Page 76 of Shadows of Obsession

We lapsed into silence, the weight of Jaxon's confession pressing between us. I couldn't shake the unease Jared's accusation had stirred. Had he been snooping through Jaxon's things? The thought made my skin crawl.

I turned toward the window, watching the world pass by, the familiar storefronts of the small town, people going about their daily routines. The normalcy of it all stood in stark contrast to the tension we'd just left behind.

When we finally parked along the sidewalk, I looked at Jaxon with a confused expression. "What are we doing here?" He'd only mentioned taking Jared to the motel, not stopping anywhere else.

"I figured you might like to see Harper while we're here, since there won't be a cookout again until Connor comes back home." He pointed across the street to Harper's store, and warmth spread through my chest at the thoughtfulness of the gesture. He had thought of me, wanted to do something nice for me after that awful confrontation.

He came around the truck to meet me, and I felt the warmth of his hand settle at the small of my back as he guided me from the truck and toward the store. His palm was broad and steady against my lower back, the heat of it seeping through the thin fabric of my blouse.

The bell above the door chimed as we entered, and the familiar scent of Harper's store enveloped me, a mix of new fabric, vanilla candles, and the faint floral perfume Harper always wore. Soft music drifted from the overhead speakers, and the cool air-conditioning was a welcome relief from the summer heat outside.

I spotted Harper near the fitting rooms, her distinctive red hair catching the light as she tossed clothes over a door for whoever was inside.

"Anna! What a nice surprise! What brings you here?" Harper smiled brightly when she saw me, waving enthusiastically. Her green eyes sparkled with genuine delight. She gestured for us to come closer, then turned her attention back to the fitting room door. "You better try those on, and I better see them all," she teased the customer inside.

Jaxon stayed close to me, his hand resting lightly on the small of my back. The touch was gentle but steady, a silent reassurance that made me feel anchored, safe. He glanced around the shop, taking in the racks of vibrant clothing and carefully arranged displays.

Harper noticed Jaxon's presence and winked at me, a knowing gleam in her eyes. "You came with Jaxon again? Does this mean you've made him your official chauffeur now?" she teased, then quickly added, "I'm glad you're here, though. I've missed you."

Emboldened by the lighthearted teasing, and still riding the relief of leaving Jared behind, I leaned instinctively into the solid wall of Jaxon's chest beside me. My body fit against his with surprising ease, and I felt the weight of his arm settle more securely around my hips, his fingers curling slightly along the curve.

I looked up at him, feeling playful, safe, and maybe a little reckless. "Yeah, he's been my personal driver for the day," I said with an impish grin, before turning back to Harper with a warm smile. "Jaxon suggested I come by since I won't get to see you at Connor's cookouts for a few weeks."

Harper didn't miss a beat. I saw her gaze zero in on the closeness between us, the way I was pressed flush against Jaxon's side, his palm warm and possessive at my hip, the effortless intimacy of our stance.

"Ugh, don't remind me! Those cookouts are the best part of my weekends." Harper shifted her playful gaze up to meet Jaxon's, her eyebrows arching. "We could still do them though, right? Maybe Anna and I can host one, keep the tradition going?"

A low, rumbling chuckle vibrated from Jaxon's chest against my back, the sound reverberating through me. "We'll see," he replied easily, looking distinctly relaxed despite the teasing. "It might be good to have some fun while Connor's away. But I'm not much of a party planner, so I'll leave that up to you two."

As their banter continued, I noticed Harper's curious eyes darting between Jaxon's hand on my hip and my face. Something was definitely happening between us, I could feel it in the way my heart sped up when he touched me, in the way I gravitated toward him without thinking.

Eventually, Harper managed to draw me aside under the flimsy excuse of needing my opinion on a new clothing display. I followed her anyway, leaving Jaxon to browse nearby. As soon as we were out of earshot behind a rack of summer dresses, Harper leaned in close with a wolfish grin.

"So," she purred conspiratorially, her voice barely above a whisper, "have you banged him yet, or is this still in the flirtation phase?"

I was completely aghast. My jaw dropped, my eyes widening as my cheeks flooded with furious heat.

"Harper!" I sputtered, darting a furtive glance toward Jaxon to make sure he hadn't overheard. When I saw him chatting with another customer near the front, I whipped back around to face her. "We're just friends," I hissed, my voice low and indignant. "And besides, he's still getting over his past. It's... complicated."

Harper rolled her eyes, clearly unconvinced. She propped her hands on her hips with an exaggerated huff. "Okay, okay, I get it." She jabbed one perfectly manicured finger toward my flustered face. "But if something does happen, you have to tell me. Got it?"

I groaned softly, shaking my head in mock disapproval, though I couldn't suppress a smile. "Fine, but only if you keep it to yourself." Not that there was even anything to tell her.

Before Harper could press further, Jaxon walked over, stepping up behind me. I felt the warmth of his presence before his hand settled on my hip again, the touch sending a little thrill through me.

"Hey, so what do you two think about a small cookout this weekend? Especially since it's the Fourth of July," he asked, his tone casual yet firm. "We can keep it simple. Just us, Harper, and the guys who live on the property. And I know you both have a girls' night planned, so you can do that after."

Harper's eyes immediately flicked down to Jaxon's hand on my hip, then back up to my face, her brow arching with playful curiosity. I rolled my eyes at her expression but couldn't hide my smile.

I looked up at Jaxon, raising an eyebrow of my own. "Are you sure Connor would be okay with that?" I asked, though the idea already sounded wonderful, something normal and fun to look forward to.

Jaxon shrugged, a faint smirk curving his lips. "Connor trusts me to keep things in order while he's away," he said, giving my hip a light squeeze before letting go. The loss of his touch left me feeling oddly bereft. "Besides, it'll be low-key. Just a chance to unwind, nothing too crazy."

Harper nodded enthusiastically. "Sounds good to me," she said, glancing at me with a grin. "We can handle that, right?"

I chuckled, still feeling the lingering warmth where Jaxon's hand had been. "Yeah, I think we can manage."

Jaxon turned to me with a grin. "So, what's the plan? Do you want to shop around a bit, or should we get going? We could stop for food on the way back so we don't have to cook dinner tonight."