Page 51 of Jax & Knox

I step up behind her, my hand settling on her lower back. She leans into the touch, just slightly, and it's enough to make warmth spread through me.

"Come on," I say. "Let's eat."

We sit around the small kitchen table, passing containers back and forth. Jax tells us about his day, some landscaping job that went sideways when the client changed their mind halfway through. Ainsley laughs at his exaggerated retelling, and the sound fills the cottage with warmth.

For a while, it's easy. Normal.

Like we're a family.

Jax catches my eye across the table, and I know he's thinking the same thing.

After we finish eating, Ainsley starts to stand, reaching for the empty containers. "I'll clean up⁠.”

"Sit," Jax says, already on his feet. "We've got it."

"But—"

"No buts," I say, standing and taking the container from her hands. "You've had a long day. Let us take care of this."

She looks between us, her eyes shining. "You two are going to spoil me."

"That's the plan," Jax says with a grin.

We clean up quickly, working in easy rhythm. Jax washes while I dry and put things away. Ainsley sits at the table, watching us with an expression I can't quite read.

When we're done, Jax dries his hands on a towel and turns to her. "You okay?"

She nods, but there's something fragile in the way she's holding herself. "Yeah. I just… today was a lot."

I move to her side, crouching down so I'm at eye level. "What happened?"

She hesitates, then fills Jax in on what happened, about Owen crawling away, about freezing, about the fear that gripped her when she couldn't move. Knox already knows what it felt like when he caught Owen, but he lets her tell the story.

Jax's jaw tightens. "But you're okay now?"

"Yeah." She looks at me. "Knox got him. He was right there."

"Always will be," I say.

Jax steps closer, his hand resting on her shoulder. "Both of us. You're not doing this alone anymore."

She closes her eyes, and a tear slips down her cheek. "I know. I just… I'm still getting used to it."

"Take all the time you need," Jax says gently.

After a moment, she stands. "I should check on Owen."

"I'll come with you," I say.

We walk to Owen's room together. He's still asleep, his little chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. Ainsley stands beside the crib, her hand resting on the railing.

"He's so peaceful," she whispers.

"He is."

She turns to me, and suddenly the air between us shifts.

It's charged. Electric.