Page 3 of Wrong Number, Right Mechanic (Wrong Number, Right Guy #12)

CHAPTER THREE

Lyla

“Let me get this straight. You think you can show up here and everything will go back to how it was? Is that it? Well, newsflash, life doesn’t work that way.

Grow up, Jaxon.” I pushed the words out with more anger than I felt.

I couldn’t let him see me go soft. Otherwise, I’d melt into a puddle of goo at his feet.

Which seemed to happen anyway, totally beyond my control, might I add.

“Of course, I don’t think it’s that easy. But I want to win your trust back.”

“What if I never returned home? Would you ever have the balls to pursue me? Or is it just because I’m back home and you figure- why not? No one else is in the running.”

A hurt look passed over his handsome features.

And God, was he handsome. He changed so much in the last ten years, no trace of boy left.

Muscular and fit, his tall frame was deliciously sexy.

I found him attractive as a teen boy, so it’s no surprise I found his grown up self sexy.

I wanted to climb him like a tree, wrap myself up around him, and breathe in his scent until my heartbeat slowed, my stress and anxiety releasing from my body.

In high school, the night before a big exam, he’d come over and cuddle until I was relaxed enough to study more or go to sleep.

So, when he broke up with me on the night of our high school graduation, before our last summer together, devastation hit me like a freight train. I ended up leaving early for college, having enrolled in summer classes to get a head start instead of being miserable at home.

Why did he break his promises?

Why did he say we would be together forever?

And why before our last summer could even begin?

I needed answers.

Ten years later, and I still had none.

So no, he couldn’t just show up here out of nowhere and expect me to welcome him with open arms.

“Let me explain what happened.”

“I tried calling you. So many times. But you sent all of my calls to voicemail.” I stared into his deep brown eyes, ones I remembered very well.

“I was too afraid to deal with it. It was easier to ignore. And that was wrong of me. So wrong. I’m sorry.” Jaxon said, as he killed the engine of his truck and climbed out.

As he moved closer towards me, my breath caught in my throat, as if I couldn’t get enough air.

I wanted to gulp it down, but I couldn’t, my mouth dry.

Having him so close sent my body into a tizzy and I didn’t know what to do with myself, so I took a step back, thinking distance was good. The more the better.

“I’ll tell you everything you want to know. But one thing’s for sure. I never once stopped loving you. I don’t think I ever will.” Jaxon took a step forward, closing the distance between us even more. “It’s always been you, Lyla.”

“If that were true, you wouldn’t have broken my heart.” My bottom lip quivered, and I bit down on it. I refused to show any sign of emotion. He no longer deserved my tears. He’s had enough of them.

“I was young and dumb. Afraid of hurt. I couldn’t bear the thought of prolonging the pain. Why spend all summer together only to leave each other at the end of it? What’s the point? We agreed long distance wouldn’t work.”

I swallowed hard, a bubble of emotion threatening to pop. His words stung. “The point is, we could’ve enjoyed our last moments together instead of being alone and miserable. There’s never enough time. So why not use what we had left?”

“Again, I was a young and dumb. I only ended up hurting us more in the end. I’m sorry I broke your heart, Lyla. I broke mine, too. Worst summer of my life, honestly.”

“Mine too.” I whispered as I studied his expression, still able to read his mind without him ever uttering a word. “I just…my life…” I blew out a breath. “My life is complicated right now. I don’t think it’s a good time.”

“If we keep on waiting, we’ll never find a good time.”

“Jax…I…”

“Jaxon! Is that you?” Pam, Lyla’s mother, hurried down the driveway, wrapping her coat around her tighter. “What are you two kids doing out here? It’s freezing! Come inside, dinner is almost done.”

“Mom, Jaxon was just leaving.” I said as I shot him a deadly look, a huge grin stretched across his face. “C’mon, let’s go in. I heard a storm is coming.” I slid my arm around Mom’s arm and turned her towards the house.

“A storm? I was just watching the weather. It didn’t mention a storm.”

“Let’s go check on dinner. We don’t want it to burn.” I tried again with the distraction techniques, but nothing worked. Mom twisted her arm away from me and turned back to Jaxon.

“Don’t worry, sweetie. It’s not burning. Are you coming in for dinner?” Mom asked him, a hopeful look on her face. She always liked him when we dated, and even after he broke my heart. She’d never admit it, having always stuck by my side, but it wasn’t hard to miss.

“I’d love to. Lyla and I were just catching up.

You know, you’ve always been a great cook, Mrs. Wilkes.

” Jaxon said as he walked up beside her, the grin still very much there, yet his eyes were on me, my blood boiling hot.

Both desire and annoyance coursed through me, swirling together, ready to combust. I wasn’t so sure it was a good thing.

“Oh, thank you, how sweet of you. Tonight is one of your favorites. Lasagna and garlic bread.” Mom beamed up at him.

“My lucky night, huh?” Jaxon chuckled.

I fell a step behind them, trying to sort my jumbled mess of thoughts and feelings and everything else I didn’t want to deal with.

Yet, unfortunately, Jaxon wasn’t giving up so easily. I should’ve known he wouldn’t. When he set his mind on something, there was no stopping him. An admirable trait, mostly, but sometimes, downright frustrating.

A part of me didn’t want him to give up.

If he wanted me back, he needed to work for it. A simple explanation and apology aren’t enough. The charm might’ve worked on my mom, but the ice around my heart wasn’t melting anytime soon.

“It looks exactly like how I remember.” Jaxon said as we walked inside, and I shut the door behind us.

“Isn’t it comforting?” Mom said as she led us into the kitchen.

Before he walked through the door, I reached out and tugged on his arm.

The feel of his taut muscles and hot skin caused an instant reaction between my legs, but I pretended it didn’t exist. His long-sleeved shirt lifted slightly, and I saw inked skin, something he’d never had before. I’d have to find out more.

Jaxon stopped in his tracks and looked behind him at me. I waved him over to where I stood in the living room. My blood roared through my ears, having him so close to me, the heat from his body palatable. “What are you doing?” I asked through clenched teeth.

“What does it look like? I’m having dinner with you and your mom.” Jaxon played dumb, the knowing smirk on his face very telling. Damn him, he really hadn’t changed much.

“No. You need to go. Tell her you got called into work or something. I don’t know. But we aren’t pretending the entire time that we’re okay.”

“I thought we were?”

I tilted my head to the side and narrowed my eyes.

“Okay, okay. I get it, Lyla. Loud and clear. But mark my words, I’m going to make it up to you. I’m also fixing your car for free, no buts about it. My girl isn’t driving around this mountain town with a shitty car, especially in the winter.”

A bit of ice melted my pumping heart chipping away at it. “I can pay you.”

“No. I’m not taking your money. All I want is a second chance. I’ll even ask nicely. Only once, though.” His eyes darkened as they fixed on me, sexual tension sparking between us. “Will you please give me one?”

I said nothing, more tension growing between us. Part of me wanted to rip his clothes off while the other part of me wanted to rip his heart apart and stomp on it like he did mine.

Could I give him a second chance?

“We can go on dates first. How’s tomorrow at seven?”

“You’re really not giving up, are you?”

“No. And I never will. You’re the only one I want, Lyla.”

His genuine sincerity reflected in his gaze.

My shoulders relaxed as my defenses lowered.

“Pick me up at seven, sharp. Have a goodnight, Jaxon.”

“Night.” Jaxon nodded his head toward me and saw himself out.

I stood there staring at the door until Mom came looking for me, a million feelings spinning together violently, sloshing through my body and making me feel ill.

I just hope he doesn’t break it once again.