Page 35 of Between Steel and Secrets
“No reason,” I say, hoping that he’s not lying to me. Mom had surprised me this morning, knowing about the emergency room visit, and Jaxson is the absolute best when it comes to digging into people’s personal lives. I try to relax, but I’m failing miserably at it. “Where are we going?” I ask.
“You ask a lot of questions.” He glances at me as sweat beads my forehead.
Jaxson cranks the air conditioning on full blast inside the car. “Ariella mentioned you were curious about some of our charity work.” He lets that word hang in the air for a moment longer than necessary. “You’re a little flushed, are you feeling all right?” he asks.
“Fine.” I shrug it off. The heat hates me, but it’s not anything Jaxson needs to concern himself with; it’s my problem.
“Okay, good. What I’m going to show you this afternoon, you have to use discretion.”
“I know, just like all the files. Don’t ever share anything I see outside of the office.”
Jaxson eyes me before returning his attention to the road and pulling away from the office. “No, Bristol, don’t ever discuss any of this with anyone—inside or outside of the office.”
Same difference.
“Yes, of course.” I sit taller and nod, eager that he trusts me. “Where are we heading?”
“Blue Sky Resort.”
The ride is mostly in silence, Jaxson turning up the radio, listening to oldies music that he must have enjoyed when he was my age.
A lifetime ago.
He’s about my dad’s age, maybe a little older. The man is ripped, though, like front cover of a sexy magazine, and if I were into older guys, he’d definitely be hot. There is also a ruggedness to him, and his level of confidence is off the charts.
“How’d you and Ariella meet?” The question slips out before I realize what I’ve asked, and my eyes widen.
He slowly turns his head, glaring at me. “That’s not an appropriate question for your boss.”
“Right, sorry. I just … you both seem like opposites. You’re broody and she’s sunny.”
That cracks a grin on his face. I don’t recall ever seeing my boss smile before. He’s usually got that rough scowl etched onto his face. The worry lines might as well be tattoos on him.
Although he has quite a few of those on his arms and the one that I can see peek from the collar on his shirt down his neck.
Turns out, I might have a thing for bad boys.
But is Jaxson a bad boy?
He’s more of a do-gooder around Breckenridge, but I’ve heard the stories. He also gets his hands a little dirtier than he should.
Anything to save a damsel in distress. I swear that should be the man’s motto or maybe the company’s motto.
“Ariella has her own … unique personality,” he says, and I swear there’s a hint of a smile. Jaxson shifts in his seat, and as quickly as the tiny grin appears, it vanishes.
“Well, I like her,” I admit. “She’s a really great boss. Not that you’re not great. I appreciate the opportunity that you’ve given me to intern for you guys this summer.” Oh gosh, I’m rambling. I tend to do that when I’m nervous.
Jaxson laughs under his breath, it’s deep and throaty. “Noted. You go back to school soon.”
“Next week.” Technically, the other college kids move back into the dorms this week and school starts the following week. I’m already living there, which makes this commute a bit of a drag to work for Eagle Tactical. Mom and Dad offered to let me stay with them over the summer, it’d be a shorter ride to work, but living with them and having to follow their house rules and curfew all over again, no thanks.
“You are always welcome to come back, winter break, or next summer if you’re looking for work.”
“Thank you.”
We pull up in front of the resort. I’ve been here a few times growing up, during winter break, when Dad took the private jet for Christmas and flew us to the resort to go skiing. It’s like Dad had a love affair with the town.
Or maybe it was because of Emerson.
