The Road to Destiny: Chapters 3 & 4
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Jax took the bouquet of flowers from the attendant. "Thank you." He paid
and left. Mrs. Sellers would appreciate these...and she deserved them
after all the hospitality she showed to him and Keesha.
And as for Keesha, she should be long gone by now.
"You're doing just fine. Take these if the pain gets too unbearable, and
here's a prescription for more of them."
"When do you think I will be able to walk normally again."
"Probably not for a week or so to be honest."
"I guess that means you have to stay here." Mrs. Sellers smiled.
"I can't...."
"Thank you doctor..." Mrs. Sellers walked the doctor to the door, closing
it behind her. "Where else do you know where people still make house
calls."
"I really can't stay here...."
"Are you going to go back to your boyfriend's place so he can...make you
*fall* again."
Keesha froze. "How did..."
"I didn't. But you just told me. Do you have your own place..."
"Well, no, but I will get one..."
"Or you can just stay here..."
"I appreciate the concern, but I can't intrude here any longer..."
"Nonsense. It's nice having someone to talk to. Besides, you remind me
of my daughter's best friend when she was growing up. Nice girl."
"Where is your daughter?"
"Off in Los Angeles, trying to break into acting. She has plenty of
clothes here...they will fit you with some alterations..."
"I..."
"When you're better, I'll let you do some work around here if it will make
you feel better. You can pay me back that way. Unless you can think of
something better."
Keesha sighed. This would keep her from having to run into Cameron to get
her things. At least it would postpone it until she was better. And it's
not as if she had to worry about work...she was on vacation until the end
of the month. By then she would be better, she could go to work, and come
up with a way to pay Mrs. Sellers back for everything. "Okay." Keesha
smiled.
"Great." she looked at her watch. "My ride to town will be here soon. Do
you need anything?"
"No, thank you."
"Alright...you just rest here. I'm going to leave the door unlocked, I'm
expecting a delivery...but don't worry, you're very safe."
"Okay."
Jax parked his rental car in front of the house, and walked up the porch.
He froze as he saw Keesha sleeping on the couch.
Why was she still here?
Keesha sat up as she heard something. "Hey..." she smiled. "Long time no
see. You can come in."
Jax opened the door.
"Oh. Flowers."
"They're for Mrs. Sellers."
"That's nice." Keesha watched as Jax leaned up against the door.
"Not that I wouldn't buy you flowers, just that I didn't expect you
here..." he began, trying to figure out why he was so flustered all of a
sudden.
"Neither did I. But I think she plans to keep me here forever. I would
help but..." she pointed to her leg.
"Right." Jax walked into the kitchen, looking for something to put the
flowers into. "Where is she?" he called.
"In town."
"Why is the door unlocked."
"She's expecting a delivery."
Jax came back in. "So?"
"So that way I don't have to get up." Keesha shrugged. "Besides, it lets
a nice breeze in here." Keesha groaned.
"What's wrong?" Jax asked concerned.
"I can't get comfortable. But I don't want to take another pill."
"The second day of a sprain is always worse than the first." he
acknowledged.
Keesha watched as Jax took of his jacket, hanging it up. She unconciously
let out a low whistle as she stared at his jeans.
"What?"
"Pain." she lied.
"Oh." he turned back around. "It's not safe to have the door open like
that." he explained as he walked over, locking the screen. "Especially in
that outfit..." he teased.
Keesha glanced down laughing. "Her daughter was obviosuly in the *expose
your stomach* phase when she left for LA. Are you going to run around
protecting me forever?" Keesha smiled. "Seriously, she says it's fine..."
"Uh huh." Jax sat down on the other end of the couch. "I can wait it's
not a problem." He lifted her leg and rested it on top of his lap.
Jax woke. "Keesha?" he glanced around.
"Sorry." she whispered as she closed the screen once more.
"How long have I been asleep?"
"For about an hour. You dozed off pretty much as soon as you sat down."
"Is that the package?" Jax stood, leading Keesha back to the couch.
"Yes."
"So why didn't you wake me up, I could have gotten it."
"Because you looked so cute laying there."
Jax stared at her, unable to tell if she was teasing him or not. He
nodded with a smile, deciding she had to be, and even if she wasn't, he
couldn't afford to give her an inch in any event.
"I guess you can go now."
Jax looked at his watch. "Yeah, guess so. Do you need anything?"
"Just something to stop this damn pain." she half-joked as she opened her
bottle of pills. She took one and laid back down.
"You know what my mother always said...the best way to get rid of a pain
is to sleep through it."
"Won't work. I can't sleep when I'm in pain."
"Then think of something else."
"I'd rather not..." she mumbled.
"Problems?"
"Let's just say that this sprained ankle is the least of my worries."
"Ah ha...What's his name."
"Cameron."
"Cameron? Boyfriend?"
"Ex."
"Then why is he on your mind?"
Keesha shrugged, not answering.
"Sorry." Jax sat down on the edge of the couch, part of him actually
feeling better that Keesha obviously had feelings for her ex-boyfriend.
That would be easy to remember when he looked at her...
Not that he was going to see her again after today, he reminded himself.
Why should he?
"Here." Jax sat behind her on the couch. He pulled her back and
cautiously she rested against his body. He reached up massaging her
temples. "They say there's a point for each part of your body that can be
soothed from here..."
Keesha smiled. "I think you have that backwards. Isn't it the feet
that's supposed to..." she closed her eyes, biting back a moan as her body
completely relaxed against his...
Causing Jax's body to tighten in response. He stopped, hoping she
couldn't notice. After a second he continued. "I dated a massuese." he
smiled. "There are all sorts of things the public doesn't
know...Keesha...." he shifted, looking over at her.
She was fast asleep. He smiled. He never knew anyone who could fall
asleep so fast. He looked at the door. He should go...
Then again, it wasn't safe to leave her here, he rationalized. Jax began
playing with her hair as the rationalization continued.
Keesha was beautiful, she was soft, her skin was warm, she had this
comforting light scent that only a woman could have...though admittedly he
never felt so drawn to it before....
And it had been a long time since he had been with a woman. It was
completely natural for him to...want her...
In a way.
He closed his eyes as Keesha leaned further back into his body.
Besides, this would be the last day he would see her...what harm could
there be in enjoying the moment.
Mrs. Sellers walked into her house quietly. She stared at Jax and Keesha,
asleep on her sofa. He had his arms wrapped tightly around her and her
hands were on top of his. His chin was resting on top of her head and
both of them looked at complete peace. She smiled.
Strangers or not, she could tell the moment she looked at him holding her
in the rain that there was something between them...or rather there was
*meant* to be something between them. She covered them with a blanket and
went down the hall to her bedroom.
Jax yawned, stretching. He opened his eyes...it was dark. He looked
down, Keesha was sleeping, resting against his chest. He picked her up
carefully and carried her upstairs to the bedroom, laying her down and
tucking her in. He went to the door and with one last look, he promised
himself, he left.
After a couple of more days of basically laying on the couch, Keesha
decided she had enough. The swelling on her ankle had gone down somewhat,
and as far as she was concerned that meant the hopping would stop. She'd
never get better just laying there...though she had gotten rather good and
getting up and down the stairs with only one working foot. There was one
night. the last nights she saw Jax, that she couldn't even remember going
upstairs, but obviosuly she had, so, she continued to rationalize, that
must mean things were better.
She sat up on the couch carefully, resting both feet on the ground.
Shifting all her weight to one leg she used the arm of the couch to stand.
She took a deep breath, and stepped...then she used her injured foot,
putting a little weight on it, wincing at the slight pain. Finally she
tried putting more weight and groaned as the sharp pain went through her.
Damn it. She collapsed frustrated on the couch.
"She told you not to rush...and there is no rush."
Keesha looked back to Mrs. Sellers. "I feel completely helpless." she
mumbled. "Added that I must be a burden."
"No you're not. But you will be if you fall and can't get up, I can't
pick you up and take you upstairs like Jax." she smiled and headed back to
the kitchen.
Jax.
Jax leaned back, relaxing in the spa at the hotel. He drank from his
champagne glass, closing his eyes. This was the life. No work, no
worries, no women...all three *w*'s caused too much stress...Jax planned
to enjoy this extended vacation from all 3.
Keesha leaned back as she thought of him. Wondering how he was...where he
was...why she even was wondering...
That was easy, she decided. She never properly thanked him...too bad she
had no idea really who he was, that way she could send him flowers
Or offer to take him to dinner, she thought with a devlish grin.
"Stop it." she chastised herself as she picked up her book.
Jax walked slowly down the street of the small town, looking in the
windows of the shops. He could probably find something here his mother
would like, he thought as he paused at the antique store. He walked
inside.
"I would if I could Chantel, but I can't...."
"Mrs. Sellers?"
She turned around, a smile growing as Jax grinned at her.
"How are you?"
"Wonderful. Thank you for the flowers."
"You're welcome."
"I didn't know you lived in town."
"I don't...I'm staying at a hotel outside of here."
"In the middle of nowhere?"
"Sometimes the middle of nowhere is the best place to be."
"Amen." Chantel agreed. She looked at Mrs. Sellers again. "I wouldn't
ask if it wasn't important Maggie."
"I can't leave her alone that long, who knows what she may do..."
"Excuse me...are you discussing Keesha?"
"Yes, Jax. I'm afraid she'll hurt herself trying to get better too
fast...she has this....defiant independance."
Chantel grinned. "Once a mother always a mother...I guess I'll see if I
can get someone else to watch the store, so you can go back to babying
that girl."
"I'm really sorry...."
"You know, I'll go check on Keesha."
Mrs. Sellers looked at Jax. "Will you?" her face lit up.
"Sure...just let me get something first."
Keesha leaned up against the counter as she waited for the water to boil.
She missed her microwave...this was taking too long.
Everything was taking too long.
"Finally." she answered to the whistle of the kettle. She poured water
into her tea cup and drank from it as she continued resting against the
counter. "I've got to get out of here." she decided. This wasn't working
for her anymore. She had places to go, one of them out of this small town
where there were no neighbors for miles. How Mrs. Sellers could enjoy
living here by herself she'd never know....
"Hey."
Keesha looked up. "Jax?"
"Mrs. Sellers gave me a key."
"You're visiting?" she wondered, her heart beginning to race at his smile.
*Visiting* would give her the wrong idea, Jax decided. And he didn't need
the stress. "Checking."
"Up on me?"
"Not..."
"Okay, I don't need a..." she stooped herself from swearing. "Thank you,
but I'm fine, I don't need a babysitter. I can take care of myself..."
"Whoa. What's eating at you?"
"Nothing." she mumbled. The only reason he was here was to *check up on
her*. No thank you. That's all she needed, some man hanging around
because he had a savior complex.
Especially one as beautiful and sweet as this one.
No thank you.
"You should be resting that..."
"It's been resting all damn day."
"Even so..." he insisted, holding out his hand so she would take it.
"You're starting to grate my nerves."
Jax blinked, his feelings hurt. "I don't have to be here."
"Great, be gone."
"That's a rather bratty attitude to take." Jax almost choked on his
words, realizing how much he sounded like Jerry when he was chastising Jax.
"Excuse me?"
"Look, I promised Mrs. Sellers that I would...."
"Oh that's it...I'm out of here." she hopped over to the phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling a cab." she answered defiantly.
Jax walked over, taking the phone from her as she stared at him. "You
can't just leave her without saying goodbye!"
"A, you don't tell me what I can or can't do. And B, I wouldn't leave
without saying goodbye. I would come back."
"Right."
Keesha snatched the phone back, dialing once more.
Jax placed his hand against the craddle, disconnecting.
Keesha glared at him, wondering if every man she met had to be as
controlling as her father...Cameron was, obviously Jax
was..."Move...please." she added curtly.
"You're not leaving here until Mrs. Sellers gets back." Jax replied
simply.
"Don't order me."
Jax didn't answer, he just took the receiver again, hanging it up
completely.
"Look...damn it!" she yelled as unconciously put weight on her hurt foot.
Jax grabbed her arm. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
"I'm fine." she tore away from him, wincing as the pain continued to throb.
"Will you let me help you?" he sighed.
Keesha didn't answer so Jax picked her up. He looked over at her and
slowly she wrapped her arms around his neck. He carried her quietly up
the stairs, resting her on the bed and sitting at the edge, inspecting her
ankle.
Keesha watched and after a moment Jax lifted her leg. "You're leaving?"
she found herself asking as her heart sank despite itself.
Jax paused at the quiet whispered tone of her voice. "I'm just going to
get some ice." he promised. "I'm coming back." he stood and left the room.
Jax closed the freezer, shaking his head. He didn't understand Keesha.
How could she go from seeming happy to see him, to being downright rude in
telling him to go, to looking at him full of trust as she waited for him
to take her upstairs, to seeming afraid that he was going to leave her
alone.
And why couldn't he forget what she felt like, he ran his fingers across
the back of his neck.
More importantly, why didn't he want to.
Keesha watched as Jax finished, standing and coming to the head of the
bed. She wanted to tell him that he misunderstood her, that she really
could care less if he left or not. But as he placed a pillow behind her
and she leaned back, looking up into his eyes, she realized how big of a
lie that would be. She wanted him to stay. He left the room, going
downstairs.
"How is she?" Mrs. Sellers asked as she came into her house.
"Deifiantly independant." Jax grinned. "She's upstairs."
"Thank you for coming by."
"Sure." Jax stood.
"You realize it's raining and you're going to catch your death riding that
bike of yours. You're welcome to stay until it stops."
"No, I really should go." he headed for the door.
"Aren't you going to tell her goodbye."
Jax laughed. "She's had about enough of me as she can stand."
"Oh, I doubt that."
"Well then I've had about as much of *her* as I can stand."
"Oh, I doubt that too....now go on."
Jax shook his head. "I'm only doing this for you."
Mrs. Sellers laughed and went into the kitchen as Jax walked up the
stairs. He knocked, opening the door. "Mrs. Sellers is back..."
"So you're leaving now?"
Jax walked over to her. "Actually...it's raining." he sat down at the
edge of the bed. As he continued to be drawn in by her eyes, he
realized what he wanted to do. "So I'm staying for a little while. I
drove my bike here. You know how she feels about me going out in the
rain."
Keesha nodded, turning away from him and looking straight ahead.
"But I'll stay out of your hair." he teased as he went to the door.
"You're not in my hair. Not really."
"Well that almost sounded like a *thank you*."
"You told me to stop thanking you." she reminded him.
"Yes, but had I known that you would go crazy on me, I would never had
said that." he laughed.
Keesha shook her head, smiling. She sighed and her smile faded. "You
don't understand."
Jax stopped laughing. "Then why don't you explain it to me?"
"That would require me to understand."
"Keesha..."
"Can I trouble you for some water?"
Jax nodded and left. Keesha watched as he closed the door, and took a
breath. "Stop it." she ordered to the butterflies raging in her
stomach.
Shani ]]>
