"Hey, Jesse?" Jax called softly as he leaned his arms over her desk.
"Yes, Mr. Monroe, how can I assist you?" She said with a friendly smile. A strand of hair had fallen from her tight bun and rested against her cheeks.
Jax itched to reach over and tuck it behind her ear.
"My brother tells me that there's a space that was prepped as a makeshift office for me." He kept his tone light and his smile engaging so that he wouldn’t frighten her away.
There will be time for flirting and teasing later.
"That would be correct. Would you like me to show you where it is?" She asked, though she already stood up, prepared to do just that.
"That would be great!" Jax said with a smile he knew most women just couldn't resist, but Jesse just gave him what he was starting to think of as her bland smile.
"It’s this way." She said and moved around her desk.
Jax followed closely behind her, his eyes glued to the gentle swing of her ass as she walked. His hands itched to reach out and run a hand over it. To cup it he pulled her closer to him just before he lowered his head to taste the plumpness of her bottom lip.
Jax has been, and will always be, an ass-and-hand kind of guy. Devon again, was a leg-and-breast guy. Unfortunately for them, Jesse possessed all the things that made their legs weak with need.
He grinned in anticipation of having her all to themselves.
"This is it," Jesse said as she opened the door of Jax’s new office and stepped inside.
A rough leather smell wrapped itself around her, and she suppressed a shiver when he stepped up behind her. So close that she could feel his every breath tickling the fine hairs on her exposed neck.
"Nice." He said from somewhere above her head.
Clenching her fist, Jesse stepped a safe distance away from him before really looking at the room.
It was large, and open with a wide window that overlooked the city. There was a desk with two seats in front of it and one large one behind it. There was a computer on top of the desk with a few necessary stationery.
"It's nice, but it needs life and color. The grey and white will drive me up the wall before the end of the week." Jax said moving through the room and Jesse started in surprise.
Devon had said the same thing when she first started with him. It had felt odd creating an alternative work environment for a man she barely knew, but he had made it easy for her. Bringing new ideas and suggestions to her, which they would discuss at length.
The time she spent with him on that side project helped her become more comfortable with him. Of interacting with him in a more casual way than she would usually allow, given their work relationship.
And also where those pesky NSFW thoughts started.
"Maybe a few paintings or plants?" Jesse suggested as she watched him throw his jacket over a chair and explore the room, taking in every detail of his new space.
"Perhaps." He replied absent-mindedly before looking out the window.
Jesse took a moment to really take him in.
Jax had a bit more of a relaxed air about him compared to his brother. Casual but confident in the way he took up space. Like he knew he belonged there and wasn’t bothered by what others thought. There was also a sense of playfulness around him. It was there in the teasing spark of his eyes and the roguish set of his mouth.
And what a mouth it was.
A full bottom lip that had her wanting to nip at it. Maybe even give it a little suckle to get his attention.
Then she mentally shook herself. A man like him needed someone who could meet him with a passion that matched his own. Someone wild who knew how to play. Someone who knew how to meet him step by step while daring him for more.
Jesse couldn't give him that.
She couldn't give anyone that.
"Jesse?" Jax called, drawing her from her thoughts. The soft, concerned look in his eyes had her wanting to walk up to him and wrap herself around his body.
"Yes, Mr. Monroe?"
"Are you alright? I called you a few times, but you seemed lost in thought."
"I’m so sorry. Just thinking of possibilities for this space. What did you ask me?"
“I wanted to know if that’s where Dev mentioned a group of surfers are having their own competitions every few weeks?” He pointed out the window, towards the sea, which was barely visible in the distance.
Jesse shook her head.
“Aah, I’m not the best person to ask about that, I’m afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
“I haven’t actually been to the beach and I’m not one for surfing, so I can’t tell you where something like that could be happening.”
He turned to her with an expression of utter shock, maybe a hint of horror.
“What do you mean you haven’t been to the beach? As in, any?”
Jesse nodded.
“How long have you lived here?”
“Long enough to know some good places to eat, if you’d like some suggestions. Otherwise, there are one or two staff members here who could help you with what you’re looking for.”
Jax shook his head.
“Never been to the beach … that’s practically blasphemous for living here.”
Jesse resisted rolling her eyes and giving a snarky answer.
“So far, no one has chased me away with fire and pitchforks, so I think I might survive another year or two.”
“Another year or two?!” There was no disguising the horror in his voice. “Jesse, please, you’re killing me over here.”
Jesse stifled a laugh.
She really shouldn’t be teasing him this way. Firstly; she was pretty sure he was part owner in the business, which made him her boss, and secondly; it was a touch too familiar for someone she had just met.
“I’ll find someone who can give you the answers you wanted and start looking at some alternative decor for your office. I’ll have some suggestions for you by tomorrow morning. Is there anything else I could help you with in the meantime, Mr. Monroe?”
“Call me Jax, please. You’ll be ‘Mr. Monroe-ing’ all day between me and my brother.”
Yes, please, Jesse thought, making internal grabby hands.
“I’m sure I’ll be able to manage, Mr. Monroe,” was Jesse’s dry reply to him. “Please let me know if there’s anything more you need from me.”
With a pleasant smile, Jesse turned to leave. She had only taken a few steps before she remembered she wanted to ask him if he needed a parking space, as she was sure that all those assigned to them were in use.
With a quick turn on her heel, Jesse bounced off Jax’s firm body, having been unaware that he had moved closer when her back was turned. A warm, muscled arm hooked around her waist kept her from stumbling into the door at her back.
“Oh,” a breathless exclamation from Jesse.
Her eyes met his for the first time since meeting him and they seared right into her soul. Stripped her bare. Exposed her every secret.
Just as Devon had done.
A moment stretched between them as Jesse tried to gather all the scattered pieces of herself.
Jax ducked his head a little closer, concerned. His breath washed over her face and Jesse could swear that his lips were inches from her own even though she knew they weren’t.
Pressed so close to him, she was just so … aware of all of him.
“You alright, Jesse?”
“Ye-yes. Fine,” Jesse took a step away from him. “I’m fine. I’m terribly sorry.” “That was all me. I think I snuck up on you there,” Jax said with a boyish smile.
Jesse just blinked up at him.
Get yourself together, girl!
It took her longer than she would have liked to do just that. Even longer to realize that his arm was still around her waist and that she was way too close to him.
Inappropriately so.
“Oh! Uhm. I-I’m so sorry.” Jesse took a few more hurried steps away from him, almost tripping in her flustered state.
“Please let me know if you need anything else, Mr. Monroe,” she forced herself to say at the door before fleeing for her life.
Completely forgetting what she had wanted to ask him in the first place.