Before Leila could even process the phone call with her father, his PR people were already at the door with damage control. First they’d set up a shopping date with some of the other supervisor’s daughters than a dinner date with this guy she’d never met. It was official. Her life was now fully being controlled.
She took a quick shower before putting on her make up and blow drying her long blonde hair down straight. She walked into the second bedroom of her house that was set up as her closet and picked out a short sleeve white fitted dress that fell mid thigh and black suede Giuseppe Zanotti lace up sandal, picking up her black Chanel handbag and walking out of the house to her car.
She was due to meet Sarah, Rebecca, and Michelle for a cup of coffee on Main Street. She was told specifically to stay local so that reporters could see she hadn’t stooped beneath her. As she parked across from the coffee house she noticed a row of bikes. She couldn’t explain why she got butterflies in her stomach at the thought of running into Jax again but she had to brush those away quickly. That couldn’t happen one way or another.
“Leila!” She heard the shrieking voice of her old friends. Each of these girls she’d known since she was a child. They were the daughters of other members of the board.
“Hi!” Leila smiled back as excitedly as she could. Truth was it was nice having friends who understood the life she lead but these girls were far into it. The money, the cars, the clothes, it was all about that. They didn’t have any say of their own but they didn’t mind as long as their lifestyle stayed this way.
“Its been so long!” Sarah screamed as she gave Leila a hug!
“8 years Leila! How could you stay away?!” Rebecca asked jumping into the hug.
“We have so much to fill you in on!” Michelle smiled gleefully.
Leila hugged them all back before heading inside with the girls. “Well I’m all ears! I want to hear EVERYTHING!” She lied.
They stepped inside and asked to be seated outside since it was gorgeous out. The four of them taking a seat, Sarah immediately jumped into filling her in on the new relationship she was in. Leila’s attention was spanning in and out. It always was the same with Sarah. She’d fall madly in love then get bored days later and forget it ever happened.
As she took a sip of her coffee she looked out onto the street to see Jax sitting at his bike while the other guys were talking by the barbershop door. The blondes piercing blue eyes were locked on her own. She felt her face turning red hot as he smirked at her. She couldn’t stop the smile from forming on her lips before she lowered her eyes to the table.
Since church this morning, the club had been hanging out. After their deal the night before they could afford a couple days rest. Of course they were expected to work at the shop but Jax, Opie, Juice, and Half Sack decided to grab some food and a haircut at Floyd’s.
While Juice was finishing his haircut, Jax went outside to his bike for a smoke, pulling out a cigarette. As he focused on lighting it, he caught a glimpse of shiny blonde hair out of the corner of his eyes. When he looked up, there she was, looking like an angel in white with the sun shining behind her. He couldn’t believe how perfect she looked.
He watched as she laughed, the way she took small sips from her cup, the way her eyes squinted when she smiled. How happy she looked. He started to wonder if it was actually real. He remembered her talk last night about how everything was for her father. Was this an act too? He was so deep in thought he hadn’t realized he’d been staring at her. When he looked again her eyes were on his. He gave her a smirk that quickly turned into a smile when she smiled back at him but then she broke eye contact. He could only imagine how much shit Heaton had given her for that picture in the paper, but the way she looked at him – he knew there was more too it. It meant he had a chance and that was all he needed.
The girls got up from their seats, leaving the coffee house. Not missing the glimpses she shot him – Jax was tempted to go talk to her but the guys had come out from Floyd’s so he kept his eyes on her. They all looked so expensive, clean, untouchable. But Jax wanted nothing more than to touch her.
“Wow. The things I would do to them.” Half Sack piped up as the guys got settled on their bike. “See the ass on that blonde?”
Jax shot him a warning look and the prospect looked at Opie and Juice confused but Opie knew the deal. Jax was a very jealous man. Especially when he had his sights on someone.
“Shut it, prospect.” Opie said, immediately silencing the younger man.
Looking at Opie, the VP gave a grateful look. Last thing he needed was to fight a prospect, so the men watched as the women got into their own cars and headed their separate ways.
“Come on, Brother.” Op spoke up again. “Gemma called wants us at the garage. “
“Shit, didn’t think she’d realize we were gone this soon.” Juice laughed nervously.
7PM and the shop was closing. It being a Saturday night, the clubhouse would be going crazy in an hour. The rest of the men were excited to let loose after a successful week but Jax just wanted to go find Leila. He couldn’t get the image of her from earlier today out of his head. Hell, lately he couldn’t stop picturing her at all. From her sweet smelling perfume to her beautiful smile, to the gorgeous shape of her body. He couldn’t believe how he was acting like a love sick puppy, but she’d always had this effect on him. Even when he was with Tara.
“What’s on yer mind Jackie Boy?” Chibs walked over, joining Jax as he sat on top of the picnic table.
The young VP looked up at him and shrugged his shoulders. “Just not feeling a party tonight Chibs.”
“Not feelin’ a party?” Chibs asked in shock. Come on Jackie! The deal with the niners was enormous. We deserve to celebrate it!”
Jax laughed at his friends’ enthusiasm. “Alright alright, I’ll stay for a while.”
“That’s my boy!” Chibs laughed throwing an arm around him.
With the party in full swing, Jax hung back around the pool table playing a quiet game with Opie. Op had Donna at home so he knew better than to go wild at these parties which was great tonight since Jax wasn’t feeling it either. They watched as their brothers had drink after drink, surrounded by loose women. Normally he’d be one of them but tonight he wanted to go home by himself. He couldn’t get Leila’s smile from earlier in the day out of his head.
“I’m going to head out Op.”
Opie looked at Jax confused. “It’s not even ten yet.”
“Yeah. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He nodded, before heading out. He knew he wasn’t allowed to tell anyone of this. Even though Op was his best friend if anyone heard him talking about her he’d been in real shit with Clay.
Swinging her front door closed, Leila was relieved to be home. She’d cut the date short since he was a complete asshole. “Narcissistic prick” she mumbled as she walked up the spiral stairs to her bedroom. She’d wanted nothing more than to set up her house, do some grocery shopping, and lounge around today, but instead she’d been kept busy for the sake of appearances.
Shedding out of her dress and heels she tossed them aside on a chair in the corner of her room and walked back to her closet to pull on a pair of leggings and a white cami with a loose grey cardigan, tying her hair up in a messy bun. Slipping on a pair of nude flats, she grabbed her purse and headed outside to her car again. This was the ideal time to grab snacks. Nobody following her. Nobody keeping tabs. It was Saturday night so nobody would be around. Perfect.
Pulling over in front of Annie’s convenience store, she hopped out of her car and spotted the all too familiar bike. Instantly, butterflies filled her stomach but she assured herself it couldn’t be him. She knew about the wild parties the Sons threw on weekends, he wasn’t one to miss out. With a deep somewhat disappointed breath, she entered the dimly lit store. The girl behind the counter not even bothering to look up at her so Leila continued on through the aisle. She grabbed a small tub of ice cream and a bag of chips before making her way to the candy aisle, looking through all the options,
“Someone’s got a sweet tooth huh?” She heard behind her, turning quickly to see Jax.
Biting her lower lip she gave him a small smile, “Yeah, binge eating at night is kinda my thing.”
He laughed as he leaned an arm on the shelf, leaning his body towards her. “Sounds like my kinda girl.”
Feeling her cheeks burning she let out a small laugh before turning her attention back to the candy. “I thought I saw a bike outside, definitely didn’t think it’d be you.”
Jax raised an eyebrow as he watched her. “Why’s that?”
“Because it’s Saturday. Don’t you guys have a party at the bar on Saturday’s?” Leila said as nonchalantly as possible.
“Yeah, I wasn’t feeling that tonight.” He nodded. “Here let me help you carry these.” he said reaching his arms out.
“No, really it’s okay.” She shook her head, taking a step back quickly.
“You okay?” He asked looking around the store for a reason to why she reacted that way.
Leila sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I’m sorry Jax.” She looked up into his concerned baby blues. “I’m just not supposed to be near you..”
“Near me?” He asked confused before it hit him. “Cause of Heaton right?”
Leila nodded shyly, biting the corner of her lip.
Taking a breath to calm himself down he looked down into her sad eyes. “Well is that what you want?”
Stunned by the question, Leila looked up at him wide eyed. Nobody asked her what she wanted, but she didn’t know how to answer. She surely didn’t want to make her father upset, but she did want to get to know Jax. Breathing in deeply she found herself shaking her head.
“No.” She whispered.
“Then why does it matter what he wants?” He asked, placing a hand under her chin to lift it so he could look into her eyes.
Another question she had no idea how to answer but the feel of his hand touching her skin had her at a loss for words. She looked up in his eyes and shrugged. She genuinely did not know. It was just the way it had always been.
Jax looked down at her face, so soft, so exposed. The urge to lean down and kiss her was unbearable so he took his hand off her face. “You’re a big girl, Leila. You can do what you want.”
She laughed lightly as she looked down at her feet. “Try telling that to the 9 people in charge of making my schedule.”
“9 huh?” He asked stepping closer. “Well how about I become number 10 and schedule you to take a ride with me tonight?”
Leila laughed as she looked up at his determined face. “I don’t know.. I’ve never been on a bike before. Where would we go?”
“Anywhere you want to.” He smirked as he watched her consider the situation.
Looking up in his eyes she felt herself wrapped with comfort, as she considered all possibilities. There were so many reasons for her not to go. But there was only one reason she was going. She wanted to.
“We’ll have to take my car back to my house.”
Jax’s smile grew as she spoke, “Ready to go?”
Looking at the bags in her hands she nodded. “Yeah. Let me just pay for these.” She said walking over to the counter. “You want anything? My treat?”
He looked down at her and shook his head. “I’m alright, darlin’.”
With a nod she looked over at the girl behind the counter who wouldn’t take her eyes off of Jax, Leila laughed lightly as she handed her money, before taking her bag and heading outside. Jax walked her to her car and opened the door letting her get in. “I’ll follow you home?”
“Sounded sooo stalkerish but yes.” Leila laughed, shutting the door as he stepped away. She waited until he got on his bike before taking off to her house. Leila pulled into the driveway with Jax pulling up behind her. Shutting off the car, she stepped out grabbing her purse and her bag from the other side. “Let me drop these inside, I’ll be right out” She said stepping inside.
As she pulled her phone out from her purse she realized she had a missed call from her father. A slight panic came over her, she quickly called him back. “Hello?” she asked nervously.
“Can’t answer your phone for your father, you ungrateful shit?” Jeff’s angry voice boomed through the phone.
“Sorry, dad. It was in my bag. What’s going on?” She asked trying to defuse the situation.
“I’m on my way over. I need to talk to you about the press conference on Monday. I’ll be there in 5.”
Leila’s anxiety was through the roof, as she looked around the house to make sure everything was in place before it hit her that Jax was outside. “Uh.. it’s 11 o’clock at night, dad. Don’t you think you can drop by tomorrow?”
“No. I’m outta town tomorrow. I’ll be there in a minute.” He said hanging up.
“Shit shit shit!” She yelled to herself as she sprinted for the front door. “Jax!” She yelled, catching his attention. “My dad’s on his way here. Pull your bike into the garage!”
Jax did as he was told quickly sensing her worry and stepped out as she shut the garage door. Taking his hand in hers she lead him inside. “I thought you lived by yourself?” he asked as he laced their fingers together following her up the stairs.
“I do. This is my house but I’m dead if he sees you in here.” She said as she lead him to her closet. “Here. He’ll never look up here.”
Looking around the full sized room full of clothes he got wide eyed. “Is this your closet?”
“Yeah, now shhh.” she said as she closed the door and ran downstairs.