I pin her with a glare. “I see what you’re doing, Freckles.” Folding the top half of the bag over, I add, “I don’t think Olivia would mind stepping out for dance lessons. She kind of sucks.”
“Hey, she tries!”
“She does.” I laugh. “Well, it’s settled. I’ll do lessons with you again. You just have to promise not to make out with me in the middle of the dance floor.”
She rolls her eyes. “Oh, please. If anyone has to hide anything it’s you.You’rethe one who’s going to want to kissme.”
“We’ll see about that.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Lauren
I swingmy legs from the barstool at the kitchen island, taking in a deep breath and trying to focus on the handsome man in front of me right now. It’s been hard to relax this evening. My goal for the day was to map out at least four of the paddocks for AMP grazing, but I only got two done because I got a call about one of our cattle getting caught in the fence. It took four of us to get it out, and when we did, her leg was scratched up enough that we had to call the vet. I barely finished in time to see Jax, and now I’m both behind and exhausted.
But here he is, cooking me dinner and looking incredible in that tight white tee and those gray sweatpants. Knowing how much I love the taste of red wine with my pasta, he brought me a pretty expensive bottle, which he won’t even have a sip of.
I’m trying to enjoy it all, but it’s nearly impossible to let go of everything I should be doing instead of sitting around having dinner cooked for me. Plus, putting on a face isreally difficult with Jax. It’s like he sees my soul, which is marvelous but frustrating when I’m trying not to ruin our evening.
In an attempt to at least shift my thoughts, I focus on how to be the best girlfriend for Jax. Spinning my wineglass around in my hand nervously, I ask, “Are you sure you’re okay with me drinking ifyou’renot going to drink?”
Jax pulls a fettuccini noodle from the pot, blowing on it and holding it out for me to test. “I’m a bartender. People drink in front of me all the time. I’m fine.”
“Why did you decide to bartend given all the bad memories you have involving alcohol?” I take the noodle off the spoon, sampling it. “Those are perfect. Pull ’em.”
He turns the burner off and shifts his attention to the alfredo sauce, stirring it carefully.
“I mean, part of it was just taking the opportunity that was given to me.”
“But there’s something else you haven’t told me.”
“I like being there to look out for people.” He doesn’t lift his gaze from the pot. “I know alcohol can make people do dumb stuff, and this has given me the chance to step in and advocate for those who find themselves in vulnerable positions.”
“Like when Austin harassed me that night.”
“Yeah, I guess it triggered me to see him grab you like that.”
I don’t know how I never connected the dots.
He moves the sauce off the burner. “Are you ready to eat?”
I don’t press the issue as I slip off my barstool and walk into his outstretched arms. When my chest meets his, he wraps his arms around me and places his chin on top of myhead. I love the way his six-foot-four frame engulfs me. It makes me feel safe.
“Not to sound clingy already, but I kind of missed you this week,” I murmur against his chest.
He presses a kiss to the crown of my head. “I missed you too. I’m sorry I couldn’t be at the ranch more. The bar nearly fell apart without me last weekend. I’ve spent almost every day since cleaning up messes that shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”
“It’s okay. I managed.”
“Tell me about your week. What have I missed?” He dishes up two plates of pasta, bringing them to the kitchen table and lighting a single candle in the center.
I sit down next to him and immediately pull my phone from my pocket to show him pictures of the puppy from yoga. “I guess the big highlight is that you have some competition. I fell in love this week.”
I thrust my phone in his direction, showing him a photo of the tiny girl with her paws crossed over each other. “Look at her! She’s just the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. We joked that she is such a lady for crossing her paws like that.” I swipe over. “Olivia took this video of us as we were leaving. She wouldn’t stop following me. It was so cute.”
“She has freckles just like you do.” He points to light brown flecks that cover her snout, the whites of her paws, and the spot between her eyes.
“Oh my gosh! She does. That just makes me love her more.”
