Pyxis: Book Three of The Stardust Series

by Autumn Reed

  The leather cushion hissed as Jackson sank down onto the couch next to me, his thigh brushing mine. Surprised, I looked up, only to be mesmerized by his eyes, swirling with an undefinable emotion.

  He took my hands and held them in his as he watched me closely. “I never talk about what happened, so I’m hoping it will help you understand why I’ve made the choices I have.” His lips slanted in a sly grin. “I’m not saying I’ll be perfect from here on out, but I will make a concerted effort.”

  “Well that’s a shame,” I said, while trying to maintain a straight face, “because I expect perfection at all times.”

  Letting my hands drop into my lap, Jackson reclined and outstretched his arms on the back of the couch. I was shocked when he kept his body shifted toward me with one arm behind my head. “Good to know,” he said lightly. Pointing to the laptop on the coffee table, his serious expression returned. “I assume you’ve already read through some of the file?”

  When I nodded, he continued, “I thought that might be the case and was the main reason I came over. Is there anything you want or need to talk about?”

  Momentarily stunned by his perceptiveness, I stared at him without saying anything. I was having trouble acclimating to the candid and supportive Jackson gazing back at me. Considering we were barely speaking to each other a few days ago, the suspicious part of me couldn’t help but wonder if he was somehow luring me into a trap. But as I studied his face, only inches from mine, all I could find was sincerity.

  I drew in a deep breath. “I definitely have questions, but I need some time to digest the information first.”

  Jackson nodded. “Sure. Let me know when you’re ready to talk.”

  Selfishly, I didn’t want to ask my next question, but I felt compelled to. “Are you sure you’re okay with me crashing the San Francisco trip? I’m dying to go, but after everything you told me about Emily, I don’t want to stress you out or be in the way.”

  Jackson looked thoughtful. “Haley, I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought it was going to be a problem. I want you to come with us, and you’re going to love San Francisco.”

  I smiled. “Whew,” I said dramatically. “At least now I don’t have to figure out how to stow away in one of your duffel bags.”

  Jackson smiled. “I wouldn’t put it past you.”

  “Is there anything in particular I should bring with me to San Francisco?”

  “I’m sure Liam will want to try some local restaurants, so maybe something a little dressy. Otherwise, definitely walking shoes, warmer clothes, and a rain jacket. Feel free to research and make a list of anywhere you want to eat or sights you want to see.”

  “Really?” I asked, feeling even more excited at the prospect of visiting San Francisco.

  “Absolutely. I won’t make any promises, but we’ll certainly give it our best shot.”

  When I asked Jackson if he had visited San Francisco before, he described his impressions of the city and his favorite attractions. As he related a memorable visit to Alcatraz, I was laughing so hard my cheeks hurt. Where had this warm, caring, charismatic Jackson been hiding?

  Wrapped up in the story, I didn’t even notice that Knox had entered the room until I heard the unmistakable tap of his boots on the wood floors behind us. I jumped slightly at his sudden appearance, and it made me realize how close Jackson and I had been sitting. Knox looked between me and Jackson, clearly surprised to see us getting along so well. I had to agree, and not only were we getting along, I was enjoying his company. Maybe there is hope for us yet.

  One Step Closer

  Nervous excitement coursed through me as another road sign appeared indicating the distance to San Francisco. I almost couldn’t believe it—if all went as planned, tomorrow I would finally get to inspect my dad’s emergency safe deposit box. I still had no clue what I would find inside, but I hoped the contents would get me one step closer to finding him.

  It was only when I felt a hand on my knee that I realized it had been bouncing up and down. Sunlight streamed through the car window to the back seat, and the glint of Liam’s silver signet ring drew my attention.

  “A little excited, are we?” Liam asked.

  I shrugged but couldn’t hide my smile. He ran his fingers along the inside of my thigh, and I involuntarily squealed, then pushed his hand off of me to prevent any further tickling.

  Jackson craned his neck to face us from the front passenger seat, his aviator sunglasses covering his eyes. “Don’t make me separate you two,” he said with mock sternness.

  I laughed and glared playfully at Liam while he feigned innocence in the matter.

  “Have you decided what you want to see first?” Jackson asked.

  I shook my head. “I’m still debating, and I figured you guys might have some suggestions as well.”

  Knox’s eyes met mine in the rear-view mirror. “The harbor cruises are fun. We could do that on Saturday if you’re interested.”

  “That sounds nice.”

  Liam, Jackson, and Knox bounced ideas around, and I threw in several attractions that looked interesting. Ethan was noticeably silent throughout the conversation, and I wondered if he had fallen asleep.

  “Ethan, you’re awfully quiet back there. Any suggestions?” Liam asked as he turned toward the seat behind us. Fortunately, we had more than enough space in the black Tahoe; apparently it was part of the fleet of Zenith company cars.

  Liam smirked before reaching back and snatching Ethan’s phone from his hand. Ethan scowled and attempted to grab the phone back, but Liam held it out of his reach.

  “Flirty texting with Stephanie, I see.” Liam scrolled down the screen and then spoke again, pitching his voice high in a terrible attempt to mimic a female. “Want to meet for drinks?” Liam lowered his voice again. “Out of town for work. Let’s hook up when I get back.”

  Whoa. Was Liam twisting the situation, or was Ethan insinuating something more than just drinks? I didn’t want to think about it.

  Before Liam could read any further, Ethan grabbed the phone from his hand and punched him in the arm. “Ouch,” Liam said. “Was that necessary?” I could tell it hadn’t truly hurt him, but I was surprised by the force of Ethan’s reaction.

  “Yep. Keep your hands off my phone.”

  Ethan and Liam continued talking, moving on to another subject, but I stopped paying attention when my phone buzzed in my lap.

  Theo: Two down, one to go!

  Me: Woo-hoo! I’m sure you’ll pass your finals with flying colors.

  Theo: Let’s hope so. Thanks again for the good luck cookies.

  I opened another window to send Chase a text message.

  Me: Good luck on your final tomorrow!

  Chase: Thanks! I’m so ready to be done.

  Me: I bet. Only a few more days and then you’re free!

  I placed my phone in my lap and stared out the window at the passing scenery. The rest of the drive was mostly uneventful, and it wasn’t long before we arrived in downtown San Francisco. We pulled up to a hotel and dropped Jackson off at the entrance.

  “Let’s unload the car while Jax checks in. He should be able to get room keys since it’s after three,” Knox said as he pulled into a parking space.

  When we arrived at the room, Jackson unlocked the door and ushered us inside. Liam was carrying my bag in addition to his own, and he stuck his head in one of the bedrooms. “You and I can sleep in here, gorgeous.”

  I gulped, concerned that he was serious. Sure, I had shared a bed with Chase, Theo, and even Ethan, but Liam was always so overtly flirtatious that the mere idea of sharing a bed with him seemed somehow less innocent than with the others. And while I didn’t think he’d actually try anything, I knew I would be on edge and it would be difficult to sleep.

  Before I could respond, Knox said, “Not so fast, loverboy,” and grabbed my wrist, pulling me toward the other bedroom. He closed the door behind us and set his bag on the floor. I glanced around the room, noticing that d
espite the spacious interior, it also contained only one king-size bed.

  “Jax didn’t really consider the sleeping situation when we booked the rooms, and now the hotel is so full that changing rooms isn’t an option. We can put pillows between us, or I can figure out something else if you’re not comfortable—I’m sure the hotel has rollaway cots.”

  “It’s fine. There’s more than enough space for both of us, and your wall of separation, in this enormous bed,” I said with a smile. And honestly, I was more than okay with the idea. I was used to living with Knox, and I trusted him implicitly.

  “The other option is the sofa bed in the living room that Ethan was going to sleep on. But you would have no privacy. Plus, I’m guessing you’d rather not have to walk through one of the bedrooms any time you want to use the bathroom.”

  I nodded. “You’re right. And really, Knox, this is fine.”

  While I was still unpacking, Knox, Liam, Jackson, and Ethan left for a mission-related task. They promised not to be gone long, so I didn’t waste any time freshening up and changing for dinner. Since Liam insisted that the restaurant wasn’t too formal, I selected a long-sleeve black tunic dress and paired it with a wide camel-colored belt and boots. Feeling more confident in my makeup abilities, I added eyeliner and blush in addition to my usual mascara and lip gloss.

  Checking my reflection in the bathroom’s full-length mirror, I debated whether I had made the best choice in clothes. Even though I was slowly learning which outfits fit certain social occasions, I tended to feel unprepared for new situations. And, whenever I was going out with Liam, I was particularly conscious of my attire since he pretty much always looked perfect.

  “Haley,” Ethan’s voice drifted through the closed bedroom door, “are you ready to go?”

  Grabbing my jacket and small crossbody bag, I opened the door to find Ethan just on the other side of the door. Stepping back to keep from bumping into him, I gave him a quick once-over. “Are you wearing a plain white dress shirt? That’s so not like you.”

  He quirked an eyebrow and pointed to his shoes, which were a traditional Oxford style with a subtle gray and black plaid pattern.

  “Now that’s more like it.”

  Following Ethan out to the hall where the others were waiting, I was relieved to see that while they all looked nice, none of them were especially dressed up. At least I knew that if I was going to stand out, it was because of my entourage of handsome men and not my attire.

  After a short drive, we arrived at a contemporary-looking restaurant. Knox handed off the keys to a valet, and we all entered together with Liam leading the pack.

  “Do you have reservations?” the pretty brunette hostess asked with a sultry smile.

  “Yes, five for Carlyle,” Liam responded politely but not flirtatiously . . . thank goodness.

  After checking her list, she said, “Your table is ready. Please follow me.”

  As we wound through the restaurant, I admired the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the water with the Bay Bridge in the background. The modern interior had sleek gray tiling, and we passed a large bar full of guests sipping their cocktails while watching the bustling kitchen. The tables were laid out in two long lines, all a warm walnut color with matching chairs.

  When we reached our table, I was surprised to feel Jackson’s hand press lightly into my lower back. “Sit here, Haley,” he said, ushering me to the seat with the best view of the waterfront before sitting next to me. Ethan was on my other side, while Liam and Knox sat facing us, with their backs to the windows.

  When the waiter arrived to take our drink orders, I let out a small sigh of relief that he was a fit middle-aged man. I wanted to enjoy the meal in peace, without constant interruptions from an overly-eager waitress flitting around and batting her eyelashes.

  “Have you ever eaten Vietnamese food, Haley?” Liam asked as I began to scan the menu.

  “No, I haven’t. Do you have any suggestions?”

  “Of course,” he responded eagerly. “I would definitely recommend the crispy imperial rolls to start. The chicken claypot or caramelized wild gulf shrimp sound delicious. Or, if you’re feeling more adventurous, perhaps the tea-smoked duck breast. Actually, maybe we should order a number of items for the table and share. Let’s do that . . .” Liam said, trailing off as he excitedly perused the menu, leaving me to laugh to myself at his enthusiasm.

  “Before I forget,” Jackson said, turning my direction. “We’ll be leaving early in the morning, so I need to go over a few things. There’s a room service menu on the desk, and I left cash in the top drawer for tips. If you eat at the hotel restaurant, feel free to charge your meal to the room. Otherwise, there are plenty of cafés and other shops near the hotel that you may want to check out.”

  Reaching into his jacket pocket, he pulled out a business card and handed it to me. “I realize you may want to walk or use public transportation, but if you don’t feel comfortable or are traveling very far, that is the car service we use. Just text your name and location to that number, and a car will arrive within thirty minutes. Usually less.”

  “Wow, fancy,” I said, slipping the card into my wallet for safekeeping.

  “Don’t hesitate to use it,” Knox interjected. “Even if you’re only going a few miles. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”

  Ethan spoke up for the first time. “I don’t think you need to worry too much about Haley. She’s a natural at self-defense, even with her limited training.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Jackson said. “I’ve been meaning to check in with both of you on Haley’s progress.” Addressing me, he continued, “Do you feel like the training sessions have been helpful?”

  “Yes.” I hesitated for a moment, but then I decided to go for it. “Especially after Ethan learned that I was a worthy opponent.” I gave Ethan a smug grin and Knox started chuckling.

  “Wait a second,” Liam interrupted, looking between me, Ethan, and Knox. “What did I miss?”

  Ethan glared at me. “Thanks a lot, Haley,” he said, before grudgingly sharing the story of my first lesson. Although he acted like he was mad, by the time he finished re-telling my gutsy moves, even Ethan was grinning. Thankfully, he left out the part where he pulled me down on top of him; most likely he didn’t want the other guys to know about that any more than I did.

  While Liam and Knox were still ribbing Ethan, Jackson leaned in close and whispered in my ear, his breath warm on my neck. “I’m glad that my shared secret was put to good use.”

  Not daring to turn my head with him so close, I looked down and whispered back, “Yeah, thanks for that. And, don’t worry; I didn’t divulge my source.” Even though Ethan was being good-natured about it now, I had a feeling he would flip out if he discovered that Jackson had been the one to reveal his weakness, and I didn’t want to cause a rift between them.

  Turning back to the other guys, I found them watching me. “I always knew you were cheeky,” Liam said with his dazzling smile, “but that’s utterly brilliant.” He turned to Knox. “Please tell me there are cameras in the gym.”

  Ethan groaned. “Okay, okay, you’ve all had your fun. Can we talk about something else now?”

  Since I had been the one to throw Ethan under the bus, I decided to change the subject. “That reminds me, are there any gun ranges near Santa Cruz? I’d love to brush up on my skills.”

  “There’s one in San Jose that we all go to fairly regularly,” Jackson responded. “Remind me after the trip, and we can schedule time for someone to take you.”

  “Thanks.”

  The entrées arrived, and the conversation turned to other things. Surprisingly, the guys discussed some of their plans relating to the assignment. It sounded pretty tame overall; they were providing extra security for a two-day business conference. But, as always, there was likely more going on with their work than what they bothered to disclose when I was around.

  Everything Liam had selected was delicious, and I couldn’t stop
myself from at least trying every plate on the table. Each dish was unique, but they were all fresh and the flavors were incredible. From the crispy imperial rolls to the shaking beef, it was one of the most amazing meals I had ever eaten.

  Liam moaned with delight. “Mmmm, this shrimp reminds me of that heavenly appetizer at the Christmas party last year. I hope Uncle hired the same caterers again. They’re my absolute favorite.”

  “I’m sure he did. You only mentioned to him how they’re your absolute favorite twenty times or so,” Knox replied dryly. “Of course, he may have realized you’re on Santa’s naughty list and decided to hire another company instead.”

  Liam shook his head. “He wouldn’t do that. I’m always on the naughty list,” he retorted with a wink aimed at me.

  Seeing an opening to find out more about the party, I said, “I saw the invitation for the Christmas party at work this past week. I take it it’s an annual tradition?”

  “Indeed it is. Most companies have their holiday parties at a hotel or some other event venue, but Uncle likes to open his home to his employees, and he goes all out. Great food, fabulous music, pretty girls in cocktail dresses . . . you get the picture.”

  “That sounds fun.”

  Knox grimaced. “You don’t have to lie, Haley. We all know that you’re not really into big parties.”

  “That’s true, but I wasn’t lying about the food and music part . . . the pretty girls in cocktail dresses I could do without.”

  All four of the guys laughed and Jackson said, “So, what you’re saying is that you’re perfectly happy being the only pretty girl in a room full of attentive men?”

  I nearly choked on my water at his unexpected comment, coughing as I tried to regain my composure. “That is not what I meant.”

  Amid a chorus of “mhmms” and “sure it’s not,” the waiter showed up with the dessert menu. Although I was feeling pleasantly full, I wasn’t sure I could resist whatever unusual confections were being offered. Liam, in consultation with Ethan, ordered the churros, coconut mousse, and a dark chocolate concoction that sounded like a fancy s’more.