Toxic Secrets (34 page)

Blowing out an exasperated breath, I rolled my eyes. “I promise, scouts honor, blah, blah, blah. Just spit it out. You know I’m not going to say anything.”

Kendra narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re such a bitch sometimes.”

I grinned at her. “I know.”

“Reed talked to Jaxon a little bit about you while they were training. You know how Reed can get protective of you?” I nodded. “Well he flat out asked Jaxon what his intentions are with you. He told him you’ve been through enough, and you don’t need another jerk to come along and trample on your heart.”
I loved Reed. He had always been my brother from another mother.
“Anyway,” Kendra continued, “Jaxon told him the feelings he’s developed for you are real. He said even though the situation sucks, meaning the age difference and distance, that, no matter how hard he’s tried, he can’t get you out of his head. He also said he was glad you were only staying here for a week because, if he spent any more time than that with you, he would be afraid of falling in love with you.” Kendra’s voice softened. “He says your love material.”

My heart swelled. It excited me, but it scared me at the same time. I’d already given my heart to a boy… a jerk and he punched it, ripped it, broke it, and left it lying dead on the floor.
Could I possibly give it away again?
I didn’t want to jump to conclusions; it was too early for that. All I could do was play it by ear and see what direction my path took me.

Kendra and I got out of the pool so we could shower and change before Jaxon and Reed got home. Although Jaxon had seen me naked waist down, I still didn’t feel comfortable enough to let him watch me prance around in the G-string. And I especially didn’t want Reed to see it either.

The overly-large, tiled shower in my bathroom was amazing. I loved it, so much that I could bathe in it several times a day. My favorite part was the five-speed sprayers located in various spots to give you a full body massage. Standing limp in the shower, I let the hot water beat against my skin until it turned red. As I turned to pick up my bottle of shampoo, my heart skipped a beat when I saw writing appear on the glass. The steam formed the words, ‘You make my dimples happy.’ I wondered when he’d snuck in my room to write that. Must have been the same time he hid two yellow pieces of material under my pillow. I wondered how I must’ve looked smiling the entire time I showered.

After being neglected the first few days of our visit, Jaxon made sure our itinerary for the rest of the week was packed full of fun. He reached his goal to give us all the complete California experience. We’d spent one day at Disneyland and another at Knott’s Berry Farm. I loved how he enjoyed thrill rides as much as I did. Another day he took us into Hollywood and Beverly Hills, driving us around through some of the glitzy neighborhoods and making sure to highlight all the movie star paraphernalia. Honestly, I didn’t find the famous neighborhoods any better than the one he lived in.

He even took us shopping on Rodeo Drive. Kendra was in retail heaven, but, I on the other hand, felt very out of place. That was one part of the trip I would’ve liked to have forgotten about. Jaxon was pretty adamant on taking us into some of the stores. I was perfectly content on staying outside and doing my usual window shopping. I already felt drabby dressed in very short, peach shorts with a black sleeveless blouse, but I didn’t want to admit my real reason for not going inside—I couldn’t afford it. I knew Kendra would just whip out her parents’ credit card and buy whatever she wanted. Then she would push me into letting her buy me something as well, but I didn’t want to have that scene in front of Jaxon. I continued to blame my lameness on my outfit, but Jaxon was persistent. He wasn’t about to give up.

“My god, Courtney, do you think they don’t see the slums of Hollywood on an everyday basis? Stop worrying about what you look like, and get your cute ass in that store now,” he demanded standing outside the Louis Vuitton store. Kendra had already made her grand entrance, dragging poor Reed with her, and was inside getting her fashion fix.

Jaxon raked his hands through his hair a few times then rubbed the scruff on his face. I could feel the irritation I was causing him. I didn’t want to upset him, but I didn’t want an embarrassing moment either. He turned away from me walking toward a small slab of stucco separating the windows in the store. He leaned against the small section of the building and pulled his Altoids from his jean pocket, popping a couple of them into his mouth. At that moment, I knew he was frustrated with me. His Altoids were his cigarettes, and people usually smoked when their nerves have been played until frayed. I swallowed my stubborn pill, walked over to the door, jerking it hard, and walked into a store that was completely out of my comfort zone.

Immediately, the posh sales assistant wrinkled her nose up at me in disgust. I couldn’t let her think she had the upper hand on me so I gave her an over-exaggerated eye roll. She won though, she came in behind me wiping and readjusting every item I touched as if I’d spread some sort of disease on it. I came into the store for Jaxon, but I wasn’t going to let someone degrade me to my face. I’d finally had enough and spun around on my heels only to come face to chest with pure muscle—Jaxon.

“So, Sweet Cheeks, is this the one you wanted,” he said holding up a purple clutch purse, “or did you want something bigger? You know we don’t have to buy anything in here, there are a variety of stores out there where you can purchase better quality with friendlier service,” he scolded, but gave me a cute little wink. He stared the sales assistant down with demon eyes until she muttered something about someone needing her help in the back.

“Thank you,” I whispered. He wrapped his strong arms around me in a big bear hug. “You’re welcome,” he said before kissing my temple.

We browsed through the store with our pinkies hooked together. Because there were no price tags, I knew those who could afford these were ones who didn’t have to ask for a price. That person clearly wasn’t me. I was more than ready to leave. “You ready to go?” Slowly, I was making my way to the doors.

“Sure, but hold on a minute, I’ll let Reed and Courtney know we’ll be waiting for them outside.” He walked over to them, acting discreet while they exchanged briefly, then strode back over to where I was standing. Laying his hand on the small of my back, he gently guided me outside.

We both slid our sunglasses on to block the bright sun. The one thing I’d learned so far this week was the weather in California was always sunny. Jaxon gripped my hips and pulled me up against him. The way he stared at me was like he could see my heart, see the way it accelerates when in his presence. Neither of us said anything. He zoned in on me until the tip of his nose was touching mine. Lightly, he rubbed it against mine, giving me eskimo kisses. “I want this week to be frozen in time forever,” he murmured.

I swallowed. Hard.

I watched his eyes close, and then I felt the scruff around his mouth tickle me before his lips devoured mine.

“Ahem.” Kendra cleared her throat, interrupting our public display of affection. “I think it’s cute and all how you two have finally stopped fighting your sexual desires, but please don’t make the rest of us suffer by watching,” she smirked. “Here.” She stuck her arm out to me with a Louis Vuitton bag dangling from her thumb and forefinger.

I scrunched my eyebrows together in confusion. “What’s this?”

“Just open the damn thing.”

Taking the bag from Kendra as if it was going to bite me, I then peeked inside. “Hell to the no, I’m not keeping this,” I scolded, slinging the bag back to her. “It’s a nice gesture, Kendra, but your mom and dad don’t need to support me, too.”

Kendra tossed the bag back to me, her eyes flashing over to Jaxon. “I didn’t buy it. Jaxon did, so you can thank him now,” she grinned.

Cutting my eyes at Jaxon, I swiftly turned on my heel and marched myself back inside. I approached the rude lady at the counter. “Yes, I’d like to return this.”

The bag slipped off the counter out of my reach. “No, she would not. Sorry for the confusion, but we are keeping this,” he said to the snobby lady. Jaxon had the bag in tow walking toward the door.

“I’m not keeping it,” I said to him.

He stopped in his tracks, shook his head then turned around marching back to me. “You will keep it because I bought it for you—”

“Jaxon I’m not a charity case. I can’t prove it, but I’m pretty darn sure you are the one that paid our bills, too. I appreciate it, but I don’t need to be taken care of financially.”

He cocked his head to the side with a look of disbelief. “I never said you were a charity case and I’ve never treated you like one either. I just thought you would like something nice, since you never get the opportunity to splurge. I wanted to make you happy. And, as for the other, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Liar,” I muttered. “Well, just so you know, I don’t need expensive things to make me happy, Jaxon. You alone makes me happy.”

Kendra came barreling into the store to put her two cents worth in. It was a two against one battle.

After bickering in the store with Jaxon and Kendra for too long, I finally caved in and agreed to keep the Louis Vuitton wallet. I felt silly carrying it. It was only going to look ridiculous paired up with my off-brand purse, but I wasn’t about to tell them that. That would’ve just prolonged the argument, and I would probably then end up walking out with a purse to match.

We walked down the sidewalk with our fingers laced together. I refused to go into any more stores I couldn’t afford. “I would’ve bought you all the accessories to match it if you would’ve let me,” Jaxon said softly in my ear.

I’d learned so many new things about Jaxon throughout the week. I learned he had severe road rage, he had low tolerance for rude people, and he carried a very soft spot for children. While we were at Disneyland a little boy around the age of five with big crocodile tears in his eyes approached Jaxon, asking if he had seen his mommy. Without any hesitation, Jaxon quickly flagged down a Disneyland employee and stood by that little boy’s side until he was back in his mother’s arms. The workers kept telling him the boy was in great care, and that he should leave and enjoy his day at the park, but Jaxon wouldn’t budge. He persisted in staying. What surprised me the most was when he opened up a little to me without me prying.

We had been sitting around at the Baby Care Center, both lost in our own thoughts until he began telling me a little story. “When I was seven years old, this same exact thing happened to me. Gramma Z took me for my birthday. It was supposed to be the perfect day for a kid that age, but instead it turned into a nightmare. I thought being seven gave me some sort of super powers, ya know? I was into the whole Power Rangers craze at that time. I ventured away from my gramma for a second to look at some stupid sword, and, by the time I turned around, I had lost her. I’d never been so terrified in my life.”

He spoke softly, staring down at the floor in deep concentration. He was reliving that moment. Seeing that poor little guy lost had brought that fear back to Jaxon, and he was feeling the same terror that little boy was feeling. Sliding my arm around his waist, I gave him a light hug, then rested my head against his shoulder. There was no need to say anything. He was offering me a small piece of him, and I didn’t want to take away anymore from it than that.

It was our last full day in California, and Jaxon was throwing a huge party for us at his bar. Well, actually it was out on the beach. He had cabanas for us to escape the sun, fire pits set up for the night when the cool ocean breeze blew in, a stage set up outside the bar for karaoke—thanks to Kendra’s whining—and alcohol for everyone except the three of us.

Kendra was pissed at Jaxon when she found out he wasn’t going to serve us alcohol. So, Kendra did what she did best—she took matters into her own hands.

I was helping with some of the decorations when Kendra grabbed my arm causing me to drop the box of solar powered paper lanterns. “What the hell?”

“Shut up! Stop making a scene and just come with me to the bathroom.” Following her orders, I followed behind her. As soon as the door closed she set her purse on the vanity and made a feet-check under the stalls. “Look what I got for us,” she said, pulling the top of a bottle from her new Louis Vuitton purse.

“Where did you get that?” I shrieked. I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know.

“I snatched it from Jaxon’s private stash I found in his office,” she snickered, showing me another bottle.

“Have you lost your mind? You’re crazy if you think I’m joining you in your little shenanigans,” I said, making my way back out the door.

“Oh, no you don’t!” she roared, jerking me back into the bathroom. “This is our last night here, Court. Let’s have fun with it,” she pleaded. “I slipped a few twenties under his keyboard, so technically I’m not stealing.”

I blew a few strands of hair from my face. “Is that supposed to make me feel better?”

“No, but… but… please just do this with me. I promise we’ll have fun, and I’ll make sure you have the best night of your life. You won’t want to go home.”