Chapter 014

~ Michelle ~

Barbara giggled as she helped Jaxon set the table, while I stood off to the side, watching them... bewildered.

Barbara was always the social butterfly, but convincing him to cook? That was something I couldn’t wrap my head around. Men like Jaxon—polished, composed, and undoubtedly accustomed to a life of ease—didn’t typically roll up their sleeves for kitchen duty. Yet, here he was, apron-clad and setting plates with a casual ease that felt oddly… domestic.

“Are you going to stand there all night?” Barbara teased, snapping me out of my thoughts. I shot her a subtle glare, which only widened her grin. Jaxon glanced over his shoulder at me, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

None of this was making sense.

Okay,” I finally said, stepping forward and folding my arms. “Will someone explain what’s going on here?” I demanded, planting my hands on my hips and glaring at the both of them.

Jaxon straightened, and my gaze involuntarily traced the length of his frame. The man looked good in a plain T-shirt, but in that apron? Goodness. He was downright irresistible.

Barbara exchanged a quick glance with Jaxon before muttering something to him. He nodded curtly, and she walked over to me, leading me toward the bedroom and shutting the door behind us.

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for an explanation.

“I ran into him as I was coming into the apartment,” Barbara began, her tone unusually casual. “We exchanged a few words and…” She pursed her lips. “Did you know he’s a doctor?”

I gave her a dry look. “You remember when I had to test my device?” I countered. Her face shifted to a guilty expression, and she nodded.

“Well, it got stuck,” I continued. “I went to the hospital to have it removed, and guess who the doctor was?”

Her eyes widened as she clapped a hand over her mouth. “No.”

“Yes.” I nodded grimly. “It was him, Barbie. And as if that wasn’t enough, he turned out to be my neighbor the very next day.”

I glanced at the door and then back at her. “So, care to explain what he’s doing here?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “Like I said, we talked. He told me he’d lost a patient today—a teenager.” Her voice softened, tugging at my heart.

That must’ve been hard.

“I offered to cheer him up, and he mentioned he loves cooking,” she added, meeting my gaze. “And, well, here we are.”

I shifted uncomfortably. “I didn’t know,” I murmured, staring at my feet. I’d been on the verge of acting like a complete jerk out there, oblivious to the fact that the man had just had a rough day.

Someone had died under his care.

“You couldn’t have known,” she reassured me, her tone returning to its usual mischievous cadence. “But… he’s seen your nether region, huh?” she teased, and heat crept up my neck.

“Don’t,” I warned, shaking my head. There was no way I’d survive if she decided to dig into that topic. She rolled her eyes but dropped it.

“I’ll let it go for now,” she said, smirking. “But since the man in question is just a door away, how about you change into something a little more… presentable?” Her eyes roved over my outfit with exaggerated disdain. She blew me a kiss before leaving.

I flopped onto the bed, tempted to stay put, but I knew better. Hiding wouldn’t help. Besides, Jaxon wasn’t the enemy. The sooner I started warming up to him, the better.

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After changing into my pajamas, removing my makeup, and tying my hair into a loose bun, I left the room. Barbara and Jaxon were seated at the dining table, laughing quietly.

“Having fun without me?” I teased, settling into a chair next to Barbara. Jaxon’s gray eyes locked onto me, scanning my face. His gaze lingered a moment too long, making me acutely aware of my bare face.

Barbara cleared her throat, breaking the tension, and I realized I’d been holding my breath.

In front of me sat a plate of something delicious-looking. My stomach growled loudly, drawing amused looks from Jaxon. Embarrassed, I clasped a hand over my abdomen and reached for my fork.

I took a bite and froze mid-chew. Flavors exploded across my palate, leaving me momentarily speechless.

“Oh, girl, I had that exact expression when I tried it,” Barbara said, grinning. I nodded, my ears warming with embarrassment.

“It’s… amazing. I don’t remember the last time I had something this good. You’re incredible,” I said, directing the compliment at Jaxon, who responded with a dramatic bow.

“My pleasure,” he said smoothly, his gaze briefly flickering to my lips. My throat tightened, and I forced the food down.

Barbara launched into a new topic, sparing me from further scrutiny. Jaxon kept the conversation lively while I contributed sporadically, focusing on finishing my meal. The food was so good I had to stop myself from groaning in satisfaction.

As I watched him interact with Barbara, a stray thought crossed my mind. What else was he good at? My cheeks flushed as memories of his hands resurfaced. I clenched my thighs together, willing the inappropriate thoughts away.

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“I had a wonderful evening, but I should call it a night,” Jaxon said, rising and untying the apron. He handed it to Barbara, who clutched it dramatically to her chest. He chuckled, clearly amused by her antics.

“So, should we expect you again sometime?” Barbara asked casually. My ears perked up at the question, though I feigned indifference.

Jaxon shrugged, brushing his hair back. My eyes traced the movement, lingering on his forearms. Focus, Michelle.

“It depends,” he said, his expression briefly darkening. “I was let off early today because of…” He trailed off, his gaze clouding.

“I’m sorry about your patient,” I said softly. His eyes met mine, and he smiled—a small, sincere smile that sent my world tilting.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

Barbara excused herself to the kitchen, leaving me alone with Jaxon. He turned to me, his lips curving into a playful smirk.

“Miss Lee,” he greeted like we hadn't exchanged quite a couple of words for the past hour, amusement laced his tone.

“Doctor Jaxon,” I replied, trying to sound unaffected. My voice wavered slightly, and his chuckle deepened.

“Goodnight. And, for the record, no testing of toys without professional supervision,” he teased, dimples appearing as his grin widened.

“Oh, please,” I grumbled, rolling my eyes even though a small smile peeked through.

Barbara returned and offered to walk him out. I cleared the table before retreating to bed, staring at the ceiling for what felt like hours with only two words in mind.

Doctor Jax.

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