“There has to be some sort of misunderstanding. You’re a good man. You always have been. Even when we were younger and you annoyed me, I still recognized you were a great friend to Charlie and a supportive son and nephew. Now, you’re helping me with the ranch and pushing me to do all these wonderful things I wouldn’t have done on my own. I wouldn’t be here right now if it weren’t for you and your refusal to kiss me that terrible night a few weeks ago.”
He turns back to me. “That was the hardest thing I’d ever done.”
“What?” My voice is shaky as I slip off the counter. I think I know what he means, but I have to be certain.
He steps closer, his warmth swarming my body. His presence scrambles my brain, and out of instinct, I reach out to him, grabbing fistfuls of his T-shirt.
“Choosing not to kiss you was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.” His words are barely above a whisper, but they echo down my spine.
Tilting his head down slightly, his blue-eyed gaze latches on to mine as he wraps an arm around my waist. The stampede of horses in my chest greets me once again.
I take another half step closer to him so that we’re toe-to-toe. “Then why didn’t you kiss me?”
“You weren’t ready.”
“I’m ready now,” I whisper.
He searches my face. “Lauren?—”
“I’m not trying to bury my feelings or get back at Austin. This isn’t even about checking off another item on my list. I just really want to kiss you.” So badly. I want to know how his lips taste, how his hands will feel in my hair. I want to bask in the glorious feeling Jax gives me whenever we’re together. “Is that okay?”
“That’s more than okay,” he says, sounding almost pained, like he’s physically restraining himself.
We’re both breathing heavily as we stare at each other in anticipation. He brushes a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re sure?”
“More than ever.”
He drops his hand to just below my chin, tilting it up ever so slightly, and then brings his lips to mine.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jax
In all thetimes I wondered what it would be like to kiss Lauren, I’d never considered it’d be like this. It feels like a firework display is going off in my chest as my heart beats rampantly. All my senses are simultaneously shot and supercharged. I can’t feel my feet on the ground, but I’m aware of her hands brushing the hair at the base of my neck and the way she gently nips at my bottom lip.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” I say.
“Me too.”
My heart soars knowing we’re on the same page.
She leans against the counter. “I’m thankful you stopped me that night after the bar, but I’ve been wondering ever since.”
I guess we aren’texactlyon the same page. This isn’t just a kiss for me. I’ve been waiting for this moment foryears.
I’m not about to blow this by not communicating withher. I open my mouth to set things straight, but a knock on the door interrupts us.
I rush to answer it, opening it to reveal room service with our giant ice cream sundae on a platter.
Lauren rushes to my side, but I shift my body to hide the tray before she can ruin the surprise.
“What is it?”
“Trust me, you’ll like it. Cover your eyes.”
“Jax—”
“Cover your eyes, Freckles.”
