a

J

d my throat, pushing down my emot

es

me. My throat closed in on itself, my lungs screaming for me to breathe. I didn't want to, though.

than my father. My dad was a man who cared more about money

"Nothing. Sorry. I was saying, you need to cut ties with ev

r escaped on a huff that ended in a laugh. "The

at out, "You had to quit going to school in order to work and tak

and not even a high school diploma, let alone a college degree. I have experience, but none of it works in t

I was never going to win or break free. I

et me hel

refused. I'd never be able to look him in the eye again if I took any money from him. Even though I knew Jaxon didn't mind that I would owe him, I

then I would think of the debt I owed him every time

I ran a hand through my ha

e table and pulled out one of the chairs so that he c

found his comment endearing. He was protective over me, for some odd reason that he still had yet to reveal, but he was

your independence? I have no right to force you." Jaxon shrugged and

hed I could tell him just how much I enjoyed them, but

dn't be a

air across from him. The table was so small, o

on I couldn't detect. It was there and gone before I had any time to catch it. "You deserve someone to watch over you, unlike what yo

't act like any father I know. He was more of a friend. He was like a close, caring friend whom I had dirty, not-so-innocent thoughts about. Even as he sat across the table

ch over me?" The words left my mouth before I could stop them. I

d for a split second I wonder

lea

he was actually asking me if there was another person around. His eyes locked back on mine,

sincere, but the inclination was that of a jealous boyfriend making sure his girlfriend wasn't cheating. The thought hit me

from his before I revealed too much. "I do

myself how to breathe before I ended up launching myself at him.

and sultry as he whis

o

and my voice cracked at the end. I pressed my l

jacket and cleared his throat. "I should get going. It

made a comment that I could easily misunderstand, but it was disheartening that I co

kindness right now when I had

ross the floor. I followed Jaxon thr

in the morning. Thank you

ng business. Any advice that could get me a little closer to where he stood would be helpful. He was

he small foyer, our bodies close together, heat rose up into my cheeks, and it was

n on you." He sighed

my father's daughter. That had to be the only reason. The

what would happen next. Would he continue the conve

through a lock of my hair before

d up into the night sky. The smile was still splayed across his face, and all I wanted to do was step u

nodded to no one in part

y body weak as I was able to finally relax. I slumped against the door jam

had left when he did. I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to hold

ready for bed, but all I did was sit on the edge

of my skin. It was. a harsh, heavy knock. Heart in my throat, my head turned

e house, I unlatched the lo

forget so

cles even beneath their clothes. The man in the front was my height with a tailored suit and a neat hairdo while the other tw

and tilted his head. The shiver that bit at the

gotten himself

*