Breathe (Sea Breeze #1)(27)
Author: Abbi Glines

He stepped up behind me, pulled me up against him, and rested his chin on my head. “You will be dressed by my personal stylist, and you won’t have to speak to anyone but me. Yes, the cameras will be going, but all you have to do is smile. I’ll never leave you alone, except when I have to sing, and then you can stand backstage and wait for me.”

I wanted to make him happy. I wanted to know every part of his life, but it terrified me. “I don’t know,” I whispered.

We stood there for a long time without words.

Finally, he turned me around to face him. “Please, I need my air.”

My resolve crumbled, and I nodded. “Okay, I’ll talk to Mom.”

His earnest face broke into a grin, and he kissed me again. He held back, and it made me want to press closer. He pulled back before I could press him.

“You taste so good,” he whispered. He ran his fingers through my hair and curled a strand around his fingers. “I love your hair,” he said softly and continued playing with it.

My face burned with an incredible heat.

“Too late. I’ve already seen the blush. Stop trying to hide it from me. I think it’s adorable.”

* * *

Chapter Ten

Ms. Mary started fussing over me the moment I walked in the door. Jax smiled and enjoyed it immensely as I assured her that Jessica and I were both fine.

“Girl your age havin’ to run her mama to the doctor in the middle of the night ain’t right I tell ya. You’re too young to be sleeping in a waiting room all by yourself.” She turned and pointed her spoon at Jax. “You should have been there. What good are you if you ain’t there when she needs you.”

“Ms. Mary, he didn’t know about it either. I didn’t call anyone. You can’t blame Jax for anything.”

Ms. Mary let out a loud “hmph” and started stirring her pot of cheese grits again. “Well, you should have called him. He would have come. You’re too young to be alone in hospitals. Crazy people out there.”

Jax took my plate to the table, and then crooked his finger for me to come sit down. I sat beside him.

“I didn’t think about calling anyone. I’ve been taking care of my mother for a long time now. It’s no big deal.”

Ms. Mary spun around and pointed her spoon at me. “And that’s not right. Who takes care of you?” She waited for my answer and getting none, she nodded her head. “That’s right, no one does. You don’t know when to ask for help because you never had anyone to ask before. Well, now you do. You got a boy right there who looks like he would drink your bathwater if you ask him, and you got me, and Mr. Greg, and Marcus. Take your pick. Just stop trying to do it all alone.” She let out a deep sigh and turned back to her stove.

Jax squeezed my hand. “She’s right. But I would prefer it if you call me.”

I smiled at him, and he grinned. “And, yes, if you want me to, I will drink your bath water.”

I laughed out loud and shook my head. “You’re crazy.”

He nodded. “About you.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I took a deep breath to calm down. “I’m sorry I didn’t call you. She’s right. I’m not used to asking for help. But it is nice to know I have people around me who care. This is all new to me.”

Jax leaned over and whispered in my ear, “No matter where I am, I will always be there when you need me.”

I shivered from his warm breath against my skin and nodded, but I didn’t meet his gaze. I needed to get my heart out of my eyes first.

Marcus walked in as we were finishing our breakfast. He stared at me when he stepped in the kitchen. “Is your mom all right?”

“Yes, thank you.”

He gave me a forced smile. “Good,” he said and walked past me toward the laundry to get dressed.

I turned to Jax as he finished his juice. “I need to get to work too.”

He frowned, and then stood up and took both our plates to the sink and rinsed them. I went to get my apron, and Ms. Mary shook her head.

“No, Mr. Greg needs you outside more than I need you in here. He’s battling his arthritis today. He won’t admit it, but I can see it on his face. Go help him.”

I nodded and looked back at Jax to say goodbye before I left.

He smiled at me. “I have a song I’m working on, and sitting out at the gazebo today sounds like a perfect place to be creative. I will see you in a few minutes.”

I smiled and stepped outside. Knowing Jax would be outside with me today made the day seem much brighter. I walked over to Mr. Greg kneeling down in the herb garden, mumbling to himself.

“Morning, Mr. Greg. Why don’t you get off those knees and let me do this.”

He frowned at me. “I have a bone to pick with you, young lady. Ain’t no girl your age supposed to be gallivanting across town in the middle of the night. You should have called me.”

My insides grew warm and toasty. I really had made a new family here. “I know, Mr. Greg, and I am sorry. I’m just used to taking care of things on my own, and I didn’t think about the fact I have people who care enough to help me.”

He stood up slowly, and I fought the urge to give him my arm. I knew his pride wouldn’t take my offer very well.

“Just so you understand you’ve got people to help you now. Lord knows the Stone boy would have come running if you’d called him. I ain’t never seen such a lovesick puppy in all my life.”

I blushed. “I wouldn’t call him lovesick.”

Mr. Greg raised an eyebrow. “Is that so,” he said and shook his head. “Well, now, I guess we got work to talk about, now don’t we. Go ahead and weed this here garden, but be careful for the herbs. Once you’re done, go ahead and pull some rosemary and dill weed for Ms. Mary. She needs some for the kitchen. I’m going to go rake the sand and get it smooth around the bridge.”

I nodded, kneeled, and started weeding. Herb garden weeding was never easy because so many herbs resembled weeds. It wasn’t something I could do mindlessly, so I focused on my job.

The sound of a guitar broke my concentration, and I glanced up to see Jax sitting in the gazebo strumming away and watching me. I grinned and waved, and then turned back to my weeds. It proved hard to think about what I needed to be doing when his voice floated across the yard. I stopped several times to listen to his words, but I didn’t dare look at him. His music soon became sporadic, and I turned to see him writing on a piece of paper and working diligently over his guitar. His frown and concentration made it hard not to stare. I knew if he caught me, it might mess up his process. Other times, I caught him watching me, and he would wink, and I, in turn, would blush. However, the heat made my cheeks pink, and thankfully it helped hide it. After I finished weeding the herbs and taking Ms. Mary the rosemary and dill weed, I was given the job of picking up any debris that may have blown in overnight. I’d just finished carrying a handful of twigs over to Mr. Greg’s wheel barrel when Jason came out. He went over to Jax, and I went back to picking up debris. Jax got up and followed Jason inside. I tried not to let my mind wonder about where the brothers were going, and I focused on my job.