Chapter 14

Jaxon

Whoevercameupwith the saying “out of sight, out of mind” clearly never purposely avoided a woman for weeks, hoping the constant thoughts of her would waver. Because let me tell you, it does the complete opposite. Since I decided it was best to keep my distance, she’s been at the forefront of my mind.

When Finn proposed this plan for us all to attend the company Christmas party together, more importantly, with Kate by my side, my dick was the first to accept. Finn had thought of every viable excuse I could come up with and prepared for it with a solution.

My dick was completely on board while it took my head and my heart time to catch on. Actually, no, my brain was next to be on board with this plan because it was over the vision of her in my mind and stolen glances. It needed the real deal.

What could one night do? It’s just for a few hours, and it’s important to Finn for us all to be in attendance. The annual Christmas party was a big deal to his father, Griffin Sr., who always made an enormous deal of this event, including the employees and their spouses, vendors, and some clients. Kelsey has worked hard the past few weeks to continue her father’s tradition.

It’s just one night. I can do it.

Well, one night can change everything—and it’s amazing just how fast it can change. My heart nearly gave out the second I laid eyes on Kate when she arrived at Denise’s, where we all met before we piled into the limo that Finn rented to bring us downtown.

I spent most of the ride purposely staring at the passing city to keep from staring at her. It was like there were magnets in each of the colorful sequins that lined that dress. My resolve has been slowly breaking all night.

I’ve had to keep my hands in my pockets all night to keep from touching her. Are her toned legs that are on display with the short length of that dress as soft as I think? If I slid my hands up to the apex of her thighs, would I find panties? Or is she completely bare under that material? The low dip of the back of the dress tells me she’s not wearing a bra. Don’t get me started on what my dick wanted to do as soon as I noticed this fact.

My coldness in the limo seems to have paid off because, since we arrived, she has kept her distance. I should apologize—hell, I should apologize for everything and start over, explain my issues, that it’s not her, it’s me. Jesus, that sounds like something that might be said on an episode of Friends.

She’s kept to the dance floor with the girls for most of the evening while I grew roots at the corner of the bar. I’ve spent the evening schmoozing with everyone with a smile on my face and my eyes not far from watching her.

With a refilled drink in hand, I prop my elbows against the wood counter and glance around the room. Chase has Kelsey in his arms for a dance that’s definitely not the correct pace for this holiday favorite. The two of them are so consumed with each other that I’m pretty sure a meteor could hit and they wouldn’t notice. Next to them, Finn and Lauren are the complete opposite, with their heads both tipped back in laughter as they watch Kate dance in front of them. She doesn’t seem to care that her dance partners have since abandoned her for their spouses.

She’s a free spirit, dancing to the beat of her own drum, swaying side to side to the vocals of Mariah Carey, lip-syncing to her twin.

If I wasn’t still struggling with my internal war, I could down my drink, push off the bar and join them, swooping Kate into my arms and allowing the festive music to sweep us away.

Would she let me pull her against my chest?

Would she push me away and put up a fight?

I wouldn’t blame her for the latter after the way I’ve acted, especially tonight. She didn’t have to say yes to her sister for this plan, yet she did. The least I could do was be pleasant. But if I give an inch, it might take a mile. So instead, I’m letting my fear and guilt impede happiness. But with each passing hour, I feel the restraint splinter like a piece of cracked glass, ready to shatter.

My name is Jaxon McAdams, and I’m my own worst enemy, I think as I take a long pull from my beer.

From a distance, I can enjoy the view, torturing myself. With each sway of her hips, that sorry excuse of a dress rises higher and higher. My inner caveman is screaming to rush to her and keep her covered so that only I get to enjoy the view. I’m so lost in her that I don’t notice anyone has stepped up beside me until a distinct throat clearing causes me to startle.

I turn to find Natasha, Finn’s secretary, standing in my personal space. With her arms resting on the bar, the satin fabric at the top of her dress dips, revealing her large breasts. Clearly, she’s not wearing a bra either, but I’m sure it’s for a completely different reason than Kate.

She smirks when she realizes my eyes dropped to her chest. Hey, I’m still a man, and it’s hard not to, but my eyes don’t linger long.

“You don’t seem to be having fun, Mr. McAdams.” She says my name seductively.

I scoff and spin to face the bar and bring the bottle to my lips. “You’re very observant,” I say flatly.

She steps up closer to me, and the overabundance of her perfume threatens to choke me, reeking of desperation. She smells as if she just walked through the perfume aisle in the mall. “You know, Jaxon.” The way she says my full name sends a shiver up my spine, and not in the same way when Kate does it. Even when Kate spits out my name like it’s poison on her lips, it sends a straight shot right to my dick. But hearing it on Natasha’s lips has my balls ready to shrivel away to nothing. “I can be a lot of things. I was wondering if you’ve been naughty or nice this year.”

I don’t miss the innuendos in there. Even if I was interested in anyone, it definitely would not be an employee. That’s a damn lawsuit waiting to happen. Does she also think I’m dumb and don’t know that before Lauren and Finn got back together, she was trying to sink her claws into him? She continued until one day, Lauren showed up at the office and staked her claim, all but pissing on him like a dog. That seems like something her sister would do more so than her, but then again, love makes you do crazy shit.

Before I can tell Natasha that I’m not interested and that it will never, ever happen between us, the hairs on the back of my neck rise. A small hand wraps around my waist, and I catch a whiff of her perfume. “Hey, baby, I thought you were going to join me out on the dance floor.”

Turning, I find Kate with a huge smile on her painted red lips and a mischievous glint in her eyes screaming, Play along, dumbass.

I cough into my fist. “Oh, sorry, I got held up,” I say, hugging her tighter against my chest. With adoration in my gaze, I slip into the comfortableness of this facade and allow myself to pretend that all this is real. I watch her throat bob as she visibly swallows. Our chests rise and fall in unison.

It’s then I feel it—the pieces of my resolve imploding with a loud crash, knowing that I wouldn’t be able to give this woman up even if I tried.

Natasha clears her throat, breaking our staring contest.

“Natasha, right?” Kate extends her hand to her. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she says with a cheesy smile on her lips. I don’t know if that’s true or not, but judging by how much Lauren hates her, I would say it’s definitely possible, and I would imagine there weren’t many good things attached to them.

“Yes, hi. You’re Lauren’s sister.” Kate nods. Natasha’s eyes bounce back and forth between Kate and me, honing on the way my fingers move up and down on Kate’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you two were together.”

Kate rests her head against my chest and places her hand over my heart. Can she feel it beating like I just ran the Boston Marathon in record time?Keeping up appearances, I press a kiss to the top of her head.

“Yep,” Kate responds with a loud pop.

Tags: Stefanie Jenkins I Never Romance
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