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I’m saying the words to make clear to Carl that he has no business being here and speaking to Jax the way he is, yet as they’re leaving my mouth, hands on my husband, I think I might be finding some truth in them. Or hope. Want, at least.

Jax drives me insane and yet, in this moment, I wish, a minuscule, tiny part of me wishes, that he was mine, for real.

“I need your account passwords and log in details, Sienna,” Carl gripes.

I take a moment more indulging in Jax’s hold and the subtle nod of his head, telling me that he’s calm enough for me to back down. “I’m okay,” I tell him. “You can go back to the guys and the families.”

He takes me by surprise, reaching a hand up to my cheek and stroking his thumb across my cheekbone. Is this for show? It’s obviously for show, but I can admit that part of me wishes it wasn’t. “I’m not going anywhere until he’s gone.”

Carl laughs shortly, sardonically. “Cozy. While it lasts. Until the charade is over and she realizes what she lost when she gave up on me.”

I turn to face Carl. “You gave up on us, Carl, make no mistake.”

In a bid to put an end to whatever is happening here, I take a bingo card and pen from the high table nearby and write down the password for my main software account.

As he pockets the code, Carl grins sadistically at Jax. He has one up on me now and he knows it.

“FYI,” Carl says. “I saw you in Washington, schmoozing Logan McDavid. You of all people should know that these images surface online.”

“Of course I know, Carl. I was having coffee with my husband and his old college teammate.”

“You’re a fucking red flag, man,” Jax says ominously, almost grinding the words through his teeth. “And you need to back the fuck off my girl.”

Jax steps closer to Carl and grabs his shirt, in a way that makes Carl’s eyes widen but that is otherwise hidden from the view of everyone around us.

As Jax lets go of the shirt, he gives Carl a shove that’s much gentler than he could’ve given and honestly, I’m impressed by his restraint. I know that’s not his usual way of operating but in the circumstances, it’s the right approach.

Carl takes three or four steps back, then shakes his head, pats his pocket that now holds the password to my company account, and walks away. Jax turns me to him, pinching my chin between his finger and thumb. We’re as close together as we were in Las Vegas and he’s wearing the same cologne, smells incredible. My knight in Dragons kit.

I could ask him what he remembers from Nevada. Whether my erotic fantasies about the chapel bathroom are non-fiction. If he remembers carrying me into his hotel room. And why the hell didn’t we have sex? Because right now, my heart is beating for him.

“Are you okay?” he asks.

I nod, quickly, repeatedly. This is insane. He’s messy and volatile in the barn, not in the least interested in being anyone’s husband, but he makes me feel safe. “I liked your red flag comment,” I tell him, smirking.

“Thanks, I borrowed it from this kind of nerdy girl. He was so red flaggy, he’s like a state building.”

Perhaps the stress of the situation, or him mocking me now in his version of a girl voice, I laugh from my stomach. “Your friend sounds more funny than nerdy.”

He shrugs, eyes locked on mine so intently, my lips part as I watch his next words. “She can be.”

Snap. Out. Of. It.

He clears his throat. God, I’m stupid. I’m making this weird. “I’m about to get pulled into the game of softball,” he says, completely and rightly moving along whatever I thought was happening. “Are you up for it? Have you got sneakers with you?”

I swallow to wet my dry mouth. “Softball?”

“Big ball, bat. Softball.”

“I’m working,” I say apologetically, while knowing I’m actually going to stand around replaying my conversation with Carl and questioning how right he is.

Does he know me? Would it be easier if I went back to the company? If I married him and took ownership of what’s rightfully mine? Have I behaved monumentally idiotically lately? What even is the point of taking coffee with people like Logan if there’s no professional endgame? And why am I crushing on my very temporary husband?

“We’re all working,” Jax says. “Fun is the job today, nerd.”

Bianca suddenly appears, phone in hand. “I’ve already got some great footage, Boss, and things are running smoothly. Go get involved.”

Jax holds out his arms and says, “I dare you.”