Page 76 of Wrecked (Dirty Air 3)

Right. Please think of the more important topic at hand.

“I was surprised when they contacted me.” Elena blushes as she looks at me. “Not because you’re not good at what you do. I was nervous to plan something that is clearly important to this kid.”

“Why’s that?” Mum tilts her head.

“The first time I called him and told him who I was, he screamed into the phone. I could barely make out anything he said, but I did understand him screaming about how meeting Jax will be the best day of his life. I don’t want to plan anything boring for him or not meet his expectations.”

“The kid is lucky to have you planning everything. Trust me on that.” I squeeze her hand, shooting her a soft smile.

Dad eyes our hands while Mum clamps her lips together to hide her smile.

“We’ll have to invite him over for dinner or something. Give him the whole Kingston experience!” Mum claps her hands together. “This is delightful. We haven’t had a kid around here since…well...Jax was a kid!”

Elena grins. “To be fair, he’s a teenager.”

Mum can’t contain her excitement. “Oh, I love some good teenage angst. Keeps me on my toes. You must tell us what you have planned for him.”

Elena and Mum hit it off, sharing details about Caleb, who is rumored to be my greatest fan. I spend the dinner listening intently without offering much. For the first time around Elena, I want to filter the words coming out of my mouth.

It’s hard seeing as now instead of being a total douche, I’d rather do other types of things. The naughty kind. The reckless kind. The kind that ends with nothing but orgasms and failed promises.

24

Elena

When Connor made me agree to spend the summer break with Jax’s family in London, I thought it was a perfect setup. It was supposed to give me the opportunity to keep an eye on him while planning a few more activi

ties to restore the public’s faith in him.

In all the craziness of planning fun outings for Caleb, I completely neglected the idea of spending that much time with Jax and his family. I expected it to be similar to us sharing a hotel.

I was wrong. So wrong in many ways.

The real wild card is Jax’s mom. I don’t know how Jax came out the way he did, all rough edges, because his mom is an absolute gem. Vera’s sweet and caring—exactly what I wish I had in my life lately.

“So, I was thinking about going shopping downtown. Do you want to join me?” Vera sips her morning tea. Jax lucked out with inheriting some of his mom’s good looks. She has pale blonde hair that matches her light skin, and gray eyes with a permanent gleam to them.

“I don’t know about that. I’m supposed to meet with Jax and discuss some plans for the break.”

“I think Jax can take care of himself for a day. Zack wants to spend time with him while we have a little fun anyway. Come on, take a day off.” She bats her dirty blonde lashes at me.

“Let me check in with him first.”

“If you must.” She waves me off with a smile.

I make my way up toward Jax’s wing of the house. I wasn’t aware of how well-off his family was until they disclosed how they have enough rooms in their house to name areas after compass directions. Wealth isn’t something I’ve grown up with and being surrounded by it reminds me of how I don’t belong. I’m pretty sure the sheets in my guest room are more expensive than my monthly loan payment.

I knock on Jax’s door. He opens a few seconds later in nothing but a towel around his waist. Water trickles down his face from his wet hair, landing on his chest before dripping down his abs.

I count the ridges of muscle before meeting his eyes.

He leans his head against the door frame. “Morning. Did you knock on my door to stare at me or did you have something else in mind?”

“Uhm.” My eyes flit from his face to his abs. “Your mom asked me to go out with her. I told her I couldn’t agree until I checked in with you. I know we planned on discussing your schedule and going over Caleb’s visit, but she seems pretty set on spending time together.”

His lips press into a thin line. “You can have a day off for fuck’s sake. I’m not going to rat you out to Connor.”

“Well, I didn’t exactly say that…” I rock back on my heels.