Reckless (Mason Family 3)

I look up at Jaxi and smile. A bubble of excitement ripples through my veins.

Me: It’s good to hear from you. Let’s meet up early next week. Does that work for you?

Danny: It does. I’m open every evening. I’ll reach back out over the weekend and we can confirm a date and time.

Me: Sounds like a plan.

“So, how was your day?” Jaxi asks after getting Rosie settled with the crayons.

“Busy. We’re trying to figure out how to purchase a couple of blocks of land and it all hinges on one property.” I stretch my legs out again. “Wade and I are going to meet with them on Monday, I think, to see if we can make a deal.”

“I’m pretty sure you could convince anyone to do anything.”

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “Do you think so?”

She nods.

I lower my voice. “Then let’s hope someone sleeps in their own bed so we can find out.”

Jaxi throws her head back and laughs.

It kills me that I haven’t slept with her yet. It eats me alive. I lay awake every night and think about it, but Rosie is always lurking. I figure it’s more important right now to make sure Rosie is adjusted. So I keep adjusting myself.

I can’t do it much longer, though. I’m only human.

“So, that property management stuff …” I try to switch gears. “Did you find anything out that interests you for sure?”

“No,” she says. “But I did see something else that interested me today.”

“What’s that?”

Her eyes glimmer with mischief. “I saw a light on at Ted’s. I don’t think it was him because I didn’t see his car. It came on and then popped off a few minutes later. So …” She grins. “I called the police and reported that my cousin is out of town and no one should be there. You know, just in case Kimmy was over there pawing through Lib’s stuff.”

“Ooh, I like this side of you,” I tease.

She shrugs. “Libby doesn’t deserve what Ted did to her. I’m just glad that we were able to go over there and get most of her stuff.” She cringes. “I’m sorry that your garage is full of Libby’s things.”

That’s an understatement.

I have no idea what all is piled in the spot my car is supposed to go, but it’s a lot. Boxes and trunks and suitcases from Libby’s are lined up. All of the stuff from Rosie’s room is in there too. That’s not to mention the other shit I had in there. There’s not even room for my car anymore.

“I need a bigger garage,” I say. “And maybe a bigger house.”

“Your house is just fine.”

“It’s cramped. Don’t you think?”

She looks at me like she hopes I’m joking.

“What?” I ask. “The living room is full of Rosie’s toys.”

“Your mom’s fault.”

“My closet is full of my clothes, let alone yours.”

“I have like six things. That’s all you.”

I raise my brows. “But you’re going to have to fill your wardrobe again. You need more clothes.”

“I do not.”

I sigh. “Anyway, I think a bigger house might be nice.”

“No. You are not buying a bigger house.”

Rosie scribbles away. “Can we get a puppy at the bigger house?”

Jaxi kisses her on the side of the head. “We are not getting a bigger house, Rosie.”

I start to piece together my pitch to win her over on the idea when a voice calls out to me.

“Well, hey there, Boone.”

I look over my shoulder and see Marcus Van coming toward me.

“Hey, Marcus,” I say, clasping my hand with his. “What are you doing around here?”

“I was golfing over here with some guys from the team and had to come here. I love their spaghetti.”

“I agree. Their sauce is just … it stands out from the crowd,” I say with an eye on Jaxi.

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t make eye contact with me.

“Jax, this is Marcus Van. He plays baseball for the minor league team here in Savannah,” I say. “Marcus, this is my girlfriend, Jaxi Thorpe.”

The word just rolls off my tongue. My girlfriend. On the one hand, it sounds so juvenile. On the other, it sounds perfect. And being that Marcus is one good-looking dude, I’m not mad that he now knows that Jaxi isn’t available.

Fucker.

Marcus’s eyes go wide for a second before he turns to Jaxi. “Nice to meet you, Jaxi.”

“It’s my pleasure,” she says.

He turns back to me. “How the hell did I miss you getting a girlfriend?”

“She fell into my lap.” I look at Jaxi and laugh. “Didn’t you?”

“Very funny,” she says, firing me a warning glare.

Marcus slaps me on the shoulder. “So, are we still going to Vegas next week, or is that off the table now that you have a girlfriend?”

Jaxi’s gaze immediately hits the table. She becomes focused on Rosie’s coloring page.

Vegas. Shit. I’d forgotten all about the trip. We go often—too often, probably. It’s a fun way to burn off energy and enjoy life before we get saddled with wives.