Page 34 of Furious
“You haven’t seen my back.” A wry grin spread across Jax’s face. “It was better before they had to cut through it for the surgery. I had it touched up, but…” he shrugged. Even though the piece appeared unbroken, the scar still lurked underneath.
“You had back surgery?”
“Yeah, a fusion. They actually farmed bone for it!” Jax let out a huff ofa laugh even though nothing about it was funny to him. “I have titanium rods and screws in there, holding it all together.”
“So, you’re cybernetic?”
Jax stopped in his tracks. No one had ever made that observation before, and it was seriously cute. Only Tristan’s kind soul could come up with a comparison like that.
“Yeah, I guess I am.” Standing on his toes, he gave Tristan a quick kiss. “Do you want to get some tea and a sweet treat after this?” Even though they’d gone for a simple walk, this was the best date Jax had ever been on. Tristan was sexy, considerate, interesting, easy to talk to, and did Jax say sexy already? If he did, then it needed to be said twice.
“I’d love to.” Tristan’s smile was a direct threat to taking it slow, so Jax focused on the next location.
“Great! Have you been to Vice and Virtue? It’s the coffee house on Main. The woman who runs it makes the sickest pastries. I have to know how she gets the dough so flaky. And they have standing tables!”
“Sounds perfect, I trust your palette.” It seemed that Tristan also wanted to extend the date, and Jax tried not to be too smug about it.
An hour later, they sauntered out of Vice and Virtue hand-in-hand, stuffed full of pastries, tea, and good conversation, and for Jax, the only thing left was Tristan’s cock. As they walked around the building, Jax wondered if he could kick slow to the side and keep this date going all the way into bed.
But Tristan stopped as they reached the parking lot, turning pale. Following his gaze, Jax’s joy quickly flipped into simmering fury.
Decked out in a fluffy green coat, Eve leaned against Tristan’s car, lips pursed and arms folded as if she were pissed.
“Shit,” slipped from Jax’s mouth, but Tristan’s expression told him he agreed, and Jax gave his hand a reassuring squeeze.
“Eve, what are you doing here?” How was Tristan’s voice so calm?
“I saw your car in the lot!” She patted the hood, and Jax winced. Her voice was more babylike and higher in pitch than he’d expected. She had the same eyes as Rain; however, now that he was closer, he noticed the differences. She definitely looked younger than her age, but she had a wild, unsettled quality that instantly repelled him. “You’re not answering mycalls, Tris. And who the fuck is this?”
Jax snorted, mirroring her attitude.
“I was gonna ask you the same thing.” His accent began to slip, and Tristan looked between them with growing alarm.
Squeezing his hand back, Tristan turned to him, a plea in his gaze. “Do you mind if I talk to her?”
Jax didn’t want Tristan getting hassled by someone who should’ve backed off ages ago, but he also didn’t want to be too angry and make things worse. Besides, this wasn’t his fight, not yet, and this might be a good time to try being calm.
But themillisecondshe got out of line, he’d step in.
With a nod, Jax let go of Tristan’s hand and walked to the edge of the lot, letting them argue. While he tried not to listen, he heardRainandmoneymore than a few times. He understood the Rain situation and wished her zero success in finding her son, but money had him stretching his ears. Did Tristan and Eve own property together? Rain was hers, so Tristan didn’t owe child support.
Was she trying to fleece Tristan?
Their conversation hit a lull, and Jax quickly glanced at them, meeting Eve’s glare. Smirking, he blew her a kiss, enjoying the rage on her face.
“I promise, I’ll take care of it. Justgo.” Tristan’s voice sounded harsher than usual, commanding, and it gave Jax a horny little shiver. As easygoing as he was, it seemed that even Tristan had limits. Or maybe he’d gotten some backbone out of the date.
“Fine,” she huffed, and Jax could feel her angry gaze on him but he ignored it, studying his fingernails until she stormed off.
Tristan went back to Jax, guilt dropping his shoulders. “I’m so sorry she interrupted things.”
“Are you okay?” Fury subsiding, Jax stared up into those light-brown eyes, noting the surprise that flickered across Tristan’s features, as if no one had asked him that in a while.
“Yeah.” Because he was usually a still lake, Jax could see the ripples and knew that was a straight-up lie.
If this were anyone else, he’d walk away because this whole thing was messy. But Tristan was sweet, understanding, and had a dick with its ownzip code. Jax didn’t want anyone else snatching him up or harassing him.
He wanted to keep this wonderful man to himself.
