Conceal

I will not fuck that up by invading her privacy.

When she is ready to talk, she will.

I know she will.

I need her to see that I will not hurt her, and she can trust me.

Because I’m not willing to give her up.

Most of the women I know had every intention of trying to use me for my money or family name.

I know I’m not sexually involved with Willow, but I want to be. But it’s more than that; I want to be more than that.

So even if she’s concealing the truth, I’ll wait.

No matter how long.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Willow

I thought I was better. I thought I was comfortable to walk with my head held high. Ever since I’ve started hanging out with Jaxson these last few weeks and seeing the sights, I’ve been getting better. Sure, my eyes are still brown, and my hair is still dark, but I’ve been foregoing the hat and faux glasses. I haven’t been hiding behind my own shadow.

I’ve felt stronger.

That was until I saw Charles.

He didn’t see me, thankfully, and maybe if he had, he wouldn’t have recognized me, but he was a friend of my father’s . . .

I ran.

Proving that despite what I thought, I wasn’t stronger.

Now I sit in Maggie’s apartment, knowing what I need to do. Shay had told me to bring someone I trust.

There is only one person I completely trust. Only one person I’d feel comfortable practicing the moves with.

I have to try.

My fingers tap nervously on my lap as I stare at my phone sitting across the couch from me.

Do it.

Before I can second-guess myself, I’m stretching my arm out, grabbing my phone and hitting the call button when I see his name.

“To what do I owe this honor?” His voice rings through my ear in his typical playful voice.

I can do this.

Even though I don’t know him very well, he has proved time and time again, that he won’t hurt me, and that he cares.

I can do this.

“Hey.” My teeth bite down on my lower lip. “I was wondering . . .” I trail off. Why is this so hard?

Because you don’t want to be weak. You want to be strong.

Doing this will make you strong.

“Yes?” he asks.

“I need a partner for my self-defense class.” I pause, take a deep breath, and then continue. “I don’t really know many people, and I was wondering—”

“Yes.”

“I haven’t even finished,” I say.

“But I know what you are going to ask, so I figured I’d beat you to it. I’d love to go with you.”

My heart flutters rapidly in my chest. “Umm. Okay.” I will my pulse to regulate.

I can’t be acting like this. My heart can’t beat like this at hearing his voice. With everything I’m going through right now, the least of my problems should be my sex life.

Shit.

Who said anything about a sex life?

I’m only inviting him because I need a partner, and he is the only man I know in the city.

Lies.

“Hello. Willow. Are you still there?”

“Oh. Oh, sorry,” I stutter because like it or not, this man makes me act like an idiot, even when I don’t want to. “Can you meet at six p.m. on Third and Eighteenth Street? There’s a gym on the northeast corner.”

“I’ll be there.”

“Thanks, Jax.”

“You’re welcome, Willow.” The sincerity in his voice is almost my undoing. I can feel the tears collecting behind my lids as I close my eyes.

I’m not used to the amount of kindness he has shown me.

I’m a stranger . . .

A part of me wants to wonder what’s the catch because in the past, there has always been a catch, but every moment I spend with him, every time I speak to him, I know in my heart there is no catch.

Jaxson Price is one of a kind.

* * *

My hands are shaking as I stand on the corner and wait for Jaxson to arrive. I came early. Nerves getting the better of me. Now, I’m standing by the front door . . . outside.

If anyone walked by, they would think my jaw is rattling from the cold. It’s not that, though. It’s fighting with him.

But not for the reasons I should be scared.

I’m not scared Jaxson will hurt me. Nope. I know in my bones he won’t.

No. I’m scared to have him touch me for a world of other reasons. I’m scared to feel him because I’m afraid of what my heart will do.

It’s not easy to tamp down my desire when Jax is around, but to spar with him . . .

I shake my head back and forth.

“Everything okay over there?” I hear, and I lift my chin and see Jaxson walking toward me.

“Yeah.” I push off the wall and drop my head back down as I walk toward the door.

Once inside, I allow my head to pop back up.