Autumn wanted this to work, so she nodded, then she picked up her fork and continued eating her meal.
By the time they were done eating, the easiness they’d felt before had mostly returned. But there was a difference, because now there was this thing between them, this small wedge of distrust that would take time to overcome.
When they reached Autumn’s house, Jax was uncertain if he should try to kiss her. After the whole Kelli debacle he sensed that they’d taken a step back in their budding relationship. The thought fueled fresh anger at Kelli, but he shoved that down and focused on Autumn, helping her out of his car and walking her to her front door.
She unlocked the door and was greeted by Sasha. Jax took a moment to give Sasha some attention, hopeful that if he could keep Sasha on his side, then maybe that would loosen up any residual distrust Autumn might have towards him.
“We should bring Sasha on our hike tomorrow,” he said as he stood.
A smile lit Autumn’s face. “That’s a great idea. She would love it.”
Glad he’d hit upon an idea she liked, he smiled, then reached toward her face, and after pausing a moment, he ran a finger along the smooth skin of her jaw, stopping under her chin. Her gaze locked on his, but as much as he wanted to kiss her, he held back, dropping his hand to his side. “I’ll be here by one tomorrow afternoon.” That would give him time to have a thorough workout plus study some game film before coming over.
She nodded. “Okay.”
He squatted in front of Sasha. “See you tomorrow, girl.”
Sasha’s tongue lolled out and Jax could have sworn she was smiling.
Once Jax left, Autumn called Haylie and told her everything.
“You’re kidding me,” Haylie said, her voice radiating stunned disbelief.
“Nope.”
“Waltzing over to the table like that and saying she’s dating him? Right to your face?” Haylie snorted a laugh. “Either the woman is really confident in her relationship with Jax or she’s…well, she’s nuts.”
Autumn wasn’t sure which was worse.
“Then again,” Haylie said, “if she’s in a relationship with him, shouldn’t she have been mad he was out with you? Did she seem mad?”
“No. Not at all.”
“Huh.”
“What?”
Haylie’s voice lowered. “Maybe she’s nuts.”
Was that better than Jax lying? Maybe, but it still wasn’t great.
“What are you gonna do?”
Autumn held back a sigh. “Tomorrow we’re going on a hike. I’ll just have to see how that goes.”
“All right. I’ll want a full report.”
Autumn laughed. “You know I’ll give you one.”
That night as Autumn drifted off to sleep, she couldn’t help but worry that she was taking the first step on the road to heartbreak. Even so, she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
Chapter Fourteen
“He’ll be here any minute,” Autumn said to Sasha as she tucked Sasha’s water dish into a backpack.
In the light of day, her worries over the woman who had interrupted her date with Jax had diminished. Confident she would never see her again, Autumn felt light and happy, excited for this new chance to be with Jax, to discover how she felt about him, to know if he was worth taking a chance on.
The doorbell rang.
“It’s him,” she whispered to Sasha, who raced to the door and began whining.
Softly laughing, Autumn opened the door, and when she saw Jax standing on her porch wearing a pair of shorts and a snug-fitting t-shirt, her lips curved into a smile of appreciation. Fit and handsome, Jax was a feast for the eyes.
“Hello,” he said, then when Sasha insisted on his attention, he squatted in front of her and scratched her head. “I think someone’s ready to go on a hike.”
Autumn smiled. “Do you mean her or me?”
Jax stood and faced Autumn. “I meant her, but you look like you’re ready too.”
She’d been looking forward to this hike the entire morning. “I am.”
“Great.” He glanced at the backpack she held in one hand. “What are you bringing?”
“A couple of water bottles, a water dish for Sasha, and some snacks.”
One side of his mouth tugged upward. “That’ll work.”
Autumn’s eyebrows rose. “What about you? Are you bringing anything?”
“Of course.”
“And?”
“And what?”
Quirking an eyebrow, she didn’t reply.
He laughed. “You’ll just have to wait and see what I’m bringing.”
“Ah-ha. You’re bringing dice so we can figure out where to hike.”
Grinning, he shook his head. “Nope.” Then he cocked an eyebrow. “You can keep guessing, or we can just go.”
“All right.” Pleased that her flirting skills were coming back, Autumn followed Jax out the front door, locking it behind her. Her gaze went to the driveway where a black SUV was parked. “Where’s your car?”
He laughed. “That is my car. I could have brought the Lamborghini, but then you would have had to hold Sasha on your lap.”
A smirk tugged up the corner of her mouth. “Plus we just washed it.”
He opened the rear door for Sasha to jump in. “Exactly.”
Once they were all inside, they set off, and when they reached the trailhead, Autumn clipped a leash to Sasha’s collar.
“This trail’s usually not too busy,” Jax said, “so maybe you can let her off her leash later.”
“I don’t know. She’s never been on a hike and I wouldn’t want her to chase after a squirrel and get lost.”
“Good point.” They hoisted their packs onto their backs, then faced the trail. It was too narrow for them to walk side by side so Jax told Autumn to go first. He laughed. “Otherwise all you’ll see is my back.”
“All right.” She began walking, self-conscious that Jax had a clear view of her backside. The thought of him judging the fitness of her body sent a mix of embarrassment and excitement through her. In reasonably good shape, Autumn was confident that he wouldn’t find too many flaws, but she forced herself to not worry about that. He would like her for who she was or he wouldn’t. But she really hoped he would.
“Sasha seems to like being outside,” he said from behind her.
Autumn watched Sasha as she trotted along, her tongue lolling out and her tail swishing from side to side. “She loves walks.” That simple statement reminded her that Mitch had been taking Sasha on a walk when he’d been killed.
A knife of sorrow sliced into her heart, nearly making her gasp. She hated those unexpected moments of grief. Glad that Jax couldn’t see her face, she took a few slow, deep breaths until her emotions were under control.
Wanting to think about something else, she spun around and faced Jax while walking slowly backwards. “You never told me what’s in your pack.”
Twirling his finger at her, he said, “You’d better not walk backwards. You might trip.”
She laughed, but she turned around to face the front. “You’d better have something good in there.”
“Depends on what you think is good.”
“Chocolate’s always a winner,” she tossed over her shoulder.
He laughed. “I hope you brought one of those treats you like to bake.”
Actually, she had. After the way he’d acted like he wanted some, she’d decided to bring a few muffins she’d recently made. “I thought you athlete types didn’t eat that kind of thing.”
She was right. Eating healthy was encouraged, and Jax was serious about what he fueled his body with, but if it was something she’d baked, he’d make an exception. “Does that mean you didn’t bring anything?”
Looking over her shoulder, she said, “Guess you’ll have to wait to find out.”
He laughed. “Okay, okay.”
They walked along, only passing a couple of other hikers. Jax let his gaze sweep over Autumn
’s body, admiring the view. He liked a woman who kept herself in shape. Being fit was such a huge part of his life that he couldn’t see himself with someone who didn’t find it important as well.
Good thing Autumn met those parameters.
Smiling as he silently acknowledged how much he was growing to like her, Jax remembered the kiss they’d shared the day before. Eager to kiss her again, he wondered if she would be okay with it.
Then he remembered their date at the restaurant the previous night. Kelli showing up had thrown a wrench into the smooth progression of their day.
Holding back a frown, he hoped that was the last of Kelli he would see.
After a while Autumn stopped and took her backpack off her shoulders.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
She smiled at him, her face relaxed and calm. “Just getting some water for Sasha.”
Nodding, he watched as she set Sasha’s water bowl on the ground and poured some water inside before straightening. Sasha began lapping it up.
Jax studied Autumn as she watched Sasha. Her auburn hair was in a ponytail which made her face easy to see. Wanting to reach out and touch her, he held back, enjoying the anticipation of knowing he would kiss her later.
Autumn could sense Jax watching her. Self-conscious yet thrilled by his rapt attention, she focused on Sasha. Even so, she couldn’t stop the craving to have his arms around her, holding her in his strong embrace. There were many things she missed since Mitch had died—the companionship of her best friend and the encouragement he always gave her highest on that list, but she also missed physical touch. The day before when Jax had pulled her into his arms she’d nearly melted. She wanted that again. Badly. Did she want it enough to make the first move? Not sure, she picked up Sasha’s empty bowl, shook out the drops of water inside, then put the bowl in her pack.
As she tossed the pack onto her shoulders, she turned to Jax. “Thank you for inviting us on this hike. It feels wonderful to get outside and walk in this beautiful weather.”
His lips curved upward and her gaze slid to their fullness as she remembered the way it had felt to have them pressed against her mouth. After a moment she realized she was staring and she jerked her gaze to his eyes.
The look on his face and his slight smirk told her that he knew she’d been staring. Warmth flooded her cheeks and she turned to the side.
In half a heartbeat he was beside her, mere inches separating them. The heat of his body radiated toward her and his powerful masculinity made her want to sway against him.
He leaned down so that his mouth was next to her ear. “I’m glad you came.” His voice was soft and low. “It’s much more fun to hike with you than by myself.”
All she had to do was turn her head and her mouth would be millimeters from his. Desire surged through her. She should do it. She should turn her head and invite him to kiss her. Then an image of the woman from the night before telling her that she and Jax were dating filled her mind.
Doubts swarmed in and she stayed where she was. Then Sasha nudged her leg. Autumn reached out to her sweet lab. The moment was broken.
Did she want that woman to destroy her chances with Jax? No, of course not. She had to take this by the reins and put a stop to her doubts. But that would only happen if she was convinced that the woman was a non-issue.
Taking a step back to put some space between them, she faced him. “Have you, uh…have you heard from…that woman?”
Watching his reaction closely, Autumn noted the way irritation bracketed his mouth as a muscle moved in his jaw and his blue eyes turned icy. Was he annoyed with her for asking, or with the woman for showing up? Desperately hoping it was the latter, she waited for his reply.
“No.” The single syllable was bold, determined. Angry.
Still uncertain where his anger lay, she pushed for more. “Do you expect to?”
His mouth compressed into a straight line and a huff of air escaped his nose, then he cocked his head. “I told you she’s not in my life and I’m no longer dating her.”
So he was annoyed with her for asking. Okay. Good to know.
Feeling a bit annoyed herself, Autumn pursed her lips, nodded once, then turned and continued walking.
Chapter Fifteen
What had he just done? Clearly, Autumn thought he was angry with her. Not true. Not true at all. He was an idiot. First for not making a clean break with Kelli when he’d decided he didn’t want to see her anymore, and just now when he hadn’t explained himself to Autumn.
“Wait up,” he said as he jogged to Autumn’s side. He wasn’t going to blow this.
When she completely ignored him and continued walking, he had to hold back a grin. Another reminder that she was not enamored by the fact that he was the great Jax Cordova from the Sacramento Vipers. Not. One. Bit. He loved that.
The trail was wider here, so Jax was able to walk next to her. She kept a brisk pace, but he had no trouble keeping up with her.
“Sorry I asked about…that woman.” Her voice had an edge to it, like she wasn’t happy about the way he’d reacted or about the whole situation.
He had to clear this up. Right away.
Stopping, he gently caught hold of her arm so she would stop too.
She faced him, her brows pulling in, then she looked at Sasha.
“Hey,” he said, his voice quiet. When she continued to avoid his gaze, he took her hand that wasn’t holding the leash and rubbed his thumb over the back of it. “Autumn.”
She lifted her gaze to his, her eyes wary.
“I’m the one who’s sorry,” he said. “What happened isn’t your fault.”
Her eyebrows bunched and then a fire ignited in her eyes. “I know it’s not my fault.” Her nostrils flared. “So don’t act like you’re mad at me.”
Either he wasn’t making himself clear, or she wasn’t hearing him. Didn’t matter. It was up to him to fix this.
He reached up to stroke her cheek, but she turned away. Now he was getting frustrated. Swallowing his pride, he took a small step back. No reason for her to feel like he was invading her space.
“The only one I’m mad at,” he said, “is myself.”
That got her attention, her expression softening as she looked at him.
“Why are you mad at yourself?”
Softly laughing, he said, “Where should I begin?” Then he held up his hand and pointed to one finger after another. “For the way I responded to your question, for letting Kelli ruin our date last night, and for ever dating her in the first place.”
That made Autumn feel better. She’d obviously misread his reaction earlier, but instead of feeling dumb about that, she decided to move past it.
“Thank you,” she said.
Jax smiled. “For what?”
“For explaining.” Sasha jerked on the leash, pulling Autumn off-balance. She wobbled on one foot, but before she could fall, Jax reached out and wrapped an arm around her waist, steadying her. The strength of his grasp and the nearness of his body brought the simmering heat in her belly to a low boil. Turning her head in his direction, she met his gaze and saw her longing reflected in his eyes.
Knowing he was as attracted to her as she was to him brought that low boil to a full boil, and when Jax shifted so that he was facing her, she kept her gaze locked on his.
“Autumn,” he murmured, his eyes as blue as the sky.
She didn’t speak, and when Sasha yanked on the leash she gave it some slack, not about to let her dog move her. Not when Jax was going to kiss her.
Jax gazed at Autumn another moment, then he stroked her cheek with the back of one finger. Desperate to feel his mouth on hers, to feel his arms holding her, Autumn’s lips parted in an unconscious invitation.
“Do you know how beautiful you are?” His voice was low and sexy as he slid a thumb under her chin.
Was she supposed to answer that? The idea made her lips turn up. Jax smiled in return, and then slowly, so very slowly, he lowered his mouth to h
ers. When his lips finally pressed against hers and his arms went around her waist, she sank against him. A moment later Sasha yanked the leash right out of her hand.
Autumn jumped out of Jax’s arms, and when she looked in Sasha’s direction she saw her running into the trees. “Sasha! Sasha, come back!”
Not even pausing to look in Autumn’s direction, Sasha continued running.
“I’ll get her,” Jax said before dashing after her. “Sasha! Sasha, stop!”
Worried about her sweet dog getting lost or hurt, Autumn took off after them.
Irritated that Autumn’s dog had interrupted their kiss, but knowing how important it was to Autumn that Sasha not get lost, Jax sped up as he chased the yellow lab. She was a lot faster than the football players he normally chased. Smiling at the thought, he leapt over a downed tree, and then he pictured himself walking back to Autumn with Sasha’s leash in hand, triumphant in his capture.
To Autumn, he was sure, that would be better than a touchdown.
Calling Sasha didn’t seem to make a difference. What had caught her attention? This dog needed to be better trained. She was zigging and zagging all over the place. What in the world was she chasing?
With tall pine trees everywhere and thick ground cover sprouting up in between, Jax struggled to keep up. He’d never gone off-trail like this before. To say the least, it was a bit unsettling.
“Jax,” he heard Autumn calling from behind him.
Slowing, he glanced over his shoulder. Though quite a ways behind him, Autumn was running as well. He looked in the direction Sasha had gone but she was out of sight. It was no contest. He stopped and waited for Autumn to catch up.
“Do you know where she is?” Autumn asked, her eyes carved with worry.
They stood beside another towering pine tree, the only sound the soft soughing of the wind in the pine needles. Pointing in the direction Sasha had gone, Jax said, “Last I saw, she was heading that way.”
Autumn frowned. “That darn dog.” Then tears filled her eyes. “I can’t lose her.”
Pass Interference (Fair Catch Series, Book Four) Page 8