“I can.” Now I let my lip tip up. “So where to first?”
“Well, obviously, the market,” he says flippantly.
“Oh yes, obviously.”
“You wanted to see my New York. So . . . let’s go.”
“Lead the way.” I salute.
That earns me a laugh. Rich and hardy. One I could get used to hearing.
Down, girl. No men for you. No distractions. Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I can ask him for help now. A thought pops in my brain . . . what if it’s like before? What if you think you can trust him, but you can’t?
Then where will you be?
Running again.
No. This plan is better.
When we step inside Chelsea Piers, I’m not entirely sure why we’re here. Jaxson keeps walking, and I pick up my pace to follow. Although tall, my legs are not nearly as long as his, so it’s difficult to keep up.
He must know this because his movements stop, and he waits. He has a boyish grin on his face as I make my way toward him.
“Sorry.” He laughs.
“It’s fine. I didn’t work out today.” I shrug. “Now I’ve broken a sweat, so we’re all good.” I roll my eyes. Chuckling, he reaches out and takes my arm in his. I’m taken aback by the movement. My gaze drifts down to our entwined arms.
Despite the drafty chill, I’m warm all over.
“This way, I won’t lose you.”
“I’m not a kid.”
“No.” He looks me up and down, his gaze skating over me, and even though I’m fully clothed, I feel naked. For the first time in a long time, I like it.
The attention.
The way he makes me feel.
All of it.
Even though I won’t do anything about it, I’ll allow myself to bask in it for the time being. To bask in the glow that radiates off Jaxson and soak up the heat that penetrates me.
He’s like the sun. His presence brings me warmth, but if I allow it, it will set me ablaze. Burn me.
That’s what I’ve learned recently. I step back from the heat. Distance myself. It’s safer this way.
“What’s the plan?” I say as he pulls me forward until we are standing under the clock.
“This,” he says as he pulls out a list of questions.
“I’m not sure what this is.” I point at the paper. “Should I?”
“It’s a scavenger hunt.”
“Seriously?”
“I wouldn’t joke about a scavenger hunt.”
His voice is somber, but I know him well enough to know this again is his lighthearted sarcasm peeking through.
He’s so playful, so witty, yet I’ve seen glimpses of a more serious side. That’s the real Jax. That’s the one that scares me. Because that’s the one I could fall for.
He’s the man you fall in love with, if you allow it.
I welcome the charming, funny, mischievous man who puts a front up that nothing bothers or scares him because at least when that facade is up, there’s no fear he’ll steal my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jaxson
The list wasn’t hard to create. A search on the Internet, a printer, plus a few questions.
These scavenger hunts are meant for team building. But seeing as it’s only us taking part, I have made the aim to gather information on her.
Handing the piece of paper to Willow, I watch as she reads each item on the list. I can tell she’s unsure of this, but the thing I like about her is even if she is reluctant, she doesn’t allow fear to push her down. She pushes through.
Sure, there have been setbacks, but I believe she’s waiting to size me up. So as much as this is about her finding out about me, this is also about her learning about me.
Seeing if she can trust me.
My hope is the more I let her in, the more she opens up to me in return.
Not something I always do. Rarely, actually. But this girl speaks to me. At first, it started as the need to solve an unsolved mystery, but that’s bullshit.
It’s more than that.
With her, I’m able to let down my guard for a second and show her a side I don’t show anyone. Show her she can let me care for her. That she can lean on me.
That’s a role I’ve never played before. Most don’t take me seriously enough for that.
Take my family . . .
I’m good enough to get the information, but that’s where it ends. Once I find out what they need, they don’t need me again and barely call for any other reason.
But with Willow, I think she sees me.
“Where do you want to start? Since we’re not competing per se, it’s mainly a way to learn facts and see some sights.”
“Sights? But this is only Chelsea Piers.”
“There’s more.”
“There is? How much time did you spend on this?” Her eyes are wide.
“It only took me a bit.”
“Thank you.” Her voice drops. “You didn’t have to.”