The Proposal: Chapter 16

"Thank you for agreeing to meet with me." Jax sat down at the stool in the tavern.

The other blond turned, looking over at Jax.

"Anything for Adrienne," her twin, Adrian, answered. "It has been awhile," he added, finishing his ale.

"It has," Jax agreed. He looked at Adrian, debating how much he should tell him-how much could Adrian be trusted.

"So the rumors of your marriage are true."

Jax glanced down at his wedding band. "Yes."

"Who did you find to marry you? Or does money buy everything these days?"

Jax cut his eyes at Adrian, yet light entered them once more as Adrian slugged his arm playfully. "My sister always claimed you were too serious."

"Perhaps that is what Garcia had over me," Jax mumbled.

"Speaking of Garcia. What do you want?"

"Anything you have."

Adrian arched his eyebrow. He nodded, standing from the stool. He tossed a gold coin on the bar and motioned for Jax to follow him out.

"How did he meet his wife?" Jax inquired as he and Adrian rode in the carriage for Adrian's Spanish estate.

"Victoria? Victoria is the eldest of the Lopez family. She was already 27 when they were wed."

"27? That is rather old..."

"She was the spinster." Adrian nodded.

"But, Victoria is a beautiful woman..."

"A spoiled beautiful woman. She allowed herself drink until inebreation and her suitor used her and tossed her aside-when she was a teen. After, no one would have her. Until Garcia. I am not sure why Garcia chose her..."

"Time was short. He wanted Jules. Yet, there has to be more to that. He probably could have gotten someone else."

"Speaking of wives...when is yours joining us?"

"She is meeting us at your place, and then we shall go."

"And stay where? You will stay with me. I have plenty of room."

"Adrian..."

"I will not hear any arguments to the contrary. You shall stay. So, are you going to tell me more about her?"

"What is there to share?"

"She obviously is important, normally you travel alone."

Jax's eyes smiled as he thought of Keesha. How important she was, and how free he felt finally telling her that he was in love with her.

"You are a far better man than I could ever be..." Adrian's voice brought Jax back to reality.

"Meaning?" Jax inquired.

"You obviously have a weakness where your wife is concerned. Even Garcia can see that. I would assume that your bride knows it as well. If it were me, especially if someone did to me what my sister did to you, I would never let anyone, let alone a particular woman, know, that she was my weakness."

"Loving Keesha is not a weakness," Jax stated coldly.

"Ah, love? That is even stronger than I thought. As for it not being a weakness...it is the biggest weakness one can have. And weaknesses beg to be exploited-those were your words to me once, remember. Weaknesses beg to be exploited. That is why Garcia has gotten as far as he has."

Jax sighed, looking out the window.

Adrian was right. Garcia was able to tell right away that Keesha meant a lot to Jax-and he used that; he exploited Jax's feelings for her to try and get what-or rather who he wanted. And if Garcia had the chance to strike again, Keesha would most definitely be a part of that plan.

And then there was Keesha. Who knew exactly what her feelings were for him-who knew if *she* even knew what her feelings were for Jax. He knew she cared about him, but caring and loving were two different things. Things were so new for her...but one day her true feelings would be left-and Jax was not sure what she would express to him then.

Jax had thought it was painful to have Adrienne betray him-he was not in love with Adrienne.

If Keesha did not return his love, Jax knew his heart would shatter.

Or it should. He cut his eyes, staring at the trees as they rolled past-but he was not going to give her that chance. He had relinquished too much control to his wife-he was taking it back.

"Thank you." Keesha took the hand offered to her. "Your lord is upstairs, sleeping off his exhaustion from the trip. My name is Adrian Johnson."

"Hello..."

"Adrian." Adrian kissed Keesha's hand softly. "May I show you indoors."

"Thank you," she repeated, following Adrian into the manor. She looked

around, wondering where Jax was. The man had had the nerve to tell her he loved her and then sped off before she had the chance to open her heart as well. And Keesha was sure if she did not utter those three words to Jax soon, she would surely burst. "Adrian...that name sounds familiar," she noted,primarily to herself.

"Of course. I'm Adrianne's twin. Our parents were not very original," he smiled. Adrian...Adrienne? Keesha's eyes grew as she realized. This man was the brother of Jax's deceased fiance. "I must say, I am most surprised to see you."

"Really?" Keesha followed Adrian to the sitting room. Jax needed to rest anyway.

"Yes. I did not think any woman would be in a rush to marry Jasper after what happened to my sister...of course, I blame Garcia myself...I would have done the same," he admitted honestly.

Jax came downstairs slowly. He knew that he heard a carriage. Therefore Keesha should be there. Yet she had not come into see him. Yet another sign he should have kept his feelings to himself. Hearing voices, he headed down the hall.

Garcia? How did he fit into this, aside from being the spreader of such an awful rumor about her husband? Yet despite the questions on her lips, Keesha remained silent. Realizing that Jax did not ever want her to know what had happened to his fiance. In all actuality, Keesha realized she should likely end this train of conversation before she found out any more.

"Oh..." Keesha jumped as a large dog seemed to come from no where. He panted, resting his legs on her lap. "Hello." she smiled, patting the top of his head.

"I am sorry...Cypress!" Adrian called, walking over to his boxer. He pulled on his collar.

"That's fine." Keesha grinned. "He is very beautiful."

Jax leaned up against the doorway, watching as Keesha conversed with Adrian. A flash of darkness entered into his blue eyes and he crossed his arms. He told her he loved her, and yet she would rather be downstairs, talking about some stupid animal?

"Yes, Garcia left him abandonded...I took him in. That man destorys everything...Adrienne..." Keesha looked up at Adrian.

"You are here."

She turned, smiling at Jax's voice. "Hello."

"We are going." he ordered. "Wait in the carriage."

"But..."

"NOW!" Jax barked and Keesha's eyes grew at the sheer anger in his voice. Without a word, she got up from the sofa. She walked out of the room, and Jax closed the door behind her.

"Do not mention Adrianne or Garcia to my wife, is that clear?" Jax ordered Adrian.

"Oh...so she does not beleive you killed my sister...not that I blame you...as I was saying, if it was not for Garcia..."

"I did not..." Jax shut his mouth, stopping himself from telling her brother what had happened to Adrianne. "I should not have come here..." he mumbled, opening the door. "Did I not tell you to wait in the carriage?" he snapped at Keesha, but before she could answer, he moved past her, going upstairs to get his things.

Jax and Keesha rode to the inn in complete silence. It was not until they were settelled in their room upstairs that she spoke, saying simply. "I did not bring up Adrian's sister..."

"Why are you calling him by his given name?" Jax tore off his coat, throwing it over the chair.

"He asked me to."

"I am asking you not to."

"All right." Keesha whispered cautiously. "I forgot how moody you could be..."

"I am not moody!"

"Will you not yell at me? I do not deserve it, and I will not stand for it-at least not when we are alone."

"You, my dear, will stand for whatever I care to give you. Is that clear?"

"If you yell at me one more time, whether we are alone or not, I will be forced to tell you exactly what I think of you, is that clear?" she countered, tossing her purse on the bed.

"You can always feel free to go back home if you do not like the way I treat you here."

"Why are you being so difficult?!"

"Do not snap at me," Jax ordered, walking over to the window.

"Then tell me what is wrong."

"Nothing is wrong." Jax looked around the room. "I am going to inquire whether the room next door is free as well."

"Why?"

"So that I am away from you," he answered simply.

"No. Do not bother. I am going home..." Keesha grabbed her purse, storming over to the door. She threw it open, her eyes growing as Jax reached over her shutting it once more.

"It is too late for you to be travelling alone."

"I will not be alone, I will have the driver with me." she opened the door once more, only to have Jax shut it again. "You are absolutely maddening...I don't know how I ever managed to fall in love with you..." her voice trailed.

She just said it. It surely was not the way she wanted to say it.

But now there was no returning. Keesha turned,looking at Jax.

She had just admitted she loved him.

"You are not in love with me."

"Pardon?"

"You may believe you are, but you are not," Jax said, mainly to himself. He refused, absolutely refused, to allow himself to believe that she loved him too. He was not going to allow her to claim she loved him, only to change her mind down the road and leave him broken hearted.

As he decided on the way to Adrian's. He was taking back all the control he could.

"And I will not have you saying such when it is not true."

"How dare you?" Keesha's voice was low and quiet. "You have the audacity to tell me what I do or do not feel? Do you think I would put up with half of what you throw my way if I did not love you?! Trust me, I would not..."

"You would, because we are married, and you have no say." Jax reached out, pushing a strand of her hair back, as, for whatever reason-what always happened happened. He found himself drawn, inexplicably, by the urge to kiss her.

"No say?" She almost had to laugh. This entire conversation seemed absurd to her.

"You are confusing...love with something else."

"What? Lust? All right...fine. Until you believe me, we will not...be together."

Jax's eyes grew, and he stared at Keesha stunned. "So you plan to punish me now."

"Punish? Do not be ridiculous. Why would I punish myself in order to punish you?"

"Oh..." Jax pushed Keesha up against the door. "Being without me is a punishment? I must say I am flattered."

"Your mood swings are rathering disturbing. One moment you hate me..."

"I never claimed to hate you. Just because I am angry with you..."

"But I did nothing to deserve your anger! I came here, wanting to tell you that I was in love with you...and from the moment I got to Spain, you have been nothing but horrid and..."

"Maddening?" Jax offered with a teasing smile.

"I hate you."

"I thought you loved me," he leaned in closer.

"I thought I was confusing love with lust. Make up your mind..." her voice trailed off as her lips found themselves not even an inch from his.

Jax blinked, realizing suddenly that Keesha had drawn him in once more. Drawn him in with her eyes, her lips, her voice, her scent...

his love for her...he pushed himself away from the door.

Why couldn't he maintain control around her.

Keesha watched as Jax stormed over to the window. Obviously he was done being playful. She opened the door to leave once more.

Jax closed his eyes as the door shut.

"I am not leaving until you explain yourself."

"Then you will never be leaving because I do not explain myself to anyone, let alone to you." Jax continued to stare out the window.

"As...annoying as you are, I love you."

"I told you, I will not have you saying things to me which are not true...and then turning around and changing your mind..."

"I love you." Keesha repeated.

"Damn it Keesha..."

"I love you...and I will say it every day until it finally gets through to you."

Jax whirled around. He strode over to her, once again, trapping her between himself and the door. "I will not have you lying to me!"

Keesha felt her heart race. She had seen Jax angry before...but not at her. Not like this.

Behind this anger, there was so much pain, and her heart shattered as she looked at the fear in his eyes. It was not so much that he did not believe her. He did not want to believe her.

But he had to believe her. He had to."I love you, Jax," she whispered.

"Bloody hell..."

"I have loved you since the moment we met...and I will love you until the day I take my last breath. No matter what you do...no matter what you say...no matter what you beleive."

"How can you make me such promises?"

"Because I making them to you. About you. I have no choice in the matter. I just love you." Keesha reached out, touching his cheek softly. "I swear. And nothing, and no one, and no amount of time will change that."

"You will be the ruin of me..." Jax mumbled, breaking eye contact.

Keesha wrapped her arms around him slowly, and Jax closed his eyes as she rested her face against his chest. Her eyes shut as well, and she could feel his heart beat as it raced. "Do you believe me?" she begged with a whisper.

Jax opened his eyes, staring at the door.