Payable On Death: A Jax Rhodes Novel, Book One (The Jax Rhodes Series 1) by Rachel Rawlings Read Free Book Online Page A

Which I clearly did."
    I thought back to the original wager. Shit. "This is a boxing club. Our ring is square, not an octagon. You want to use jujitsu, find a MMA gym."
    "You should have stated those terms before accepting. You didn't. So, I put you on your back and now we’re going to breakfast." He had the nerve to wink at me.
    I'd never wanted to kiss and punch someone at the same time so badly. The longer he stayed on top of me, the louder the whistling and sexual innuendos got. If I didn't want to have to find another gym, I needed to take control of the situation. He'd leaned in on his right elbow, still half-propping himself up with his left arm, leaving one side exposed. I coiled back, packing as much power as I could into the short right body shot. Caught off guard, he grunted with the impact, allowing me to roll him over and switch positions.
    "It's true what they say, to the victor go the spoils." Dane managed in between coughs. "I still won."
    "I am not going to breakfast with you."
    "I can cook. How about I make you breakfast instead?"
    "I don't want to go to a public place with you, why would I go to your place?"
    "We could go to yours if it makes you more comfortable." There was the wink again.
    My body ached and not just from the beatings it'd taken lately. It had been a long time since I'd been with anyone. Too long.
    I rolled off him, onto my back, sprawled out on the mat next to him with our legs touching. I threw one arm over my eyes to avoid looking at him when I finally gave in. "You cook me breakfast and then you'll leave me alone?"
    "What?" Dane sounded genuinely shocked he'd managed to wear me down.
    "Breakfast and that's it." I moved my arm so he could see I meant what I said. "And then you walk away."
    "If that's what you want, sure." He got to his feet, offering a hand to help me up. "You might change your mind after you've tasted my western omelet."
    I took his hand and let him pull me up. The cat calling and whistling stopped as the guys realized Dane had accomplished the all but impossible feat of asking me out on a date.
    A date.
    No, I couldn't think of it that way. It was a meal, we'd share a meal and nothing more. It was just breakfast. I'd eaten with other people thousands of times at the shelter. It didn't mean anything. It wouldn't lead to anything. I refused to let it.
    Your heart is safe if you don't let anyone in. I reminded myself getting hurt was the least of my worries when it came to relationships. Anyone too close to me risked being hurt by demons. And that was just another kind of heartache I didn't have time for.
    Dane was out of the ring grabbing my stuff before I could jump down off the curtain. I ignored the stares and assumptions, the jokes they'd no doubt tell once we walked out the door. We reached Mister Joe, who stood up to stop us before we left.
    He put an arm around Dane, turning him to face the gym and the guys whose stares had darkened just a little, all signs of humor gone. "Let me make something clear. My money's on her in a real fight. Jax can take care of herself, but if you hurt our girl.... Well, I won't be the only one in line to whoop your ass. You picking up what I'm putting down, son?"
    "Yes, sir." Dane didn't look away, meeting their gaze to let them all know he understood.

EIGHT
     
     
     
     
    I tried to part ways outside of BBC, wanting to get cleaned up before he came over and assuming he'd want to do the same. Dane assured me he was fine, saying he hadn't even broken a sweat. He threw out a jab about reneging on the bet, calling me a welcher. I've never welched on a bet in my life and reacted exactly as I’m assuming he'd hoped - indignant and stubbornly demanding he come over immediately. With a cat that ate the canary smile, he gestured for me to lead the way.
    The look in his eyes said omelets weren't the only thing on the menu.
    I left Dane in my kitchen—otherwise known as the barren wasteland—and jumped in the shower. After slipping on my