I Want You Back (Want You #1)(60)

“You move really well, Jax. Like you’re aware of what every part of your body is doing at all times. So I’m thinking you might be a stripper.”

He chuckled. “Would it bother you if I was?”

“Nope. I’d just demand a private show because your ass would look outstanding framed in one of those fancy silk jockstrap thingies. Do you have one?” I asked hopefully.

“No way. But I do have to wear a cup nearly every day.”

“I think the time has come, Jaxson, to tell me what you do for a living.”

He lowered his head and trailed his lips down my neck and then back up to my ear.

I held my breath, dizzy from lack of oxygen and from the drugging kisses he bestowed on me.

Finally he murmured, “I’m a professional hockey player.”

“For real?”

“For real.”

“No wonder you have such a fucktacular body.”

Those warm, soft lips touched the shell of my ear again, sending goose bumps across my skin. “You’re not disappointed?”

“No?”

“That’s not very convincing.”

“I’ve never dated an athlete, let alone an elite athlete.” Then something occurred to me and I yanked on his hair. Hard.

“What the hell?”

“That’s for humiliating me at shuffleboard, Mr. Professional Hockey Player.”

Jax chuckled. “Yeah, that wasn’t nice, but it sure was fun.”

When the song ended, I untangled myself from him.

He kept his hand on my ass as we returned to our table. Then he set his hand on my thigh after we sat down. The man excelled at multitasking; he poured more champagne as his fingers crept up the inside of my thigh in a sweeping caress.

I snapped my knees together, trapping his hand.

Jax’s gaze met mine and he raised one eyebrow.

“I’m loud when I come. I figured you needed to know that before you found out at the same time as the twenty other people in this bar.”

Leaning closer, he brushed his mouth below my ear. “And I thought you were being prissy.”

“Just because I don’t fuck on the first date doesn’t mean I’m prissy about sex.”

“Even if you were prissy, I’d make it my mission to coax out your inner bad girl.” He twisted his hand and pried apart my knees, sliding his fingers up my thigh until he reached my panties. “Have I told you how much I dig that you always wear skirts?”

I shook my head.

“Easy access is sexy.” He sank his teeth into my earlobe. “You’re sexy. Christ. I don’t know how much longer I can keep my hands off you.”

My throat was bone dry. I wasn’t sure if it was the champagne or him that had gone to my head. When his stroking fingers slipped beneath the elastic of my panties, I tilted my pelvis forward, giving him better access. Then I turned my head and met his hot and hungry gaze. “I’m willing to chance getting kicked out of here for lewd behavior if you are.”

“For real?”

“For real. But before I let you hike up my skirt and bang me against the nearest wall, I need to know your last name.”

“It’s Lund.”

“Jaxson Lund. Nice.” I nipped his chin. “I’m Lucy Quade.”



* * *



? ? ?

Mommy, what are you doing?”

The memory vanished.

I whirled around to see Mimi leaning out of the rear car window. Jax rested against the passenger side door, watching me. I hadn’t heard him get out of the car, but I wasn’t surprised he’d needed to make sure I was all right. In truth, I was more melancholy than freaked out now that I’d revisited a defining moment in my life. It’d been a life changer for Jax too, and it hurt my heart a little that he’d gone to such lengths to try and reconnect with that happy time in his life.

I smiled at him and then our daughter. “I was just checking out this cool old building that your dad owns.”

“Are you done? Because I’m hungry. My tummy is growling.”

How could she possibly need more food?

“How about if we hit the Burger Time drive-thru on the way home?” he said to Mimi.

“Yay!”

After telling Mimi to buckle up, Jax opened my car door for me. “You okay with this?”

“This” wasn’t referring to fast food. “Now that the shock has worn off? Yes, I am.” I poked him in the chest. “But don’t throw away that sign, buddy.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it.”





Twelve





JAX




My week from hell started first thing Monday morning.

We still hadn’t received the proper permits from the city, so renovations at the barcade and Borderlands remained at a standstill.

The final inspection for my apartment got pushed back due to an electrical issue.

That electrical issue would affect half of the apartment building if left unattended, so as building owner, I had to listen to solutions and sign off on upgrades that cost me two hundred grand.

I suffered through a Lund Industries board of directors meeting that dragged on for three hours, so I was twenty-five minutes late picking Mimi up from school and she let me have it.