Your Heart to Keep: Holly and Jax (15 page)

“I’d say he would. When it’s something as huge as jumping from the sky, he’s going to want to see if I crap my pants or not.”

“Well, let’s hope that doesn’t happen!” Leah said. “Speaking of the host, where is he?”

“He’s around somewhere. Could be out back. There’s people everywhere tonight.”

“You’re telling us. We had to park at the end of the street.” Leah commented.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t aware Jax had invited so many people. Some of them I’ve never even met!”

“I guess when it’s your house you can invite whoever you want.”

“That’s it. Hey, can I get you two ladies something to drink? Alcohol, soda?”

“I’ll have a soda,” I said.

“And I’ll have one beer. That’s all I’m allowed if I’m driving.”

“No probs. I’ll be right back.”

Micah moved away to get our drinks leaving Leah and I alone. “Micah is so cute!”
“Really? Tell me what he looks like.” I knew Leah would be honest with me.
“He’s tall with a blonde crewcut. A tattoo sleeve on his right arm. And it looks like he’s got some sort of metal in his mouth. I can’t be sure though.”

If I’d had a mouthful of the soda Micah was bringing me, I would have spat it out. “He’s got what?”
“You heard me. Tatts and a possible piercing. He’s sexy as sin.”
I was shaking my head in disbelief. Not my Micah. That is not what I pictured him to look like. “But…he just doesn’t seem like the type. He’s so sweet.”

“No judging remember? Who says the sweet guys can’t get inked and pierced? It’s the trend nowadays.”

“I guess I’m out of touch!” I hadn’t ever bothered to ask my mother what Micah looked like and she’d never mentioned it so tonight was the first time I’d been given a rundown.

“I guess you are. I’m not going to say it either. You know what you need to get done. Something we’ve spoken about numerous times.”

I knew exactly what she was talking about. The corneal transplant. It wasn’t up for discussion tonight. In fact, now that my nerves had disappeared, I wanted to enjoy my first party and have some fun. Pursing my lips at my friend, I motioned with my head. “Let’s go dance.”
“Are you sure?”

“Positive. Just make sure I don’t fall over.”
“Great! Come on!”

Chapter Twenty Seven

Jax

“Man? Are you listening to me?”

“Hmm? What did you say?”
“I said, the ride over Squaw Pass between Bergen Park and Idaho springs is magic. Then you can head on up to Mount Evans.”
“Uh, yeah. Not sure where the road will take me tomorrow but thanks.”

I was only half in the conversation because something else had caught my attention. Something by the name of Holly. She who was clad in black leather looking so fine that my dick was already giving her a one-handed salute.

She was in the kitchen with a friend I hadn’t seen before. She couldn’t see me outside in the dark backyard where some of the smokers were gathered. I wasn’t one of them but up until a few seconds ago, I’d been immersed in a conversation about my new bike with Nick. Now my brain had shut down and I couldn’t think straight.

I watched from the shadows at the way the tight leather hugged her lithe body. Those never-ending legs reaching that glorious ass that I shouldn’t even be looking at.

She looked captivating with her hair high on her head, some wisps having spilled down to kiss her shoulders. And why was I picturing her sitting on the back of my bike dressed like that?

Moving closer, I noticed Holly and her friend leave the kitchen so I curiously made my way inside to see where they were going, suddenly craving a beer.

Pulling one out of the fridge, I ripped the top off and stalked through to the lounge room which I’m lucky was the largest room in the house because I swear three quarters of the party were in there.

Focusing my eyes, I scanned the crowd looking for the hot, leathered Holly. I had to keep my hands to myself but I could still look.

Taking a swig of my beer, I found her in a corner of the room so I moved to where I could see more of her, wondering what the fuck I was doing but unable to stop myself.

I could make out her body from the thighs up. Christ, those pants were made for her. Side on, her pert ass cheeks moved with her hips to the music, taunting me. 

She didn’t need her cane because she had her eyes closed letting her body take over. Wiping my mouth with the back of my hand after a mouthful of beer, I imagined my hands holding those hips while I ground into her from behind.

She was long and graceful like a dancer and it was as if her body had become a part of the music. Moving through it or it moving through her. Jesus! I was drooling like a fool.

I was just about to suck the remnants of beer from the bottle when Micah made his way over to them, drinks in hand, his hips swaying to the music. He handed the friend a beer and then said something to Holly before giving her, what looked like a can of soda.

Micah appeared in his element, giving and receiving attention from two hot females. They were all laughing and having a good time and then there was me. Leaning against the wall, empty beer in hand, raging hard on, wishing I could cut loose and enjoy myself.

What was holding me back? Did I feel guilty enjoying myself when Chloe was dead?

When she couldn’t be here to enjoy herself? Would she be angry with me for wanting to move on or would she want me to? I just didn’t know.

What I did know was that I felt like I had grieved for long enough. I was tired of being sad and angry all the time. I wanted to feel something that resembled happiness again.

Watching everyone else laughing and having fun made me realize all the more just how much I needed it.

When the song ended, Micah got everyone’s attention by announcing that he’d set up Karaoke and whoever wanted to kick it off could do so. I guessed it would be those who had consumed the most alcohol.

It wouldn’t be something I’d be participating in but merely watching from the sidelines. Hats off to those that had the balls to step up to the microphone and make an idiot of themselves in front of others without caring. Then again, maybe if I got wasted enough I might consider it.

No. I wasn’t going back there. It would be all too easy to fall from grace and succumb to the numbing quality of alcohol that I’d clung to after my father had shot through. I knew what it felt like to have days wiped out from a bender, staying drunk so that I didn’t have to feel. Wasting away on the intoxicating liquid that had taken the place of food.

Deciding it wasn’t going to happen, I walked into the kitchen, threw my empty beer bottle in the trash and grabbed a soda from the fridge.

Micah’s voice sounded out again into the microphone announcing that he had two takers for the first round of Karaoke.

“Folks! I’m happy to announce that after much deliberation we have our first duet ready to entertain us with their rendition of ‘Shout.’ The original song by The Isley Brothers or for those who have seen the movie Animal House, you’ll remember it being sung by Otis Day and The Knights. Please give it up for Holly and Leah.”

Holly and Leah? What the fuck?

Party-goers were whistling and cheering at the pair who were standing against the wall that housed my entertainment system. A circle of people were drawn around them, giving them some breathing space as they both took a microphone each and waited on the music to begin. Needing to be closer, I pushed my way through the crowd, standing in front but to the side.

Up this close to Holly I could truly eye her from head to toe. Holy mother of God! Not only did the black leather that molded to her curves, draw an appreciative growl from me but the sexy, goddam boots that finished off the outfit were almost more than a man could bear. What had happened to the plain, ‘girl next door’ look she always had going on? This version of the blind girl was smoking hot. A side to her that I wouldn’t have thought existed. Did she even know how good she looked? Somehow I doubted that. Maybe it was her friend I should be thanking.

My eyes found her hand around the microphone, gripping it tightly, a slight shake to it. Obviously nervous. A rosy glow had appeared on her cheeks in the form of a blush and I was guessing she wasn’t used to being the center of attention. Damn, she had long fingers. I mean, longer than normal and she was holding that microphone in a way that had me awash with dirty images.

My jaw was rigid and yet I still managed to roll my tongue stud furiously as I pushed one hand into the pocket of my jeans to keep it from balling into a fist, my cock attempting to franticly jerk against the seam of my jeans.

As soon as the fast music started everyone hooted and roared, egging them on. Both girls began singing, seeming to know the words by heart which in Holly’s case was a blessing because she wouldn’t be able to make out the lyrics that had appeared on my wall-mounted flat screen television.

They were actually pretty good as far as amateurs went and had the attention of everybody in the room, some people even joining us from outside.

It was the kind of song that you just wanted to kick up your heels to and enjoy which is what most people were doing. Dancing and jumping around. It was infectious and without even trying, my mouth had upturned into a full on ear-splitting grin, my legs finding the tempo and tapping out the rhythm, head bopping.

Holly had the advantage of not being able to see everyone gawking at her and she appeared lost to the moment. Leah had her arm around Holly’s shoulders in support as both girls belted it out.

Micah appeared beside me, clapping me on the back. “Aren’t they great?” He roared above the din.

“They’re good!” I called back, noticing his grin deepen at my response, his eyes taking on that scheming look.

Moving his head in close to my ear to keep it private he said, “She’s hot isn’t she?”

Dragging my eyes away from the girl I knew he was talking about, to Micah’s smug face, I acted dumb. “Which one?”

He laughed. “Both but I was referring to Holly. She’s amazing. She takes her blindness in stride and embraces life. I for one am in awe. Plus she’s just jumped to the top of my friends list because she gave me a tandem sky-dive jump for my birthday.”

I felt my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. “Wow! That was decent of her. I know how much you’ve been wanting to do that.”

Micah nodded. “You should go talk to her. The song’s nearly finished.”

“I don’t need you telling me what I should do.”

“Come on, Man! You know you want to. I can see that way you look at her. You’re struggling to keep your eyes on me, even now.”

Damn my friend knew me better than I knew myself. I rubbed a hand over my face, closing my eyes for a second, debating on whether or not I should just bite the bullet and go talk to her. It’s not like we hadn’t spoken before. It was more a case of the way her proximity made me feel. The way I wanted to place my hand on her chest just to keep confirming that Chloe’s heart was actually real. “With an outfit like that, every guy in this room is either looking or has had an eyeful.” I hated to admit it.

“Yep, but it’s not just tonight. It’s every time you see her.” Micah looked to Holly as her and her friend finished up the song to a burst of ovation and then back to me. “What gives anyway? You hated her not so long ago.”

Thinking about that truth, I floundered under a wave of guilt. Hate was such a strong word and yet, I had hated her. It was built purely on my grief and sadness over losing Chloe. Now that some time has passed and my emotions were starting to level out more, I felt that the word ‘hate’ had been a huge misjudgment on my part.

“I guess, I got over it.”

Micah’s eyes danced. “She gets under your skin doesn’t she? Admit it.”

“I’m not admitting anything to you, Dirtball,” I said as I moved away from him, playfully messing his hair and then walking over to Holly and Leah who had people surrounding them, congratulating them on their superb entertainment. That act would be hard to beat.

As I approached, I watched Holly’s eyes move from the people surrounding her to me. It wasn’t a pointed stare but one that held recognition of my presence. Like she didn’t have to see me to confirm my identity.

The couple both girls had been speaking to, moved away, leaving me standing in front of Holly and Leah.

I couldn’t focus on her friend yet, I was too stunned by the chocolate eyes that had been made up with smoky shades of eye-shadow that enhanced their shape and made them pop even more. Heaven wouldn’t look this good.

Before I could utter something lame, Holly spoke first. “Jax?”

“Hey, Holly. How’s it going?”

“A little embarrassed but okay.”

“You two rocked it up there. The whole house was singing along.”

The carefree giggle that she effortlessly offered me nearly brought me to my knees with its purity. Even above the music and revelry it was a sound that played like some melodic frigging harp. I wanted to hear it again and experience the thrum of vibration that wrapped around me but instead there was a brief silence as I stood gaping like an idiot.

“Um, do you want to introduce me, Holly?” The girl called Leah asked, looking from me to her friend with a grin.

“Oh. I’m sorry. Leah this is Jax. Jax this is my friend Leah. She works with me at the braille center.”

Holding out my hand, I offered a quick, “Hi. Nice to meet you.”
“You too.” She turned to Holly giving her arm a squeeze before saying, “I’m just going to the bathroom. I’ll be back soon.”

“Okay.” Holly’s eyes darted around as if trying to pinpoint where the bathroom might be before they landed back on me.

“So, that was a nice gift you got Micah. He’s really pumped about the jump.”

“I’m glad he likes it. He’s been so good to me. Picking me up and taking me to the gym. Introducing me to people. Inviting me to this party. I really like him.”
“Well, he’s only got good things to say about you too.” She was actually really easy to talk to now that I was giving her a chance.

“How long have you guys known each other?”

“It feels like forever. High School actually. He’s pretty much had my back since then.”

“I get that with him. He seems to be all about looking out for others.”

“That’s Micah. He’s got such a great heart.”

At the word ‘heart’, I coughed. Even thinking about the word, still brought about an uneasiness within me. I gauged Holly’s reaction but she didn’t seem to pick up on my discomfort. “Do you want to sit outside where it’s a little quieter? It’s hard to talk in here without yelling?”

“Sure. Lead the way.”

I took her soft hand and led the way through what used to resemble my house. At the moment it looked more like a brothel with couples making out and grinding to the music and plastic cups and empty bottles littering any available space. I glanced down the hallway on the way through to the kitchen and noticed Micah and Leah standing close, deep in conversation. I shook my head, hoping that my friend didn’t make a jackass of himself by coming on too strong. Leah didn’t look like the type of girl that slept around but Micah sure as hell had notched a few names on his bedpost.

Holly’s hand fit perfectly in mine, the softness of her skin making mine seem harsh in comparison.

Nodding to a few of Micah’s friends that sat in chairs on the lawn out back, snuggled up with jackets and beanies on because of the frigid night air, I pulled Holly to the farthest corner of the yard, under a tree where I’d placed a bench seat. I sometimes came out at night and looked up at the stars where I could talk to Chloe and feel that little bit closer to her. To let her know that I still loved her.