“Okay. Could you take a right at the next light, please?”
“What for?”
“I want to meet my friends at the diner.”
“Why?”
Rolling my eyes, I repeat his question, “Why?”
“That’s what I said,” he says in a flat tone.
“Because I’m hungry. I haven’t eaten all day and suddenly, I’m starting to think riding home with you, isn’t the fun I thought it would be.”
“I’m supposed to take you home. Skull wouldn’t exactly like it if I dropped you off without someone watching over you.”
“I’m eighteen, not eight. I don’t need someone watching over me. Besides, my friends are there. I won’t be alone.”
“I’m not leaving you alone with that jock.” His voice raises on the word jock. Is he jealous?
“Jeff? He’s sweet.”
“He wants in your pants,” Jax growls, for a moment robbing me of my breath.
“We don’t know each other, right?” I don’t wait for a response. “Is there some reason you think you can act like my father? Because, I had one of those, and I don’t really want another one.”
“I’m trying to look out for you,” he says deflecting my question.
“Thanks, but no thanks.” I shake my head before leaning it against the window. He’s so frustrating. His hot and cold is giving me whiplash.
“Are you kidding me right now?”
“I have enough people looking out for me. We’re basically strangers. I don’t need someone else helping me.”
“That’s sure a different tune from earlier,” he observes. I can feel his eyes on me, but I won’t give him the satisfaction of my looking at him.
“I was just thinking the same thing,” I snap, as the truck pulls up to a red light.
“What are you talking about?”
“I thought…never mind. It’s not important,” I say, because as I start to form the sentence in my mind I realize it does sound stupid. I thought what? That this man I don’t know liked me? That he might want to date me? I doubt Jax has ever dated anyone in his life. Besides, I may have been sheltered from the Chrome Saints, but I’m not stupid, and I have seen enough. He’s got plenty of club women. He wouldn’t want someone like me, who doesn’t even know….
I’ve never been one for self-pity, and I’m not someone who accepts anything that makes me feel unsure of myself. My father spent his whole life making me feel less because I was a girl. I won’t have that now from anyone. Even if I’m jumping the gun with Jax—no, Shaft, even if I am being overly sensitive, it’s best if I just walk away. With that thought, I open my door with one hand while I undo my seatbelt with the other.
“Where the hell are you going?” Jax growls, grabbing my free arm before I can hop out.
“I’m going to walk to the diner,” I inform him, trying to jerk away from his firm grip. My skin flames under his touch.
“Close that fucking door.”
“Take a flying leap,” I scoff.
“Close that fucking door, Bree. I’m warning you, I won’t tell you again,” he grits through his clenched teeth.
I raise my brow at him. “Gee, Jax, what are you going to do? Tell Skull on me?”
“Spank your ass.”
My mouth falls open but closes quickly. “You did not just say that.”
“I did. Obviously, Tucker has let you run too damn wild,” he growls and maybe he would continue, but the cars blowing their horns behind us takes his attention away. The light has turned green. “Close the fucking door, Bree,” he says, and this time his voice is deadly cold. I do it out of reflex as he lets go of my arm. I let my small token of rebellion be that, and I slam the door hard enough to vibrate the whole truck. Folding my arms at my chest, I turn straight ahead, while silently vowing not to say another word to him, even though I miss his possessive touch.
“Buckle up,” he demands and though I don’t want to, I find myself obeying his command.
Chapter Seven
Jax
“What are we doing here?” Bree asks, which incidentally are the first words she’s uttered in over fifteen minutes. I understand why, I was kind of a bastard. This morning held promise and getting her to smile was like I won a fucking war. But, all day I kept going over all the reasons I shouldn’t—couldn’t touch her. When I picked her up this evening, I promised myself I would be distant, do nothing to encourage that smile, nor the stars twinkling in her eyes. That was my goal and sure as I’m sitting here, I’m about to fuck up. I can’t help it though, because I want her, and even if I can’t have her, I still want to see her smile. Her smile warmed something inside of me that I thought had been dead for a long time.