“Is that why you left and you won’t talk about it? Did you have a thing for my mum? Is that what your dad found out? Why he made you leave?”
“What the hell, Conner?” Jasper grumbled. “You’re being such a dick right now.”
“Me,” he screamed. “Our mum, who is way past her prime, is screwing her son’s friend and I’m the one getting the lecture. Fuck you, Jasper. You won’t be here soon, but I have to live with people talking about them and I will be the one who has to dealwith Ma when they break up.” He turned to face Helen. “Because he will dump you. Just like Dad did.”
There was an audible intake of breath from Jasper and me, while Helen’s hands flew up and covered her mouth as a tear rolled down her cheek.
I took a step toward her, but she shook her head before turning her attention to Conner.
“I raised you to behave better than this. Do you think this is an acceptable way to speak to me… to speak to any woman in your life? I’ll make this clear Conner, whether or not I am having a relationship with Jax has nothing to do with you. I’m sorry you found out like this, but that doesn’t excuse the way you’re speaking to me. You’ve hurt me, you’ve physically assaulted Jax, and I won’t have it. I’d like you to leave, and I’ll be honest. I don’t want to see you again until you’re ready to apologise.”
Jasper took her hand and squeezed it, before turning to me with a glare. “Don’t hurt her, man. I don’t think I could forgive you if you did.”
“I promise.”
Conner’s shoulders sagged. “You can’t be serious. You’re choosing him over me?”
Helen shook her head. “No, baby boy. I’m choosing me. I won’t be spoken to like I’m nothing. Not by anyone, and especially not by a person I brought into the world and cared for their whole life.”
Conner didn’t say another word, storming out the front door and slamming it behind him.
“Sorry, Ma. He thinks he’s looking out for you.”
“And yet, all he’s done is hurt me.”
Chapter 28
Helen
“Well, holding hands coming out of the diner probably wasn’t our smartest move.” I sighed as I pressed an ice pack to Jax’s eye, making him wince. “Sorry.”
“Are you apologising for the pain or the hand holding?”
“Both. But, God, we’re going to be the talk of the town now.”
Jax sighed, running his finger along my jaw. “Oh, I’m sure we can give them lots more to talk about, beautiful.”
I couldn’t help my giggle, but then my fears popped up again and my eyes dropped. “Are you going to hurt me? Is Conner right? Am I just setting myself up for heartbreak?”
His hand moved to the nape of my neck, lifting my face so I had to look at him as I lowered the ice pack so I could see him properly, glad that Conner was never good at fighting and Jax's bruising was minimal.
“I promised you that I wouldn’t let anything hurt you ever again. And that included me. I’m obsessed with you. I want to be with you. Conner will come round and get used to the idea of us. And in the meantime, we don’t have to hide what we have, because I want to tell the world about us.”
My head fell to his shoulder as his arms wrapped around me. “And you’re ready for the flack you’re going to get… because everyone will want to know what a man like you is doing with someone like me.”
His hand skimmed up and down my spine, and I could almost hear the smile in his voice as he replied, “And I will tell them that I’m having the time of my life with the most wonderful woman.”
I stepped out of work the next day, exhausted after a fitful night’s sleep. I’d not heard from Conner again, although Cal had called, telling me he’d heard the news even though he was away with work, and he was happy for us.
Working in the basement was better than being alone in the penthouse, but the lack of daylight down there had left me disorientated and I stood outside the building, soaking up the Vitamin D from the low winter sun.
I must have picked a premium time to leave work as the street was busy and some of the team had followed me outside, chatting amongst themselves. Just then, a loud siren made me jump as a fire engine pulled up outside the building, its lights flashing.
I looked around for an emergency, but I couldn’t see anything obvious. The sound of a door opening and closing grabbed my attention and seconds later, Jax was stalking toward me, dressed in his uniform, helmet and all.
My eyes darted around, wondering if everyone was staring, but Jax’s gaze stayed locked on me, making my skin tingle and my nipples harden.
“Hey,” he murmured as he got close, taking off his helmet and holding it by his side.
