of Kiss Me

“Gabi,” Alex came around to stand next to her and put her arm around her shoulders. Alex’s voice was quiet when she spoke. “You could have had a concussion or worse.”

“I know,” Gabi answered back just as softly. “But Jax took good care of me so no need for you to worry now.”

The timer went off and everyone’s attention went to the oven. Luke pulled out a baking sheet full of these twisted looking bun things. They looked nothing like a cinnamon roll.

“Where’s the icing?” Gabi stared down at her plate of cinnamon rolls sans icing.

“There’s no icing on Kanelbullars,” Luke answered with a distinct Swedish accent.

“That’s what I said the first time I saw them,” Alex grinned around a bit of her twisted bun. “But trust me, they’re to die for. It’s what’s on the inside that counts.”

Gabi smirked but still didn’t take a bite. I lifted mine up and bit into the warm cinnamony goodness.

I hummed and took another bite. “I don’t care what they’re called, I’ll eat them any day of the week.”

“Do you ever have him speak Swedish just to hear that accent?” Gabi winked at Alex.

“It’s pretty hot, but I think just about everything he does is hot so…” She shrugged and looked away with pink-tinted cheeks. “But that’s beside the point. Eat your cinnamon roll and tell us more about how you came to be here.”

“Fine,” Gabi grumbled and took a bite. Her eyes lit up, and she gave a thumbs up to Luke as she devoured the entire thing. Once she was finished chewing, Gabi took a sip of her hot chocolate. “Divine. You can cook for me any day.”

“Stop stalling,” Alex sing-songed.

“Where was I?” Gabi looked around the room clearly stalling. “Oh, yeah, so Jax found me and helped me to his truck. Using his phone’s GPS, he drove us here, but the power was out and there was no way to call you.” Taking a bite out of her second bun, she continued, “I don’t have anyone’s phone number memorized, so I decided I’d go to a hotel, but when Jax called, it was full. You guys live in the smallest town ever,” Gabi complained.

Alex leaned into her husband. “It’s not that small, but when you’re used to LA, it does seem that way. One good thing about Fairlane is there’s no paparazzi and most people leave you alone.”

“Where’d you go if the hotel was full?” Luke squared his shoulders.

“Jax offered his house and before you say anything, yes, I know it wasn’t a smart move because he could have been a serial killer.”

“She did ask if I was a serial killer,” I added with a chuckle.

“And he said no, so I went home with him. To the dark.” She said it like she was in a horror movie, and I couldn’t help but chuckle at her. “Damn ice storms are no fun.”

“They don’t happen all that often here, but when they do, they’re bad. That’s why we have a generator.”

Turning to look at me, Gabi said matter-of-factly. “If I’m staying, you’re getting a generator.”

Both Luke and Alex’s mouths fell open.

“Deal.”

12

Gabi

Jax tappedhis fingers on the steering wheel as he drove us back to his house. He’d been mostly quiet the entire time we’d been at Luke and Alex’s, but I’d come to realize Jax was a quiet man. He had either been that way all his life, or it stemmed from being alone for the past two years.

We’d stopped by the grocery store and loaded up on food. I may have gone a little crazy, but I hadn’t been to a grocery store in I don’t remember how long. In LA, going to the grocery is a hassle with fans and paparazzi around every corner, so when I was home, which wasn’t very often, I either had someone get whatever I needed, or I ordered it online.

I never knew going to the grocery store could be fun and relaxing. The only contention was when it came time to pay. I had put way more into the cart than Jax had, but he refused to let me pay. I was so used to everyone around me expecting me to pay, so in a way, it was sweet. I could get used to someone wanting to take care of me. To be my partner.

“Is it always so low key at the grocery store?”

Jax burst out laughing. Putting a hand to his stomach, he continued to laugh for a good full minute. “That was it when it’s bustling. You won’t see it any busier than that on any given day unless the forecast is for snow or ice. Then you better get there early because all the bread, milk, and beer go fast.”

My surprise was evident from my gaping mouth. The local grocery store barely seemed to have anyone in it, and that was when it was busy.

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