How was that even possible? She'd never had that happen before, and yet even with Jax it had only happened in the forest. She hadn't heard his thoughts at the diner or at the party. But on both occasions she had, it had been in the forest.
Was the forest mystical?
She laughed at the thought and rose from the bed and restlessly moved to the window to stare out into the forest ahead. Maybe that place held the power. She wondered, because for the life of her she couldn't come up with any other explanation. A long sigh escaped her lips when she noticed something right at the edge of the trees. Something that appeared to be a pair of eyes … glowing.
Denim chuckled. She was being ridiculous. Fatigue had clearly gotten to her. There was nothing out there, she concluded. After deciding she had done enough thinking for one night, she made herself get back in bed and after counting horses, she finally drifted off to sleep.
Denim arrived at the diner in the morning hot, restless, and anxious for her shift to end. She was dating a wolf. A real-live, freaking werewolf!
As soon as the diner closed that evening, Denim hurried back to the house to shower. It took her almost an hour to figure out what to wear before she finally settled on a purple spandex dress and black strappy sandals. She had no idea where they were going so it was hard to know if she had made the right choice, but she could never go wrong with spandex.
"Don't you look lovely," Pappy complimented, as she stepped into the living room. He was sitting in his favorite old recliner watching the evening news.
"Thanks. I'm going to dinner with Jackson Wilde."
Denim noticed the way his brow rose behind his glasses. "One of those biker boys with the tattoos?"
"He's not a biker boy." She walked over and wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed the top of his head. "Pappy, he really is a nice guy."
"I may be old, but this mind is still sharp. And I remember all those years of you running home crying, because that boy was picking on you."
She smiled, as she took a seat on the arm of the chair. "True, but we were kids. Now he's a gentleman."
Pappy gave a rude snort. "He probably doesn't even know how to pick up a lady on time."
Not only did Jax arrive on time, he had the nerve to look so freaking handsome, causing her body to remember what it had been like to be held in his arms. Denim stood in the doorway thinking, OMG! The guys she usually dated didn't put much thought in their wardrobe. Jax was wearing stonewashed distressed jeans, a blue button-down shirt that hung open, and a clean t-shirt. On his feet were white sneakers. The outfit might have looked casual and a bit rough on anyone else, but on Jax it made him look delectable, to say the least. She was still standing there with her mouth open when Pappy came to the door.
"Good evening Pappy," Jax greeted.
Denim noticed the way her grandfather glared at him. "Good evening. I hope you're not planning on driving my granddaughter around on that death trap."
Just shoot me why don't you.
Jax barely flinched. "No sir. I have my car tonight."
Pappy stuck his head out the door and peered over in the driveway at a shiny black BMW. He mumbled something under his breath, and Denim decided it was time to go.
"Love you, Pappy. Don't wait up." She gave her grandfather a quick peck to his pecan-colored cheek then hurried across the porch and down the stairs, dragging Jax with her.
He waved and called over his shoulder, "It was good seeing you again, Pappy."
There was a loud slam and Denim heard the lock turn.
Jax frowned as they moved across the lawn hand-in-hand. "I don't think your grandfather cares for me."
"What would make you think that?" she replied and was unable to hold it together and started laughing. To her relief, Jax had a sense of humor and joined in.
They walked to his car and when Jax opened the door for her, Denim looked over her shoulder to see if Pappy saw just how much of a gentleman her date was being. She smirked when she spotted the curtains swinging.
"You look beautiful," Jax said and she noticed his eyes skating over her outfit. The way his golden eyes were blazing, there was no doubt he liked what he saw.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." He moved in closer and Denim felt her pulse begin to speed up a notch. Oh my goodness, he was getting ready to kiss her again.
His lips settled over her, and as soon as Jax applied gentle pressure, she exhaled and rested her hands against his chest. Oh, it was good. No, it was better than good. It was wicked, and a bit wild.
Denim's entire body radiated with desire and she craved him more than she craved shopping for designer purses. Kissing was by far so much better. The longer they kissed, the more she wanted him. And since she was being controlled by hormones, if he had suggested skipping dinner, she probably would have agreed. Thank goodness Jax stopped and rested his forehead against hers. They stayed that way until their breathing slowed.
"I would have greeted you properly at the door, but we kinda had an audience," he explained and winked "Ready to go?"
Taking a deep breath, Denim nodded. If that kiss was any indication, she was in for a wonderful evening.
Jax helped her into the car and closed the door before jogging around and climbing in on his side.
"Nice ride," she commented, mostly for something to say.
"Thank you. My father bought it for my twentieth birthday."
"Nice gift. For mine, my parents sent me and my best friend to Disney World." Denim couldn't believe she hadn't give Kimberly or Asher a single thought all day.
Jax started the engine and within seconds a gush of cold air came through the vents. She was grateful for the blast against her heated body. As she secured her seatbelt, she forced herself to relax. It's not every day a girl got a chance to drive around in the car with a werewolf.
"What's it like being a wolf?" she said. How else was she going to know about what his life was like if she didn't ask?
"I prefer to be called a Were. And we're really not much different from humans," he said with a twinkle in his golden eyes.
Not much different? "Oh yeah, right. I can shift into a wolf whenever I want," she said with sarcasm.
Jax laughed then cleared his throat, and Denim didn't miss his eyes roaming to the left, then right. "Let's just say . . . being a Were has its advantages and disadvantages."
"Like what? And don't tell me you can't come out after sunrise."
He chuckled heartily. "No nothing like that. I'm part of a pack and we have responsibilities."
Denim swung around on the seat and faced him. "Can you shift whenever you want?"
"Yes, but I try not to unless I know I have privacy, which is why Weres live in secluded areas."
She could tell he was trying to be mysterious. It should have scared her off, but instead it turned her on. Denim relaxed in her seat and bobbed her head to the sounds of Ne-Yo coming through the speakers. At least Jax had good taste in music.
"Are you planning to shift tonight?"
He chuckled again. "No, I don't."
"Well there's supposed to be a full moon, so I totally understand if you feel the urge."
Reaching over, he gently laid his hand over hers. "I'm good, really. I've learned over the years to control when I shift. This evening is all about you and me. That's it."
Why did his words make her insides quiver?
"Where are we going?" Denim asked as he hit the highway. She was so hoping he was taking them to Austin.
Jax took his eyes off the interstate long enough to grin, and replied, "A place that has the best steaks in the whole state of Texas."
"Really?" Denim shifted on the seat. "Where at?" She loved a good bone-in ribeye.
He winked and replied, "Just wait and see."
11
Jax couldn't stop looking at her.
One thing about him, he appreciated a good-looking woman, and especially one with long, shapely caramel-colored legs. The moment she'd opened the front door and he'd laid eyes on her in a dress accentuating every last curve something wild unfurled deep inside of him. With legs like that, she could put any girl in Justice to shame.
She was his.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to get his emotions under control while he focused on the road. With Denim sitting beside him, her scent hit him full force and it took everything to fight the urge to stop his car, and drag her into his arms. Lucky for her, over the years, he had learned to calm his raging animal instincts. But no matter what, the burning need was still there brewing inside the vehicle.
"I haven't had a good steak in over a year."
Jax took his eyes off the road long enough to say, "Then you're in for a treat."
Denim pushed her hair away from her face and blushed prettily. "This summer is actually turning out better than I had planned."