Stay with Me

by Jules Bennett

Even though he’d done a preflight check before he left, Jax still sat Livie in a chair and went about going through the routine again. Safety always trumped rush, especially when it came to flying.

  By the time he was done with the check, had pulled the plane from the hangar, and went around it once more, he still had no clue what he was going to say to her.

  Jax assisted her, carefully and a bit awkwardly, into the passenger seat of the plane. She seemed to still be just as angry. “It’s good that you’re quiet,” he told her as he put his headphones on. “Makes it easier for me to get everything out.”

  There were two ways he could approach her and he honestly didn’t know which one would be the most effective. Livie was all business, all the time. Perhaps that’s the side he needed to appeal to. But, on the other hand, they were so much more than legal documents. They’d been intimate, just this morning in fact, and they knew each other’s hopes for the future.

  He picked up her headset and extended it to her, smiling when she yanked it from his hands.

  Jax started the plane and slowly circled around to the end of the runway. Once they were beyond the crucial period of takeoff, he’d get his thoughts all out.

  “Can I do it?”

  Her abrupt question caught him off guard and he turned to her.

  She met his gaze. “If I’m going to be leaving, I’d like to fly once more before I go.”

  Oh, of course. She was leaving. Because she hadn’t thrown that around enough since she arrived. Jax gave a clipped nod and watched as she checked her gauges, the wings, and pulled in a deep breath. She gripped the controls and started them forward.

  Jax didn’t know the last time he’d been in a plane piloted by someone else, but he had to admit, seeing Livie at the controls was a hell of a turn-on . . . which was the last thing he needed.

  She took off with the ease of a seasoned professional. Jax couldn’t help but think Paul was smiling down on his prodigal daughter.

  “I’ll fly, you talk,” she told him once they’d reached the desired altitude.

  He had to admit, he loved hearing her voice come through the headset. He wanted to get used to this, but he also had to be realistic.

  “I want a timeline of when you’re leaving and a projected time of when things will get started on the airport.”

  Livie’s grip tightened on the controls, her knuckles turned white, and he had to bite the inside of his lip to keep from smiling. He’d purposely thrown her off. She expected him to discuss their rocky relationship. Not going to happen. The second she took those controls he knew how to make her think, make her want. She hadn’t lost the love of flying. The temptation had been too great for her to avoid.

  “Well, um, I’m leaving in two weeks and the outline Jade had drawn up indicated that the process should take about a year to fully develop.”

  A year. Sweet mercy, that seemed like a lifetime. He couldn’t even imagine how his tiny piece of real estate would grow. But he honestly didn’t want to go through this process without her. They were a team whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  “I’m going to need to give my renters some information,” he went on. “Is their rent staying the same? Will there be a time the hangars are out of commission while the renovations are going on? My customers are going to have to be—”

  “I get it,” she demanded. “I know. There’s a lot to take in.”

  “We’re partners in this,” he reminded her.

  She eased the plane a little to the west and headed farther away from Haven. Surprisingly, he figured she’d get uncomfortable with the topic and take them back to the airport. That would so be a Livie move.

  “Are Jade and Melanie leaving when you do?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure. We haven’t really discussed that. I’m sure they’d rather stay behind. They’re facing their own issues in Atlanta, so they’re not as eager to get back. Jade quit her job and Melanie can technically work from anywhere since she has a successful online business.”

  As if she needed to twist that knife deeper.

  “You think things are going to be neat and tidy, Livie?”

  She glanced his way for the briefest of moments before she focused her attention back to the darkening sky. The timing of this flight couldn’t be any better. Livie loved being in the sky at night and he wanted to drive home the fact that all of this could be hers—was hers—if she would just reach out and take it.

  For years he wondered what would happen if she ever came back and now she was here . . . but her temporary status had hung over their heads the entire time. He wasn’t nearly finished with her. She’d have to come back at some point and each time he had to deal with her whether by phone or in person, he’d be reminding her exactly what she was missing.

  Was that fair? Not at all, considering she’d worked damn hard to get that promotion. And if he thought she was stoked about starting, he’d leave her be. But his Livie was torn, she was confused, and he knew if she listened to her heart she’d have the right answer.

  They flew in silence and Jax was perfectly fine with that. He wanted her to be thinking, and he needed to do some evaluating himself. Even though his heart was crushed, he had to remain strong because he would live. He’d go on and do what he loved, which was flying and raising Piper.

  “Will you see Piper before you go?”

  “I’m not leaving for two weeks.”

  “Will you see her?” he repeated. “Because I don’t want you just disappearing. She’s grown pretty fond of you.”

  Livie’s deep sigh resonated through the headphones and had his entire body tightening. No, he’d never have enough of Livie Daniels. Not if they lived for another hundred years. She was it for him and he hoped like hell she’d come to some quick conclusion.

  Since when did he become so desperate? Since when did he let control of his emotions slip away?

  The moment Livie stepped out of her little sports car and he put his greasy hands on her ass . . . pretty much since then. And then again when she obviously fell in love with Piper. There was no denying that Livie adored Piper and that was a huge part of why Jax wanted Livie in his life. He and Piper were a package deal and they were both head over heels for Livie.

  “I wouldn’t just leave without talking to her,” Livie stated. She eased the plan a little more, circling back to the airport. “I hope she calls and texts me so I can stay up-to-date on her birthday parties, school work, her new friends. Though I’m not a fan of that one little girl, Megan, I think? She seemed too snotty for Piper so watch out for that one.”

  Jax was not going to have this discussion. She was either going to be in their personal lives, or she wasn’t.

  “I don’t want Piper becoming too attached,” he stated, as if it weren’t already too late. “I think if we just explain that you’re going back to your job and your life, then she’ll understand. She knew you were from Atlanta and were only here for the airport, but she’ll miss you regardless.”

  “So you don’t want me to text or call?” Livie asked as they began their descent.

  “It would be best if you didn’t.”

  Livie let out a humorless laugh. “We’re not talking about Piper anymore, are we?”

  “No.”

  As much as the pain continued to slice deep, he knew if he wanted her to ache like he did, he was going to have to sever all ties. Well, except for the obvious with the airport. But, she wanted all business, so that’s what he planned on giving her.

  “So cutting me out permanently, huh?”

  Jax didn’t reply as Livie checked the gauges and lined up with the bright blue lights of the runway. The plane bounced a bit when they hit the pavement and any other time he’d call her on her rustiness, but that wasn’t the best idea right now.

  “I’m not the one doing the cutting,” he told her as she slowed the plane. He should’ve kept that thought to himself, but the words had just slipped out.

  “So we’re at the fighting stage?” She took
the curve at the end of the runway and circled back toward the hangar, letting the engines cool before she came to a complete stop. “Because that’s not how I want to leave things.”

  Jax jerked the buckle on his seat belt and snorted. “No, you just want to leave and pretend you never got involved with me.”

  “That’s not true.”

  “You’re a liar.”

  The plane came to a stop and she twisted in her seat to stare at him. She yanked the headset off and clutched it in her lap.

  “I don’t ever want to forget we got involved,” she claimed. “Is that honestly what you think of me? That I regret what we did?”

  “I doubt you regret it, but you’re done and want to pretend like it didn’t affect your life when I can tell you”—he leaned forward and came within a breath of her—“it did.”

  Her swift intake of breath had him cursing himself. He was teetering on a dangerous line, crossing back into the territory he’d told himself to steer clear of until he knew what the hell was going to happen between them.

  The lights from the control panel lit up her face, making her vibrant eyes sparkle even more as she held his gaze. The floral lotion or perfume or whatever she used to drive him insane enveloped him. He wanted nothing more than to forget every single ounce of heartache and kiss the hell out of her until she came to her senses.

  “Fine,” she muttered. “You win, Jax. Is that what you want to hear? You’re right. What we had is more than I’ve ever found with anyone.”

  Had. Out of everything she’d just said, that one word completely summed up everything. She may have feelings for him, but she was already pushing everything into her past . . . because she didn’t want him in her future.

  There was no use in continuing down this path because he was wasting his time and she . . . well, she was mentally already gone.

  Jax shut the plane off and got out. The fresh air didn’t help, but he took a minute to just breathe. He needed to calm down. Unfortunately, he was going to have to carry Livie where they needed to go because of that damn ankle. He’d asked for this. All of it. He’d insisted on going to her house after they’d clearly ended things earlier.

  But hell. She was going to be here for two more weeks? How would they survive?

  By the time he circled the plane, she’d opened her door and was attempting to climb down on one good ankle. Stubborn woman.

  He gripped her around the waist and eased her down until she stood before him, but leaning completely against his chest. She was hurt more than she wanted to let on because Livie never wanted to lean on anyone, literally or figuratively.

  Her palms flattened against his chest and she stared up at him. “I told you one of us would get hurt,” she murmured. “I didn’t want this to happen.”

  “The hurt or the intimacy?”

  Jax couldn’t help himself. He brushed a strand of hair over her shoulder and slid his fingertips over her collarbone before dropping his hand. She shuddered beneath his touch and only solidified what he already knew.

  “I didn’t want any of it,” she admitted. “I knew how this would end and it’s not good and here we are both miserable. But I have to go, Jax. I can’t stay here. Haven isn’t my life and if I stayed, I’d always wonder if I’d given up my dream. How can I trust what we have would be permanent?”

  “So you’d rather play it safe?” he countered. “You’d rather just let your fear guide your life? That’s not how I work, Livie, so if that’s how you want to live, then it’s best you go.”

  As much as those words hurt to say, they were one hundred percent accurate. He wouldn’t want to be with a woman who was afraid to take risks. Life was all about risks and he’d wanted to take the ultimate one with her.

  Her fingers curled into his shirt and she bit down on her bottom lip. He’d slay any demons for her, but right now, she was on her own.

  “I have to go,” she whispered.

  Jax knew in that moment, he’d lost her. She’d made up her mind and just like his ex-wife, he and his daughter were not a top priority. He was done fighting for this, for them.

  He reached down and picked her up, carefully settling her against his chest. When her arms looped around his neck and her head rested on his shoulder, he said nothing as he carried her to his truck.

  Call him a glutton, but he was going to relish these last few moments of her in his arms. Even though she wasn’t leaving for two weeks, he knew in his broken heart there would be no more times of intimacy. Once he took her back home, they would be done on every personal level. They would only be professional partners and that would break him.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered, her breath tickling the side of his neck.

  “Me too.”

  For so much, but mostly because she didn’t trust him enough to ensure she wouldn’t get hurt by staying.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “You can take the documents on your way out of town.”

  Jade stood with said documents extended to Olivia. She glared at them, then back up at her so-called friend. “Can’t you just drop them off?”

  Shaking her head, Jade replied, “You can. It’s on your way out of town and you can’t avoid him forever.”

  Olivia had done a stellar job of dodging Jax for the past two weeks since he romantically carried her to his truck after she’d flown her father’s plane. She had called and talked to Piper on the phone to explain that she had to leave and go back to her job and home in Atlanta.

  Piper understood, and no doubt Jax had already had a discussion with his toddler. Kids were resilient. Too bad adult emotions couldn’t bounce back that fast.

  Jade merely raised her brow and Olivia jerked the documents from her hand. “I hate you.”

  “Of course you do, but since Mel and I are staying behind to help sell this place, you’ll love me again.”

  In theory, the plan sounded utterly flawless. Jade and Melanie were going to hang back for a bit since Atlanta was a whole host of issues for them right now. That would keep the worry of setting up showings off Olivia, and then when it sold she would come back and sign the papers.

  The airport papers in her hand, though, was a whole other host of issues. But this would be simple, right? Go in, drop off the packet, leave. Maybe Jax would be out on a flight. It was a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, surely someone wanted to go somewhere. Oh, maybe he was giving lessons. This would be an ideal time.

  “Are you standing there trying to find another excuse not to go?” Jade asked.

  Olivia opened her handbag and slid the documents inside. “Not at all. I’m not afraid to stop by on my way out of town.”

  More like terrified. She wanted . . . everything. She wanted the job and the man, but that wasn’t possible and she’d made her decision.

  And guilt had spawned her to set something into motion that would probably upset Jax, but she had to do something. She knew what the airport meant to him and she knew he’d been saving for a new-to-him plane. Maybe once the surprise came through, he wouldn’t hate her so much. She hoped. The thought of him hating her was more than she could take. She’d already hurt him, hurt herself, but there was no way to have it all. There just wasn’t.

  “You sure you’re going?” Jade asked, her tone sincere and concerning. She crossed her arms over her chest and tipped her head to the side. “No one would think less of you if you decided to stay and turn down that promotion.”

  “I need to do this. I have to at least try.”

  Jade reached out and pulled Olivia into her arms. “You realize you’re not near as excited now that you’re leaving as you were when we first got here?” She eased back and looked Olivia in the eye. “When we first got here you were counting down to when we could leave and you could get back to work. You’ve been dragging your feet the past several days like maybe you’re having second thoughts.”

  Second thoughts? More like third, fourth, fifth . . .

  Olivia gave her friend a gentle squeeze. “I know what I’
m doing. I’ll text you when I get home and I’ll be sure to send you a selfie from my new office in the morning.”

  “Do you need help to your car?”

  Shaking her head, Olivia adjusted her handbag and reached for the handle on her luggage. “Nope. This is all I have.”

  Because she hadn’t planned on staying so she hadn’t packed much. With a deep breath, she headed out the back door and eased her suitcase down the steps.

  Once she was packed up and backing out of her drive, she took a moment to stare at the house that she’d grown up in. Memories flooded her mind, stirring her heart and procuring tears she hadn’t expected. This was all she’d wanted, and she was finally getting everything she’d asked for.

  Blinking the moisture away, Olivia pulled out of the drive and headed toward the airport. She knew she’d better calm her emotions for the next little bit. Once she left Jax, she could have all the pity parties and emotional meltdowns she wanted. For now, though, she needed to be strong.

  Her heart clenched when she spotted his truck. With fake confidence, she pulled right up beside his truck and grabbed her handbag. She adjusted her sunglasses and stepped from the car, tugging her skirt down in place.

  She glanced inside her bag, making sure everything she wanted to hand over was inside and to take another minute to get herself together.

  “Livie.”

  That familiar voice washed over her. She lifted her head to see Jax standing in the doorway to the hangar. Déjà vu of her first day back into town rushed over her. So much had happened since then. She’d made memories, and dare she say, fed some of her roots she’d established as a teen.

  “Thought you’d be gone by now.”

  Squaring her shoulders, she crossed the grassy area. “I’m on my way out, but I needed to drop some things off to you.”

  She had no idea what he was thinking because he hid his eyes behind that sexy pair of aviators he always wore. After a moment, he turned toward the main building.

  “Come into my office. I have something for you, too.”

  Fantastic. The last time she’d gone into his office he’d given her something . . . and she was still tingling from the memories.