by Vivian Arend
He shook his head and resumed sweeping, giving her no more attention than if she was one of the cats underfoot in the barn at milking time. “I’m too old for you. Heck, it’s like I’m your big brother and—”
Jaxi ripped the broom from his hands and hurled it across the room. He was being a bloody jackass. It was a damn good thing she loved him because otherwise she’d be tempted to kill him.
“You are not my brother, by any stretch of the imagination. The things I want us to do, Blake, they are not brother/sister activities.” She took a slow breath and calmed her temper. At least they were talking, even if Blake seemed to be speaking some weird foreign dialect and she didn’t have a translation book.
Slow down. Go gently.
She had to get him to acknowledge what he wanted, not what he thought needed to happen. Get him to drop the damn sense of responsibility for long enough to see the real picture. Jaxi snuck in closer, resting a hand on his crossed arms. She drew a slow finger along his skin, speaking quietly. “You ever dream about me, Blake? You ever think about taking me in your arms and kissing me? Touching me? I dream about you all the time. You, in my bed, making me feel things I’ve never felt before.”
“Stop it, that’s not going to happen.” Blake jerked away from her, and Jaxi’s stomach lurched. He didn’t even want her to touch him. “You’re an attractive woman—”
Red flashed before her eyes. He was the most frustrating man she’d ever met. She followed him closely, crowding against his body. “Oh, now I’m a woman. Well, that’s a plus. You finally noticed I grew up. What’s the problem? I think you like me too, so why aren’t we acting on the attraction between us? What’s got you putting on the brakes when that’s got to be the last thing you really want?”
Blake grabbed her by the shoulders and manoeuvred her away from him. He paced back, his hands dragging through his hair in frustration, swear words floating on the air. When he turned toward her, his face had gone grey and drawn, as if he’d shut off his heart. His gravelly voice cut deep as he spoke.
“The issue is you’re still a little girl compared to me, and you won’t be happy with an old man for long. Do I want you? Hell, yeah, you make my body ache so hard it’s a fucking nightmare for me to wake and realize you’re not really there. But I’m too old for you, and I refuse to take advantage of the physical pull between us for a one-night stand. Stop trying to seduce me and prove you’re as grown up you claim. Find someone your own age to play with.”
She gasped as pain rippled through her belly. His words lashed her, stinging to the core. The seemingly caring tone he delivered them in made it worse. She wanted to smack him hard enough to knock off his blinders and turn this disaster of a conversation around.
Before he broke her heart.
Anger made her retaliate in a whole new direction.
“Oh, so now I’m old enough to play around, just not with you. Hmm, let’s see, who do I know that’s around my age and interested in me. Gee, two names jump to mind.”
“Jaxi…” The emotionless face before her changed instantly, disapproval and anger flashing one after the other.
“What, you don’t think your little brothers are interested in me anymore? I’m pretty sure Jesse said he was, just the other day.”
He stepped toward her, forcing her to shuffle backward to stay out from underfoot. “I’ve warned them you’re off limits. The only way I want to see you around them is if you pick one and the other swears to bow out. I won’t have you messing with them both.”
Jaxi popped her eyes open wide and faked a delighted expression. “So the rumors are true, they do get involved with the same girl at the same time. Well, damn, that sounds like a bit of an adventure. Maybe that’s what I need to distract me since I can’t have what I want.”
“You stay away from my brothers,” he warned, his voice harsh and low.
She let out a burst of laugher, feeling hard and tight inside. “You’re not the boss of me. Maybe I can’t convince the one Coleman I want to be with me, but I bet you I sure as hell can have a little fun with a couple others.”
He loomed over her, dark and dangerous, and she wanted to have him hold her instead of dealing with this whole stupid mess. “Let’s not throw it away, Jaxi, all those years of friendship.”
Her throat tightened up, anger melting away as she fought back tears. There was no way she would cry in front of him, not now. She had to figure out a solution to stop this train wreck from continuing. “I agree we’ve had something special in the past. But don’t you see, all those years of friendship were leading to something bigger and better, and that’s what you’re choosing to give up on. You, Blake, you’re the one throwing the possibility of us away. I know what I want.”
She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on his burning hot cheek before whispering, “Let me know when you’re ready to admit what you really want. I’m getting tired of waiting for the right answer.”
Jaxi had never been keen on dramatic exits but time was of the essence to avoid bursting into tears in front of him. She slipped past his solid bulk and dashed out the fire exit.
9
Blake took another draw on his beer and placed the bottle down carefully before turning his attention back to the surface of the pool table. He and Leo were maintaining their own over the twins, the score sixty-seven to sixty-four. Better than the previous Friday when he’d still been out of his mind trying to understand what had happened with Jaxi in the shower the night before. Damn, his life had turned into a cheap dime-store romance gone sour.
Joel and Jesse relaxed nearby, cocky grins on their faces.
“Not bad for a tired old man,” Jesse said, twirling his cue as he waited for his turn.
“Well, if someone was a little less distracted, we’d have you boys so far gone you’d tuck in your tails and head home.” Blake tried to decide which ball to sink. This week his partner was the one off his game, checking his watch and cell phone constantly. “Leo, you got troubles? Other than the twenty we’re ready to lose if you don’t concentrate a little more?”
Leo grinned sheepishly. “Cari’s supposed to get back into town tonight or tomorrow. I’m waiting for her call.”
“Save us from the lovebirds. Leo, you and Cari are soooo sweet.” Jesse turned and pulled a face at Blake and Joel.
Blake snorted. “Six ball, right-side pocket.” He lined up the shot and sank the ball in one smooth, easy motion. Handing the cue to Leo, he went back to his beer.
He wasn’t going to let Jesse know he really was tired. Sleep was hard to come by since he’d witnessed Jaxi in all her glory in the shower. His nights had gotten worse after she’d blown up at him at the community hall. He tossed and turned, hard and aching, all night long with no easy solution to his problem.
“You enjoying the guest cabin, Blake?” Joel kicked his legs freely as he sat on top of a nearby table, watching Leo take his shot.
Blake grunted.
“Guess Jaxi needed a little more room than the office space. What a gentleman you are to offer your bed.” Jesse’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
Blake flashed him a dirty look. Damn twins could poke all they wanted, but no way would he would confess he’d changed rooms because he didn’t trust himself to be close to the girl and not make a move on her.
Hell, the way she’d acted in the shower, inviting him to touch her, he didn’t trusted her to stay away from him. There was no use in begging for trouble.
Then there was the whole “Showdown at O.K. Corral” two nights ago. What a fucking nightmare. He hated that he’d hurt her, the expression in her eyes almost enough to make him reconsider, if only to be allowed to wipe away the pain.
He’d admit it. Jaxi had grown up. But he couldn’t let her goad him into doing something she’d regret. She was too young to really know what she wanted for the long haul, and he was not having a one-night stand with her. The pain of rejection was for her own good, even though sticking to his guns choked something deep in
side him.
“Course, staying in the cabin means you’ve got much more privacy if you need it.” Joel jumped off the table with a whoop of delight. “Leo, you blew that shot. Our turn.”
Joel and Jesse alternated in sinking balls, raising their score to seventy-five before they missed. Blake sipped his beer and glanced around, letting the familiar décor soothe his tired nerves.
On this side of the hall, people sat and talked, or played pool and relaxed. Next door, the music was louder, the dance floor wide and the bar open late. He and the boys were the only ones playing pool tonight, tucked into the back corner where it was quiet and private.
Blake was getting up for his turn when he saw her. Jaxi breezed in the doorway, pale blonde hair floating around her head.
“Sweet mercy, angel entering the room.” Jesse breathed out the words in mock ecstasy.
She did look like an angel. For the past couple of weeks, Jaxi had worn plain jeans or jean shorts with cotton shirts. She’d pulled her hair into a sensible ponytail while she cooked and canned and worked around the house with his ma.
Tonight her sundress consisted of layers of flimsy material that lifted and floated in different directions as she sashayed forward. The clinging top left her smooth shoulders bare, the scooped neckline revealing deep cleavage of pearly pink skin. The fluttering layers of the skirt slid over her smooth legs, stopping well above her knees. The whole thing was cut from shades of yellow and gold, making her glow like a ray of sunshine.
Jesse rushed forward to greet her. Blake bit back a growl as his brother took her hand and placed it under his arm to escort her to their table, his lips tight to her ear as he spoke. Jaxi’s gaze flicked to Blake for a brief second before she laughed at Jesse, then turned to beam at Joel and Leo.
“Evening, boys. I was looking for Lindy but I’ve been told she’s gone for the weekend. Mind if I join you instead?” Jaxi leaned in and kissed Leo’s cheek, and Blake’s arms jerked as he held himself back.
So much for a relaxing evening with the boys.
“Leo, I haven’t seen you in forever. Where’ve you been hiding?” Jaxi stood close, her hands resting on Leo’s arm. Blake turned away and retrieved his beer. At this rate he would need another one pretty damn quick.
“It’s been busy at the shop lately. And you know, well, Cari and me…” Leo grinned at her. “I owe you one. Big time. Can I get you a drink?”
“Whoa there, stud,” Jesse teased. “You’ve already got yourself a woman. I’ll get Jaxi her drink. What’ll you have, sweetheart?”
“Any you boys drinking draft tonight?”
“Joel and I are,” Jesse volunteered.
“Can I join you?”
Jesse grinned from ear to ear and twirled her in his arms as if they were on the dance floor, snuggling her tight against his body. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Jaxi slapped his shoulders as she laughed up at him. “Jesse, I swear. You’ve got the dirtiest mind. Get me a beer and get on with your game.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Jesse dropped a quick kiss on her nose before he let her go.
Blake stared at Jaxi. She was deliberately flirting with the twins and ignoring him, like she’d done since Wednesday. He couldn’t believe she would taunt him. She wouldn’t dare follow up on the challenge she’d thrown and fool around with the twins just to spite him.
Would she?
“Ma all right alone tonight?” Blake kicked himself even as the words escaped.
Jaxi did a slow rotation toward him, her face flushed. “No, Blake, she had a pounding headache, a pile of laundry to fold and just before I left I set a swarm of wasps loose in the house.” She strode over and hopped up next to Joel on the table, her skirts flaring out to brush his thigh. Joel raised his eyebrows at his brothers, then took a long, slow look along the length of exposed leg next to him, smiling with appreciation.
“So. Now that we’re all clear Blake is an ass, whose turn is it?” Leo didn’t even try to hide his smirk.
Blake stepped forward. “Jaxi, I didn’t mean I thought you’d—”
“You planning on dancing later?” Jaxi leaned a little closer to Joel, her left breast rubbing his arm as she ignored Blake.
“If you need a partner.”
Jaxi slipped her fingers into his and winked at Jesse hovering on her other side. “Your ma and dad went to visit friends and told me they didn’t need me until tomorrow morning. I guess I have some time to kill.”
Blake felt like shit as he turned back to the table.
Although he’d decided it was best for her to not be with him, the decision wasn’t sitting easy. Watching her with the twins hurt worse than he thought possible. He wanted to be the one holding her hand and whispering in her ear. Taking her close against him on the dance floor and feeling her soft skin rub every inch of his body.
“Nine ball, corner pocket.”
Blake and Leo brought the score to eighty-seven before they missed. It was an exquisite form of torture for Blake as he moved around the table taking shots. Every now and then he’d sight his cue in Jaxi’s direction, see Joel’s arm casually tucked behind her back. Jesse sat on her other side, their thighs tight together, his fingers draped over both their legs. She was sandwiched between them just like Joel had described days ago, and Blake’s temper rose.
He had told them to stay away from her. Warned them not to get too close in private, let alone in public. Joel met his eye with a challenge that was about far more than pool as he stepped to the table, and the twins quickly took their score over one hundred to win.
“I guess that means we keep the record for another week, right, old-timers?” Jesse held his hand toward Leo and Blake. Leo slapped a twenty into his palm.
“We have time for another game,” Blake suggested. Anything to keep the twins from taking Jaxi into the dancehall before he decided what he was going to do. In spite of all his good intentions, there was a bitter taste in his mouth.
Jesse gave him a grin that said it all. “Well, that’s up to Jaxi. What do you say, sweetheart, can you wait a little longer for your dance?”
Jaxi wiggled her way off the table, letting Joel ease her to the ground. “You go ahead and play another round. I’ll join you in a few minutes.”
Dead silence filled the area as they all paused to watch her hips sway as she headed for the ladies’ room, the layers of her skirt flaring around her legs like windblown leaves.
Leo whistled, long and low. “Sweet. That woman is one hot piece of action waiting to happen.” He turned back to the brothers, his face innocent and blank. “So, do I get to watch a fight to see which one of you takes her home tonight?”
Jesse and Joel snickered, their dark blond heads shaking. “We’re all taking her home. She’s staying with us to help our ma.”
Leo flipped a hand at him. “I know that, and that’s not what I asked. She’s been waiting for one of you Six Pack boys for as long as I’ve known her. I just can’t figure which one. Spill.”
Blake glared a warning at the twins. “What do you mean, waiting for one of us?”
Leo shrugged. “I noticed it more after Cari said something to me once. Jaxi’s willing to flirt with the twins, but she’s got her eyes all over you, Blake. The way the woman watches you I’d think you’d feel her burning a hole in your backside.” Leo examined Blake’s face closely. “You had no idea, did you? Maybe you need to spend a little less time in the fields and a little more time around people. Jaxi’s got plans, and she’s moving on them. I can hardly wait to see how this one shakes down.”
Jaxi returned by the time they’d racked the balls, and Leo got ready to take the first shot.
“Playing one hundred again?” she asked.
“It’s our favourite way to embarrass the old folks,” Joel taunted.
Jaxi’s gaze raked Blake from top to bottom. He stiffened at the blatant appraisal, the sexual gleam she didn’t even try to hide. “Pretty nice looking for old folks.” She turned to Jesse. “I hav
en’t seen you play Challenge lately. Why don’t you do a round of it for me?”
“Challenge?” Leo whispered to Blake.
What was the minx up to? Challenge was usually played with mixed teams and it was definitely a flirting game. Downright foreplay at times. Jaxi tucked her cell phone away in her purse and shimmied back onto the table.
“Challenge sounds fine to us,” Joel called. “We can beat you faster than in a normal game since you’ll be too embarrassed to sink any balls.”
Leo shrugged. “I’m game.” He pointed a finger at Jaxi. “I don’t know what you’re doing, little lady, but I’ll play along this time. You got Cari to give me another chance, and I can put up with a little tomfoolery for your sake.”
Jaxi winked at him and sat back to watch.
The twins won the break, and Blake tried to remember a game challenge that wasn’t too raunchy. He wasn’t interested in getting up close and personal with Leo or his brothers. This had to be the most insane suggestion ever.
“First ten points, consecutive pockets starting with far right.”
Jesse hooted. “You worried about making us blush, big brother?”
Bastard. “Just shoot.”
Jesse and Joel took their turns, managing to sink eight balls in a row into the appropriate pockets before missing. Blake and Leo took over and put away two more before Jesse cleared his throat to announce the next challenge.
“Triple Play.”
“Hell, Jesse, you’re kidding,” Leo complained. “Do I need to worry about why you want to slip between me and Blake while we shoot?”
Jesse shook his head. “Not me. I figured we could talk Jaxi into helping us.” He turned and held a hand to the girl. “What do you think, sweetheart? Run a little interference for us?”
Blake’s heartbeat increased as Jaxi took the hand offered her and smiled sweetly at Jesse. The boy had the guts to clasp her by the waist and slowly lower her to the ground, letting their bodies rub together on the way.