Page 97 of True Abandon

I shake my head. “I’m topless at a public waterfall.” I can’t help but laugh again, and tears pour down my face. “The girl who was in hiding is now out in the open.”

His face falls, and he looks almost heartbroken. I think my reaction is alarming him.

“I broke you,” he mutters, pulling away into the water.

I grab his face and force him back up into the fire.

“Look at me, Jax.” I hold his stare and state, “You fixed me.” I place my hand over his heart. “You’ve done more for me in six days than anyone else has done in years.”

“I—” He tries to speak, but I hush him with a kiss.

“No more. No more talking about the past. I just want to live in the moment. For one day let’s just be us again.”

His cheek falls into my palm.

“Us,” he whispers against my lips. “I like that sound of that.”

Chapter TWENTY

It’s late in the afternoon by the time we make it back to the hotel. I pull my Wrangler up to the front entrance and find myself blushing. Jax leans over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. With a smirk, I turn to him. It’s slightly odd now not knowing where we stand or what’s ahead. Whatever it is that’s going on—whatever it was that happened today—it was good.

“I have something for you,” he says. “Do you have a minute? I’ll run right up and bring it down.”

“What? Am I not allowed in your room?”

He smiles, raising my hand to his lips he gives it a kiss. “You are. I just want to take this slow. We’re starting all over again.”

Goddammit, but I can’t fight the blush on my face. My eyes water at how sweet that sentiment is. “I’ll wait in the lobby.”

I leave the car with the valet and get a ticket. Jax is waiting for me as I get to the other side of the vehicle and grabs my hand. Together, we walk through the double doors of the lobby.

Benji is at the front desk talking to Lani. It’s his surprised expression that catches my attention first. I think it’s because of my hair, and then I realize it’s because my hand is locked with Jax’s.

Lani’s smile is brilliant and then falls quickly. She clears her throat and says, “Trish, there’s someone waiting for you.” She points toward the set of benches on the opposite side of the koi pond at the same time she mouths the words, “I love your hair.”

I tell her thanks and then look to where she’s pointing. I am absolutely stunned at the site of Kevin looking back at me.

“Kevin?” I ask in disbelief even though I can clearly see him sitting there.

He stands up. His tall, lanky body is as high as one of the trees he’s standing near. He’s wearing a Black Dog Entertainment t-shirt and a confused expression as he looks at my hand entwined with Jax’s.

I quickly release my hand. I’d be a fool to say I don’t catch the way Jax looks back at me in surprised disappointment.

“Hey, Trish.” A male voice says from the side.

Jax and I turn and see Eric standing where the corridor meets the lobby. He’s looking dapper in beige pants and a navy button down. He doesn’t seem to notice Kevin, but he does notice Jax.

Eric takes his hands out of his pockets and raises his chin. “Are we still on for tonight?”

My jaw drops, and I have to blink a few times to wrap my mind around what is transpiring in the radius of ten feet around me. I run my hands over my cheeks not knowing where to start.

Kevin is looking at Jax and then Eric and back at me.

“Kevin, this is Jax. We went to high school together. Eric is a guest at the hotel.” My hands are waving in the air with nervous jolts. “And over there are my friends Lani and Benji. They’re Hawaiian. And they work here. Benji throws knives.”

Eric motion to Kevin. “And you are?”

“Her boyfriend,” Jax answers, cool, calm and with a disparaging unaffectedness. His hand that was in mine moments before is now hanging limply at his side.