Series: Fever Falls Series by Riley Hart
Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 96922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 96922 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 485(@200wpm)___ 388(@250wpm)___ 323(@300wpm)
“Clearly, if I’m already meeting her, you guys have a great relationship. That’s really awesome.”
“What about you and your parents?”
Dax grew quiet, and as I glanced over at him, it was evident this wasn’t a subject he was comfortable with. And here I thought I was the one with baggage around that topic.
“Hey, whoa. That wasn’t meant to dig shit up. I figured we had a bit of a drive ahead of us, so I was trying to make small talk, not open the floodgates or make you uneasy. If you’d rather, we can talk about something else.”
He chuckled, but judging by the way his face was all tense, I’d struck a nerve.
“Just…my mom raised me, and we’re not as close these days. Not distant, but not as close as it sounds like you are with your mom.”
The way he said it, it seemed that was all he was willing to divulge. “Fair enough. I can leave that right there. Any brothers and sisters?”
“No. Just me.”
Given his curt responses, family wasn’t his favorite topic, so I helped him out. “You work with a lot of celebrities?”
“Well, I don’t typically go around bragging, but T Swift and Cardi B… And of course, Fever Falls’ own, Ash Carmichael.”
“Damn…” And as I checked out his coy smile, I added, “Seems like you’re bragging a little bit.”
“It’s fun to say, but to be fair, I haven’t worked with either of them in a while. Only been a few years, but in PR terms, that’s eons ago.”
“Hey, if you worked with them, it counts. I’d be milking the crap out of that if I were you. You should have just led with, ‘Hi, I’m Dax, and I’ve worked with Taylor Swift, Cardi B, and Ash Carmichael.’ I woulda been more likely to sign right there, but now here you are, stuck with visiting the family.”
He laughed. “For some reason, I have a sneaking suspicion I couldn’t whip out a contract now and get a signature.”
“Well, I said if you’d led with that, but now we’re stuck in this car, and Nance is expecting us, so… That’s just a joke, by the way. I’m considering this more than I have with other guys, but I don’t want to lead you to think that I’m definitely doing this. It’s possible you’re wasting your time, barking up the wrong tree.”
“It’s my time to waste, so I’ll take my chances, if you don’t mind, Jace Kruse. And don’t doubt how persuasive I can be.”
I checked him out once again, that smile as coy as ever, and I picked up a trace of something a little more suggestive.
“Well, you’re in luck. I enjoy being persuaded.”
I regretted pulling my gaze away to keep my eyes on the road, since the way he was looking at me through those hazel beauties, damn it felt good.
5
Dax
Jace had definitely heard Carter on the other end of the line, and he was so chill about everything that I couldn’t tell if he was just super cool with gay guys or if that was some indication of his sexual orientation. And what did he mean with a comment like he enjoyed being persuaded? Was that overloaded with sexual tension, or was he just kidding around? Maybe he was one of those straight guys so oblivious to innuendo, he didn’t think twice about making suggestive comments like that.
“You’re an interesting character, Jace,” I noted.
“What do you mean?”
“Most guys, if I’d thrown down talk about a major endorsement deal, would have jumped at the opportunity without any hemming and hawing. They would have got down on their knees and sucked my cock to land a deal like that. Not that I would ever behave that way with a client.”
“Oh really? That doesn’t sound like any fun.”
“If someone’s sucking my cock, they’re doing it because they want to, not because they’re gonna get something else out of it.”
Jace snickered. “I bet they are.”
I would have suspected that such a comment would elicit some sort of tell from Jace. That I would at least be able to read what team he batted for, but with his eyes on the road, it was hard to make out what he was thinking.
“You got a girlfriend?” Jace asked, seeming to address the same unspoken question that surely we both had by then. When I didn’t immediately reply, he added, “Boyfriend?”
“Single. Not much for dating, but if I hook up with someone, it’s with a guy.” Figured it’d be best not to beat around the bush on that anymore, and I was kind of hoping Jace would put an end to my speculation.
“Oh, that’s cool. I have a few gay friends, some even at the station.”
“Judging by that response, I take it you’re not,” I pressed, wanting him to end my curiosity, and then I could escape some of the fantasies he roused just by being Hottie Firefighter…and a downright laid-back, intriguing guy. Even in the short time I’d been around him, I became more and more affected by this little gem of a human, who had somehow gone for so long totally unnoticed in Fever Falls, Georgia.