Stay with Me

by Jules Bennett

  She hoped a big hairy spider crawled inside his shoe and bit his toes off.

  “Don’t you have a daughter you need to be with?” she asked, remaining on the outside away from the unknowns inside.

  “Cash has her at the gym,” he replied, his back to her as he searched through the mess. “I was headed home to shower when you texted, so I have time to find a screwdriver and glance to see if there’s any tools I might want.”

  He went back to whistling and it took everything in her not to explode. She waited while he dug around, muttered under his breath, examined various parts to machinery.

  “The screwdriver,” she reminded him when he seemed too enveloped in all the other things in the garage.

  “I’ll get to it. I’m just looking as I go.”

  “Well I need some brackets down so I can start painting. If you could speed up your shopping spree, I would appreciate it.”

  With some greasy part in hand, Jackson turned to face her. “I have a screwdriver in my truck. Why didn’t you just tell me you needed something done right now?”

  He laid the part down and headed down the driveway. “I did tell you,” she argued as she followed the infuriating man.

  “No, you just said you needed a screwdriver. I thought you wanted one on hand for convenience.”

  He opened his squeaky door and reached behind the driver’s seat. Pulling out a small black toolbox, he dug around and found what she needed.

  When she reached for it, he shook his head. “Show me what needs done.”

  “I can do it myself.”

  He kept walking and started up with that damn whistling once again. Olivia ran ahead and stood in front of him, blocking his path.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  He raised his brows, but she couldn’t see his eyes behind his aviator glasses. “Can’t you just let people do things without questioning everything?”

  “No.”

  Jackson laughed and darted around her. “Get used to it if you’re going to be working with me.”

  She followed behind as he mounted the back steps and just helped himself into her house. No, her father’s house. This wasn’t hers other than on paper.

  “What does that mean?” she demanded as the screen door slammed at her back. “You’re going to do the renovations?”

  “It means I’m not completely opposed to more discussions.”

  He stared at the brackets and leaned against the counter. When he reached up over his head to unscrew the pieces, his T-shirt came up slightly, giving her a magical glimpse of the side of his abs, and the vee disappearing into his jeans.

  She really should have looked away, or replied to . . . what had he said?

  “Piper has a birthday party Saturday afternoon. We can talk then. Just come by my house.”

  Olivia took a second to process what all he was saying. He wanted her to come by his house . . . when they’d be alone? Did that mean they wouldn’t even be chaperoned by an adorable four-year-old?

  “Don’t you have to go to the party?” she asked.

  He sat one bracket next to the sink and reached up to remove the other. “I offered, but another mom took pity on me since it’s a spa theme and she didn’t figure I’d want my toes painted.”

  Olivia laughed. “Oh, but red would be your color.”

  Jackson pulled the last bracket out and laughed. “Well, I’ve had many shades in the past several months. Piper has really taken interest in girlie things. I went to the dollar store and bought some things for her to play with. Makeup and stuff, but I don’t have a clue what I’m buying. I found some sparkly tote to put it all in so that seemed to excite her even more.”

  Why did he have to be such a great dad? Jackson may have had a rough hand dealt to him, but he hadn’t once complained, at least not that she’d heard. If anything he acted like he was the most blessed man on earth. He kept Piper and the airport at the top of his priority list. He was faithful, loyal . . . and so damn sexy she was having a difficult time finding a flaw with him.

  “I hate not to go to the party, but at the same time, I know she would rather go with a woman,” Jackson went on as he sat the screwdriver and last bracket down. “She loves her best friend’s mom, so she’ll be fine. It’s just difficult sometimes—”

  “I’ll take her.”

  Where had that come from?

  Olivia didn’t know who was more startled at her declaration. Jackson stared at her with his mouth wide open and Olivia rubbed her palms down her pants. She had not given herself permission to say such nonsense. Why on earth would she volunteer to do such a thing?

  “You don’t have to do that,” he told her after an awkward moment settled between them. “She’s used to tagging along with another mom at this point.”

  “But she shouldn’t have to.”

  Shut up, Olivia. You have so many other things to do besides get more involved with the toddler you’ve fallen for.

  But she couldn’t let it go. Piper was the sweetest little thing with a mop of curly blond hair on the rare occasion it wasn’t in crazy pigtails, and the image of her in Olivia’s old bibs kept flashing through her mind.

  “I could just go as a friend,” she explained, realizing she truly didn’t mind stepping in. “We’ll just explain to Piper that you and I are friends—”

  Jackson snorted. “Is that what you call it?”

  She quirked her brow and continued. “Friends only and I’ll tell her I need a break and a spa party sounds lovely.”

  Jackson narrowed those gorgeous deep brown eyes. “You’re up to something.”

  Olivia swallowed. She didn’t want to admit she knew that emptiness of having one parent being around more than the other. Granted Olivia was older, but Piper had a void in her life and try as Jackson might, he couldn’t fill it completely. Not that Olivia was trying to step in as a mother, but she could be a friend to sweet Piper while she was in town.

  “I don’t have to,” she told him, leaning against the counter. “I’m just throwing it out there.”

  “Are you that desperate to get out of talking to me?”

  She hadn’t thought of it from that angle, but being alone with Jackson wasn’t smart. So, if she went to this party, it would be a win for Piper and Olivia.

  “I’m doing this for your daughter.”

  Jackson shrugged. “I’ll ask her, but I want her to understand that you’re just a friend. She can’t be confused about what you and I have going on.”

  “We don’t have anything going on other than trying to figure out the airport.”

  That sly grin spread slowly across his face as he took a step forward and closed the distance between them. “You can keep telling yourself that, but I don’t believe it any more than you do.”

  He didn’t touch her, simply put one hand on the counter, turned his body toward hers, and put his other hand on the opposite side of her, trapping her against the counter. Her eyes widened. Perfect, she wasn’t as unaffected as she kept claiming.

  “You want to be angry,” he murmured, his eyes darting to her mouth. “But you’re not upset with me, you’re upset because you have emotions you don’t know what to do with.”

  “Stop touching me.”

  He leaned in within a breath of her lips. “I’m not touching you at all,” he whispered. “I haven’t even begun.”

  She closed her eyes. “I can’t think when you’re this close.”

  “Then we’re on the same page.”

  He slid his mouth over hers. Without rushing, without pressing into her, because he wanted to get to know that touch, that taste that only Livie provided. When she opened for him, it was all Jax could do to continue to tease her. He wanted her aching, he wanted her to be just as frustrated as he was. And she was. He could tell by the way she looked at him, the way she kept trying to dodge him, but her body betrayed her when she melted against him.

  Jax continued to only touch her with his mouth, but her fingertips gripped his forearms, dig
ging in as if she were barely holding on by a thread, too. He wanted her to snap, he wanted to see her unleash that inner passion. Why did she keep it so pent up when there was obviously so much inside of her?

  She whimpered slightly, arching as her hands trailed up his arms and over his shoulders. Her fingers threaded through his hair as she angled her head the opposite way.

  There. She was taking the lead. The one and only time he would relinquish control with Livie would be if she wanted to show him exactly what she needed. He’d not been this stirred up by a woman in so long, he couldn’t even attempt to stop this roller coaster of emotions.

  “Well, I see why she wanted us to go get the paint.”

  Livie jerked in his arms and Jax glanced over his shoulder toward the back door where Melanie and Jade stood, both wearing huge grins. Their arms were loaded with paint cans and sacks from Knobs and Knockers.

  “Ladies,” he greeted, while Livie attempted to disengage herself from between his body and the counter. He wasn’t quite ready to let her go, nor was he going to act like they were caught doing something wrong when it had felt so very right.

  “I did not ask you to go,” she corrected. “You both volunteered.”

  Jade sat the gallon of paint on the counter. “Looks like you took advantage of the time we were gone. We can come back later if you’d like to finish.”

  Jax hadn’t known Jade well when she’d lived here before because he was so much younger, but he liked her sass.

  Livie gave him a shove that had him stepping back. “There’s nothing to finish,” she argued, straightening her clothes. “Jackson stopped by to look at the tools in the garage to see if he wanted anything. Then I had him take the brackets down.”

  “I’ve never seen brackets removed that way before,” Melanie replied in her sweet tone as she sat her bags on the counter.

  Jax couldn’t help but smile. Melanie had that perfect Southern belle appearance with her blond hair and her bright blue eyes. Her voice was like honey, sweet, soothing. But she delivered that snarky comment like a seasoned pro.

  Livie let out the most unladylike growl and grabbed his screwdriver from the counter. “We’re done here.” She handed him the tool. “Let me know what time the party is.”

  “I’ll text you about the party,” he told her. “And keep the screwdriver. You’ll need it when I come back to put the brackets back in place.”

  Because he just wanted to, and maybe because they had an audience, he leaned down and captured her lips one last time. Before she could protest, he stepped away and rounded the island.

  “Looks like you guys are all set,” he said, nodding toward the counter full of supplies. “That’s my cue to go because I don’t like to paint.”

  “What party were you two talking about?” Jade asked, eyeing him. “A private party like what we walked in on?”

  A burst of laughter escaped him. “Not yet. Livie can tell you about it.”

  He let the screen door slam behind him as he started whistling and headed down the steps. Painting never bothered him, but there was no way in hell he was going to stick around with those questioning eyes on him. His body was still revved up from that simple, yet gut-churning kiss.

  Why did every taste of her leave him even more needy than the last? Why did it have to be this woman who got him in knots? Since his wife left, he’d sworn not to get involved with another woman unless it would lead somewhere—mainly because of Piper, but also because he didn’t want his heart crushed again.

  Even at the bottom of the porch steps, he heard the chatter inside the house. He rounded the corner and headed down the driveway. With a glance at his watch, he realized he had just enough time to get home for Cash to drop off Piper, but not enough time for that shower. Oh well. Some things were worth a disrupted schedule and kissing Livie Daniels was certainly one of them.

  Chapter Twelve

  With the kitchen and living room painted, the bathrooms up next, Olivia was pleased with the progress they’d made in just a few short days. She had stopped to get flooring samples this morning, so with those taking up the trunk of her car, she focused on another project. The birthday party.

  She guided her car toward Jackson’s house. He’d explained that he lived in the subdivision behind the school at the end of the cul-de-sac. As she turned onto his road, she glanced to her red sundress and wondered if she’d gotten too dressed up. She’d only brought a limited supply of clothes because she hadn’t planned on staying too long, so she’d had to go buy something for this toddler spa party.

  What grown adult went and bought a dress for a child’s birthday party? Olivia didn’t know any of the people who were going to be there.

  Dread curled in her belly as she realized that she most likely would know people. As Jackson’s two-story house came into view, Olivia had to fight back a panic attack. Haven wasn’t a large town by any means, so most likely there would be people there she went to school with. What had she gotten herself into?

  She wasn’t an extrovert—she lived in her office in Atlanta and cranked out killer marketing deals for companies. Her interaction with others tended to be via e-mail or social events with associates. What did she know about children?

  “You can do this,” she whispered to herself as she pulled into the drive.

  She wasn’t sure what she expected out of his home, but the porch swing and the bright flowers along the sidewalk were a pleasant surprise. His home nestled back against the woods, almost giving it a feel of being all alone and away from neighbors. Old mossy oak trees surrounded his property and for a moment, Olivia envied the quiet, peaceful setting. She didn’t have plants or trees or flowers at her condo. She certainly didn’t have a porch or a swing. She did have a killer view of the city, though. That was something . . . wasn’t it?

  Olivia pulled in a deep breath. She’d clearly been in this town too long if she was growing envious of her surroundings. She needed to remain focused on getting some concrete decisions made and getting out of Haven.

  As she stepped out of her car, Piper ran onto the porch. “You’re really here,” she squealed. “I didn’t know if you’d actually come.”

  The way Piper ran off the porch and raced down the drive had Olivia smiling and bracing herself. Tiny arms flew around Olivia’s waist as doe-like brown eyes stared up at her.

  “You’re going to be the prettiest one there,” she said. “I don’t own a dress, but I wore my favorite new sandals.”

  Didn’t own a dress? Because she didn’t like them or Jackson just didn’t buy them? She never thought too much about the dynamics of a single father raising a little girl. Were there things she wanted and missed out on simply because he never thought of such things?

  “Of course I came.”

  Olivia leaned over to look Piper in the eyes. She was well aware Jackson had stepped onto the porch and stood looming over them. Her heart kicked into high gear, but she ignored that automatic reaction and the curl of desire.

  “I can’t wait to spend the day with you,” Olivia stated, surprised that she was being completely honest.

  Seeing Piper’s excitement was well worth the doubts and turmoil she’d experienced moments ago.

  “I need to get the present.” Piper raced back up onto the porch, but turned around and pointed at her father. “Don’t forget my booster seat.”

  He laughed and gave a mock salute. “Yes, ma’am.”

  As Piper went inside, Olivia straightened her dress because Jackson was heading her way and she . . . well, damn it, she was fidgety.

  “You look amazing,” he told her as he stopped directly in front of her. “Would you get this dressed up for me if I took you out?”

  The flirting, the kisses, the heavy-lidded glances were all getting to her. She was having a difficult time trying to remember why being near him was a terrible idea. Because each time he came close, she got swept up in those dark eyes, that devilish grin, and that sweeping glance he’d give her that told her he was ta
king in every inch of her in one swoop.

  “We aren’t going out,” she countered, thankful her voice sounded strong.

  “Maybe not,” he agreed. “But let’s say I asked you out. Would you wear something like this? A little dress that showed off your shape? Or would you go back to those stuffy clothes that scream CEO?”

  She swallowed. “I’m not a CEO.”

  Jackson leaned in and whispered, “I like this Livie better.”

  “Olivia,” she murmured.

  “Not to me.” He eased back. “I’m going to get the booster seat from my truck and put it in your back seat. You think about when you want to discuss the airport plans.”

  He walked away and Olivia turned to watch him go as if he hadn’t just flirted, came within a breath of kissing her, and told her she looked beautiful. She seriously couldn’t keep up with that man.

  “I’m ready, Livie.”

  She spun around as Piper came bounding down the steps, her pigtails in perfect position today and even tied with little blue ribbons. The image of Jackson using those big strong hands to tie something so dainty and feminine did nothing to squelch her fascination and attraction.

  Jackson put the booster seat in the back of Olivia’s car and propped his arm on the top of the open door. “Come on, hot shot.”

  Piper climbed into the back of the car and sat the gift bag beside her. “Bye, Daddy. Love you.”

  He leaned in, fastened her belt, and kissed the top of her head. “Love you, baby girl. Have fun and be good for Livie.”

  When he closed the door, he turned to Olivia. “I’d tell you to have fun, but you look like you’d rather do anything else. It’s not too late to back out.”

  Piper stared out the window, a wide grin spreading across her face. There was no way Olivia would back out. She knew exactly what it was like to be let down, to not be able to depend on someone. Even though Piper wasn’t a permanent part of her life, Olivia would never purposely disappoint such a sweet child.

  “I’m fine,” she assured him. “I’ll bring her back once the party is over.”

  He nodded and stepped aside. “I’ll be here. Just text me if there’s any problems.”