I dial Jax one more time as I move closer to the barricade. Still no answer. Taking a deep breath, I head to where I see a few cops standing around and pray they will tell me she’s okay.
“Commander's daughter is a pretty good shot,” I overhear one officer say.
I do a double-take, focusing on the cops chatting near the barricade. Did they just say Jax’s dad is a cop?
“No shit. I don't think any of my kids could defend themselves they way she did. They’d freeze up,” another adds.
“I know a few of us that wouldn't have been that controlled.”
None of the officers glance toward the crowd gathering on the sidewalk or the reporters not far off to the right. With no other recourse, I dial Jax’s number, hoping maybe this time she’ll answer. The phone rings, and an echoing ring sounds nearby. The ring tone sounds familiar, but I can’t say for sure it’s Jax’s.
A large group of uniformed officers head away from the building, and I finally spot Jax walking between two men. There’s just enough setting sun left that I can make out a few similar features on the older gentleman next to her that makes me think he could be her father.
“Jax!” I call out, hoping to get her attention.
She glances around, but with all the people standing around me, she doesn't spot me. I shift away from the crowd and call her name again. This time she stops, as do her companions. They say a few words before breaking off from the group.
“Officer, let that man through the barrier,” the older man commands, gesturing toward me.
The officers closest to me turn their focus on me as one of them takes a step in my direction.
“Sir,” the youngest cop addresses, maintaining eye contact with me. “Commander Sark would like to speak with you.”
As I’m ushered past the “Do Not Cross” line, the younger gentleman who was standing with Jax and the Commander walks toward the crowd. He stops as I near him.
“Jax is shaken, and so is Jack. Try to make a good impression. Trust me when I say, this is not how she would’ve wanted you to meet the Commander.” The officer’s expression is set in a hard line, and my stomach drops.
Fuck! I'm meeting her father tonight of all nights. I can do this. I did pretty well with the Ella bombshell. This should be a breeze.
“Thanks. I’ll do everything I can to help this situation,” I promise, nodding at him before locking eyes with Jax and heading for her.
The closer I get, the more disheveled Jax appears, and I’ve never seen her off her game. Hell, considering I normally see her covered in flour, with dough all over her hands, seeing Jax off her game like this scares me. My gorgeous friend and savior is never shaken, but tonight she is. Tonight, one of the strongest women I know, and my daughter’s hero, had her world flipped upside down. And it scares the fuck out of me. Jax is fucking Wonder Woman every time she hangs with Ella and me. In fact, she’s been buying Ella Wonder Woman comics since Christmas, and Ella is in heaven.
When I finally come to a stop next to Jax and her father, she takes a step toward me, and all I want to do is wrap my arms around her. I don’t, however. Not after whatever has happened. My plan to talk to her about taking our relationship to the next level will have to be put on hold.
“Dad, this is Forest Jenson, the friend I’ve told you about. I’ve been helping him and his daughter, Ella.”
Friend? Fuck. Does she only think of me as a friend?
“Mr. Jenson, I’ve heard a lot about you and your daughter. I’m sorry for your loss. I know it’s hard on little girls when they lose their mothers, and it’s not so easy on the husbands either,” Mr. Sark says, sticking his hand out for me to shake, which I do.
“Hi Mr. Sark––” I begin, as Jax cuts me off.
“Dad, Forest and Ella’s mom weren’t together. He didn’t know about Ella until last summer. Remember, we talked about that?” she chastises him, but in a voice I’m starting to recognize. Ella re-tells me things when I forget something she’s said too.
Commander Sark furrows his brow and studies me then his daughter, his eyes narrowing in the process. Yep...never get on this man’s bad side. He will definitely kill me. Noted!
Focusing on Jax, he continues their conversation. “As I was saying before, I think you should come stay at the house. You can use the spare room for as long as you need to. I don’t want you staying here. Your door is broken, and I’m going to need to have an officer stay to watch the apartment tonight. It’s not safe. Plus, I need you to come down to the station so we can finish the paperwork.” Commander Sark holds up his hand when Jax starts to speak. “I know you already gave your statement. Your gun is in evidence, which means you don’t have your best line of protection,” he finishes.
“Dad, I’m supposed to be cooking dinner for Forest. How am I supposed to do that now?” she asks, shifting her stance and placing one hand on her hip.
“Joclyn, you’re not going back in that apartment except to get what you need for a few days so you can stay someplace safe.”
This is a battle I am not getting in the middle of. I want to date Jax and do sexy things with her, so I’d like to be on her father’s good side. I remember all too well what Dad was like with Nessa when she and Adam started dating. I can only imagine what dating a cop's daughter will be like.
“Fine. If I need to stay someplace safe, how about I stay at Forest’s place? He has a spare room and a doorman. His place is close to work, and if this wasn’t a random act of violence, rather someone after you, they won’t find me at his place,” she states matter-of-factly, staring her father down.
I. Am. So. Fucked!
Commander Sark eyes me again. This time, I know he’s studying every movement and every word. Or rather, my lack of words. His scrutiny is making me want to fidget, but I know if I want this man to respect me, I can’t move. But damn is he a scary son of a bitch!
I clear my throat. “Sir, my spare room is open, and Jax is welcome to it. Her safety is the most important thing,” I add, and he directs his full attention back to Jax.
“This is not really the place for this discussion, and I have to get back to the station. But I’d like to discuss your options more,” he says, as officers begin calling his name. He holds up a hand.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but can I make a suggestion?” He nods, and I glance between him and his daughter, praying I’m not about to piss her off. “Why don’t I help Jax throw some things together for wherever she’s going to stay, you head to the station, and since I know we’re probably all hungry, you could meet us at my place later? We’ll grab takeout so it’s quick and easy, and there will be plenty for when you arrive. Once you check the building out, you and Jax can have the conversation you need to about where she’s staying where you both feel she’s safe.”
Commander Sark lets out a long breath. “If Jax is willing to go along with this plan, I’m game. I do want her to feel safe. And I appreciate that you are trying to give us some middle ground tonight when we’re both on edge. Jax what do you say? Though takeout doesn’t sound like the type of dinner you were expecting, it does sound good.” His voice gentles just a bit. Or maybe that’s my imagination.
Jax looks back and forth at her father and me before responding. “I’m exhausted and don’t want to fight, so I’m good with Forest’s idea. I’ll send you his address. That way no one will overhear it in case what happened tonight is what you’re thinking. Now, I’m going to go pack.” She raises onto her tiptoes and kisses his cheek. “Thanks, Daddy.”
She grabs my wrist and starts to walk away.
“Sir, it was nice to meet you,” I tell him.
“Son, just keep thinking that, and we won’t have an issue,” he replies as she pulls me away, and damn...I knew she was strong, but I didn’t realize how strong she really is.
Jax isn’t petite, but she’s not big, either, at five-foot-five. I know she works out and takes a self-defense class, but still...she’s pulling my six-foot-one muscular body with ease. Just on
e more reason I agree with Ella about Jax being Wonder Woman.
Chapter 3
Jax
What a clusterfuck the day turned out to be. And I was so looking forward to having a date with Forest. That went out the fucking window quickly. I didn’t think I could fall any harder for Forest than I already have, but the way he’s comforted me tonight makes me rethink that. I’d thought that tonight's dinner might move us in a new direction, but with these recurring issues in my life, I’m not sure that’s a great idea. I can’t bring him or Ella into this, and it’s not like this is the first time someone has come after me in order to get to my dad.
I really hope Dad’s wrong, and that guy was just at the wrong address doing something stupid. If not, I need to move again.
“Hey, Jax? You doing okay in there?” Forest calls through the door. “The tacos and nachos are here. I’ll have everything on the coffee table whenever you’re ready. Do you want a beer, whiskey, or something else to drink?”
“I’ll be right out. What beer do you have?” I ask as I change into lounge wear. I’ve been hiding in this room long enough.
“There’s a growler from Brewtorium, one or two Innis & Gunn bourbon barrel bottles, and a dunkel,” he replies, and it sounds like he’s walking away from the door.
Grabbing a hair tie off the dresser, I head out of the room and down the hall to Forest’s kitchen, putting my hair up in a messy bun as I go. I’ve never been this disheveled in front of Forest before. I’ve always at least been presentable, even when covered in flour from baking. Tonight, I just don't care. If Forest wants me for me, it doesn't matter how presentable I am.
“Did you decide which beer you want?” He glances over is shoulder at me.
How the hell does he always make me feel so comfortable around him?
“Innis & Gunn, please. Thanks again for letting me crash here,” I tell him, stepping around the kitchen counter to grab some water as well.
“Jax, there's something…tonight I…ugh." He takes a couple deep breaths. “I’m going about this all wrong.”
His expression has me worried and confused. I take a seat on the sofa, scoot into the corner, brace myself for the I just want to be friends comment, and bite my bottom lip.
“Whatever you have to say, I can take it,” I encourage, hoping it will calm him while I’m nothing but a jumble of nerves.
His head cocks to one side, and he furrows his brows. If I didn't know better, I’d say his beard just twitched. This afternoon while I was in the shower, I’d fantasized about Forest and his beard. More specifically––what his beard would feel like on certain parts of my body. But of course, that fantasy was rudely interrupted.
“Jax?” Forest waves his hand in front of my face. “Where did you go just now?” he asks.
“Sorry. I was remembering something I was thinking about before all that shit went down at my place,” I reply as he passes the beer to me and takes a seat.
“While I want to know what you were remembering, because that far off look on your face says it was probably really good, if I don't have this other conversation with you now, I’ll catch hell from everyone at Belladonna. Especially Wes, who will undoubtedly call me a pussy.” He takes a deep breath before practically chugging his beer.
“Damn, this sounds more ominous than I first thought.” I fidget, contemplating chugging my beer right along with him.
I thought he'd said the other day that he was just signing papers over at Calla and Wes's place. This sounds like there was more to it.
Forest doesn’t respond right away, and an uncomfortable silence settles over us. As I watch him, I can practically see the gears turning, as if he's trying to work out a very complex problem in his head. He does this when we're baking with Ella as he tries to answer her questions about why we mix some things one way and other things another. She's so curious, which adds a new layer of excitement when baking with her. Forest absolutely loves her questions and refuses to give her answers like, “Because that's how it's done,” or some other shitty answer.
Fuck. Ella’s a smart kiddo, and those types of answers don't do her justice.
“Just spit it out and stop being a pussy," I hear Forest mumble, and I refocus my attention on him as I place three of the piping hot tacos on my plate. And immediately begin blowing on my fingers.
Damn! Those need to cool. I can't believe they are still that fucking hot.
The buzz of an incoming text breaks Forest’s murmurings. He grabs his phone, quickly shooting off a response.
“Fucker,” he murmurs, placing the phone on the table and taking a few tacos for himself.
“Wes, I take it?” I nod toward the phone, and he grunts his agreement as he takes a bite, promptly opening his mouth and breathing out heavily the word, “Hot!”
Chuckling, I push up from the couch, heading to the kitchen for a fork and some Tabasco. When I have the supplies in hand, I make my way back to Forest, handing him a fork as well.
“Thanks. I didn’t think these would still be that fucking hot. I can’t believe you’re going to put Tabasco on tacos. That’s a sacrilege, and you know it.” He gives me his panty-dropping, mischievous grin, and I want to say, “Fuck the tacos, have me instead.”
“Well, if they weren’t so bland, I might not have gotten it out of your fridge, but they are. Don’t try to deny it. I’m betting you need some too.” Kneeling next to the table, I squirt the hot sauce on my taco before sitting back on the couch.
His head tilts side to side a time or two before he agrees.
“Now, can we get back to this difficult discussion you’re trying to have? You’re making me nervous,” I confess, scooting back into the corner of the sofa.
“Yeah...sorry I’m making you nervous. If it helps, I’m nervous too. It’s not like I have conversations like this everyday, and now with Ella in the picture, it makes things a little more complicated,” he admits, picking up his beer and tipping the bottle to his lips before taking a long pull.
Damn I wish I was that bottle, because he’s making me think that the two of us together is never going to happen.
My stomach is twisting in knots, which is not something that has ever happened with Forest. I set my plate on my lap and reach for him. He sets his beer down and grabs my hand.
“Jax, you’ve become extremely important to me and Ella, and I’d never do anything to screw that up. Ella abso-fucking-lutely adores you. Furthermore, the friendship you and I have cultivated in the last eight months...I can’t tell you how much you’ve helped our transition. Sure, it’s been rocky at times, but without you in our lives, it would’ve been hell. You’ve become family. Not just to me and Ella, but to the whole Belladonna crew.” I’m not sure he even took a breath during all that, in the rush to get his words out.
“Well, I love hanging with you and Ella, and y’all have helped me just as much as I’ve helped you, I’m sure,” I respond, studying him.
“Good. I’m glad to hear that.” He pauses, and I squeeze his hand. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and now that Ella and I are getting settled into a routine and comfortable with our situation, I’m ready to start dating...with the right person.”
I swallow hard and mentally cross my fingers that he’s not going to ask me to babysit while he goes out on dates. It will be hard enough hanging out with him and Ella if he’s dating someone else. There’s no way in hell I’d be able to handle the “after date” conversations we could potentially have.
Forest goes on, smiling now. “Dating will obviously change things between us, but I think we could make it work, and I’d want to make sure, every step of the way, that we are all comfortable. And most importantly, that our friendship never gets lost.”
Fuck. Could my day get any worse?
A tightness forms in my chest, and as I sit here trying to be supportive of my friend and the man I’m falling in love with, I really want to shrink in on myself and run out of the room. Instead, I zone out and try to protect the re
maining bits of my broken heart. That is, until my phone starts ringing from the other room.
“I need to get that. It sounds like my dad’s calling,” I say, letting go of Forest’s hand and quickly walking to the spare bedroom, escaping into solitude.
“Hey, Dad. Are you here or still at the station?” I ask as I answer the phone.
“I’m still at the station. I need to take a rain check. You up for meeting me for breakfast tomorrow? We need to talk about a few things, and from the little I’ve found out, I need you to stay someplace safe for a few days.” His gruff voice is filled with concern...and an undercurrent of fear.
I stiffen. The last time my father sounded like this was when my mom was dying. Fuck me. I guess I’m going to need to suck up my emotions and see if I can stay here for a few days. With C.J. hurt, and considering how close he lives to my place, it’s probably not good to stay with him. But can I really ask Forest to risk him and Ella for whatever is coming my way because of Dad’s job?
“Jax, we’ll get this cleared up as quickly as we can. I just don’t want you in harm’s way. I’ll call you in the morning to discuss where we should meet. If you’re staying with your friend, it may be best if I just meet you there. I love you. Try not to stress. Night sweetheart.”
“Night, Dad,” I say then the phone disconnects.
“Is your dad coming over?” Forest questions from behind me, making me jump.
I grasp my chest and spin to him. “You scared the living shit out of me!” He steps up to me, wrapping his arms around me.
“I’m sorry. I thought you realized I followed you.” He stares into my eyes, and his brows furrow at whatever he sees. “Let’s eat and finish our conversation,” he suggests, letting go of me.
“I’m not really hungry anymore. I think I’m just going to go to sleep. I’m sorry.”
“If that’s what you need. I’ll come check on you before I turn in,” he says, stepping away.
“Thanks again for letting me crash here. You’re a really great friend,” I manage, hoping it doesn’t sound forced.
Bearded Dessert (One of the Boys Book 3) Page 2