Page 34 of The Last Second Chance
She didn’t answer him.
“This gives you more control, Joey. Take it.”
She watched through the glass as Carter led Apollo to an empty stall. The stallion put up quite the fuss as he pranced past. Why wasn’t anyone listening to her?
“I can’t accept them,” she said firmly.
“Why the hell not?”
Because her dreams of independence, of success, would be funded by the man who abandoned her. Her success would be his. Just another string binding them together.
“Because, Jax, normal businesswomen don’t go around accepting gifts like this!” She shoved her hands into her hair just to give them something to do besides strangling him.
“Yes. They do. It’s called an investment and that’s what I’m doing. I’m investing in you.” He snagged her hand and dragged her out from behind the desk. “I believe in you. I believe in your plans. I believe in your ability to get shit done.”
He pulled her closer even as she fought him.
“This gives you total control. You deserve it and you’ll see that as soon as you get this hissy fit out of your system.”
“Hissy fit?” she gasped.
“I keep expecting you to bite me like Apollo. Two peas in a pod,” Jax smirked.
She prodded him in the chest. “I don’t want you to be tied up in my goals.”
His smile faltered. “I know you don’t, Jojo. And I’m hoping that someday you’re going to let me get tied up with you in every way imaginable. But this isn’t just about you. Ask yourself what these two are going to mean to the farm. We almost lost this place after Dad died.”
Joey’s eyes widened. She’d known there was trouble. Knew there was a rough patch after John’s death, but she hadn’t know how close it was.
“If you do what I know damn well you’re capable of doing, you’ll be putting the lean years behind us for good. You’ll ensure the future of this farm for the next generation, maybe more. Carter and Summer’s kids. Evan and Aurora. But we can only do this with you.”
She ran her tongue around her teeth. He was going for the jugular.Damn it! Was she going soft in the head? He was starting to make sense.
“It’s not just about you. Hell yes, I want to be tied to you in every way I can be and I want to see every dream of yours come true, but I also want what’s best for this place, for our family—because they’re as much yours as they are mine—and it just so happens that this works out for everyone. But it doesn’t work without you. I need you. We need you.”
She could have pushed him one more time, but his voice had thickened with emotion. With love for this place, for family, for her.
Still she balked. He stepped in on her, crowding her against the desk.
“Uh-uh. No way!” She slapped a hand to his chest. “Donotkiss me right now.”
His slow grin thawed her edges despite her resistance.
“Why not?”
“Because that’s not how you close a business deal.”
He framed her face with his big hands. “Are you closing this deal?”
Grudgingly, Joey shoved her hand between them, held it out. She waited until he let go of her face and took her hand in his.
“I’m paying you back. No matter how long it takes.”
“Whatever,” he said flippantly. “Can I kiss you now?”
“No! Maybe later…shut up.”
Carter saved her from doing something stupid by poking his head in. “My turn?” he asked.
