LEXI: That sounds fun. I’m jealous. Want to trade for the day? You’d be a hit at the fabric mart.
That comment hit Jax with an unexpected pinch of irritation beneath his ribs. His mind flashed back to Veronica’s seduction for the single-minded stunt-driving opportunity. He shook himself just as his phone dinged. She wasn’t seducing him. She was resisting his seduction—even though she’d started it.
LEXI: Wait. Scratch that. I haven’t been to the gym in months. I doubt I could lift a ten-pound weight let alone a sword. And I haven’t been on a horse since I was about eight. Ouch. That’s not sounding so fun anymore. But it’s definitely solidly in the fascinating category. And imagine, I thought you were interesting before.
JAX: Fascinating enough to reconsider dinner with me?
LEXI: Will you even be able to lift a fork after all that today?
JAX: I’ll be able to do a lot more than lift a fork.
LEXI: Where are you staying?
His heart kicked. His mouth turned in a smile.
JAX: Four Seasons. You?
LEXI: Spencer’s.
Jax’s smile faded. A lot of thoughts collided at once. More questions arose. A lot of questions she probably wouldn’t answer. He chose his words carefully.
JAX: A woman who values security and privacy.
LEXI: You know the hotel?
JAX: I do.
LEXI: Then you must value the same.
A tingle of mixed emotions rose in his torso. Excitement, dread, anticipation…
JAX: I do.
A moment passed, and Jax knew they were both wondering the same thing: the true identity of the other.
Spencer’s was a small, exclusive, high-end hotel run by Spencer himself, a retired Army Ranger who managed the hotel with a highly skilled security team. Spencer ran backgrounds on everyone who stayed there, refused entrance to anyone with any questionable history, didn’t accept entourages, and had a zero-shit tolerance policy. Spencer didn’t house criminals, adulterers, or users regardless of the fee they were willing to pay. And he expertly kept paparazzi at bay. His rates were high, but lower than the Four Seasons where Jax was registered.
Spencer spoke of no guest to any other guest. Every guest had some kind of personal connection through Spencer, so he knew every person staying at the hotel by name and reputation. Every employee and every guest signed a confidentiality agreement upon entering the premises, and Spencer enforced the agreements through the courts.
Spencer’s had a long history of integrity, quality, discretion, public security, and personal safety.
JAX: Lexi, would you see me tonight if I could get a room at Spencer’s?
Jax felt like his belly contents had been carbonated as he waited for her answer.
LEXI: Yes.
Jax’s face burst into a grin. His chest with relief and excitement. He sent a text to Spencer, then wondered if she’d said yes because she doubted his ability to get a room on such short notice or because Spencer’s endorsement by giving him a room made her feel safe enough to take a risk with him.
JAX: Fair enough. Good to know I’m not an axe murderer, right? A woman in today’s world…
LEXI: Yes. But I have to be honest, Jax. I’m also a businesswoman in a competitive industry where image drives reputation and reputation drives business. And I’m on the brink of merging with an established designer whose reputation has been decades in the making.
His smile vanished. His gut tightened. But he forced himself not to jump to conclusions. He was admittedly sensitive—overly so—on this subject and had been known to snap at innocent comments.
JAX: You used some big words there, Lexi, but it sounds like you’re saying your image may suffer if your interest in a…biker boy…were somehow known publicly?
LEXI: Unfortunately, yes.