Page 51 of The Devil in Blue Jeans
“No, but they’d be lucky if they did.” He grinned.
She rolled her eyes, but took his hand, leading him toward the back door. After she strode inside, he followed, sliding his cowboy hat back into place.
The moment they made it back into the bar, laughter and music filling his senses, their group regarded them closely. It was only then that Jaxon noticed her hair was a little disheveled and her cheeks were bright pink from her climax.
Eli cursed and slammed a twenty-dollar bill down on the bar.
Gunner grinned and then gave Jaxon and Charly two thumbs-up. “Thanks for making me a winner.”
Charly’s eyes widened. “They did not just bet that we had sex?”
Jaxon laughed, smoothing out her hair. “Seems like it.” He grabbed her chin and planted a kiss on her lips. “But I’d say if anyone won here it’d be us, wouldn’t you?”
Unable to resist a challenge, she grinned. “I’d say.” Then said to Eli, “Next time bet on us—that’s where you went wrong.”
Eli tipped his hat. “Yes, ma’am.”
Jaxon laughed, watching as Charly headed back behind the bar and had a quick talk with Willow and Aubrey, who began laughing, before Charly turned around again. Her gaze, satisfied and soft, met his, and he could only smile.
He had had hot sex before. Butthis, withher, this was an entirely different universe. And as she hit him with a smile that she didn’t offer to everyone, his chest warmed in a way that told him selling his bar was the best decision he’d ever made.
Fourteen
Charly had fully intended on heading home and snuggling into her bed. That was, until Jaxon whispered in her, “Come home with me tonight. I have a surprise for you.”
She couldn’t deny him after that, and only wavered when she saw the ATV parked in front of his house and the excited expression on his face. “No way,” she said with a firm shake of her head. “It’s the middle of the night. We arenotgoing out on that.”
Jaxon slapped the hood in response. “It’s the best time to go.” Then he fished two helmets from behind the seat.
She stared at the helmet he offered. “Where exactly do you want to go?”
“I want to take you on a proper date,” he said, offering her the helmet again. “Just the two of us. No distractions.”
Butterflies fluttered in her belly. “You do realize, it’s two o’clock in the morning.”
He inclined his head. “I do, but it’s a total suitable time for someone who owns a bar and has zero time to go on a date.” Then he gestured at the ATV, offering her the helmet...again. “Come on. You’ll like it. I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she said with a little glare to add some weight to it.
He grinned in return. “I wouldn’t expect any different.”
She fitted the helmet over her head and he fastened the strap tight. After securing his own helmet, he opened the passenger door and Charly climbed in. He jumped in behind the wheel, and they sped away, past the barn and onto a trail leading into the night.
The engine roared, breaking the stillness of the night, and Charly grasped the metal grab bar tight. The darkness was like a blanket around the ATV, with only a glimmer of moonlight showing through the canopy of trees. The headlights of the ATV cut through the shadows, and the beams moved back and forth as Jaxon easily navigated the bends and turns.
Until the ATV slowed, and Charly spotted a tiny cottage at the end of the trail, nestled among towering trees. The stone structure was almost entirely covered with climbing ivy. Warm light spilled out through the windows, showing the two wooden rocking chairs on the porch.
Jaxon parked the ATV at the porch and cut the ignition. He moved to her as she got out and he helped her with her helmet, before removing his.
She couldn’t take her eyes off the cottage. She’d never seen anything so picture-perfect. “What is this place?” she asked.
“This cottage was my mother’s most favorite place in the world,” he said, smiling. “My father built this place for her when they were first married and didn’t have any money.”
She became lost in the warmth washing over his features—a soft look she hadn’t seen from him before. “And they kept this even after they did have money?”
He nodded. “Good memories here.”
“I can see why,” she agreed softly. “It’s breathtaking.”
