I was soaked by the time I reached the mostly dirt drive that led up to the Shack.

The house looked spooky and gothic under an ominous, rainy sky.

There were a few lights on inside. Jaxon's car was in the driveway.

I was soaked to the bone and shivering wildly by the time I reached the door.

I could hear music and loud voices coming from somewhere in the house. I knocked hard.

The door finally flew open and the face I really needed to see was on the other side. "Bridget, fuck, what the hell?" Jaxon reached out and pulled me inside.

A few familiar faces popped up from the basement stairs. "Whoa, what happened to your leg?" Crusoe asked.

The blood had mixed with rainwater making it look much worse than it was. "It's mostly rain. My leg is fine." I couldn't stop my chin from vibrating with cold. My teeth clacked together.

"Shit, Jax, get her upstairs and dry before she freezes to death," Theo said.

"That's where we're heading." Jaxon held my hand and led me up the rickety stairs. After the incident on the boat, I held onto him and onto the railing. It was a little loose and splintery, assuring me the boys never held onto that same railing.

Jaxon got me into his room and turned on the light. "I'll be right back with towels. Take off those wet clothes." He left the room and returned with two towels.

I dropped my wet shirt, shorts and underwear on the floor and allowed him to wrap me in one of the towels. He began patting me dry and, for the first time, really looked at my face. His expression turned hard and rage flamed up in his dark blue eyes.

"Who did it?" he asked in a low voice.

The cold rain had numbed my face enough that I'd nearly forgotten about my cheek.

"It's not what you think. Well, I mean, not technically.

" I walked over to the bed and sat down with the towel wrapped around me.

The cut on my knee was once again trying to clot.

"He didn't hit me. I was on the boat, and we argued.

Alex was holding tightly to my arm, and I wasn't expecting him to suddenly release me.

I slipped off the landing on the helm. I reached out for him to grab my hand.

" I dropped my face. "He didn't take hold.

I fell down the steps and smacked my cheek on the railing.

" I tried to force a smile. "The good news is I'm still a pretty fucking good gymnast." I smiled and even chuckled, but my lighter tone was not helping.

"Where is he?" Jaxon asked in a tone that sent a chill through me.

"It's all right. He's not worth it."

"Bridget—where is he? Is he on his boat?"

I looked up at him, and he saw the misery I was feeling from the whole thing and instantly his stance and tone softened.

"I'm going to get something to clean that knee and an ice pack for your cheek.

" He walked over and fluffed up a pillow and motioned for me to rest against it.

He pulled a white T-shirt out of his dresser and handed it to me. "It's the best I've got for now."

I removed the towel and pulled on the T-shirt. It felt instantly comforting to be wrapped in his soft, worn cotton shirt. He returned with an ice pack, bandage and wet cloth. He sat on the bed. I sensed that some of the rigidness had returned to his posture.

"I'm gonna go see him, Gidge. I'm not letting this slide. That asshole needs to learn a lesson." His tone was tense, but his touch was gentle as he cleaned the cut on my knee. I held the pack against my face.

"If you end up in jail for assault, then—" My voice broke. "I'd be lost without you, Jax. Don't do anything?—"

"I'll be tactful—Stone tactful," he said cryptically.

"That does not sound reassuring."

"Nope, I guess not. Hey, LaLa and Jules brought by some leftover brownies this afternoon. Shockingly, there are still a few left. I'll go grab you one."

I shook my head. "Normally, I'd never say no to a brownie, but really, I just want to snuggle down under the blanket and go to sleep."

Jaxon stood up. He towered over the floor mattress as he leaned down to tuck me in. I grabbed his hand before he took it away and I kissed it. He wore a determined look that assured me he was going to confront Alex. "Whatever you do, I'll still be nuts about you. Just don't get in trouble."

"I'm not the one in trouble. He is. Is he on the boat?"

Drowsiness was starting to seep in now that my body had warmed up, and the shock of today's events had started to wear off. "He stays on the boat a lot. His Dad's place is getting remodeled, and he hates the noise and the smells."

Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Pompous asshole." He leaned over and kissed me on the lips. "Sleep tight, beautiful. I'll be back soon."

I grabbed his hand again before he could leave. "Something is going on with Alex and my dad. Alex suddenly insisted that we get married this weekend. No explanation, but for some reason he's very anxious for us to tie the knot."

Jaxon nodded. "Well, I'll be sure to let him know that there is no chance in hell of you two getting married."

Jaxon walked out and closed the door. I curled onto my side and closed my eyes as I breathed in Jaxon's scent and drifted off.