Betrayed (7 page)
I am angry now.
I am moving on, what do you think Matty is.
When can I see Lilly, quit your games?
After school, I have to work tonight, so Layla will have her.
Where do you work?
Not telling
.
I need to be around, wherever you are.
As if.
We have a man to lure out and I need you on my arm. Or to at least look like we are together.
I’d rather die.
Now your making me laugh. Later gorgeous.
Asshole.
I can’t help my smile as I put my phone down by my side; god that man
knows
how to push my buttons and make me melt all at the same time. He drives me crazy. I continue to nibble on my breakfast when a knock at my door sounds out. Great. I stand and walk over, still in my sulky mood. I open it to see my father, I frown.
“Go away dad, I do not want to talk with you.”
“Oh baby, I always wanted a daughter just for this.” He smiles, and I humph.
Ok, I am being stupid. “I am sorry daddy.”
“There we go, come here.”
He pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. I can’t help the tears that over flow.
“I just…I just, I don’t want to share. I never got a loving, doting dad growing up, and I am greedy, if you fall in love, you might forget me and…”
“Never.” He says, in a stern voice.
I blink up at him. “I don’t want a life without you in it dad, not again.”
“I know baby, I promise I won’t leave you. Ever again.”
“Sam’s lucky.”
“I like her sweet girl, can you handle that?”
“Of course, god I am not going to go all mega brat on you.”
He smiles and hands me a small chocolate bar. “To make it all better.”
I laugh. “Now, how can I be mad at you after that?”
“How are you feeling, really?”
“Ok.” I say, walking inside. He follows me, and I switch on the kettle.
“Listen, there are a lot of things going on, and I know it is over whelming, but I will never let anything happen to you princess.”
I smiled, weakly. “Thanks dad.”
“Are you ok with Jax being back?”
“I’m hurt, I won’t lie. I missed him, so much.”
“I know honey, sometimes life isn’t fair.”
Mack stays for a while longer then leaves. With a sigh, I strip out of my clothes and head out the back to the pool. I need a swim. I turn on some music full blast and begin doing my version of a sexy dance. I wiggle about, hands in the air,
wearing next to nothing. Thank G
od I have a
high fence. I turn mid way through my dance and yelp
; Jax is standing at the entrance way. He is leaning against the wall; arms folded across his chest. He has a wicked grin on his face. I scream and am about to fall backwards, but he steps forward and catches my arm, slamming me hard against his chest. I am standing on the very edge of the pool.
“Saved by the pirate.” He whispers.
Our bodies are pressed up against each other. I am panting.
“I…I was going for a swim anyway.”
“Looked like you were making love to the air if you ask me.”
I blush. “It’s called dancing.”
“It’s called air fucking.”
“Jax.”
“Jade.”
“Let me go.”
“No worries.”
He lets me go and I fall backwards into the pool, screaming. I come up, and he has his head thrown back laughing.
“That was mean!” I yell.
“It was funny too.”
“What do you want Watts?”
He grins and slides his shirt off, then dives into the pool.
“I came to invite you to the beach tomorrow.”
“For what.”
“For my birthday.”
I blink. “It's your birthday?”
“Tomorrow.”
“Oh, I didn’t know!” I say, feeling terrible.
“You do now.”
“And why are you going to the beach?”
“Sammy has organized a game of volley ball, and a bonfire.”
I snort a laugh. “Volley ball.”
He frowns. “What?”
“You in white shorts…”
He grins. “I think I would look pretty hot in white.”
“Nah ah.”
“Uh huh.”
I laugh. “No man looks good in white shorts.”
“I would.”
“Tickets.”
“Will you come?”
“And see you in white shorts? Of course.”
He grins. “It was
Sammy’s
idea, give a man a break.”
“You are
whipped Watts.”
“Huh?”
“Whipped,” I giggle. “Pussy whipped.”
I duck as he lunges at me; he grasps me in the water and yanks me up, tickling me hard. I am giggling so hard my stomach hurts.
“Stop it!” I cry.
“Take it back.”
“Whipped!”
He tickles me some more until we both fall back laughing. I shove his shoulder.
“You are mean.”
“Hmmm,” He snorts. “Are you going to bring your boyfriend?”
I stare at him. “You know I might.”
“He’s a lord.”
I choke back another laugh. “He is hot.”
“Not.”
“Is too.”
“Is not.”
“Stop acting like a child pirate.”
He narrows his eyes and humphs. “Whatever.”
“Jealous? Awww, poor baby.”
He shoves me. “I am not jealous of a man who gets on his knees and sings like a girl.”
“It was romantic.”
“It was gay.”
I grin. “Nicest thing anyone ever did for me.”
“Is that so?”
“Uh huh.”
He lunges at me again and drags me under the water; we come up screaming and laughing. I see Layla standing in the door way with Lilly, crap. Is it that time already? Her eyes twinkle with amusement.
“Have I interrupted something?”
“No,” I spit water from my mouth. “We were err...Hi Lilly.”
Lilly is smiling broadly.
“Hi mamma.”
“Hey mate.” Jax grins sliding out of the pool.
“Hi daddy.”
“How was school?”
“Fun!”
He ruffles her hair, and she takes his hand. “I will show you what I made for you.”
He winks at me and takes my towel.
“Hey!”
“Drip dry.” He laughs, walking inside.
Layla comes rushing over; I swim to the edge of the pool and lean on my elbows.
“What was that?”
“Nothing, we were just mucking around.”
“My god, the sexual tension in the air!”
“Stop it.” I laugh.
“He is so damned hot for you.”
“He is not.”
“Oh yes. He is.”
“Lay’s, he is not.”
“Whatever you say.”
She stands and grins at me over her shoulder, before retreating inside. I slide out of the pool and plod through the house dripping wet. Jax laughs from the kitchen when he spots me.
“Shut it Watts.”
I fetch a towel from the cupboard and dry myself, then wrap it around my waist. I walk back out into the kitchen to fix Lilly some afternoon tea. Jax looks over at me, as I reach up to get some crackers.
“You got a rockin bod woman.”
I snort and drop the box on the bench. “Really? A rockin bod?”
He gives me a huge smile. “Rockin.”
“What can I say, I work out.”
His gaze grows hooded. “I can see that.”
“Daddy, will you stay for dinner tonight?” Lilly pleads.
“If mum doesn’t mind.”
I roll my eyes. “I don’t think I get a choice.”
“Can I invite Sammy?”
I stiffen but try hard not to show it.
“Who is Sammy?” Lilly asks.
“That is daddy's kind of girlfriend.” I pitch in, and Jax shoots me a look.
“Oh.” Lilly frowns.
“You don’t want me to have a girlfriend?”
“I thought mummy was your girlfriend.”
I snort my water over the counter and quickly wipe it up.
“No honey, daddy isn’t going to be with us all the time.” I whisper.
“Oh.”
“Sorry mate, I promise to visit all the time. I will make a house and
live here, would you like that?
”
“I want you to live here!”
She storms up the stairs and Jax sighs.
“That went well.”
“Leave her Jax, she does not understand.”
“You never told her we were not together?”
“No, I didn’t tell her much at all. She must have made that one up on her own.”
His eyes meet mine, and I turn away.
“Invite Sammy if you want, Lilly needs to meet her.”
“Nah, it
’
s all good. She is probably out anyway.”
“With whom?”
“With…her mother.”
“Just her mother?”
He sighs. “And her ex?”
“Her ex?” I ask, wide eyed.
“She was married a while, to some hot shot doctor. They fuck occasionally.”
I gape. “Jax what?”
“I told you, we don’t really have a normal relationship.”
“It
’
s ok with you that she screws her ex?”
“Well I can’t be very
judgmental
, when I tired to screw mine.” He snaps.
I close my mouth and nod.
“It
’
s fine Jade, don’t stress. I don’t care what she does.”
“How can you not care?”
“I don’t love her.”
“So?”
“So, it
’
s how our relationship is. It…just works.”
“I don’t understand Jax.”
“It
’
s not that abnormal mate, a lot of people do it.”
“I know but…I couldn’t bear to share somebody that meant so much to me.”
“Well, she doesn’t mean so much to me. I lived a life on a ship. A lot of men share. It doesn’t bother me too much.”
“If it was me?” I whisper.
“That was different.”
“Because you cared?”
“Because I loved you.”
“What about Bella?”
“I…cared too much about her too so no, I wouldn’t have shared.”
“So why don’t you care about Sammy in the same way?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t formed a close bond to anyone since you.”
“Right.”
“Yeah, I am sure it will come.”
“Sure, of course.”
“Hey Jade,” Layla says walking into the room. “Pizza tonight?”
“Jax is staying.”
She eyes Jax and he grins at her. She blushes. “Why?”
“Lilly wants him here.”
“Right, why don’t you invite Matty over?”
Jax tenses. I glare at Layla.
“I will see him tomorrow.”
“Ohhhhkay then.”
“Pizza sounds good though, is that ok with you Jax?”
He shrugs. “Fine by me.”
“Where should we order, the usual?” Layla asks, sitting down and pulling out a lemonade.
“Yeah Layz, that’s fine.”
“Where is little miss?”
“Upstairs sulking.”
“I’ll go see her.” Jax offers.
“Go easy on her Jax, she doesn’t understand.”
He nods and walks up the stairs. When he is gone, Layla shoves me.
“He is so fine, are you going to tap that?”
I snort again. “Layla, he is taken.”
“So? He doesn’t care; I heard him telling you about his woman.”
“No Layla. It's too complicated.”
“Oh Jade, come on. That body…God damn it makes me all wet just looking at it.”
“LAYLA!”
She giggles. “He is the meaning of hard on!”
“Stop it.” I laugh.
“He is fine Jade, if I were you…I would be riding that all night.”
“I have ridden that all night, and good lord is it good. The mans got a huge…you know?” I purr as a joke.
“I would rip his jeans off with my teeth.”
Jax steps around the corner and I drop my coffee. Layla sputters and goes a lovely shade of red. He grins, that wolfish grin that tells me he heard the whole conversation. It doesn’t help that he is standing there with wet jeans, no shirt and a rippling body.
