Pretty Girl

“Did something happen?” I pull my bag closer to me. I feel the need to hold on to something, and I’m afraid of what he’s going to say. “Is my mom okay?” I haven’t heard from her in a few weeks, which isn’t uncommon. She loves to travel and can drop off for weeks at a time. More so if she finds a man she falls madly in love with. That usually lasts a good month until she grows bored of him.

Jax takes me by surprise by taking the bag I’m clinging to from me and placing his big hands over mine in a comforting hold. “Your mother is fine.”

I sag against the seat in relief.

“Relax, you look tired.”

“Isn’t that a nice way of saying I look like crap?” I laugh when I hear Rye snicker.

“Don’t think anyone has ever said you looked like crap.” I glance over at Jax, fighting a smile, but I still when I see the look he is giving me. It’s heated and filled with desire. Normally I would turn and look away from something like that. I’m used to the looks I get, but for some reason I find myself pushing for more.

“And what would you say I look like?”

“Like you need to eat and get some rest.” With that, the vibe I was feeling from Jax drops away. I turn my body toward the window. I feel embarrassed because I thought he might call me pretty, or even beautiful, which is silly. I get called that daily, but for some reason I wanted to hear it from him.

Maybe I read his look wrong. It’s not like I’m great with men. I’ve never really dated, unless you count the dates that are set up by the agency for publicity, but they weren’t really even dates. Most the time I got set up with jerks with big egos who thought they were the next big thing. I would have to smile and be polite, wanting nothing more than to get out of whatever event or restaurant we were at.

Jax moves, and I pause when his breath hits my ear. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life, but you don’t need me to tell you that,” he whispers. His hands tighten over mine. “I just know you need rest and food. That’s what I’m worried about right now.”

I look back at him, and his eyes are lock with mine. This is the first time I’ve seen his face soft. Concern shows in his face. “You’re right,” I admit. I realize that he actually noticed that. No one has ever said that to me before. They have never been concerned about me eating and sleeping. I lean over and rest my head on his shoulder. His body freezes, but he doesn’t tell me to move. I let my eyes fall closed, breathing in his rich, woodsy smell while I think to myself that maybe I can get a few minutes’ sleep before we get to the hotel.

Chapter Two

Jax

I sit completely still, not wanting to wake her as she gets a few minutes of much-needed sleep. I glance up to see Rye looking at us in the rearview mirror. I shoot him a hard look to get his fucking eyes back on the road and not on us. I already know I’m going to be hearing shit about this when I speak to Sam later. Or maybe I’ll come clean about it all.

What have I gotten myself into? I drop my head down a little, my nose brushing the top of her head as I breathe in her sweetness. Fuck, this favor is going to kill me. She shifts a little, her body melting more into mine, and I have to fight a growl. My cock is already hard and I’ve been trying to fight this hard-on since she walked into her dressing room in nothing but a pair of cream-colored panties and a bra that was studded with tiny diamonds.

No one should look as perfect as she does. No wonder she’s one of the highest paid supermodels in the world. I’ve never in my life seen such perfection before. She knocked the wind right out of me with a glance. It isn’t just her looks either. There’s this sweet innocence floating around her, pulling up every protective instinct I’ve ever had. No one who’s lived that fast-paced life could be that innocent, though, could they?

When Sam called me yesterday asking for a favor, I’d reluctantly said yes. I don’t like leaving my cabin out in Colorado unless I have to. I’ve been holed up there for the past three years and had no plans of going anywhere. It was my haven after I retired. I reach up and touch the scar that runs down my face. I often forget about it. It wasn’t until Mila’s eyes landed on it did I remember that people always see it first when they see me.