Page 19 of Dangerous Curves

The pet name he uses so often for me makes my stomach do flip flops and I feel the blush invade my cheeks. “What do you want to do after college?”

Jaxx is currently in one of the local vocational colleges so that he can take over his father’s business someday. His older brother, Rome, has already made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the heating and cooling business. I’m not sure Jaxx wants it either, but I think he feels obligated now. I feel the heavy rise and fall of his chest as he sighs. “I don’t know really.”

“Do you want your father’s business?”

Tension rises in the silence that follows my question. “I’ve never been asked that. It was always just assumed that Rome and I would take it over. Then he left and started his own life and now it’s up to me.”

I sit up and stare down into his blue eyes. “That didn’t answer the question.”

He looks away and I can see the guilt on his face that he’s trying to hide. “No, not really.”

“What would you like to do?”

Jaxx sits up. “I don’t know, but I’d love to do something with cars or motorcycles. I love stunting my bike. It’s no secret that I’m a bit of daredevil.”

“You should be a stuntman!” The excitement in my voice catches him off guard and he laughs.

“Are you going to write the perfect role?” One of his hands reaches forward and tucks a stray strand of hair behind my ear.

“Yes, I’ll make him a badass and ready to take on the world. You’ll have plenty of stunts to show just how awesome you are.”

Jaxx leans in and kisses my cheek. “And we’ll become one of those Hollywood power couples but like a behind the scenes type of couple. We can jet set all over the world. Vacations on beaches and private islands.”

“Anniversaries in Paris and Christmas in New York City!” My heart was beating rapidly, like a bird desperately trying to escape a cage.

Jaxx leans in and kisses my other cheek. A wave crashes into the shore in the background. “New York City?”

I nod my head. “Yeah, I’ve always wanted to go there especially during Christmas. It seems so magical. Carriage ride through Central Park, Rockefeller Center…the list just goes on.”

“Christmas in New York with you, every damn year. It’ll be my favorite from here on out.” Jaxx leans in and presses his lips to mine. The small kiss quickly turns into passion and hunger as his hands tangle in my hair.

****

It was always our plan to spend time in New York City together. Every time I’ve been here, it’s been difficult because Jaxx has always been tied to this place for me. I’ve acted like I’ve had the time of my life but in reality this has been a missing piece for me. Now, I’m here and he’s here and somehow by some cruel twist of fate we’re forced together.

Staying here was a mistake. I should have never agreed to stay with Jaxx. I’m only going to cause more problems between Ronin and I and more heartache on myself. Eventually, I turn the shower off and wrap myself in the plush robe before heading out into the bedroom area. My plan is just to stay tucked away in the room until Jaxx leaves. Surely, he has some kind of plans. Avoiding him seems to be the best course of action at this point.

I’m just pulling on my jeans as a knock on the door startles me. “Yeah?” I call out. He’s probably telling me he’s heading out for the day or something.

“I ordered us some lunch once you’re dressed,” he tells me. My stomach flip flops. Surely, he doesn’t mean to have lunch with me, too. He’s already going above and beyond by letting me stay here. The thunder outside rumbles as if it’s angry but it’s unexpected and I yelp in surprise.

“Okay, I’ll be out in a minute.” My heart thuds around in my chest. Nerves bloom in my stomach. Finally, I finish getting dressed and pull my damp hair up into a messy bun and slip my glasses on before heading out into the living area.

Jaxx is standing at the window overlooking the terrace as the rain pours down. For whatever reason, I walk over to where he’s standing and stare out as well. “This town has never been what I thought it would be.”

I tilt my head to the side and study him. “What do you mean?”

“I guess, I just had different expectations for it. It’s never lived up to how I envisioned it.” Jaxx turns around and heads for the small table with two chairs attached to the kitchenette. “We might as well eat since we can’t do anything else in this weather.” He pulls the lid off the plates and I see slices of veggie delight pizza on thin crust with a side of ranch dressing with bacon bits sitting beside it. My heart flutters because this was always my other food weakness. “I’m assuming you still like Dr. Pepper with your pizza, too,” he comments, as he motions towards the glass of soda.

I nod my head as I cross the room. “You didn’t have to do all of this.”

Jaxx shrugs. “I owe you anyways since I stole your ice cream by accident, but kind of on purpose.”

I laugh. “Kind of on purpose?”

A guilty look comes over his face. “I saw you before I went into the store. It’s actually why I went into the store. Then I was trying to do something nice and buy your stress food, but then we ended up going at each other’s throats again. I’m sorry about that.”

I take a seat across from him. “You don’t owe me an apology. It’s not just you that went at me. I went at you too. It’s like we went from bringing out the best in us to bringing out the worst.”

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