The moment I stepped foot behind her I could feel the power of our connection. It baffled me to be so attracted to her, yet still want to know everything Amber had to tell. “Wait.” I was going to hate myself again. “Don’t turn around. Make me wait for it.”

  Amber turned around anyway, though we were too close for me to look down. The expression on her face warmed my heart. It was as if I’d left her speechless. Her lips parted and all I could do was lean forward and embrace her with passionate kisses.

  This wasn’t the Jax everyone knew. I couldn’t even explain what she was doing to me, slowly, without effort. I wanted to impress her, but this was so much more. I also wanted to cherish her, like she was a goddess and I was her servant. I had her on a pedestal, feeling as if I’d never be good enough to keep her happy. “Jax, I don’t want to hide from you.”

  “You’re not.”

  “I don’t understand. Isn’t this what you’ve been waiting for?”

  I shook my head. “I don’t need to see your pussy to stick around. This is where I want to be, here with you.”

  She looked away shyly. I got a kick out of that little quirk about her. “I’ve seen that look before. Don’t you dare fall in love with me, Jax Mitchell.”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off of her when I replied. “I’m afraid it might be too late for that.”

  She was as shocked as I was for saying it. “What? Stop joking around.”

  I clenched my jaw and tried to imagine how freaked out she must have been. “I can’t make you any promises.”

  A half-smile formed at the corner of her lips. “I can’t either.”

  I kissed her slowly, savoring every single movement of her sweet tongue. “At least I’m not alone.”

  When I backed away from her I kept my eyes closed. “Hurry up and get dressed. I can only be a gentlemen for five minutes tops.”

  “Just get your suit on. My mom’s probably assuming we’re up here screwing.”

  It was disappointing to open my eyes and see her pulling a cover-up over her bikini. “I have high hopes for that happening later.”

  Amber didn’t have any problem watching me kick off my boxers and stand naked in front of her. I spread my arms and looked down. “It hasn’t fallen off yet.”

  “I’m sure you’ll still be intact after lunch. Come on. Let’s get the show on the road.”

  “Hang on,” I reached for her hand and pulled her close again. “How long have we been living together?”

  She suddenly realized we hadn’t discussed the background of our fake relationship. “Seven months.”

  “Six, and I want to be a male stripper.”

  Her head fell against my chest when she began cracking up. “That’s not going to work. Seven months, and you’re in college. You’re a star quarterback.”

  “That I am, or I was.”

  “Are you really quitting?”

  “I’m not going back home to finish school.”

  “You have to. Jax, I’ve seen you play. You’re amazing.” I appreciated her confidence, but couldn’t begin to explain how much playing football hurt me now. I’d never be able to walk out on the field and not think of my brother.

  “I’ll tell your dad whatever you want me to.” With a quick smile I turned and finished making sure my trunks were tied. The last thing I needed was my shit coming down in front of them. Amber would be fine, but her mom, not so much.

  We made it to the large kitchen, which was exceptionally arranged. Lavish marble countertops surrounded the whole area. In the center was a huge island with a sink. An older woman was washing the dishes.

  Amber walked over and hugged her. “Maggie, it’s so good to see you.”

  “You too.” She pulled away and checked me out first, and then my girlfriend. “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks,” she smiled. “I’m happy, maybe that’s it.”

  Maggie looked in my direction. “Is he the reason for the smiles?”

  Amber seemed pleased. “Maybe. This is Jax. Jax, this is Maggie, our housekeeper.”

  “Not for much longer, I’m afraid. Your parents aren’t taking me with them when they move. I suppose it’s time I retired. It’s not like I’m able to keep up with a new family like I used to. My bones are too brittle.”

  “It’s great to meet you, Maggie,” I responded. It was obvious she was upset about not having a job much longer. I tried to keep my thoughts to myself.

  “Your father just arrived. He’s out back waiting on you. I’ll bring the food as soon as I’m finished in here. I’ve already set the tea out for you. Jax, would you like something special to drink?”

  “No, ma’am. Tea is great.”

  Amber took my hand and pulled me along, even though I could tell she’d rather catch up with Maggie.

  I could see her parents sitting at a table before we ambled out to join them. Amber clung to me for dear life, but didn’t say anything while opening the door. I had no idea what to expect from her parents, but I was certain that if they upset her they’d have to deal with me.

  A man, who looked to be older than my father, stood up to greet us. I could tell he was checking me out for things he could pick apart, but I’d already prepared for this moment. I stuck out my hand. “Jax Mitchell, it’s nice to meet you, sir.”

  We shook, and he kept staring at me. “Your name is familiar. Jax Mitchell.” He scrunched up his face trying to place where he might know me. Then he smiled. “Are you the kid that plays for North Carolina?”

  I smiled, feeling as if I was famous. “Yes, sir. I’m the quarterback.”

  “Of course. You have a brother who is a tight end?”

  “My twin is on the team. His name is Jake.”

  “You threw one hell of game in that championship. I watched it with some of my colleagues at the club. It was very impressive.”

  After he’d said that I turned to look at Amber, who was still waiting to be acknowledged. His eyes followed mine and the mood changed. “It’s good to see you, Amber.” I could tell from his quick hug that Amber had been right. They weren’t treating her like they’d missed her. It pissed me off.

  “I missed you, daddy.” His withdraw left her hurt. It was obvious.

  Since it wasn’t my place to say anything I tried to let it go. Her mother waved us all over and began pouring fresh glasses of tea. Amber’s father sat down last. He fidgeted with his utensils instead of looking up at his beautiful daughter. “What brings you to Kentucky, Jax? That is where you’re living, correct?”

  I looked at Amber as I answered. “Yeah, I’m staying with Amber for the summer. My family has a ranch there, and I’m lending a hand during the off season.”

  “How did you meet my daughter?”

  I reached under the table and touched her knee, because I knew I was going against what she’d planned. “She’s friends with my cousin. She set us up.”

  “I played a little football myself back in the day. I remember how fond the ladies were with the star quarterback. Is it still that way?”

  What the hell was up with this guy?

  I shrugged. “Sure. I get followers. None of them are girlfriend material though.” I squeezed Amber’s knee to let her know I was still in this with her. “I only have eyes for one girl, sir.”

  “My daughter won’t be in any position to travel in the upcoming years. Once she transfers back to Ohio for medical school, she won’t have time for anything else. A summer romance is always nice, but I recommend that you both keep it at that. She has one more semester left, and it’s important she stays focused.”

  “Daddy, please don’t start this already. I brought Jax because I thought you’d like him. I told you I wanted to be happy again. Jax makes me feel that way. He knows about Meg.”

  I heard her mother gasp before the sound of a glass hit the hard concrete ground. In that instant I knew this family was in dire need of therapy. Amber jumped out of her seat and started picking up the broken pieces that had shattered. “I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  Her mother crouched down and began helping her. “It’s not your fault. I should have been prepared. It’s the reason I asked you here.”

  “Enough already. We’ve talked about this, dear. Now go on inside and take your medication. I told you it wasn’t a good idea to go without it.”

  I got down on my knees and started helping out Amber. “Go ahead inside. I’ll help get this mess cleaned up. By the time you come back out we can start over fresh.”

  Her mother smiled and darted inside the house. A moment later her father stood up. “Excuse me for a second.” He followed his wife and they exchanged words inside that we were unable to make out. Amber was already a mess. Tears fell from her eyes as she continued cleaning up the glass. I reached over and touched her arm.

  “Hey, it’s going to be alright.”

  “I’m sorry, Jax. They hate me.”

  “Well I hate them. They’re both assholes, who clearly have sticks up their asses if they can’t see how much you need them. Say the word and we can get the hell out of here.”

  Amber smiled, but shook her head. “I can’t. If I don’t stay my mom will throw all of Meg’s things away. I need to go through her stuff, so I can have something to remember her by.”

  I leaned forward and kissed her cheek. “I won’t let them keep treating you like this. Something’s got to give, babe.”

  “Thanks for being here.” She could barely say it without sobbing. “It means so much to me, Jax.”

  I smiled, even though I felt horrible for her. “You don’t have to thank me. I’m addicted to being close to you. I don’t think you could get rid of me if you tried. By the way, don’t listen to your douche of a dad. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “It’s fine.” She shook her head and looked away. “It’s only been a week. After a while you’ll get tired of me. It’s not like I have anything to offer you. My dad’s right. As soon as the first semester is over I’ll have to leave Kentucky.”

  My stomach turned thinking about her being so far away from me. I knew I had it bad for this girl. It terrified me. This wasn’t like being with Reese. Amber was broken. She was tormented by demons from her past. Not only did I want to be her hero, but there was something else about her. The gleam in her eyes every time we were close kept me curious, and the way it felt when she touched me lifted me up when I was down. Amber being fragile gave me a reason to take my time, but it wasn’t what was keeping me around. Our chemistry was electrifying, and I knew I’d never experienced anyone like her before. “Let’s not think about it right now. We’ve got plenty of time to figure things out.”

  I literally had about four months to figure out what the hell was happening between us, and if this was what I thought it was, how I would convince her to stay.

  Chapter 28

  Amber

  I was a basket case.

  This visit was going exactly how I thought it would.

  When my parents came back outside they had alcoholic beverages in their hands. It was obvious my mother had taken a valium. She was dopey and relaxed, almost too much. Maggie carried out our food, serving us each large plates. Jax never took his hand off of my knee. Being overwhelmed was one way to put all of the things going through my head at once, though I was determined to see this through. For the first time since Meg’s death, I wasn’t alone. There was a beautiful man next to me, shielding me with his adoration. He was learning the darkest parts of my life; the ones I kept hidden from everyone else, because they were honestly too embarrassing to admit. For some reason I didn’t feel regret about letting Jax into my life. He was my hero, already, after such a short amount of time. I never could have imagined it after what happened in that hotel room with Reese, and my part in it all. Had it not been for me he may have never gotten into that room. Perhaps the outcome would have ended differently.

  My father did the talking at lunch, pushing once more about my continued education. “It’s a shame you took time off that semester. You could already be preparing for medical school.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Yeah, well I never planned on getting pregnant and losing my baby.”

  My flip comment made my father alarmed. He peered over at Jax, as if to question if he knew about it.

  “Jax knows everything, dad.”

  My father took a bite of pasta salad and chewed it before replying. “I see.” He wiped his face with a napkin, even though there was nothing there. “Did your mother tell you we’re taking out the boat tomorrow?”

  I nodded. “She did.”

  “The weather is supposed to be clear. It will make for a smooth ride. I’m thinking of staying out at sea overnight, but the cabin will be tight, as there are only two bedrooms.”

  He was hinting about sleeping arrangements, and I was prepared to nix them immediately. “Jax and I live together, dad. He can share a bed with me.”

  “Not under my roof. There are still rules here. Unless you’re married it’s not happening.”

  I put my finger up to address him, but Jax pulled it back down. “It’s fine, sir. I understand your feelings about it. I’ll be glad to sleep wherever there is a spot. I’m not picky. I just appreciate being included.”

  Jax knew I was angry. He winked to try to calm me down. This was a disaster. “I don’t know how you found this one, but he’s a keeper.” My father said as he pointed his fork at Jax. “Are you still living at the same place, Amber?”

  “Yes. I’m doing quite well with school and work. It keeps me focused.”

  “Good, good.”

  My gaze left my father when I noticed my mom wasn’t saying anything. She sat next to him sipping on her vodka tonic. “Have you had any help packing up the house?”

  “Maggie has been assisting. She’s trying to stay with us for as long as she can.”

  “She’s been with our family for as long as I can remember. I’m sure it’s tough for her to imagine saying goodbye to this house. I know it’s hard for me.”

  “You said goodbye to this house years ago, Amber. This house has been dead since the night your sister left us. It’s nothing but an empty shell.”

  Her cold response left me speechless. I couldn’t even break a smile when I looked over at Jax.

  He cleared his voice before speaking. “I’d be glad to help you out while we’re here.”

  “Don’t say that too loud. My wife will have you emptying out the attic.”

  I found a reason to avoid my parents. “We’ll do it. There’s all sort of memories up there. I’d love to go through them.”

  “Have at it.” My mother announced. “It all needs to be brought down to the garage for donations.”

  “Everything?” I was stunned. “You’re not saving anything up there?”

  “We won’t have the room, besides, it’s not like it can be used. We don’t foresee having grandchildren. You’ve got your whole life planned out, and after the last fiasco with the miscarriage, I’m sure you’ve learned your lesson. There’s no room for a child in your career path, not for many years.”

  That was the last straw. It wasn’t like I wanted to have a child, but they were basically making choices for me that they had no right to do. I was sick of it.

  I stood up from the table and looked over at both of my parents. “This is my life. I’m a grown woman, who can make her own choices. I may have made mistakes, but I’m still your daughter. Don’t treat me like my opinion doesn’t matter.” I grabbed Jax by the arm and pulled him out of his seat. “Come on, Jax. Let’s go start on the attic.”

  By the time we made it in the house I was already a mess. He pulled me into his strong arms and rubbed my back while I cried softly. “They’re brutal, Amber. I don’t think we should stay. Let’s go through Meg’s things so you can take what you want, and we can get back on the road. I’ll pay for a fucking hotel before I let you sleep in the house with those monsters.”

  I nodded, unable to fathom that it was time to walk away from them, and everything they stood for. Once I’d calmed down enough, I led Jax up to my sister’s room. Decorated the same as the day she’d died, I became anxious. I could feel my body shaking, my heart pounding, and a dizzy spell hitting me. Jax noticed right away that I wasn’t okay. He sat me down on her bed and crouched down in front of me. “What’s going on?”

  “I feel like I can’t breathe. I’m having a panic attack.” I was waving my hand as if I was hot. “I think I might pass out.”

  “What can I do?” He seemed so worried.

  “There’s medicine in my purse. It’s the only bottle.” He was out of the room before I finished the sentence, coming back in with an open bottle and single pill in his hand.

  “Do you need water?”

  I placed the pill on my tongue and swallowed, shaking my head as I did it. “No. It works fast. I’ll calm down in a minute.”

  Jax pulled me into his arms, placing tender kisses on my head until I stopped crying. After a few minutes the room was silent and he released his hold. “Better?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  “Dude, this shit is fucked up. We need to get you out of here.”

  “I know. I stood up and started rummaging through Meg’s things, collecting every photo album, every memory we shared, and even some items she’d kept that were special to her. We’d piled them all up on the bed in a huge mountain. Jax smiled and kissed me quickly before taking the whole blanket and making it a sack. He tossed it over his shoulder and stood at the door. “I’m going to put this in the trunk of the car. Stay put until I get back. This could get ugly.”

  I watched out the window to see if he made it outside without getting caught by my parents. Once he was successful, he looked in my direction and gave me a thumbs up. A few seconds later he was back upstairs, ready to conquer the attic.

  I led him to the door and we climbed the stairs single file. The attic was well organized, and I knew just where to look for some of my things. I pointed to four boxes. “There. I want all those.” Jax walked over and picked everything up at once. I could tell they were heavy, because his face turned red. “Jax, you don’t have to do it all at once.”