A Co-Worker's Crush

by Piper Rayne

  “We should get going. I’ll definitely keep that booking in mind. Are there private rooms if I want a tattoo in a more… discreet spot?” she asks while eye-fucking me.

  Frankie makes that sound she does when she’s annoyed. I put my arm around her waist and tug her closer. At first she fights it, trying to lean the opposite way, but my hand locks on her hip.

  “Sure thing. But Frankie would have to do that. She’s pretty protective of me doing those types of tattoos even though I tell her all the time she’s the only one for me.”

  Frankie’s head whips in my direction and I press my lips to hers. Surprisingly, she doesn’t push me away. My lips tingle with the urge to deepen our kiss, but we’re in public.

  “Oh, right. Well, good luck. Hope your snowwoman comes in second—after us, of course.” She laughs. “Annabelle!” she yells and walks away.

  Once they’re gone, I let Frankie go.

  “What was that?” she asks.

  “I didn’t like the way she acted like she was better than you. Plus Annabelle clearly had a birthday party and Jolie wasn’t invited.”

  Frankie’s eyebrows rise. “So you thought acting like we’re a couple was proof of what exactly?”

  I’m not going to be arrogant and say I did it because Annabelle’s mom clearly wanted me. I wanted to stick it to her and stop her from looking down at Frankie and Jolie.

  “Cute display, Jax. I’d almost say you were being protective.” Rian’s eyes light up.

  Oh no. I know that look. That’s the love glow Rian gets when she thinks something is romantic.

  I’m just as struck as Frankie, because normally, I wouldn’t give a shit if some snooty woman looked down on us. What’s happening to me?

  Chapter Fourteen

  Frankie

  * * *

  Sandy’s watching Jolie because Knox and Kamea want to host a game night. I could use a night off of momming, but I’m not sure I could use it with Jax. Ever since the snowman competition a week ago, I can’t help but think about what it would be like if we were a couple.

  I brought Gumdrop with me since I didn’t want to hand that responsibility off to Sandy too, so I told Jolie Gumdrop needed a night with his daddy. When I knock on the door, Kamea answers.

  “Hey, Frankie,” she says, stepping aside and letting me in.

  “Have you hidden all your shoes? Because Gumdrop is still chewing things like crazy.” I might sound exasperated, but this little guy has wormed his way into my heart.

  “I think Jax said he picked something up to help with that.”

  Just as she’s about to show me something on the counter, Jax comes out of his room. He sits on the floor and claps his hands, smiling. “Gumdrop!”

  I put the puppy down and he waddles right over to Jax and crawls into his lap. Jax stands with Gumdrop in his arms. My ovaries let out a big sigh.

  “This is what he picked up.” Kamea hands me a bottle.

  “It’s some kind of bitter apple taste. You spray it everywhere and it’s supposed to help. I got us each a bottle,” Jax says.

  I put the bottle in my purse. “Thank you. How much do I owe you?”

  Gumdrop whines, so Jax puts him down on the floor.

  “Nothing. It’s a co-parent gift.” He waves me off. “I also got some training treats. I thought about the obedience training and I’ve been looking things up online. I think I can do it, so we don’t have to pay someone else.”

  “Really?” I’m skeptical.

  He nods. “I mean, it would be better if I was with him full time, but I’ll do what I can at the shop and when I have him.”

  “Okay.” Then I remember what Jax mentioned before. “Kamea, are you and Knox moving downstairs?”

  She looks at Jax, and he sighs. “Yeah, they’re leaving me.”

  “Now you have the place to yourself.” I smile, trying not to think about how that gives Jax the freedom to bring his hookups here as he pleases.

  He nods. “Thankfully. Now I can pee in the morning without listening to the groaning.”

  “Because he doesn’t shut the door.” Kamea laughs and shakes her head.

  The apartment door opens and Seth bounces in. “Let’s play! Just a warning that I’m a champion at everything I do.”

  Evan comes in behind him, shaking her head.

  Seth kisses my cheeks. “I heard I missed quite the snowwoman. Spitting image of you, huh?”

  “I guess so.” I hug him and pat his shoulder. “Hey, Evan.”

  “Hey, Frankie. Where’s the little guy?”

  Jax and I both look at one another. Shit, quiet is never good when a puppy is involved. We both look through the apartment. How could something small get away? After looking under the couch and chairs and in the bathroom, I find Gumdrop in Jax’s room, chewing on his boots. He’s already got the top chewed off and is working his way down.

  “No, Gumdrop!” I grab the boot.

  Jax comes in and his shoulders sink as he looks at one of his new boots that is now a mauled piece of leather.

  “You gotta be fucking kidding me,” he says, coming closer to inspect the boot in my hand.

  My heart races and I brace myself for his anger, grabbing Gumdrop before Jax can. Jax stops his approach and looks at me for a moment before slowly taking Gumdrop from my arms. I stare intently at Jax, my breath lodged in my throat.

  Jax puts his finger in Gumdrop’s face. “Bad dog, no chewing. Come on, I got you a chew toy for this kind of thing.”

  He walks out with Gumdrop and the breath I was holding finally releases. I stay there for a minute, trying to collect myself. Jax returns, putting Gumdrop down with a chew bone he must have bought at the store.

  “I read that you have to say no, then show them an item they can chew.” He picks up his boot. “Damn, these were expensive.” He throws everything on the floor in the closet and shuts the door. “They said the chewing phase is a long one, so get prepared to lose stuff.”

  “You’re not mad?” I ask, stepping toward the door.

  “Yeah, I’m pissed. Like I said, those were expensive, but what can I do?” He shrugs.

  I could tell him what Michael might have done.

  Jax stops before we leave his room, barricading me with his arms on the frame of the door. “We’re not all assholes. You can trust me, Frankie.”

  He holds my gaze for a moment, then pushes off the frame and joins his friends. But my feet feel as if they’re stuck in cement. I never thought Michael’s reactions to things made that much of a lasting impression on me, but I was clearly afraid that Jax was going to hurt the dog. That’s not fair to Jax, because he’s never shown me that he has a crazy temper.

  God help me. I press my hand to my stomach to stop the hummingbirds from flapping their wings when I think about being with Jax again. But I’m pretty sure I’m losing the battle within myself of not wanting him.

  I should’ve known this group of friends wouldn’t play normal games like Charades or Pictionary. We end up playing 5 Second Rule Uncensored, where you have to name three things that relate to the topic on the card. Jax picks up a card to ask me, and Sierra’s got the timer in her hand, ready to turn it over. I’ve never been good at thinking fast.

  “Three erogenous zones?” Jax asks me with a wicked grin because he already knows some of mine.

  “Oh, I love this one,” Blanca says.

  “You want to know Frankie’s erogenous zones?” Ethan asks her.

  They all laugh.

  “Hello? Maybe new places you haven’t discovered,” she says, and Sierra raises her hand for a high five.

  “Babe, I’ve discovered your entire body,” Ethan says. “Believe me, we’ve found them all. But if you want to ditch this party and see if we can find a new one, you know I’m game.”

  “Better do it before you’re an old married couple,” Seth says.

  “Speaking of which, I need the RSVP from you two.” Blanca wiggles her fingers between Jax and me.

  Neither
of us says anything. The only reason I haven’t RSVPed is because I have to fill out whether I’m bringing a guest or not. The thought of going to a wedding by myself sounds about as pleasant as putting a staple in my eye.

  “I’ll get it in the mail,” I say.

  “Okay, enough talk! Let’s get to the game,” Jax distracts everyone.

  “Owens, why do you want to know Frankie’s erogenous zones so badly?” Seth asks, and Jax rolls his eyes.

  “Ready, set, go.” Sierra flips the timer.

  “Okay, um, back of the neck, nipples, and um… my inner thighs.”

  “Good ones. I love the collarbone,” Sierra says.

  “I love my neck and shoulders.” Rian closes her eyes as if Dylan’s kissing her there right now.

  And it’s the first time I realize that when playing this game, they’re all going home horny with someone to satisfy them. I’m going home horny to my vibrator that doesn’t kiss any of my erogenous zones.

  “Me too.” Blanca falls to the back of the couch.

  Ethan stares at her as though he doesn’t know what she’s talking about. “I just did that the other day and you pushed me away so hard I have a bruise on my hip from hitting the counter.”

  “I was working, and my mind was focused on that. You pick all the wrong times to do that.”

  “Okay, maybe you want to write me down a schedule of when I should approach you and when I should leave you alone?” There’s a bitterness in Ethan’s tone and I’m not the only one who hears it.

  “Relax, love birds. After the wedding, you can screw one another senseless without the pressure of your upcoming nuptials.” Rian smiles at them.

  “That’s why I don’t do commitment,” Jax says.

  I whip my head in his direction. I hate that persona he puts on sometimes. “Why? Because the woman doesn’t bow down and give you a blow job every time you unbutton your pants?”

  He raises his hands. “Hey now, let’s not involve ourselves in their drama.”

  “You did when you made that ridiculous commitment comment.”

  “What’s ridiculous about it?” His forehead wrinkles.

  A few people get up to get a new drink and Evan refills the chips.

  “Maybe men should get a badge to wear around that says, ‘Commitment scares me, you’ve been warned.’”

  Kamea laughs and puts up her hand for me to high five.

  “Why are you laughing? I committed right away,” Knox says.

  “Because I agree with her. Not everything has to do with you, Knox.” She shakes her head at him.

  “If I wore that badge, ten times the amount of women would be attracted to me,” Jax says. “Women like to think they can be the ones to change a man’s mind. But the truth is, you can’t flip a man who doesn’t want commitment.”

  Rian raises her hand. “I beg to differ.”

  Dylan kisses her shoulder. “Me too.”

  “Please, Phillips was never the no-commitment guy. He just needed his priorities straightened out.” Jax looks around the room. “As the only one here who believes that being with one person for the rest of your life is a crock of shit, let me tell you, men like that don’t change.”

  I head to the kitchen to get away from him. I wish I could hide my upset feelings because why do I even care if that’s what Jax thinks? “Then die alone.”

  “You can say what you will, but I tell the women right off the bat. They can’t blame me if they put on rose-colored glasses and get attached.”

  “Jax…” Rian’s tone is one of warning. “What’s with you?”

  “I’m just saying, some of us are too screwed up to have a serious relationship.”

  “That’s not true.” Sierra raises her finger. “Dylan was really screwed up and look at our Prince Charming now.” She pinches his cheeks, and Dylan smacks her hand away.

  “Okay, enough about me. Can we just play the game?” Jax says.

  “Yes, let’s play a drinking game.” Adrian raises the game they brought.

  “Sure, add alcohol to this group of angry people. Great idea.” Seth shakes his head, falling back into the couch.

  “Drinking game? I’m in.” I sit back down between Rian and Jax. “This should be right up your alley.” I grab the Do or Drink game that Adrian held, pick up a card, and look at Jax. “Ready, Don Juan?”

  “Always,” he says before sipping his beer.

  “‘Dick card.’ Everyone with a dick, drink up.” I raise my eyebrows in challenge to Jax, but the next card is the brunette card and Blanca and I have to drink.

  By the time my turn comes around again, I’m more than buzzed. Soon my ass is close to Jax’s hand, our thighs are touching, and his smell is hypnotizing me. Damn alcohol and its power to make you forget why you were pissed off.

  The game disperses after only a few rounds. Seth turns on music, and all the girls rush to the center of the room as if there’s a dance floor. Slowly, one by one, each woman entices her guy to join her, grinding their hips in a slow dirty dancing move.

  At some point, I look around and realize Jax and I are the only ones not coupled up. He’s sitting on the couch, legs spread wide, sipping his beer, eyes on me. My breath lodges in my throat. How can he spout all that shit about commitment when he’s more than committed to my daughter and Gumdrop than even Jolie’s father is? It’s not a commitment to me, but it still says something about the man.

  But I push all that out of my mind because he’s looking good tonight and all that sex talk has me hot and bothered. So I walk toward Jax, swaying my hips, biting my lip, ready to straddle him—until I trip over the corner of the coffee table and stumble head-first into his crotch. I pick my head up to look at him, and he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. Am I crazy for thinking he’s wrong about the commitment thing? Probably, but tonight, I don’t care either way.

  Just as I’m about to rise up on my feet, a queasiness turns my stomach inside out and I throw up all over Jax’s lap.

  Smooth, Frankie. Real smooth.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Jax

  * * *

  “I’m soooo sorrrrry,” Frankie slurs.

  All of our friends stare at me in horror, wondering how I’ll react. What is with people thinking I have some temper? It pisses me off.

  “Party’s over,” I say.

  Rian and Bianca walk over to either side of Frankie.

  “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” Rian says.

  “I’ve got her, just move the party over to your place,” I tell Rian.

  She steps back for a moment. “We can handle this.”

  “So can I.”

  “Are you sure? We’re all here.” Kamea steps forward.

  “I’m positive.” I slide to the side and gently place Frankie’s head on the sofa.

  Our friends trust me enough to file out of the apartment, Rian and Kamea lingering. “If you need us…”

  “Go.”

  It’s not that I don’t want their help. I mean, who wants to clean up puke all by themselves? No one. But Frankie deserves to not have everyone see her in this state. I know she’d hate it if they did. She’s the most in control of her life, the most mature out of all of us. She’ll be embarrassed enough tomorrow without having them further witness this mess.

  “This isn’t gonna be pretty,” I murmur to her after everyone leaves.

  I unbutton my pants and lower them to the floor, then I strip my shirt carefully to keep the puke from going everywhere. In my boxers, I take a garbage bag and throw away the clothes. Guess I’ll be shopping for new boots, new jeans, and a new T-shirt now.

  I turn on the shower to warm up the water and head back to get Frankie. Her face has puke on it and it’s in her hair. I stare at her for a moment, resting on the couch and looking so innocent, without that chip that’s usually prominently displayed on her shoulder. She hasn’t had the easiest life in the past few years. Although I know nothing of how she grew up, the last few years would’ve broken a les
ser woman, but she’s still so tough and strong.

  “We’re going to take a shower,” I say.

  She groans and picks up her head. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t plan on drinking that much.”

  “That’s apparent.”

  I hold her up the majority of the trip to the bathroom, but we get there, nonetheless.

  “Frankie?” I say, waiting for her to stop staring at the floor and look at me. “Are you okay if I take off your clothes? It’s just to get you in the shower.”

  She nods. “You already saw me naked.” Her head circles to the other side.

  “Don’t remind me of that right now.” I glance down at myself since I only have my boxer briefs between us. “Okay, sit on the toilet.”

  I position her and strip off her socks, revealing the cutest red-painted toes. She wiggles them as though she’s ticklish, and I wonder what would happen if we weren’t in this situation and I tickled her. Would she squirm until I caught her?

  Then comes the hard part—her shirt. I grab the hem and pull it up, keeping the vomit from getting more on her than it is. “Are you committed to this shirt?”

  She shrugs.

  I get the shirt off and see that she’s wearing a see-through bra. She’s got to be kidding me. My boxers tent and I attempt to hide my growing erection.

  “Now we’re going to stand.” I hold her up and place her hands on the towel rack. “Hold on to this.”

  I unbutton her jeans and slide them down her legs, her ass right in my face with a matching pair of see-through panties.

  Fuck, kill me now.

  I undo her bra from the back, and it falls forward, hanging off her shoulders. She moves one arm then the other, and the bra falls to the floor like one of those helicopter leaves I played with when I was younger.

  I hook my fingers on either side of her panties and close my eyes, then slide them over her ass and down her legs. She’s so damn hot and has no idea. I’d do about anything just to kiss her back tattoo right now.