I Want You Back (Want You #1)(67)

Because you suspect Jax had this designed with you in mind but you’re too afraid to ask.

“What do you think?” Jax asked, close enough to me that I felt his breath on my cheek.

“I love it. It’s kind of its own little retreat in this stunning place that you’d never need to retreat from.”

He chuckled.

Mimi jumped in front of us. “So is that it?”

“Milora Michelle,” I said sharply. “Rephrase that in a more polite manner.”

“Sorry.” She peered up at her father. “Is there more for us to see?”

“There’s one more area. We have to go back to the living room to get to it.”

“You lead the way this time,” Mimi said, snagging his hand.

In the foyer, we continued straight instead of hanging a left. This hallway was all storage, with sliding doors keeping everything hidden but accessible. Jax did pause and slide one door open. “Laundry area.”

The space wasn’t huge, but I’d never understood devoting a large chunk of living space to a task most people dreaded. This room had the most efficient design of any of the rooms, and my inner organizational geek rejoiced. “No doing laundry in the basement for you,” I said teasingly.

We reached a single, oversized French door. As soon as Jax opened it and we stepped outside, cold air assaulted us. Huddling together, looking across the expanse, I was stunned for what felt like the hundredth time today. What was once indoor space had become outdoor space. It was more than a rooftop garden; it was a rooftop backyard.

“Obviously this part will have to wait until spring, but I wanted us to have an outdoor space just like if we lived in a house. I’ll have to put in safety precautions because we are fourteen stories up. If there’s anything special you’d like to have up here, Meems, we’ll have time to work it into the landscaping.”

“Are you gonna put like . . . trees up here?” she asked.

“I’d like to. And there will be some grass as well as an area for me to grow herbs.”

Herbs. I tried to wrap my head around the idea of Jaxson “Stonewall” Lund snipping mint and marjoram that he’d grown himself. On the penthouse level.

I just couldn’t.

“Brrr. I’m going in.” Mimi took off down the hallway.

We followed her.

“You think I’m crazy, don’t you?” Jax asked.

“Because you’ll have a super classy, super cool apartment? Nope. I’m curious, though, on your home gym. Did we miss that on the tour?”

“There’s no home gym.”

“Seriously?”

“Home gyms are lonely, and I spend enough time alone. I’ll keep working out at Snow Village, or with Nolan, or at Brady’s place.”

I nudged him with my shoulder. “I thought maybe the building owner was adding a gym for the tenants.”

“Between the bars and this apartment, I’ve got enough building renovations to deal with. Every project has had added delays this week.”

“I did think your interior would be closer to done. You don’t have any flooring in here.”

He groaned. “Don’t remind me. I’m supposed to pick wall colors. I’m about to say screw it and go with white.”

“Don’t do that. It’ll end up looking sterile. You need to bring warmer tones in. What’s your flooring in this part of the layout?”

“Hardwood. Tile in the kitchen.”

Then he gazed at me with such puppy dog eyes I laughed. “What?”

“Help me? Please? I have no idea what I’m doing, which is why I haven’t done anything.”

“Do you have samples of the flooring and paint swatches?”

He walked to the kitchen and returned with a cardboard box. “All right here.”

“Excellent. Now I can help you finish your home-work while I make sure Mimi finishes hers.”

“Lucy—”

“Is it time to eat yet?” Mimi asked as she skipped into the kitchen. “’Cause I’m starved.”

“By all means, let’s get you fed before you blow away like a leaf on the wind.”

She giggled and hugged me.

Hearing her giggles still filled me with joy. She’d never been an easy child, and that’s what made these moments so important.

I glanced up at Jax. The blatant need to be a part of this haunted his face, burned in his eyes, screamed from his body language as he literally leaned closer. I gave Mimi a kiss on the head and nudged her toward her father.



* * *



? ? ?

After I dropped Mimi off at school the next morning, I considered playing hooky from work. The last Thursday of the month had been deemed “Thirsty Thursday” by my coworkers, and we headed out after work for cocktails and conversation.

Normally I loved hanging with my peeps. With so many bar and restaurant options in the Twin Cities, we chose a different venue every month. Tonight’s winner was Icehouse, a place I’d dropped in the hat as a suggestion.

I should have been looking forward to getting my drink on since Jax had Mimi for the night. But I couldn’t help but worry that a couple of beers might loosen my tongue and I’d ask my girls for advice on the Jax situation, because it was getting harder to ignore that pull between us.