JAX (The Beckett Boys #2) - Olivia Chase Page 0,16

bar that she’s implementing with my brother, but it’s hard to not like her personally.

“Hey, good to see you,” I tell her as I inch near to her side.

Aubrey slides a glance at Smith then walks up to me and gives me a big hug. “Hey, you. Thanks again for all your help with the wedding. You made our day special.”

Aubrey and Smith decided to wait for their honeymoon trip until late July, when they’re going to take a weeklong cruise to Cozumel. That way, Asher is home from school and able to help me manage the bar for a week during their absence.

My oldest brother, on vacation—something he never did before Aubrey came around. Surely this ushers in the start of the apocalypse.

I hear Smith’s low growl behind me as I wrap my arms around her playfully. “You’re looking good for an old married woman,” I tease her. “When are you gonna get yourself knocked up with a Beckett boy? We’re depending on you to continue our dynasty.”

She laughs. “You’re an ass, Jax.” With a quick kiss on my cheek, Aubrey steps back, her eyes dancing. “But I love you anyway. Now I’d better go say hi to my husband before he starts a fight with you. He’s the jealous type.”

I hear them sucking face behind me for a long moment and avoid staring in their direction, giving them a bit of privacy as I finish wiping things down around and behind the bar. Their soft words to each other are unintelligible, but I can hear the affection in their voices.

Christ. It’s almost enough to make me put some earplugs in.

Even so, a small part of me wonders what that would feel like. To be so in love with someone that you want to spend your life with that person. The risk is far too great though. And besides, I love my life the way it is.

This bar, my freedom, they mean everything to me. I’m not accountable to anyone else for my actions. I come and go as I please.

“So, Jax,” Aubrey says when she detaches her mouth from Smith. “I saw you dancing with Brooklyn at the reception.” There’s more than a little interest in her voice as she starts flipping chairs on top of the table surfaces to help us out.

My heart gives this funny little skip, hearing her name spoken aloud. It reignites that hunger I’ve been feeling all week. I give Aubrey a carefree grin and say, “She’s a delightful dancer.”

Aubrey rolls her eyes. “Laugh it off, but I saw sparks between you two. I’ve never seen her like that, to be honest.”

“Oh?” I don’t want to give away how much that makes my heart skip again. But knowing she’s possibly feeling whatever the fuck it is I am, it does impact me.

She flips the last chair over. “She’s a very responsible person. Finishing her bachelor’s degree in a few weeks, if you didn’t know. She has big plans for her life and she’s focused on achieving her goals.”

I feel a low burn of anger brewing in my gut. Aubrey couldn’t be clearer if she hit me square in the face. I’m not good enough for her cousin. Like I don’t already know that.

Still, the fact is, she married one of us Beckett boys. And Smith isn’t that different than me. We’re both working the same job. We grew up the same way. Yet she’s insulting me for being who I am.

“Hey.” Aubrey comes up behind me. “You okay?”

I turn and give her a blasé smile, wiping down the glass I was washing. “Just fine, hon. I hear ya loud and clear—stay away from your cousin.”

“No, no, I’m not trying to insult you or anything. I think that came out wrong.” She sighs. “Look, Brooklyn…she’s very innocent and I—”

“Don’t want a bad boy like me to corrupt her,” I finish flatly. I put the glass down and pick up another.

“No, I don’t want her to get hurt.” She sighs. “I walked into this with your brother knowing what I was getting into. But the fact is, in order for he and I to work, we both had to make some changes. Compromise.” Aubrey gives me a small smile of empathy. “You’re not the settling-down kind, the kind willing to change for a relationship, and she is. That’s all. Just…if you do see her again, please don’t hurt her, okay? Be upfront with her about everything so she can make an informed decision.” I can