Revenge: Once His Wife, Now His Regret - Chapter 148: Chapter 148

Sally rushed to the Maybach, her first move to raise the tinted window. The privacy partition between the front and back seats slid up at the same time.
"Are you out of your mind?" she hissed. "Having me get in your car right by the main entrance, with the window down? The whole world is walking by. What if someone saw... "
"So what if they saw?" Jaxon's arm snaked around her waist, pulling her flush against him. He lowered his voice, his breath warm against her ear. "Are you that scared of him finding out about us? That we have a thing going on?"
Sally's back went rigid.
'He must have heard everything back by the trees,' she thought, horrified.
'A thing going on.' That was the exact phrase Brad had used.
Even though Caleb was in the driver's seat and already knew about them, the thought of him overhearing this conversation still made Sally's face burn.
Instinctively, she planted her hands on Jaxon's chest, trying to create some distance, but he simply caught her wrists and pulled her even closer.
His voice was a low, dangerous rumble. "What are you running from, hmm?"
"Jaxon, you're drunk," Sally said, trying to sound firm. "You should get some rest. Just have Caleb drop me at the next corner. I can get a ride from there."
"You can see I'm drunk, and you're not going to stay and take care of me?" Jaxon murmured, his voice a husky sound that sent a shiver down her spine. "What if I go home and hurt myself? Wouldn't you feel bad?"
"Jaxon, you... "
He cut her off. "You're staying with me tonight." It wasn't a request; it was an order.
A part of her wanted to agree, but the memory of him ghosting her for the past few days surfaced, and a wave of irritation washed over her.
"I'm not your girlfriend or your wife," she said, her tone cool. "I have no obligation to take care of you. Now please, let me go home."
"Let you go home?" A low laugh rumbled in his chest as a smirk played on his lips. "Not a chance."
"Jaxon, can you stop messing around?" she snapped.
Jaxon shot back, "I haven't even gotten mad at you for making me hide, and you're the one getting angry with me?"
Sally turned to face him, catching the icy glint in his eyes.
She decided against saying anything more, turning her head to stare out the window.
Jaxon let go of her hand, his tone casual and teasing. "You're mad because I haven't been in touch for a few days?"
Sally's fingers tightened in her lap. 'How could he know? I never said a word. Is he a mind reader or something?'
"I'm not a mind reader," he said, as if hearing her thoughts. "I just can't think of any other reason you'd be this upset."
Sally was speechless. 'He even knew what I was just thinking!'
Jaxon reached out, his long fingers closing around her wrist.
His thumb began to gently stroke the delicate skin there. "Things have been insane at work," he explained. "The project's been hitting one snag after another, and if I wasn't on-site, the whole thing would have gone to hell."
His tone was soft, and the warmth in his voice soothed the anger in her chest.
"That's your business," she said, trying to sound detached. "You don't have to report to me."
"Come on. Don't be mad." He leaned closer, and she could smell the faint, woody scent of his cologne mixed with the sharp tang of alcohol.
Sally felt her mood begin to lift, though she kept her gaze fixed on the passing scenery.
Jaxon had been sitting beside her, but halfway through the drive, his head suddenly slumped onto her shoulder, and he seemed to fall fast asleep.
The alcohol must have finally hit him; his breathing grew deep and heavy.
When they arrived at his penthouse, Sally helped Caleb get the deadweight of Jaxon into his bedroom.
The moment Caleb left, the room fell silent.
Sally stood quietly, watching the man on the bed, an unconscious smile gracing her lips.
She sat on the edge of the bed, just looking at his handsome features, and felt a strange flutter in her chest.
It was a feeling she'd never had before, not even during the time she thought she was deeply in love with Brad.
Just then, his eyes snapped open.
Their gazes locked. Sally froze, stunned. "You're awake?"
Jaxon's lips curved into a teasing smirk. "If I hadn't woken up, were you planning on staring at me all night?"
Sally shot upright, leaning back. "Of course not! I was just checking to see if you were feeling sick."
"So, your medical skills are that advanced now, Mrs. Zale?" he teased. "You can diagnose my discomfort just by looking at me?"
Jaxon sat up in a fluid motion, his gaze intense and unwavering.
Sally's guilt was palpable. She averted her eyes, looking anywhere but at him.
Jaxon reached out, grabbed her wrist, and pulled.
Unbalanced, Sally stumbled forward, landing right in his lap.
The air between them grew heavy. "And you still say you don't like me?"
Sally swallowed hard, her voice tight with nerves. "Just because I looked at you for a few seconds, you think I like you? Your intuition must be even better than my medical skills, Mr. Zale."
"Mouths can lie," he said softly. "Eyes can't."
Jaxon's hand tightened on her waist, while his other came up to cup her jaw. His thumb traced the curve of her lower lip, a soft, deliberate caress.
The gesture was intensely intimate, more heart-stopping than a kiss.
There was no denying it: this man could stir her soul with the slightest touch.
But whenever things got like this, the image of him standing with Kendall Harper would flash in her mind.
Sally pushed him away instinctively. "Jaxon, I'm tired. I just want to shower and go to bed."
Jaxon let her go, his voice surprisingly gentle. "Alright. Go take your shower."
Sally scrambled up, grabbing her pajamas and disappearing into the walk-in closet.
When she came out of the bathroom, Jaxon was sitting on the sofa, towel-drying his hair.
"Did you shower in the guest bathroom?" she asked.