Page 138 of The Last Second Chance
The crowd quieted.
“Whoops! Sorry about that. Anyway, I’d like to welcome you to the 45thAnnual Blue Moon Sit-In and Good Cause Carnival. This year’s proceeds are going to a very worthy cause if I do say so myself,” she said, pointing at the Furever Home Rescue banner behind them.
Mrs. Penskee chattered on about the work her rescue had done over the years and Joey tried to stay tuned in, but having Jax next to her, his shoulder resting against hers. The back of his hand brushing her arm. Joey stared hard out into the sea of time-forgotten hippies as she tried to hold on to the hurt, the anger. Those feelings would protect her against future pain. Keeping her safe and separate.
But safe and separate left no room for Jax.
“As you all are well aware, thanks to the Pierce family, our little rescue had its most successful day ever with the adoption of six of our pets, one of which is on stage now.”
Waffles seemed to understand that they were talking about him. He sat up straight with his ears perked and a happy doggy smile above his bowtie.
“We at the rescue couldn’t think of a better way to thank you for your kindness and generosity than this.”
Joey didn’t even realize Donovan Cardona was on the stage until she felt the cold metal close over her wrist with a snap.
“No!” Joey’s arm recoiled and she stared in horror as Jax’s arm went with it. They were cuffed together and the crowd was cheering.
“Let’s give a warm welcome to this year’s Cuffed Lovers, Joey Greer and Jackson Pierce.”
The applause drowned out Joey’s expletive-laden gasp. She stared at Jax who didn’t look remotely surprised. “You son of a bitch,” she growled.
Jax grinned and raised their cuffed hands to wave to the crowd. Joey tried to yank her arm down to no avail. Anthony Berkowicz pushed through the front row and snapped a picture of them with an oversized digital camera. Between the camera flash and rage, Joey was temporarily blinded. Jax dragged her off stage and handed Waffles over to Mrs. Penskee.
“How about you take the guest of honor around?” he suggested to her.
Mrs. Penskee and Waffles happily trotted off into the crowd.
“I am going to murder you,” Joey hissed at him.
“Then you’ll be cuffed to my rotting body,” Jax said amicably as he weaved a path through the crowd.
Joey accepted the congratulations with less enthusiasm than Jax, who was waving and shaking hands left and right like he was Beckett.
He dragged her into a relatively quiet corner behind the goat milk soap booth.
“What’s the plan here, Jax?” She held up their cuffed hands. “Kinky sex in public to win me back?”
The slow, knowing smile that spread across his face had her mouth going dry and her underwear going damp. She smacked him in the chest with her free hand. “Very funny. Why the hell am I handcuffed to you? There’s a town-wide vote that picks the ‘lucky’ couple. And we’re not even a couple.”
“Congratulations, you guys,” Ellery waved cheerfully from the front of the soap stand.
It hit Joey like a bolt of lightning. “You!” She pointed at Ellery, dragging Jax’s hand up with hers. “This was all you!”
Ellery’s purple lipstick spread into a wide grin. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She skipped away before Joey could find anything to throw at her.
“Oh, my God. Moon Beam,” Joey paced, bringing Jax with her. “All of this ‘you two are a huge mistake’ crap was all a set up.”
“Diabolical, right?” Jax laughed.
“What about Facebook? No one ever mentioned us in the group.”
“Not in the Blue Moon group, but in the secret Jax and Joey Forever group there were a few mentions.”
“I hate everything. I hate this town. I hate these cuffs. I hate your face.”
“God, I love you, Jojo,” Jax swiveled in front of her in mid-stride and brought his mouth to hers.
“I hate kissing,” Joey muttered against his lips.
