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COLIN
I studied Jaxon, torn on what to do. I really didn’t want to stay there. I hadn’t been lying when I’d claimed he disturbed me, made me uncomfortable. I didn’t want to be aware of the other couples around the restaurant, caught up in their intimate dinners and conversations. I didn’t want to be aware of Jaxon as he sat across from me with his striking blue eyes and broad shoulders.
Nothing would make me happier than to get out of there, away from him and the constant awareness I found myself in around him.
The challenge in his eyes when he looked at me was distracting as well. I could see how he viewed me. He wasn’t the first man to consider me as someone to conquer.
I leaned forward, ignoring the other people around us who cast nosy glances our way. Placing my hand palm down on the tabletop, I waited until he met my gaze before speaking softly. “I’m not a challenge. I’m not interested. If you can accept that, then I’ll stay and we can talk about the possibilities here for a business partnership. If not, I’d better be going.” I’d pointed out what I’d observed to shake him up and I was already finding myself as the one shaken. I didn’t like it.
Another waitress who was also the owner’s wife approached from the side, surprise on her face as she carried a pitcher of water. “Colin! You’re out with someone.” She gave Jaxon the once over and looked at me with delight. “And he’s a yummy someone. I can’t wait to tell Tom.”
I shook my head, straightening from my position. “Hi, Camille. No, it’s not like that. It’s just business.” If she told Tom, then the whole restaurant would know in no time and that would follow down the restaurant circuit until everywhere I went would find people asking me about who I was dating. I didn’t feel like fielding those conversations. Better to nip them in the bud right then.
A flash of disappointment crossed Camille’s face until she switched her attention from me to Jaxon. She arched her eyebrows and slipped in a side-smile. “Well, if I wasn’t married, honey, I’d have no problem telling you I’m off at ten.”
Despite my adamant refusal to be interested, I found myself tamping down a distinct pang of annoyance that Camille would be so blatant in front of me. Her obvious flirtation was something that was known, but I’d never seen it so up-close-and-personal before.
Jaxon smiled disinterestedly toward Camille and never shifted his gaze from my face. “Sit down. Let’s talk.”
Camille walked on, obviously irritated that she’d been ignored, but not enough to dwell on it. She was happily married, she just also happily flirted with chairs and walls as well as men.
I sat down across from Jaxon. His magnetism was hypnotic and I couldn’t look away. Business. Just business. That’s the boundaries I’d set out for us both. Just business. Plus, even if I was interested, it wasn’t like I could offer him anything of value. Sitting there staring at him wasn’t an option which was what I wanted to do. I also just wanted to use him for companionship without the investment of personal commitment.
There had to be something in there my old therapist could use.
“What do you think about the Seahawks’ year? I’m not a fan of the coach, but we’ll see how their defense does.” Jaxon looked up as the pizza was placed on the table in front of us.
After the server left, I blinked at him. “What?” Had he been hit on the head while I’d looked the other way?
Jaxon’s smile was disarming and I shifted on my seat. He served me a piece of the Garden pizza and served himself a Jukebox. “Well, I assume we can be friends, right? I talk football with my friends. Do you like football?”
I sprinkled crushed red pepper on my pizza. Okay, I could be friends. That had to be better than feeling like we were rivals. “I prefer the Forty-Niners.” I winked as he glanced at me in shock.
Relieved, Jaxon sighed. “Oh, thank goodness. I can’t be friends with a San-Fran fan.” His mock seriousness actually felt like it had a tinge of horror under it.
I laughed, shaking my head. I still wasn’t interested, but if that was the case, then why did I feel like I was cheating on Mathias?