“So what I didn’t just hear you say was she wants to keep you a secret. Like you’re not respectable enough? I don’t like the sound of that shit.”
Respectability—a Tag hot button. You could never take back the press of the hot button. “It has nothing to do with respectable. It has to do with discreet. And that’s how it stays. One word about her or me—if you even use our names in the same sentence together, I’ll kick your ass.”
Tag held his wide palms up. “First, dream on. Second, this is a no-strings-attached thing, isn’t it?”
“So?”
“So you’re just not that kind of dude, Jax. When you go, you go deep. Remember Reece? Which reminds me—with all the shit going down with her all of a sudden calling you, why are you adding something else that could complicate the hell out of your already-complicated life?”
Because I’m sucked in. Because there’s something about her that fits me. Something I can’t define, won’t define because it goes no further than the bedroom. He’d thought about her proposal all weekend long after the dinner party. He’d thought about how unlike her it was. He’d thought about how she’d gone out on an unfamiliar limb to proposition him. Then he’d thought about her some more.
Still, Tag was right.
Just sex for a longer period of time than just one night wasn’t like him. Even then, one-night stands weren’t much like him. He’d had a few, but with Maizy in the mix, he generally avoided them. You could never be too careful when you had a child, and the world was full of nuts.
Yet, he was a big boy. He could do what he wanted. The notion he couldn’t made him defensive. “It’s just sex. Not a damn engagement, Tag.”
“Secret sex. Got it.”
Jax didn’t like his sneering tone. The suggestion Em was anything other than a good human being pissed him off. “Don’t make it sound so shitty and cheap. You’ve done it.”
He thumped his chest, hardening his gaze. “And look at me now.”
“Where’s your comparison coming from?”
“Your life fell apart just like mine. That’s the comparison. You wanna do that again?” he yelled, that hard mask he wore around everyone but Maizy firmly in place.
Jax was in front of him in a flash. “Look, I’m all grown-up. I don’t have to explain anything to you. I can do what I want when I want.” Way to sound like you’re ten.
Tag’s jaw went harder. “You absolutely can. I support grown-man things. Go have some sex.”
“Stop damn well making it sound like I hired a hooker!” he accused, using the two inches he had on Tag to lord his intimidation over him.
But Tag was always looking for a confrontation as of late. He reared up on his toes and yelled right back, “I’m just looking out for you. Someone has to, Jax. You forget too easily.”
“Or maybe it’s time to finally forget? Let go? Or should I let what happened with Reece define everything I damn well do?”
“No. You should let it teach you a lesson.”
Lessons he knew. He’d had plenty of lessons. “Reece is the past.”
“Not if she’s calling you. She’s your present, and you’d be wise to remember that she’s out there somewhere, lurking, looking for a way back in.”
Jax clenched his jaw hard enough to make it hurt to keep from slugging his brother. “She can look all she likes. My life shouldn’t stop because Reece is back.” Somewhere.
“Heeeey!” Gage bellowed, pushing his way between his brothers. “What are you two morons fighting about now? Jesus Christ. I feel like a damn referee lately. Maizy’s going to be back from her playdate soon. Do you want her to come home and hear you assholes going at it like you’re mortal enemies? Quit this shit already. We’re family. Could we start acting like it again, please?”
There’d been a time when nothing could have torn them apart. Now it took next to nothing.
“Sorry,” Tag muttered. “I was just looking out for our big brother. He’s having sex.”
Gage gaped at them. “With what? His inflatable doll?” Then he looked down at the condoms in Jax’s hand. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. A whole box worth? Hasn’t it been a long time since you nailed anything other than your hand with a hammer? Maybe a whole box is wishful thinking.”
Jax glared at his little brother. “Maybe you should mind your business.”
Gage grinned. Easily the prettiest of the three of them, and the one who looked most like their mother, Elizabeth. “So who is she?”
“Emmaline Amos,” Tag supplied smugly.
Jax was back to snarling again. “Shut your mouth, Tag. Don’t damn well say her name like that.”
Gage whistled. “Hold on. You’re having sex with the hottie from Call Girls? The one with the dark hair and the husband who wears heels?”