“Don’t you ever just let things happen?” I frowned. “Structure is fine and all, but it can also be pretty damn boring.”
“You should meet my friend. Ember keeps telling me exactly that. I’d have thought you’d be better at structure, considering your time in the service.”
I laughed at her comment. “I can do structure perfectly well when I have to. When I’m on my time, I just prefer to do what I want, when I want.”
“That sounds terrifying.” A visible shudder ran through her. “I’d be lost without a plan for the day.”
“It’s not so bad. You should try it sometime.” I peered into her eyes, curious to see how she would react to the suggestion I was about to make. “In fact, let’s do it tomorrow. Today can be your structure day, but tomorrow, you have to do what I want.”
She hesitated before nodding, taking in a deep breath through her nose. “Okay. Fine, but you better move it when we get to the fort. We’re five minutes behind schedule already.”
Chapter 11
LINDSAY
Jaxon stayed true to his word about sticking to my schedule, not even complaining once. We hauled ass up the hill from where the taxi dropped us off, making it to the top just in time to watch the sky lighten and take in the breathtaking views of the sun rising over the ocean, forest, and town below.
He sucked in a breath as we stood in the stillness of the early morning, his hands in his pockets and his gaze glued to the horizon. “I’ve seen a lot of sunrises, but this one rivals all of them.”
“Beautiful, huh?” I bumped his firm bicep with my shoulder. “Worth getting up at five a.m. for if you ask me.”
“It was a good call.” A low chuckle rumbled in his chest, and I couldn’t help noticing how much more relaxed and carefree it made him look—younger even. “Let’s not plan on making it a habit, though. Not while we’re here.”
I shrugged, refraining from giving him an answer because I didn’t know how to agree to sleeping in when we were in this exotic place. I also didn’t feel like having an argument about it, so saying nothing seemed like a better idea.
Confrontation wasn’t something I necessarily steered clear of, but the morning was too peaceful and the view was too beautiful to bother with an argument about wakeup times. We stayed on the hill until the sun had cleared the horizon, taking the pastel shades in the sky with it, before slowly winding our way back down to our driver.
“What’s next, Cruise Director Flinn?” He grinned as he held the door of the taxi open for me.
I rolled my eyes at the nickname, but I also kind of liked it. “The Kula Wild Adventure Park.”
“Sounds like the sort of place I’ll enjoy.” He lowered himself onto the backseat after I climbed in.
While he wasn’t looking, I took a few seconds to admire the strength in his muscles and the intentional way in which he moved. There was nothing clumsy or floppy in the way he did anything. He was in complete control of his movements at all times.
Thick ropes of muscle rippled beneath his skin even when he did something as simple as leaning over to close the door or lift his arm to hold on to the “oh shit” handle above the window. He smirked when he saw where my eyes had gone.
“I’m not a backseat driver, but I far prefer being the one in control of the vehicle.”
“Says the guy who doesn’t like structure even if it means control,” I said, but there was nothing snide or sharp in my tone. “How does that work? You seem like a natural leader. Taking charge obviously comes easily to you, yet you don’t find comfort in planning or setting things out.”
“Like I said, I can adhere to structure perfectly when I want to. There are certain aspects of my life I exercise strict control in at all times, but I can also deal with day-to-day shit without feeling the need to know what’s going to happen next. In that respect, I enjoy the unknown.”
I was deeply curious to know all about those aspects that he exercised strict control in, but I didn’t ask. I was pretty sure he only meant work anyway, not the darker, dirtier places my mind had flung itself into.
What is it about him that activates that part of my brain? I’d never met anyone that made me