Breathe (6 page)

We reached the shoreline and stopped.

He waved a hand over the white sand at our feet. “Care to sit down?”

I sank down into an Indian-style position. He sat down in such a smooth way it made me feel clumsy. Why did I care? I never thought about the way I sat down before. I didn’t need to start thinking of him as more than anything other than a guy. A guy who signed my paycheck.

“So, tell me about Sadie White.” He leaned back on his hands and stretched his long legs out in front of him.

I shrugged, not sure what to say. “What do you want to know? I am not very interesting.”

He chuckled. “I disagree, but we won’t argue. Tell me about your family.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks at his request, but I forced myself to talk instead of blushing like an idiot. “Well, I live with my mom, and it has always been just me and her. However, she is pregnant right now, so our two will soon be three. We just moved here a few months ago from Tennessee. I love the ocean much more than the mountains, so the move has been a good one.”

Jax watched me as I spoke, and I focused on staring at my hands.

“I don’t want to be getting into your personal space, so tell me if I ask something you feel is none of my business. Where is the baby’s dad?”

I laughed at his question because, yes, it was personal, and the answer was sordid, but something about him made me relax and tell him things I didn’t normally talk about. “My mother is beautiful, but unfortunately she has no common sense. She likes the attention she gets from men and picks the worst ones.” I gave a small smile I knew wouldn’t reach my eyes. “When I say worst ones, I mean
the worst
! They are married or engaged, or so worthless they would never consider settling down. The man who donated to my conception is married, and I even know who he is and where he lives, but I never intend to go introduce myself. This baby’s father is also a loser. He isn’t married, but he doesn’t have any intention of helping out or contributing to the raising of this child.”

I was sharing too much dirty laundry, so I stopped talking and stared out over the ocean waves. He sat up, and his arm brushed against mine. Warmth rushed through my body.

“You’re the grown up at home, aren’t you?”

I tensed at his correct description. I nodded since I could feel his breath close to my neck.

“No wonder you’re so different. You have too much on your shoulders to even consider hanging posters of some shallow teenage rock star on your walls.”

I smiled at his humor. “You’re not shallow. Granted, I thought you would be in the beginning, but you surprised me.”

Long fingers slid across my thigh and took my hand. “Is this job what pays the bills, then? When you mentioned it paid for your food the first night we met, I thought maybe you were joking or being melodramatic, but now....” He stopped.

I picked up where he left off. “She is too far into her pregnancy, and it is too difficult for her to work. She doesn’t hold down jobs well. During the school year, she struggles from job to job. She worked here until my first day out of school.”

He didn’t say anything, and neither did I. We just sat there holding hands and watching the sun set over the water. Just before it sank, Jax stood up.

He held out his hand for me to take. “We better head back before the sun sets completely.”

His fingers never left mine as we walked back to the house. The only way to explain it is to say it was very close to an out of body experience. Holding hands with Jax Stone and feeling like we connected. He didn’t seem like a rock star anymore. He wasn’t the guy I saw on posters and in magazines. He wasn’t the hottie I’d seen on MTV. He was just Jax. I thought about the times Marcus held my hand, and how casual it seemed. But the warmth from Jax's hand sent a tingling sensation up my arms. He was a rock star, and

I was his maid, for crying out loud. I cleaned his vegetables!

We stopped outside the kitchen entrance.

“Thanks for the walk today.” He smiled down at me again, and my insides went to mush.

I was in trouble. I liked this guy way more than I should, considering the circumstances.

“You’re welcome.” I know it sounded stupid, but I really didn’t know what else to say.

“When do you need a ride home?”

I shook my head. I’d almost forgotten about his promise to supply me a ride home “I will be fine, honestly. I have been to the store a million times on my bike. Marcus just doesn’t realize it is very manageable.”

“Out of the question. I will have a car waiting on you at the front entrance. Whenever you’re ready to leave, you may do so. The driver will take you wherever you need to go.” I started to argue and he placed one of his very talented fingers over my lips. “Don’t argue. I don’t like the idea anymore than your friend does. He’s right. It isn’t safe.”

I knew it would be fine, but I didn’t want to stand out here arguing over his doing exactly what he promised Marcus he would do. “Okay, I will go see if Ms. Mary needs any help before I leave.”

Jax smiled apparently pleased that I wasn’t going to argue. “Thanks for the walk,” he said again and turned to leave.

I wanted to watch him walk away, but I knew it wouldn’t do me any good. No matter how insane the idea of a friendship with Jax Stone seemed, I really believed we were in the beginning of one.

I helped Ms. Mary finish up the dishes, and then went back to the laundry to change. I wanted to get home, lie in bed, and think about my time down by the water with Jax. I wanted to memorize each word and glance. I wanted to slap myself because my reaction bordered on ridiculous. I needed to be hoping he would keep his distance and not pursue a friendship with me because I feared I just might become one of those crazed girls with a crush.

I said my goodbyes to Ms. Mary and exited out of the hired help entrance. I walked around to the front of the house and stopped short at the very expensive silver utility vehicle waiting on me. I should have expected extravagance since I doubted Jax owned anything normal. I walked toward the car. A man dressed in black stood beside the machine. He stepped forward with a serious expression on his face and opened the door. I remembered him as one of the large men who’d been here the first day I arrived.

“Thanks,” I said and stepped inside.

I hadn’t been expecting anyone else.

“My intention was to let you go home alone, but I didn’t like that idea. I hope you don’t mind the company.” Jax sat in the seat directly across from me, drinking an expensive bottle of water and watching a baseball game. He held a remote in his hands and clicked off the baseball game showing on the television above my head.

I sat down on the black leather seat and smiled. My heart thumped in my chest, and I wanted to appear unaffected by his appearance. “Um, no, I don’t mind.”

He grinned and handed me a fancy water. “Thirsty?”

I took the water in hopes it would ease my suddenly dry throat. “Yes, thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Which grocery store do you want to go to?”

I smiled at the thought of Jax Stone asking where I wanted to go buy food. “Sea Breeze Foods will be fine. It is closer to my apartment.”

He picked up his remote again, and with a click of a button the tinted glass between us, and the driver came down “Sea Breeze Foods please, Kane.” The giant in the front seat nodded and Jax rolled the glass back up.

“Do you mind if I go inside with you? I’m craving a Reese’s cup.”

I frowned remembering his wish to remain hidden. “No, I don’t mind, but won’t it blow your cover if you’re seen walking around Sea Breeze Food’s eating a candy bar?”

He winked and grinned. “Yes it would, but I am prepared.”

He reached over the seat and opened a compartment. It took all my will power not to lean over and sniff him, he smelled so good. I’d noticed it earlier, but not as much as I did now in such close quarters. He sat back in his seat, and I composed my face into a curious smile. He slipped a black baseball hat on with the letter A on the front I recognized immediately as the University of Alabama’s logo.

“Nice touch,” I said grinning at his attempt to go incognito.

He then slipped on tinted glasses.

“Isn’t it a little dark for those.”

He grinned. “Actually these brighten up the night time. They are glasses used for seeing, not to shade the sun, so I shouldn’t stick out too much.”

His designer jeans and the black tee shirt clung to his muscular chest and arms, and I frowned. “No, you’re going to attract attention in that shirt.”

He glanced down at himself. “You think so?”

I tried not to stammer from the shock my system took from his grin. “I know so. Any girl in a ten-mile radius is going to stare you down if you wear it. It is impossible not to.”

A huge grin broke out on his face. “So does this mean you like me in this shirt? Am I impossible not to miss?”

I sighed and sat up a little straighter. “I’m mature for my age, Jax, not blind.”

He laughed and reached back into the compartment over the seat. “As much as I like the idea of you being unable to take your eyes off of me, I don’t want to draw attention, so how’s this?” He slipped into an old, faded blue, jean jacket. It covered up his impressive body.

“Better,” I assured him, as the large utility vehicle came to a stop.

Jax slid the glass wall back down. “Kane, don’t open our doors and go park in the parking lot. I want to appear normal, so just hang out at the car.”

Kane frowned, and nodded.

“Let’s go shop.”

Jax jumped out, took my hand, and I stepped out behind him. We walked in silence to the grocery store entrance. Suddenly, nerves assaulted me. What if people recognized him and bombarded him. I didn’t want his attempt at being nice to be ruined by crazy teenage fans. We entered the store, and I looked back to see Kane following behind us. He stopped and stood outside the large glass window. Apparently, he would be standing guard in case of a mad rush of fans. I should have figured the large giant doubled as a bodyguard.

“Where to first?” Jax asked, grinning when he pulled out a shopping cart as we walked in.

“You seem really excited about shopping for food,” I whispered, not wanting anyone around us to hear me.

“I haven’t been in a grocery store since I was a kid hanging on my mom’s cart, begging for Big League Chew.”

I pitied the little boy inside who missed things as simple as grocery stores. “Well, then, let’s make this memorable. If you’re good, I will buy you some Big League Chew.”

“They still make it?”

I shrugged. “Sure, this is the South, Jax. Things don’t change here often. Time kind of stands still.”

He nodded in agreement. “I know, it’s part of the reason I love it here. No one is in a hurry.”

I walked ahead of him, and he followed behind me with the cart. I was a little embarrassed when I realized he would witness my bargain shopping. I hadn’t thought of the fact he would see me worrying over the cost of bread. I couldn’t get out of this now. I might as well swallow my pride and get what I needed. I reached for the store brand loaf of bread. I didn’t want to face him, but I knew he watched me. I walked over to the cold meats and grabbed the deli shredded roast beef Jessica adored. I hated wasting money on such expensive meat, but if I didn’t, I would be forced to hear Jessica whine for a week.

A loud whisper came from behind us, “
No
, Mama, I know it’s
him
!” and I turned to see a little girl about the age of nine, studying Jax.

He smiled at her, and her face lit up. She left her mother’s side and her mother reached out to grab her arm but missed. “I’m sorry, she’s convinced you’re Jax Stone.”

Jax only smiled and shrugged, and then he squatted down to her level. “Hello,” he said in a voice I swear could melt butter.

“You’re Jax Stone, aren’t you?”

He glanced up at the mom and back down at the girl and put his finger over his mouth. “Yes, I am, but can you keep it our secret?”

Her little face lit up, and she grinned from ear to ear. The mother appeared stunned. Jax reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out a card. “Here, this has my contact number and email address on it. Do you have a pen on you, Sadie?”

I was as mesmerized as the little girl. It took me a second to register what he asked. I grabbed my backpack, pulled out a pen, and handed it to him. He signed it and asked her name.

“Megan Jones,” she replied.

He pulled out another card and wrote her name on it. “Now, Megan, get your mom to call my agent. He will be expecting a call from a Megan Jones. I am going to be stopping in Pensacola, Florida, on my tour this fall, and this will get you a backstage pass and front row seats.”

The little girl began to squeal, and Jax put his finger over his lips again. She nodded vigorously and covered her mouth.

“Just keep my secret about being here, all right?”

She nodded, and he kissed her forehead before standing up. The mother’s eyes glistened with tears. I realized tears were burning the back of my eyes too.

The mother smiled through her tears. “Thank you, I don’t, I mean I can’t....” She took a deep breath and smiled. “Thank you. She loves you. You’re all over her bedroom walls.” More tears started spilling down her face, and she wiped them away. “I’m sorry I am being so silly, but this year hasn’t been easy on her. Her dad was killed in Iraq, and things have been tough.” A small sob escaped her, and she shook her head, smiling. “Thank you so much.”

The little girl ran over to her mother and handed her the card. She turned back to Jax and put her little finger over her mouth and grinned. He bowed and blew her a kiss. Her small little hand reached out, grabbed the invisible kiss, and placed it on her lips. My heart melted as I watched them walk away, the little girl gazing back and smiling at him until they were out of sight.

I wiped the tears off my face. “Yeah, that one got to me too.”

He walked over to me, wiped a tear off my cheek, and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “However, I didn’t mean to make you cry. I just have a soft spot for my younger fans.”

“No, I loved getting to see you with her. It was precious. You were so sweet to her, and I got to see the highlight of her life.”