Stay with Me (Return to Haven 1)

“Don’t.” She held up a hand. “If you touch me, if you try to comfort me, I’ll break. I’m barely holding it together.”

Ignoring her request, Jax wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his chest. Her fists hit his shoulders as she dropped her head.

She may not have wanted to accept his comfort, but he wasn’t a complete jerk. No way could he stand by and watch as she was obviously hurting. He had no idea what she was going through, and he’d do well to remember that. Her life had been turned upside down too.

“I don’t want to be here,” she murmured.

He knew she didn’t mean in his arms. Livie wanted to be back in Atlanta with her perfect life she’d created. Instead, she was here dealing with a past she’d done a pretty good job of ignoring.

“You’re not upset because you’re here,” he told her, running his hand up and down her back. “You’re angry because you have feelings. You’re upset you left and never saw your dad. Maybe you feel guilt—”

Livie pushed back, swiping at her damp cheeks. “I’m not feeling guilty. I’m angry that I didn’t know what was going on in his life.”

“But you chose to walk away,” Jax stated.

“I was eighteen,” she cried.

Jax wasn’t about to get into a pissing match with her over the past. They both had their own points of view on the subject . . . the only problem was, he knew the full story and she didn’t.

The office door opened slightly and Melanie poked her head in. “Sorry. Um . . . we heard yelling and there’s a young boy out here to see you, so—”

“We’re done here.” Livie wiped her face and smoothed her hair back into place—always needing to put the best image forward. “Jackson is free for his visitor.”

Now wasn’t the time to protest or tell her that what was happening between them, and even in her own mind with her internal battle, was much more important than any unexpected guest.

“I’ll be in touch,” Livie said as she started toward the door. “Make sure you know your answer when I call.”

Her parting words sounded so businesslike, as if she hadn’t just broken in his arms. They’d shared something whether she wanted to admit it or not. None of this was going to be as perfectly cut-and-dried as she wanted it to be. Things were going to get messy and they were both going to be tested—and they’d both see exactly what the other was made of.

Jax stepped out of his office and watched as the trio of gorgeous women exited the hangar. That sight alone would have any man giving a double take.

Pulling in a deep breath, he turned to the young boy who was checking out the Cessna. “You’re here to see me?”

The young man turned around and Jax recognized him as Brock Monroe. Brock was part of the family who had opened the women-only resort and spa in Haven. He’d been a runaway, then adopted, and blended in perfectly with the family.

With Haven being a small town, and Brock being added into such a prominent family in the area, everyone knew who he was.

“I wanted to talk to you about taking lessons.” The young man started across the open hangar. “I’m Brock, by the way. I should’ve called first.”

Jax held his hand out and greeted Brock. “I know who you are.”

Brock gave a lopsided grin and shrugged. “Do you give lessons? I’ve done some training on the Internet, the book stuff, but I wanted to try to get some hours in and I didn’t really know who to talk to.”

“How old are you?” Not that it mattered for flying purposes. Jax was just curious.

“Just turned nineteen.”

Young and eager. Perfect pilot material. Jax loved getting the younger generation involved in this dying sport. With Brock already doing much of the training, he was going to be a great student.

“You in college?” Jax asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Yeah. I help at the resort and take online classes.”

“What do you want to study?”

Brock shook his head. “No idea.”

That was common for someone fresh out of high school. “Thought about the military?”