Page 49 of Close to Heaven

“Are you sure?”

“Of course. Take your time.”

Dakota gave Avery a quick hug and then went down the hall to the guest bedroom. Once Avery heard the door close, she picked up her phone and called Jax. When he didn’t answer by the third ring, a prickly feeling of unease wound itself around her and squeezed.

Please answer. Please answer, she repeated silently. Then his voicemail kicked on, but instead of leaving a message, she hung up. She stared at the phone for a moment, wishing he would call back, but the blank screen stared back at her accusingly.

I’ll wait a few minutes and try again. Feeling restless, she got up and cleared the kitchen table. Once she’d finished, she went back into the living room and tried calling him again, but he still didn’t answer.

He probably went for a hike. She liked that idea better than the alternative, which was that he was purposely ignoring her. She considered apologizing in a text but decided not to. She wanted to talk to him, hear his voice, and let him hear hers.

A few minutes later, she was still considering her options when Dakota padded into the room in her pajamas.

“I didn’t hear you talking, so I figured it was safe to come out,” Dakota said.

“He didn’t answer.”

“Maybe he went for a hike.”

“Maybe.”

Dakota glanced at the mantel clock. “It’s not too late. Why don’t you drive up to his cabin and see if he’s there? Maybe he just didn’t hear the phone.”

Would Dakota be this understanding if she knew everything that had transpired between her and Jax? Regardless, her need to apologize to him outweighed her other concerns.

“Do you really think I should?”

“It’s better than sitting around here worrying.”

“You’re probably right.”

Avery stood up and put on her shoes and coat. Dakota walked her to the door and handed Avery her purse and keys. “Don’t worry. I’m sure Jax will understand.”

Avery nodded and went out the door, although she didn’t feel nearly as confident as Dakota. She drove slowly up the hill, her heart pounding in her chest. She wasn’t sure if he’d be home or what she’d encounter if he was. If only Trevor hadn’t shown up and ruined things. She prayed that Jax would be as understanding as Dakota had predicted, but she had her doubts.

She pulled up in front of Close to Heaven and turned off the car. Peering up at the cabin, she saw a sliver of light between the curtains in the front window. That didn’t mean he was home, though. Still, she climbed out of the car, pocketed her keys, and trudged up the steep driveway.

Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should wait until tomorrow and give us both some time to cool off.

Her body ignored her brain, though, and she kept moving until she heard a sound from the back of the cabin. She stilled and tried to identify it over the pounding in her ears.

Music. He must be on the deck, listening to music. That’s probably why he didn’t hear his phone.

Flooded with relief, she climbed the steps of the wraparound porch, eager to get to him. It struck her that Smoky hadn’t come trotting out to greet her, but Jax must have left him inside.

She moved quietly yet purposefully along the side of the house in the direction of the music. When she rounded the corner to the back deck, she stopped in her tracks and gasped. Jax stood outside of the hot tub, stark naked and dripping wet. He didn’t even act surprised to see her. He simply gazed at her with an unreadable expression. Then, unfazed, he strolled over to the deck railing, plucked off a towel draped over it, and started drying himself off.

Avery was rendered speechless. He was all perfectly honed muscles, defined thighs and calves, and tight glutes. His caramel-colored hair was damp and tousled like he’d been running his fingers through the strands, maybe in exasperation or anger.

His damp skin glistened in the moonlight, the only source of illumination. An outdated-looking radio sat on a table near the hot tub, a popular country song playing from it.

His movements were slow and measured, like he was in no hurry to cover himself or face her. She wasn’t sure which she found more disconcerting. He’d turned his back to her, so she didn’t bother looking away. Instead, she admired his physique unabashedly and without fear of being caught.

Finally, he wrapped the towel around his waist and turned to face her. The first time she’d come upon him in a towel, she’d been curious about what was underneath. Tonight, though he stood in the shadows, she’d seen enough to know exactly what she’d been missing.

“What are you doing here?” he said, his words sharp and emotionless.

“I came to apologize.”