“Fine,” she said grudgingly. “But I reserve the right to crow about it when it turns out it wasn’t him.”
“Fair enough,” Cammie replied with a smile.
“I made pancakes, and I’m hungry. I made plenty. Anyone want breakfast?”
“Want to come to breakfast tomorrow?” Piper asked Jax.
“Only if I get to stay the night first,” he replied, waggling his eyebrows.
“Oh get off it,” she laughed, pushing his shoulder. “You know I’m not that kind of girl.”
“I know, I know,” he said with a long-suffering sigh, throwing her a wink at the end to show her he wasn’t serious.
“I think I will be soon,” she replied softly. “I think it’s inevitable with you.”
>
Taking her hands in his, Jax kissed her knuckles. “You know there’s absolutely no pressure, right, Pippy? I’m more than okay with waiting. I’ll wait forever if I have to. We never have to have sex, if you don’t want to.”
“Make love,” she corrected with a dreamy sigh. “God, I do love you, Jax. More than anything.”
“I love you too, Piper. I think maybe I’m not supposed love so hard so early. I’m just seventeen, and you’re only fifteen. But the way I feel for you is already so much more than just love. And this feeling will never go away. Ever. You have the key to my heart.”
“Ditto,” Piper said. “I feel just like that. I’ll love you forever, Jackson St. James.”
Piper pulled into her driveway, getting out and holding the leash as Snickers sniffed around. She watched as Jax pulled his big blue Chevy truck in behind her Mustang, conflicting emotions vying for dominance in her chest.
On one hand, she wanted to hold onto her hurt and anger, go back to hating him, and send him away. On the other, she knew he had a reason to do as he’d done, as misguided as it was. He’d hurt her deeply with his words and actions that day. But she also knew he had to be harsh, because otherwise, she wouldn’t have let him go so easily.
And she still had no idea how to deal with learning the truth. Or how to do deal with the growing feelings she had for him again. She didn’t want to get hurt yet again. And she had to remember that all men sucked big hairy monkey balls. Good men were nothing more than a myth.
But the exception to that rule might be walking toward her, big and muscled, jeans hanging just right, green t-shirt snug, ballcap pulled low, and white teeth gleaming as he directed a panty-melting smile her way.
What a damn clusterfuck. Her feelings were a maze she was hopelessly lost inside.
When he was close, she started walking toward the door, searching through her keyring. Hurrying to catch her, he put a hand on her arm, causing her whole body to shudder as the familiar electric zing raced over her skin.
“Why don’t you stay out here and walk Snickers around some more? Let me go in and check the house out first.”
Rolling her eyes in exasperation, she huffed a breath as she handed over her keys. “Fine, if you insist.”
“I do,” he said seriously before shooting her a wink.
Watching as he unlocked the door and went inside, she steadied her breathing. First the touch, then the wink. And her mind was flashing back to last night and the mind-blowing experience in the barn. She was so screwed.
She’d never admit it, because she was a motherfucking Boss Bitch, but the break-in had her a little on edge, and she was glad Jax was here to check the house out before she went in. But still, she didn’t like him in there when he could possibly be in danger, and she felt like ants were crawling over her skin as she waited for him to return.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Jax came to the door and waved her in. Releasing the breath she was holding, she tugged gently on the leash and went to the door.
“And?”
“It doesn’t look like anything was touched. I don’t think anyone has been in here since we left.”
“Thank God,” she said, shoulders drooping in relief for a moment.
“I’m gonna go grab your bag and the new deadbolts. I’ll be right back.”
Nodding, Piper shut the door behind him and unhooked the leash. Squatting down, she ruffled the fur on Snickers’ face, getting him going and playing until Jax came back. Shutting the door, he sat her suitcase down and watched as she roughhoused with her dog.