Page 101 of One Good Crash

"Wanna bet? Hell, if I hadmyway, you wouldn't be going at all."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"Trust me, I can get a lot 'bossier' than this."

I still couldn’t decide if I was flattered or exasperated. Either way, I felt an embarrassing thrill at the realization that he cared enough to look out for me, even when I hadn't asked.

But didn't he get it? I'd been looking out forhim, too. I said, "Well, maybe I was trying to spare you."

"Or maybe," he replied, "you were risking your ass for no good reason."

I straightened in my seat. "Hey, my ass is just fine, thank you very much."

His eyes filled with mischief. "Yeah?"

Oh, crap.Thathadsounded pretty stupid. Suddenly flustered, I tried again. "I just mean that, well, itwould've beenfine, meaning the situation, not anything else."

Jax gave me a long, amused look. "I'm not gonna comment on your fine ass—"

"Good. BecauseI’mnot gonna either."

At least not anymore.

Damn it.

Eager to change the subject, I said, "So tell me, do youalwayseavesdrop on your employees?"

His eyebrows lifted. "Ididmention she was yelling, right?"

"Well, yeah, but what if she'd been whispering? Would've youstilllistened in?"

He didn't hesitate. "Hell yeah."

All I could do was stare. The guy was utterly shameless.

His voice softened. "You're important to me. You know that, right?"

I felt myself swallow. "Actually, I'm not sure what I know." My own voice grew softer, too. "Like just a minute ago, you're all crabby, and now you're all…" I gave a distracted flutter of my hands. "…different."

His reply was barely a whisper. "I know."

"You do?"

He shoved a hand through his hair. "Listen, I'm sorry I was a dick, but yeah, I was pissed. And you want the truth?"

I felt myself nod.

He gave something like a smile. "I’m still pissed."

The smile, as subtle as it was, caught me off guard. "But why? I mean, surely you've got better things to do than deal with my mom."

"Yeah. I do." His gaze warmed. "And you do, too."

I felt my eyebrows furrow in confusion. "Sorry, what?"

He leaned closer. "Lemme make it up to you."

At this, I had to laugh. "Make what up to me? Because I’m pretty sure in the big scheme of things, it'smewho still owes you." I rolled my eyes. "Times a million."