He holds me there by the back of the neck, and I’m done. All of the vitriolic anger up and evaporates like smoke as we melt into a slow, dreamy kiss. Jax has a mouth that was made for doing just this—and perhaps a little bit ofthat, which also ironically qualifies as kissing my lips.
He rakes his mouth over my cheek. “We should go upstairs.”
My adrenaline spikes at the offer, and I parrot right back, “We should go upstairs.”
Jax takes me by the hand, one arm still wrapped around my waist, and it looks as if we’re engaged in some Elizabethan era waltz as he glides us across the floor.
“Whoa!” a stunned voice cries as we hit the base of the stairwell, and we turn to find Conner and Larissa tucked in the corner, huddled over their drinks. “Where are you two off to?” My brother glowers at Jax for a moment as if he knows exactly where.
Jax pumps those dimples of his just once. “I left my mother’s gift upstairs, but we can get it later.” He gives my hand a determined squeeze. I laugh at the irony that the wordgiftis code for sex, because face it—the two of us knocking boots would totally be the gift she would want and most likely ask for. Same goes for my freaky mother.
“Good call.” Conner tilts his head, sizing up our body language. “Riss and I were just about to hit the buffet. Why don’t you two do the same?” It comes out more of a command than a request, and we begrudgingly comply.
The grand buffet is more or less a mishmash of our mothers’ favorite foods and just as scrumptious as you might think for two women who spend their lives running a blog that centers on delectable morsels.
I lean toward the pescatarian fare of lobster tails, shrimp, and buttery sea bass steamed to perfection, while Jax goes for more of the surf and turf appeal, landing a glibbery mass of prime rib over his plate along with enough king crab legs to piece back together one of those oversized crustaceous creatures.
Jax and I find a table near the front where our mothers nosh on their own plates, doing their best to mingle at the very same time. We devour our food like prisoners embarking on their final meal, but, really, who could blame us? Deb has been known to throw a damn impressive party, and it’s easy to see what lured the entire town out of hiding. When the lone billionaire widow throws a “little” get-together, you’re going to want to be there.
About three bites into my lobster, something occurs to me.
“I just had a thought.” I plunk down my fork, and it hits the delicate china so hard I half-expect to shatter the plate. Really, Deb does throw a classy shindig. The fact we have actual china is another reason parties like this should always be hosted by billionaires. Had Mack and Ihosted this event, it would have been a banquet on a budget. We would have all frozen to death in my mother’s backyard while feasting off fried chicken served on paper plates.
“Shoot.” Jax shovels in another forkful of bovine.
“We’re basically eating the main course. And what happens after the main course?”
The flash of a dirty grin flickers on his face.
“Does your mind ever leave the gutter?” A moment bounces by as he attempts to swallow. “I’m pretty sure it’s a rhetorical question at this point.”
He shakes his head. “I promise I’m not as bad as you think I am.”
“That’s because you’re worse. You were about to haul me upstairs for one more naughty romp, and on this—the night of our big breakup.” I’m only half-teasing because no matter how caustic the words, my heart is still bleeding out on the inside. Jax is the one for me, and I’m not very good at conveying that message.
A deep laugh thunders from his chest, and it sounds like a dare. “You were ready and willing to rumble.” His eyes meet with mine. “Face it—Eight Ball wanted Gordo to give it to her.”
“And are those our porn names now?”
“Only because your perverted self has referenced them that way.”
A dull huff pumps from me. “Maybe it’s becauseyouinsinuated it.”
Jaxson presses his gaze hard into mine. “You still up for another tour of my model airplane collection?”
“I’ve always been a fan of miniaturized aviation. And the fact you have an entire fleet really gets me hot and bothered.” It takes everything in me to hold down the maniacal giggle ready to burst from me. “But seriously, if you need to retrieve a gift for your mother, I’d better supervise in the event you wrap yourself like a mummy and burn the house down.”
“Good.” His dimples twitch. “I’ll have you on your knees and show you exactly how perverted I can be.”
Jax plucks me up by the hand, and we’re off to the races.
“There you are!” Deb stops us short as she blocks the pathway to what was panning out to be a potentially promising perversion. “We’re just about to make our announcement, but first we thought we’d share a few words and cut the cake.”
Jax and I exchange a quick glance.
Crap. I forgot all about that announcement they’ve been lording over our heads like a sickle. They should totally make the speech first,thencut the cake. Jax and I should save our January surprise for the bitter end—as in, once all of the major hitters collect their Louis Vuitton goody bags and leave for the night. Side note, I’m only teasing about the Louis Vuitton goody bags. But seriously? If Debbie were interested, they would be available to all six hundred guests. Speaking of this mega party—I’m betting Mack had no idea that the turnout would be so magnificent. If so, I doubt we’d ever attempt to pull one over on them at an event this huge.
Jax pulls me in until his nose is pressed against my cheek. “They’re cutting the cake.” His breath sears my flesh as a full-blown panic pulses through me. Our eyes lock, and a shared sense of dread rises as I shake my head ever so slightly.
