I Want You Back (Want You #1)(73)

“Exactly.”

“Ah, yeah. Sure. No problem.”

Scrambled brain, please come back online.

When he started kissing my neck, I pushed him back. “You’re the one who said we had to stop. So keep those lips to yourself, buddy.”

He laughed softly. “Good point.”

“But I am serious about us letting this unfold organically.”

“Organically,” he repeated.

“We won’t make a point to tell Mimi we’re together; we’ll just spend more time as a family. That’ll ease her into it. We need to keep the schedule of her splitting time between us.”

“Agreed.”

“Organic also means no big announcements at a Lund gathering that you and I are moving forward.”

“Who am I allowed to tell?” he said tightly.

“Anyone who specifically asks.” I poked him in the ribs. “Don’t pout. I’m not denying that we’re in a relationship; I’m just not broadcasting it.”

An odd look crossed his face.

“What?”

“You won’t get all prissy if I want to put my arm around you? Or if I hold your hand in public?” His gaze dropped to my lips. “Or if I kiss the hell out of you?”

“I’m never prissy.” Okay. That had sounded prissy.

“I meant prickly. Shrugging me off. Scooting away.”

“Not unless you stick your hand down my pants.”

“Hey, I did that one time.” He grinned. “I much preferred slipping my hand up your skirt.”

“Every chance you could get. Not that I discouraged your amorous attentions, but we will have to act with more decorum with Mimi around.”

Speaking of . . . Mimi strolled into the kitchen.

“Got my stuff and I’m ready to go.” She wormed her way between us to give me a hug. “See you tomorrow, Mommy.”

I kissed the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, sweetheart. I love you.”

“Love you too.”

After she was out of sight, Jax kissed me with the sweetness I needed.

“Eat your ice cream before it melts.”

Then he was gone.





Fourteen





JAX




I’d had enough of playing the “hurry up and wait” game in every aspect of my life.

It’d been three weeks since Walker had obtained the first round of permits for the bar remodel. I’d seen four construction workers on-site during that time and none of them had been swinging a sledgehammer.

Whenever I’d tried to get answers, all I heard were crickets.

My apartment finally had paint on the walls. At this point I didn’t give a damn if I had to sit on beanbag chairs in the living room. I just wanted to be in my own space. I intended to hold that construction company to their “move in next week” promise.

Lucy and I were taking such tiny baby steps in this relationship that we’d come to a complete halt. We hadn’t spent family time with Mimi—or not as much as I thought we would. Lucy and I hadn’t been alone for more than five minutes since that discussion in the kitchen.

I understood she’d gotten swamped at work, which meant I’d had Mimi at my place four days out of the workweek instead of only on the weekend, but there weren’t texts between us or even phone calls. Definitely wasn’t any type of physical contact—even a damn hug would’ve been welcomed. And since I’d agreed to her pace, I couldn’t do fuck-all about it.

Then the other kick in the ass was the situation at Lakeside and Mimi’s hockey practices. No changes—except for now Mimi had a game once a week, a game none of them were prepared to play in with their lack of basic skills.

After spending the morning with Dallas and Simone regarding the bars’ reinvention, I was both excited to move forward with their plans and pissed off that we couldn’t move forward.

So Betsy, the office manager at Flint and Lund, was shocked to see me in person shortly before noon on Friday, especially when I sped past her and stormed straight into my cousin’s office, only to find Walker facedown on his desk, apparently taking a little snooze.

“Is this why my project is at a standstill? Because you’re literally asleep on the fucking job?”

Walker lifted his head, his eyes wild with the look of someone who’d been abruptly woken up and had no idea where he was.

“Jax? What the hell are you doing here?”

“Interrupting nap time,” I said with a sneer.

Betsy slipped in behind me. “Sorry, Walker, he blew past me before—”

“It’s fine, Bets.” Walker cracked a yawn and stretched. “Have Jase meet us in the conference room in five.”

“Will do.” She shut the door behind her.

Walker gestured to the chair across from his desk. “Have a seat.”

“I’ll stand. I don’t plan on being here long.”

His blond eyebrow winged up. “Because?”

“Because I owe you the courtesy of doing this in person.”

His eyes narrowed.

“Today I’m asking the city building permit division to reissue the permits Flint and Lund have obtained for my property to my real estate corporation, Stonewall Enterprises, so I can move forward with construction with another company.”