Rocky Mountain Heat

Chapter Eight

When Blake asked Jaxi if he could help her at the play, she wondered if Matt had manoeuvred the request. Still, by the time Wednesday rolled around and the performance was over, most of the awkwardness she’d caused by her boldness in the shower had faded. She wasn’t any closer to getting Blake to acknowledge he wanted her, but at least they were talking again.

They cleaned together, brooms in hand, sweeping the nearly empty hall. She was right in the middle of planning her next step, wondering what words to use to follow Matt’s suggestion of “gentling the shy animal along” when Blake dropped a bombshell.

“I’ve been thinking about the other day.”

Lordy, so had she.

“This Royce fellow. How old did you say he is?”

She literally tripped over her own feet and landed on her butt. Did he just ask about Royce again? He wasn’t talking about the shower at all?

The man had gone mad.

“I don’t think I told you how old he is. What the hell does Royce have to do with anything?” She scrambled to her feet and brushed off her jeans. She’d spent the evening admiring how Blake capably dealt with last-minute disasters for the theater company. Admired the way he visited with the townsfolk during the intermission, chatting and laughing with people of all ages. Admired the way he looked in his well-worn jeans, all muscle and tightly bound energy.

And now he wanted to talk about someone she knew from college? Was he crazy?

“I figured you two must have a lot in common, if you were in the same classes and all. Maybe it would be good for you to select another class or two and spend time with the guy. If he lives in the area you could call and ask him to join us for supper.” Blake swept vigorously as he spoke, dust flying everywhere.

Jaxi dropped her broom and grabbed his with two hands, stilling his erratic motion. She jerked their bodies together so she could stare up into his face easier. He avoided her eyes for a moment before turning that ghastly smile on her, the one he’d worn ever since announcing he was going to be her big brother.

“Enough, Blake. You are seriously pissing me off and I want to know what your problem is.”

He shrugged and attempted to remove the broom from between them. “I thought it might be nice, if you like the guy, for you to spend time together.”

“I don’t want Royce.” Jaxi shook the handle violently before releasing the wooden shaft with a snap. She stepped back to glare at him, fists resting on her hips. “I want… Oh, damn it, do I have to spell it out for you? I thought it was pretty clear what I wanted the other night in the shower. I want you.”

He shook his head and resumed sweeping, giving her no more attention than if she was one of the cats underfoot in the barn at milking time. “I’m too old for you. Heck, it’s like I’m your big brother and—”

Jaxi ripped the broom from his hands and hurled it across the room. He was being a bloody jackass. It was a damn good thing she loved him because otherwise she’d be tempted to kill him.

“You are not my brother, by any stretch of the imagination. The things I want us to do, Blake, they are not brother/sister activities.” She took a slow breath and calmed her temper. At least they were talking, even if Blake seemed to be speaking some weird foreign dialect and she didn’t have a translation book.

Slow down. Go gently.

She had to get him to acknowledge what he wanted, not what he thought needed to happen. Get him to drop the damn sense of responsibility for long enough to see the real picture. Jaxi snuck in closer, resting a hand on his crossed arms. She drew a slow finger along his skin, speaking quietly. “You ever dream about me, Blake? You ever think about taking me in your arms and kissing me? Touching me? I dream about you all the time. You, in my bed, making me feel things I’ve never felt before.”

“Stop it, that’s not going to happen.” Blake jerked away from her, and Jaxi’s stomach lurched. He didn’t even want her to touch him. “You’re an attractive woman—”

Red flashed before her eyes. He was the most frustrating man she’d ever met. She followed him closely, crowding against his body. “Oh, now I’m a woman. Well, that’s a plus. You finally noticed I grew up. What’s the problem? I think you like me too, so why aren’t we acting on the attraction between us? What’s got you putting on the brakes when that’s got to be the last thing you really want?”

Blake grabbed her by the shoulders and manoeuvred her away from him. He paced back, his hands dragging through his hair in frustration, swear words floating on the air. When he turned toward her, his face had gone grey and drawn, as if he’d shut off his heart. His gravelly voice cut deep as he spoke.

“The issue is you’re still a little girl compared to me, and you won’t be happy with an old man for long. Do I want you? Hell, yeah, you make my body ache so hard it’s a fucking nightmare for me to wake and realize you’re not really there. But I’m too old for you, and I refuse to take advantage of the physical pull between us for a one-night stand. Stop trying to seduce me and prove you’re as grown up you claim. Find someone your own age to play with.”

She gasped as pain rippled through her belly. His words lashed her, stinging to the core. The seemingly caring tone he delivered them in made it worse. She wanted to smack him hard enough to knock off his blinders and turn this disaster of a conversation around.

Before he broke her heart.

Anger made her retaliate in a whole new direction.

“Oh, so now I’m old enough to play around, just not with you. Hmm, let’s see, who do I know that’s around my age and interested in me. Gee, two names jump to mind.”

“Jaxi…” The emotionless face before her changed instantly, disapproval and anger flashing one after the other.

“What, you don’t think your little brothers are interested in me anymore? I’m pretty sure Jesse said he was, just the other day.”

He stepped toward her, forcing her to shuffle backward to stay out from underfoot. “I’ve warned them you’re off limits. The only way I want to see you around them is if you pick one and the other swears to bow out. I won’t have you messing with them both.”

Jaxi popped her eyes open wide and faked a delighted expression. “So the rumors are true, they do get involved with the same girl at the same time. Well, damn, that sounds like a bit of an adventure. Maybe that’s what I need to distract me since I can’t have what I want.”

“You stay away from my brothers,” he warned, his voice harsh and low.

She let out a burst of laugher, feeling hard and tight inside. “You’re not the boss of me. Maybe I can’t convince the one Coleman I want to be with me, but I bet you I sure as hell can have a little fun with a couple others.”

He loomed over her, dark and dangerous, and she wanted to have him hold her instead of dealing with this whole stupid mess. “Let’s not throw it away, Jaxi, all those years of friendship.”

Her throat tightened up, anger melting away as she fought back tears. There was no way she would cry in front of him, not now. She had to figure out a solution to stop this train wreck from continuing. “I agree we’ve had something special in the past. But don’t you see, all those years of friendship were leading to something bigger and better, and that’s what you’re choosing to give up on. You, Blake, you’re the one throwing the possibility of us away. I know what I want.”

She stood on her tiptoes and brushed a kiss on his burning hot cheek before whispering, “Let me know when you’re ready to admit what you really want. I’m getting tired of waiting for the right answer.”

Jaxi had never been keen on dramatic exits but time was of the essence to avoid bursting into tears in front of him. She slipped past his solid bulk and dashed out the fire exit.