Jaxson stormed into the tent, his shoulders heaving as he laid eyes on me. “Are you okay?”
He towered above me as I sat on the frigid metal chair. I pulled the blanket tighter, trying to ward off the cold. I shivered, but it was more from his proximity than the chill in the air.
I didn’t answer, just stared up at him. Did he really care about how I was, or was this his protector mode that had him asking? Earlier that morning he didn’t give a damn about me or my feelings. Why now had that changed?
“Just peachy,” I said and gave the best smile I could muster.
He bent down. His knees flexed as he came to my eye level. “You’re mad at me.”
“What gave you that impression?” I shut my eyes and exhaled loudly before opening them again.
He didn’t budge and continued to stare at me. “How about I drive you home? We’re free to go.”
Was he serious? He’d practically told me to find someplace else to live a few hours ago. Had he forgotten, or was he just feeling guilty that I’d been one of the victims? “You don’t have to feel sorry for me.” I gently pushed at his chest to make him back up as I stood. “I’ll be fine. I’m just going to find someplace else to stay.” I wasn’t sure what other options there were for accommodations, but I’d figure something out. Maybe I could stay with Emma if she had a spare bedroom, or at least a couch I could crash on.
If not, maybe one of the other Eagle Tactical guys would suggest some place I could crash. I wasn’t stupid enough to room with one of them. Jaxson would probably make their life hell.
“I don’t feel sorry for you,” he said and stood. He exhaled loudly and linked my arm with his. “I’m taking you home.”
“Jaxson, I have my car. I can drive home.” I wasn’t really sure where I would go. Home didn’t exist for me, not anymore.
“No.” A single-word response.
He wasn’t listening to me. Jaxson led me out of the tent and to his truck. He unlocked the door and helped me inside. I’d kept the blanket, putting it on my lap as I climbed into the front seat. “This isn’t necessary. I’m capable of driving myself.”
He waited until I buckled before he shut the door and jogged around to the opposite side. Jaxson climbed in, started the engine, and buckled his seatbelt. “I’m taking you home.” His voice firm and commanding.
Was he used to bossing people around? He’d been doing it the past few days at the office and mostly to me. I took Mason’s words into consideration that Jaxson was sexually frustrated, but that didn’t even make sense. We’d had sex recently, and I was pretty sure he wasn’t the kind of guy who slept around. He had a kid, and it had been obvious when we first met that he put her first.
I didn’t answer, just stared out the side window as he drove us out of the parking lot and to the main thoroughfare, up to the mountain pass.
“I get it. You’re mad at me,” Jaxson said. The radio was off and the heat-blasted at full speed.
I glanced from the side window at Jaxson and then folded my arms across my chest.
“I’m sorry if I stepped over the line in there, but I couldn’t let anything happen to you, Freckles.”
“Don’t!” I warned him. He didn’t get to call me that name, not anymore.
We climbed the mountain, Jaxson downshifting the truck. The tires spun but just as quickly pulled us up the road.
His hands gripped the steering wheel hard. The roads didn’t look that treacherous, but the higher we climbed to in elevation, the more snow began to fall. At first, the flakes were thick and light, and the road covered in a dusting, but it grew heavier with each passing minute.
“I didn’t mean to hurt you,” he said. “I had to look convincing that I was one of them.”
I shifted in my seat and turned a bit to face him. “You think I’m mad about what happened in the resort?” He did what he needed to do so that he could get Hazel and me out of there.
He glanced briefly at me before returning his attention to the snow-covered terrain. “Aren’t you?”
I laughed under my breath. “Gosh, you are clueless.” Were all men this clueless?
“Gee, thanks,” he muttered. He grumbled something incoherent under his breath.
I stared at him. “What was that?” I asked, daring him to say it aloud.
“I said women, you all are the same.”
“Who are you comparing me to, Emma?” I yanked at the blanket, my fingers tugging at the scratchy wool, clawing at it in fists. “You don’t get to lump me in the same category as the woman who dropped off your kid and wanted nothing to do with her or you.”