Reckless (The Mason Family Series Book 3) by Adriana Locke (no david read aloud .TXT) 📕

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table. “Do you think so?”

She nods.

I lower my voice. “Then let’s hope someone sleeps in their own bed so we can find out.”

Jaxi throws her head back and laughs.

It kills me that I haven’t slept with her yet. It eats me alive. I lay awake every night and think about it, but Rosie is always lurking. I figure it’s more important right now to make sure Rosie is adjusted. So I keep adjusting myself.

I can’t do it much longer, though. I’m only human.

“So, that property management stuff …” I try to switch gears. “Did you find anything out that interests you for sure?”

“No,” she says. “But I did see something else that interested me today.”

“What’s that?”

Her eyes glimmer with mischief. “I saw a light on at Ted’s. I don’t think it was him because I didn’t see his car. It came on and then popped off a few minutes later. So …” She grins. “I called the police and reported that my cousin is out of town and no one should be there. You know, just in case Kimmy was over there pawing through Lib’s stuff.”

“Ooh, I like this side of you,” I tease.

She shrugs. “Libby doesn’t deserve what Ted did to her. I’m just glad that we were able to go over there and get most of her stuff.” She cringes. “I’m sorry that your garage is full of Libby’s things.”

That’s an understatement.

I have no idea what all is piled in the spot my car is supposed to go, but it’s a lot. Boxes and trunks and suitcases from Libby’s are lined up. All of the stuff from Rosie’s room is in there too. That’s not to mention the other shit I had in there. There’s not even room for my car anymore.

“I need a bigger garage,” I say. “And maybe a bigger house.”

“Your house is just fine.”

“It’s cramped. Don’t you think?”

She looks at me like she hopes I’m joking.

“What?” I ask. “The living room is full of Rosie’s toys.”

“Your mom’s fault.”

“My closet is full of my clothes, let alone yours.”

“I have like six things. That’s all you.”

I raise my brows. “But you’re going to have to fill your wardrobe again. You need more clothes.”

“I do not.”

I sigh. “Anyway, I think a bigger house might be nice.”

“No. You are not buying a bigger house.”

Rosie scribbles away. “Can we get a puppy at the bigger house?”

Jaxi kisses her on the side of the head. “We are not getting a bigger house, Rosie.”

I start to piece together my pitch to win her over on the idea when a voice calls out to me.

“Well, hey there, Boone.”

I look over my shoulder and see Marcus Van coming toward me.

“Hey, Marcus,” I say, clasping my hand with his. “What are you doing around here?”

“I was golfing over here with some guys from the team and had to come here. I love their spaghetti.”

“I agree. Their sauce is just … it stands out from the crowd,” I say with an eye on Jaxi.

Her cheeks flush, but she doesn’t make eye contact with me.

“Jax, this is Marcus Van. He plays baseball for the minor league team here in Savannah,” I say. “Marcus, this is my girlfriend, Jaxi Thorpe.”

The word just rolls off my tongue. My girlfriend. On the one hand, it sounds so juvenile. On the other, it sounds perfect. And being that Marcus is one good-looking dude, I’m not mad that he now knows that Jaxi isn’t available.

Fucker. 

Marcus’s eyes go wide for a second before he turns to Jaxi. “Nice to meet you, Jaxi.”

“It’s my pleasure,” she says.

He turns back to me. “How the hell did I miss you getting a girlfriend?”

“She fell into my lap.” I look at Jaxi and laugh. “Didn’t you?”

“Very funny,” she says, firing me a warning glare.

Marcus slaps me on the shoulder. “So, are we still going to Vegas next week, or is that off the table now that you have a girlfriend?”

Jaxi’s gaze immediately hits the table. She becomes focused on Rosie’s coloring page.

Vegas. Shit. I’d forgotten all about the trip. We go often—too often, probably. It’s a fun way to burn off energy and enjoy life before we get saddled with wives.

Or girlfriends.

Marcus grins.

I can’t go now. What am I supposed to do—leave Wade to figure out Greyshell by himself? He’ll be forced to take Oliver, and then Oliver will steal the glory that rightfully belongs to me. Plus, Jaxi and Rosie are too raw to fend for themselves. They need me.

Besides, what happens in Vegas doesn’t always stay there, and I don’t have any interest in that right now.

“I’m going to have to opt out,” I tell him. “I was going to call you tomorrow.”

“Sure you were.” His chest rumbles with his laugh. “I get it. It looks like you have something worth staying home for.”

Jaxi lifts her eyes to meet mine. Our gazes dance together over the table.

“I most certainly do,” I tell Marcus.

“Alright. Well, I’m going to get out of here,” he says. “It was nice meeting you, Jaxi.”

“You too.”

“If he gives you any problems, you give me a call.” Marcus winks at her. “Later, Mason.”

“See ya around,” I say as he walks away. Once he’s out of earshot, I lean toward her. “Don’t give him a call. He’s a lot of trouble.”

“Then why were you going to Vegas with him?” She lifts her brow, teasing me.

“Who am I supposed to take to Vegas? Oliver? Wade?” I cringe. “Vegas is for fun, not calculating the odds and stressing yourself out because of how much money you’re losing.”

She laughs.

Lola, the waitress, arrives with our food. She sets a plate in front of each of us and warns Rosie not to touch hers because it’s warm.

“Can I get you anything else?” Lola asks.

“A zoo,” Rosie says between blows on her chicken strip.

“I think we’re out of those,” Lola says. “Any water? Ketchup?”

“I think we’re fine,” Jaxi says. “Thank you so much.”

“No problem. Enjoy.”

We sit quietly for a few