She gasped as pain rippled through her belly. His words lashed her, stinging to the core. The seemingly caring tone he delivered them in made it worse. She wanted to smack him hard enough to knock off his blinders and turn this disaster of a conversation around.
Before he broke her heart.
Anger made her retaliate in a whole new direction.
“Oh, so now I’m old enough to play around, just not with you. Hmm, let’s see, who do I know that’s around my age and interested in me. Gee, two names jump to mind.”
“Jaxi…” The emotionless face before her changed instantly, disapproval and anger flashing one after the other.
“What, you don’t think your little brothers are interested in me anymore? I’m pretty sure Jesse said he was, just the other day.”
He stepped toward her, forcing her to shuffle backward to stay out from underfoot. “I’ve warned them you’re off limits. The only way I want to see you around them is if you pick one and the other swears to bow out. I won’t have you messing with them both.”
Jaxi popped her eyes open wide and faked a delighted expression. “So the rumors are true, they do get involved with the same girl at the same time. Well, damn, that sounds like a bit of an adventure. Maybe that’s what I need to distract me since I can’t have what I want.”
“You stay away from my brothers,” he warned, his voice harsh and low.
She let out a burst of laugher, feeling hard and tight inside. “You’re not the boss of me. Maybe I can’t convince the one Coleman I want to be with me, but I bet you I sure as hell can have a little fun with a couple others.”
He loomed over her, dark and dangerous, and she wanted to have him hold her instead of dealing with this whole stupid mess. “Let’s not throw it away, Jaxi, all those years of friendship.”
Her throat tightened up, anger melting away as she fought back tears. There was no way she would cry in front of him, not now. She had to figure out a solution to stop this train wreck from continuing. “I agree we’ve had something special in the past. But don’t you see, all those years of friendship were leading to something bigger and better, and that’s what you’re choosing to give up on. You, Blake, you’re the one throwing the possibility of us away. I know what I want.”
She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on his burning hot cheek before whispering, “Let me know when you’re ready to admit what you really want. I’m getting tired of waiting for the right answer.”
Jaxi had never been keen on dramatic exits but time was of the essence to avoid bursting into tears in front of him. She slipped past his solid bulk and dashed out the fire exit.
Chapter Nine
Blake took another draw on his beer and placed the bottle down carefully before turning his attention back to the surface of the pool table. He and Leo were maintaining their own over the twins, the score sixty-seven to sixty-four. Better than the previous Friday when he’d still been out of his mind trying to understand what had happened with Jaxi in the shower the night before. Damn, his life had turned into a cheap dime-store romance gone sour.
Joel and Jesse relaxed nearby, cocky grins on their faces.
“Not bad for a tired old man,” Jesse said, twirling his cue as he waited for his turn.
“Well, if someone was a little less distracted, we’d have you boys so far gone you’d tuck in your tails and head home.” Blake tried to decide which ball to sink. This week his partner was the one off his game, checking his watch and cell phone constantly. “Leo, you got troubles? Other than the twenty we’re ready to lose if you don’t concentrate a little more?”
Leo grinned sheepishly. “Cari’s supposed to get back into town tonight or tomorrow. I’m waiting for her call.”
“Save us from the lovebirds. Leo, you and Cari are soooo sweet.” Jesse turned and pulled a face at Blake and Joel.
Blake snorted. “Six ball, right-side pocket.” He lined up the shot and sank the ball in one smooth, easy motion. Handing the cue to Leo, he went back to his beer.
He wasn’t going to let Jesse know he really was tired. Sleep was hard to come by since he’d witnessed Jaxi in all her glory in the shower. His nights had gotten worse after she’d blown up at him at the community hall. He tossed and turned, hard and aching, all night long with no easy solution to his problem.
“You enjoying the guest cabin, Blake?” Joel kicked his legs freely as he sat on top of a nearby table, watching Leo take his shot.
Blake grunted.
“Guess Jaxi needed a little more room than the office space. What a gentleman you are to offer your bed.” Jesse’s eyes twinkled with mischief.
Blake flashed him a dirty look. Damn twins could poke all they wanted, but no way would he would confess he’d changed rooms because he didn’t trust himself to be close to the girl and not make a move on her.
Hell, the way she’d acted in the shower, inviting him to touch her, he didn’t trusted her to stay away from him. There was no use in begging for trouble.
Then there was the whole “Showdown at O.K. Corral” two nights ago. What a fucking nightmare. He hated that he’d hurt her, the expression in her eyes almost enough to make him reconsider, if only to be allowed to wipe away the pain.
He’d admit it. Jaxi had grown up. But he couldn’t let her goad him into doing something she’d regret. She was too young to really know what she wanted for the long haul, and he was not having a one-night stand with her. The pain of rejection was for her own good, even though sticking to his guns choked something deep inside him.
“Course, staying in the cabin means you’ve got much more privacy if you need it.” Joel jumped off the table with a whoop of delight. “Leo, you blew that shot. Our turn.”
Joel and Jesse alternated in sinking balls, raising their score to seventy-five before they missed. Blake sipped his beer and glanced around, letting the familiar décor soothe his tired nerves.
On this side of the hall, people sat and talked, or played pool and relaxed. Next door, the music was louder, the dance floor wide and the bar open late. He and the boys were the only ones playing pool tonight, tucked into the back corner where it was quiet and private.
Blake was getting up for his turn when he saw her. Jaxi breezed in the doorway, pale blonde hair floating around her head.
“Sweet mercy, angel entering the room.” Jesse breathed out the words in mock ecstasy.
She did look like an angel. For the past couple of weeks, Jaxi had worn plain jeans or jean shorts with cotton shirts. She’d pulled her hair into a sensible ponytail while she cooked and canned and worked around the house with his ma.
Tonight her sundress consisted of layers of flimsy material that lifted and floated in different directions as she sashayed forward. The clinging top left her smooth shoulders bare, the scooped neckline revealing deep cleavage of pearly pink skin. The fluttering layers of the skirt slid over her smooth legs, stopping well above her knees. The whole thing was cut from shades of yellow and gold, making her glow like a ray of sunshine.
Jesse rushed forward to greet her. Blake bit back a growl as his brother took her hand and placed it under his arm to escort her to their table, his lips tight to her ear as he spoke. Jaxi’s gaze flicked to Blake for a brief second before she laughed at Jesse, then turned to beam at Joel and Leo.
“Evening, boys. I was looking for Lindy but I’ve been told she’s gone for the weekend. Mind if I join you instead?” Jaxi leaned in and kissed Leo’s cheek, and Blake’s arms jerked as he held himself back.