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

pink pajama pants with the little skulls and crossbones on them and a tank top that said ‘never been normal’, I followed the smell of coffee to its source. I squeezed through the narrow space left between Dane and the galley style countertops to the coffee pot, brushing up against him on the way. Having another person in my apartment was a new and alien experience, one I feared I could get used to.
    "You hungry?" Dane certainly knew his way around a kitchen, making do with the limited pans and utensils I owned. He flipped the eggs one more time before sliding them out onto the plate.
    "Starved, actually." I took the plate he handed me and settled in at the small card table occupying what would otherwise be as a dining area.
    He joined me, taking the other seat at the table. "Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in."
    "I was just saying grace.” I shoved a forkful of food in my mouth, ignoring the look of surprise on his face. "Was that a mushroom I just ate? I didn't know I had mushrooms in the fridge. Or tater tots for that matter."
    "You didn't. And the mushrooms are canned, I'm afraid, the diced peppers and onions were frozen, and the ham is lunch meat instead of the real deal. I had to make do with what I could find at that little market on the corner. No potatoes, either. I figured the tots were as close to home fries as we were going to get today."
    "You shopped and cooked while I took a shower? Aren't you nice and domesticated?" I popped a tater tot in my mouth.
    "You take really long showers." Dane caressed my body with his gaze, letting me know without saying a word how much he wished I hadn't showered alone.
    "I'm going to get some ketchup. You want some ketchup?" I couldn't get away from the table fast enough. Just breakfast, just breakfast and then he's gone , I reminded myself.
    "It's not my best culinary work but I'm afraid I can't let you ruin those eggs with ketchup." Dane followed me into the kitchen, cornering me between the counter and the open fridge door. The cool air from inside the fridge was a welcomed respite from the heat of his body so close to mine.
    "It's for the tots." The words fell from my mouth on a sigh. Completely distracted by his beautiful lips, I was barely aware I spoke.
    Dane leaned in, angling his head to move in for the kiss. I simply had to rise up on my toes to meet him. Butterflies took up residence in my stomach. I was a bundle of nerves and desire. Bells rang out. Was it a sign that we were meant to be?
    Or it could have been the doorbell. Followed by a persistent pounding.
    Startled, I dropped the ketchup on Dane's foot and jerked up, colliding my skull into his face and giving him a nose bleed. I called out, telling the person at the door to hold, on and ripped some paper towels off the roll for Dane, who was leaning up against the counter with his head back. Before I could tell him he was doing it wrong, Tommy called out from the hallway.
    "Yo, Jax, you gonna open the door or what?"
    "Jesus, Tommy. It's open." I started to apologize to Dane but he waved his free hand absently, cutting me off.
    I think busting his nose in a moment of romantic awkwardness was more a sign of how things would go between us than anything else. And that was definitely for the best. As much as I wanted him, I couldn't allow myself to have him. Once he saw my crazy life, he'd split and I'd be broken and alone.
    Tommy let himself in, eyeing the two breakfast plates warily. "There's some lady at the shelter talking all kinds of crazy. Which probably isn't unusual, except I heard her mention your name. Thought you might want to have a look, see if you know her."
    "What are you doing at the shelter?" My heart swelled, daring to hope I knew the answer.
    "Figured I'd help out, seeing as how you weren't feeling well. Who gave you that shiner? I catch you at a bad time? You got company or something?"
    Dane stepped out from the kitchen, leaning on the doorway.
    Tommy's expression darkened but he didn't say