Did he regret not knocking? No. The view that he’d gotten was one that would forever be etched into his memory. It was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen but he knew she’d be mortified. Aubrey didn’t seem like the type that would like her employee’s to see her in that light and he was already on her shitlist.
A half hour went by and he was stuck in this awkward purgatory of whether he should stay and deal with this shit, or leave and act like it never happened. She hadn’t shown her face. He’d heard one door open and another shut 15 minutes ago but not a peep since. Running his hands through his sleep ridden hair to smooth it back, he stood up just in time to see her walking into the room, full dressed much to the disappointment of the fantasies already happening in his head.
Her long blonde hair in careless waves with a loose hanging dark grey tank top, dark destroyed shorts, and a pair of cowboy boots – she looked beautiful. He instantly shook the thought from his head as he read the stern expression on her face but instead of yelling at him, she just walked past him to the kitchen to grab a drink out of the fridge. Jax waited for any sign of a confrontation but when he got nothing he stood to speak.
“Look, Aubrey, I’m sorry-”
“Lets just forget it happened, Jax. Please.”
She stopped him short, taking a sip of her water bottle before placing it down on her kitchen island, resting her hands on the counter top as she looked at him.
“You feelin’ okay? You could barely walk last night. I damn near had to carry you into the house.”
“Uh”
He scratched the back of his head, looking down at the ground. This was not the conversation he wanted to have with her – or anyone for that matter. Unable to read her face, he shook his head, praying to god he didn’t embarrass himself last night – or worse – shown a side of him that this town didn’t need to see.
“Yeah… I’m really sorry about that too. I didn’t do anything stupid did I?”
Aubrey thought for a moment, looking down at her bottle as she fidgeted with the label while she considered telling him about his tearful mumbling but she decided against it. Instead she pressed a smile on her face.
“Well, getting drunk alone in a bar wasn’t smart. I tried asking you where you lived but you were useless.”
“Lucky you got a soft spot for me, huh Beckett?”
“In your dreams, Jackson. Look – I’m havin’ Sunday brunch with Andy. You’re welcome to join.”
Water bottle in hand, she came around the corner, grabbing her purse off of the side table by her front door as she looked at him expectantly. Every ounce of her body told her not to invite him, but after the shitshow he was last night, maybe she did have a soft spot for him. She watched as he approached her, contemplating the offer before he shrugged his shoulders,
“Mind dropping me off for a change of clothes?”
Looking over his shoulder to see the clock on her oven, she nodded her head before the two made their way outside, Jax walking behind her, admiring her shape even more now that he knew what lay underneath. Getting in the car, he buckled himself in as he watched her get adjusted before she turned to face him.
“So where am I takin’ you?”
“Maple Inn.”
“The Inn? Why are you staying at the inn?”
“Well I just made an offer on a house yesterday – needed a place to stay when I got into town.”
Her confusion reflected on her face as she tried to understand the whole thing. So he’d just strolled into town – no house, no job, no plan? That was shady no matter how you looked at it. What was he hiding? Biting her lip, her attention returned to the empty street while she pulled threw her arm back, holding the back of his chair while looking over her shoulder to back out of the driveway. Jax didn’t miss the glimpse of a yellow lace bra contrasting against her tank skin through the side of her tank but averted his eyes quickly as her arm pulled away and her attention turned back towards him.
“Where’d you say you were from again?”
“California.”
“Long way from there ain’t chya?”
“Guess so. Nothing left over there for me.”
“What about your family?”
“Don’t got any.”
The change in his tone didn’t slip by her as he spoke. It was cold. Empty. Sensing a need to end that topic for the time being, she chose to change the subject. Today wasn’t a day to piss him off after their shower run in.
“I’ve never been outta Maple Hill. Never felt the need too. Everything and everyone I’ve ever needed has been right here.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Mhm?”
“Why do you call your dad Andy?”
With a small laugh, she shrugged her shoulders. “It’s weird isn’t it? I don’t really know why. It started when I started working at the shop. I didn’t want people thinking I had special privileges because I was his daughter, not like the whole town didn’t know anyway but yeah we’d stick to first name basis – since then it just stuck.”
Jax couldn’t help but let off a smile at her explanation. Sounded a lot like her, independent from the get go. It was one thing he admired. She always held her own, especially with the men at the garage. The car pulled into the Inn’s lot and he got out, surprised when she did the same.
“You go on, it’s been a few weeks since I’ve seen Jerry and Norma. I’ll be down here.”
She nodded as the two walked inside, a familiar smile forming on her face as she spotted the older couple bickering at the desk. Jax watched as Norma’s tired eyes lit up when she laid her eyes on Aubrey, Jerry having a more serious look on his face.
“My my, if it isn’t Miss Aubrey Beckett!”
“Where you been all night son? Had us worried outta our wits! Norma was up damn near half the night.”
Aubrey laughed, shooting a look over at Jax as she approached the two who had come behind the counter to greet her. He watched as they hugged, the whole interaction so warm. Genuine. That seemed to be the only word to describe everyone in this town. At first he’d thought Jerry was kidding but after hugging Aubrey he crossed his arms over his chest expecting an answer. Jax had never been accounted for by anyone out of pure concern before, much less strangers, but here were Jerry and Norma who waited up all night for him.
“Uh..uhm.”
“Oh don’t you guys give him a hard time. I invited him out with a few friends for drinks and this fella couldn’t quite keep up! Crashed on my couch last night.”
He looked at Aubrey, eyes wide but thankful for the assistance. A smile never leaving her lips as Jerry and Norma seemed to soften their approach. He mouthed a thank you as her eyes met his and she shot him a wink before he turned his attention to Norma.
“Well at least you were okay. Make sure to call next time!”
“Yes’mam.”
“Now go on, get dressed! Andy’s waiting at the diner as we speak.” Aubrey broke in, hooking her thumb over her shoulder to motion towards the stairs.
They spotted the rusty blonde hair from the back of Andy’s head sitting on a stool talking to one of the waitresses. Jax watched Aubrey as her eyes lit up watching Andy flirt with the woman, he place a hand on the small of her back, nudging her forward so they could walk towards him. She moved away from his hand, shooting him a warning look before she walked over to her dad, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind.
“Hey babydoll. Jax?”
“Hey Andy.”
“Sorry! I forgot to tell you Jax was joining us. Ran into him running errands this morning, he hadn’t eaten yet.”
“Well the more the merrier!”
Andy threw his arms over the two of them, walking over the corner booth where Aubrey slid in first then Jax and Andy. It didn’t feel awkward like Jax thought it would. Andy was the most good-natured man he’d ever met. Nothing was awkward with him. It was like he had this way with people – it brought out the best in them. He could see it in Aubrey too. How similar the two were. Since they only had each other, it made sense that she’d take after him. It wasn’t a bad thing by any means. Hell both father figures he had weren’t the greatest in life direction.
Aubrey ordered eggs with homefries and toast while Andy ordered an omelet with sausages and bacon. They had a routine about them. Neither had to look at the menu for long. He looked at his menu, every combo meal had cheesy southern themed names that he couldn’t help by smile at. He came to order the same as Andy just to keep from laughing if he read one more name. Joyce, the older waitress, took their order already knowing what the father-daughter combo was going to get.
“How you likin’ Maple Hill?”
“It’s a lot different than Charming. I’ll tell you that.”
“How so?”
“People weren’t as friendly to strangers.”
“We’re all happy you came. Its good seeing a new faces becoming part of this community. You’re a good kid – you’ll always have a place here, son.”
Jax found himself looking into Andy’s eyes. His words were so heartfelt and sincere that he didn’t know how to react. He was touched but to a fault. He’d always thought he’d have a place in Charming. In many ways he did, but the memories that haunt him would keep him from ever returning. Maple Hill was surely becoming home to him. He was closing on a house, he had a job, hell he’d even met people that seemed to care about him. He’d never had anyone account for him like Norma and Jerry, or anyone welcome him with open arms like Andy and Jim. This could work out – so far it had.
Brunch went on longer than planned. Andy was like an open book, they’d talked about everything from when Aubrey was born, to when his wife left him. It wasn’t something easy to talk about but he’d gotten to a point where he’d accepted and moved on – leaving Jax to wonder if he’d ever reach that point. He related to the older man’s depression when his wife left him. He’d gone through it when Tara had left for college. People said it was puppy love but up until the recent events – it was the most heart wrenching pain he’d ever felt. Of course – Andy had gotten over his wife and he had a beautiful daughter to help him get through it, but Jax’s life had ended in a much darker way.
Aubrey had been the most talkative he’d ever seen her. She was laughing and smiling with her dad’s stories as they reminisced. He’d gotten to know her so much more in these last two days than in the two weeks that he’d been in town. He could see what Jim was saying about her looking after Andy. She’d take away the salt from him if he tried to put too much on his food. She’d fix the collar of his shirt. She’d make sure he didn’t use too much sugar in his coffee. Andy was a man that needed a woman by his side or he’d fall off the wagon. When his wife left, Aubrey had stepped up to the plate. In a twisted way it reminded him of his relationship with Gemma. After Thomas and JT died, he had stepped in to fill that void in Gemma’s life. He often wondered if that was the worst mistake of his life. She had threatened and scared away almost every woman in Jax’s life. Except for Tara. No. Tara stuck around – tried to warn him even – and what did Gemma do? Kill her. Looking at the easy going man in front of him, he knew that would never be him.
Jax got news from the realtor during brunch that the owners had accepted his offer on the house. He’d told Andy and Aubrey the news and they seemed to be more excited then him. When he told people he was here to settle down they assumed he meant getting married and having kids but at 34 he’d already done that. He’d been married twice, had two kids, now this was him moving on – giving those who survived his destructive ways a chance to thrive in their own lives. Buying this house wasn’t anything to celebrate. It didn’t stand for a joyous time in his life. It was quite the opposite. It marked the loneliness he would soon allow to consume him. One bedroom. One bathroom. One life. The bustling sounds of Tara and the boys would no longer echo in the walls. The silence that had fallen over his life wouldn’t be welcomed but it needed to be accepted.
The two offered to check out the house with him. Andy was extremely handy and with the renovations Jax planned on doing, his opinions were necessary. As they walked through each room, Jax told them about the changes he wanted to make. The projects weren’t crucial by any means, they were meant to keep his hands busy. To dull the voices in his head when a bottle of liquor wasn’t doing the trick. Andy gave him advice, even offering to help with the renovations but Jax just stared at him, unable to get words out.
“You okay boy?”
“Yeah.” He quickly snapped out of it. “Just not used to people being this helpful.”
“We’re all neighbors here son, who’s going to help us if we don’t help each other?”
Jax chuckled in agreement.”I’ve never been friends with my neighbors.”
” ‘Round here – friends and neighbors are the same thing.”
Andy winked at the man before stepping out through the back door to the large back yard. As Jax went to follow his eyes caught a glimpse of blonde with a halo like glow around her as she stood in front of the sun lit window watching her father out back. Sliding his hands in his front pockets he approached her slowly not to startle her from thought.
“How are you liking the house?”
“Why only one room?” She asked blatantly.
“I’m only one guy.” he answered as obviously as he could.
Her cocked eyebrows told him she wasn’t buying it but that was what he was sticking with. It was just him. Just what he needed. Jax shrugged his shoulders as she turned her head to look at her father again. He watched as she looked at him intently. A sadness in her eyes he often saw when she was looking at him.
“You worry about him, don’t you?” He stepped closer to her, gauging her reaction. Aubrey nodded her head, her eyes following Andy’s every move as he checked the plants out back. “Why?”
Her eyes lifted to look up at him as her shoulders moved in a defeated shrug before returning her gaze to the window. “I just feel bad. He deserved something more in life – someone with as good of a heart as him.”
“That’s why he’s got you ain’t it?”
“It’s different, Jax. Everyone deserves someone to grow old with.”
Her words hit him harder than she’d ever know. He had that person. His job was to defend her with his life. He recalled the first time he’d laid his eyes on her, sitting behind her in math class their freshman year of high school. She was so beautiful, so smart, always raising her hand and she was always right. He replayed their first date, their first kiss, their marriage vows. Through everything, the good – the bad, they’d clung together. Then when she needed him the most – he was no where to be found. Tara never got that chance to grow old. To see her boys grow like Andy got to watch Aubrey. He didn’t deserve her. He didn’t deserve anyone.
Andy hadn’t let up. By the end of the night they ended up having a barbecue at his house. Aubrey had set up the table, seasoned the meat and the two men had grilled everything while having a few beers. It took all of Jax’s will not to keep drinking – that and Aubrey’s watchful eye. It was interesting to see how comfortable she was while cooking and cleaning. Tara never cleaned up, though he never blamed her. She was basically a single mother of two boys since he was never around. It was strange being here. Eye-opening. Little by little he was realizing all of the faults from his previous life.
Aubrey had offered to drop him off at the Inn late in the night. He hadn’t had his truck all day since being with the two. They said their goodbyes to Andy before getting in Aubrey’s Wrangler and pulling out of the driveway. The sound of slow country songs filled the car on the drive. Aubrey humming along softly with her eyes on the road.
“Thanks.. for today.” His deep voice cutting through the stillness between them.
“No- no. It was good getting to know more about you, even though you’re pretty hush hush ’bout yourself.”
“Not much to really say.”
“I doubt that.”
“Don’t. There’s nothing about me you’d want to know.”
She turned to look at him but he wouldn’t face her. His strong facial features more prominent through the dim lit car. He looked strained. She saw the same sadness in him as in Andy. There was so much more to him than he’d ever be willing to share. She placed a hand on his thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, catching his attention.
“You shouldn’t think that way.”
Almost instinctively, he placed his hand over hers, his thumb brushing the smooth skin over her knuckles. If only she knew – if any of them knew – he doubted they’d be as welcoming as they had been. It didn’t matter anyway. The person he was died back in Charming with his mother and his wife. The man he was now was nobody. No family, no history, no past. He was just Jax, the new mechanic. He looked over at her with a soft smile.
“You’re a good woman, Aubrey.”
She watched his hand cover hers. It was rough – unfinished – it suited him. It was warm to the touch, her knuckles feeling like they were on fire as his thumb brushed over them. Biting the corner of her bottom lip, she pulled her hand away from his. The contact had lasted too long but when it was gone she felt a longing need to feel it again but she knew better. She hated the way he spoke about himself – or more so how he wouldn’t speak about himself. She couldn’t read him. Why he was so dark, almost self loathing. Everyone they met seemed to love him but he was essentially a stranger – deliberately keeping himself that way.
“I think you’re a lot better than you give yourself credit for, Jax.”