Page 52 of Close to Heaven

“Where you off to, pretty lady?” Cody said.

“The hair salon. I’m going to bring back a sandwich. Want anything?”

Jax pretended to be busy, but he hung on her every word. Her back was to him, so she might not have known he was there. Other than cursory greetings, they’d barely spoken in the past ten days.

“Sure. Bring me whatever you’re having. What about you, Jax? Want anything?”

Jax cursed his brother under his breath as Avery turned and spotted him.

As usual, she looked gorgeous, and he wondered why she was going to the hair salon, unless she wanted to get dolled up for Wednesday night.

“Can I get you anything?” She sounded tentative and not nearly as perky as when she’d been talking to Cody.

“No thanks,” Jax replied.

“Be back soon.” She hurried out to the parking lot, hopped into her car, and drove off.

Jax suddenly lost interest in decorating, and now that Avery had left, he didn’t have any reason to hide. He climbed down from the ladder and sauntered toward Cody, who was already on the ground.

“Man, you should see your face,” Cody said, sounding amused.

“What about it?”

“You look like a lost puppy dog.”

“You’re full of it.”

“No, you are.”

“Real mature.”

Cody laughed. “She’s gone now, so why don’t you just admit it?”

“Admit what?”

“That you have it bad for her.”

“You’re crazy.” Jax turned away and plucked a wreath out of the box of decorations.

“For what it’s worth, I think the feeling’s mutual,” Cody said.

Jax dropped the wreath and turned back around. Cody was like Smoky on the scent of a rabbit. He wouldn’t let up until he found what he was looking for.

“What are you talking about?”

“The way you two dance around each other and eye each other up while pretending not to. It’s ridiculous, really.”

“You’re right. It is ridiculous, which is why I’m keeping my distance.”

“A lot of good that’s doing. It’s just making you grumpier than usual.”

Jax shoved his hands in his pockets. “What do you suggest I do, Romeo?”

“Ask her out.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not? She broke up with Travis, or Trevor, or whatever his name is.”