Page 14 of Fierce-Jax (Fierce Matchmaking #18)

TOUCH OF DANGER

I f this was a dream, Jax was going to wake up kicking and screaming like a toddler getting his favorite toy taken away from him.

“Would you like dessert?” the server asked, coming over and interrupting his good time.

Probably the best date he’d had in years.

He looked at Dillion to see what she’d say. She looked at her watch, waited a second, then said, “How about that chocolate cake that I saw the other table get?”

“Great choice,” the server said. “And you?”

“I’ll take the same,” he said.

They were left alone again.

“I’ve got a crazy sweet tooth,” she said. “When I was pregnant all I did was eat chocolate left and right. It’s a good thing I didn’t blow up more than I did, but I was on my feet running around so much in my residency.”

It was the first she’d brought something that personal up about her life.

So far they’d been talking about him being a nice guy, his job, her practice, the building, and even the Fierces.

He didn’t expect to get too personal and was glad she took that step.

Seemed to him she was walking steadier on her feet than he was.

“That had to be hard,” he said. “I know how tired Roni was and she got little help from her ex. They were together and she tried to make it work. It wasn’t working for her though. It was hard for her to leave, but she had my parents and me. I shouldn’t be talking about this either.”

“You can trust me,” she said. “So often you think it’s the man that leaves the woman or the woman has to do it because the guy is a jerk. That no one in their right mind would try to raise a child on their own if they had a choice.”

He snorted. “Roni had it hard. She co-parents Eli with her ex. He’s an asshole. First class ticket and all. Narcissistic prick.”

Dillion burst out laughing. “Tell me how you feel, Jax.”’

His face flushed. “Sorry. I need to keep my opinion to myself.”

“No one would accuse you of being a nice guy right now. Keep it up.”

She was grinning and he wondered if it was a joke or if she wanted to see more of this side of him.

Which sucked because then he’d think it was the start of everything else with his dating history.

That he was too soft.

But the truth was, the only time it came out was when he thought of what his sister went through.

Nothing else ever worked him up enough to say what he did.

“It’s Roni’s life,” he said. “Things have gotten better since she met and married Trent.”

“I’ve got to imagine knowing your ex’s new spouse is an attorney could put a wrinkle in a jerk’s plans to make someone’s life difficult.”

“There is that,” Jax said. “I stepped in a lot and got my hand slapped. Roni is very independent, but she didn’t need to deal with what she had. I’m sorry for being out of line and saying what I did.”

Dillion’s hand reached over and lay on top of his.

“Stop. I like that you’re nice. I like you can fiercely stand up for those you love.

You don’t need to justify any of it. I’m not judging you one way or another, other than you appear extremely loyal.

It’s a noble trait to have. A sexy one and any woman who thinks otherwise is an idiot. ”

“I’m not dreaming, am I?” he asked before the words slipped foolishly from his lips.

“No,” she said. “I might feel as if I am though. I told you I haven’t dated since Alec. That was Gianna’s father. You’ve been great at not asking questions.”

“I imagine you’ll tell me when you’re ready if you want to.”

“I will at some point. Not tonight.” Their slices of cake were brought out and placed in front of them. She picked her fork up to glide through the rich frosting and put it between her lips. Maybe he was paying more attention to that than her words that were coming out. “Jax,” she said.

“What?” he asked.

She laughed. “I said that I haven’t dated because it’s hard to balance being a single mother and my career, but it had more to do with the fact that I can’t stand to be hit on. Or leered at.”

Like he was just doing while she ate her dessert.

Yep, there he was, ruining it.

“Well,” he said. “You are nice to look at.”

Might as well try to make a joke out of it at this point.

“Only nice?” she asked. “I spent a lot of time stressing over what to wear today.”

Did he admit he admired the way her brown pants fit her body? That though she had little curves, he could see them in the material hugging her close.

That when she walked away to use the restroom earlier his eyes dropped to her ass and he was positive she might be wearing a thong.

There were no panty lines he could see.

Her underwear could be silk too.

He held back the groan.

He had such a weak spot for soft smooth undergarments on a woman.

“You look more than nice,” he said. “Your sweater makes your eyes blue. I’ve noticed they change color daily with what you wear.”

She grinned. “So you have been watching me?”

“More than I should admit,” he said. “It could put me into the leering category.”

“Nah,” she said. “You don’t have it in you.”

He wouldn’t bet on that.

Not when she angled her head, picked up another serving of her cake, and put it in her mouth slowly, her eyes closing and a sigh escaping. She opened her eyes and they were a deep shade of blue. There was something exotic in them.

A touch of danger pulling him closer to her, resisting the urge to toss his credit card on the table and yank her out of the building to bring her back to his house, throw her on the bed, and have his way with her all night long.

Yeah, nothing a nice guy would ever say.

“Are you trying to test me?” he asked.

“What?” she asked. It was almost as if it dawned on her that she was teasing him with the way she was devouring her dessert. “Oh crap. Wow. I’m sorry. Chocolate has been my missing friend for way too long. I don’t indulge often, but when I do, nothing can pull me away.”

He cleared his throat.

He had to be a saint because the first words out of his mouth would be to ask if she was like that in bed.

If this was a double meaning.

That she was putting something else in front of his face and he was too slow to see it.

“I’m not sure how I’m supposed to reply to this,” he said.

She laughed. Her head back, her throat visible, pure joy on her face.

Was she playing him? Jesus, had he ever been this clueless before?

“Jax, you’re adorable when you’re flustered.”

Great. He went from being the nice friendly guy to adorable.

“Sounds like a downgrade to me,” he said. “That’s what you tell a puppy.”

She leaned in close. “Adorable puppies in my household get to sleep on my bed,” she said, then picked her fork up for another bite of cake.

That was a mic drop if he’d ever seen one.