Riding into love

Chapter 5: The Other Half

Maya's second date with Cole was interrupted by Jax.

They were at the town's small movie theater, sharing popcorn and watching a romantic comedy that Cole had chosen specifically because it was light and fun, when Maya became aware of someone staring at them. She turned to see Jax sitting three rows back, grinning and giving them a thumbs up.

Cole followed her gaze and groaned. "I'm going to kill him."

"Friend of yours?" Maya asked, amused despite herself.

"Unfortunately." Cole stood up. "I'll be right back."

Maya watched as Cole made his way back to Jax, their whispered conversation animated but brief. Finally, Cole returned, looking embarrassed.

"I'm sorry about that. Jax has no sense of boundaries."

"It's okay," Maya said, and she meant it. There was something endearing about the obvious friendship between the two men, even if Jax's timing left something to be desired.

After the movie, they found Jax waiting by Cole's motorcycle, leaning against his own bike with an unrepentant grin.

"Sorry to interrupt your date," he said, not sounding sorry at all. "But I was hoping to properly introduce myself to the lady who's got my best friend all twisted up."

"Jax," Cole warned.

"What? I'm being polite." Jax turned to Maya with a smile that was pure charm. "Jax Morrison, at your service. And you're Maya, the woman who's been making Cole here act like a lovesick teenager."

Maya couldn't help but laugh. "Nice to meet you, Jax."

"The pleasure is all mine, darlin'." Jax's green eyes sparkled with mischief. "Cole's told me all about you."

"Has he now?" Maya glanced at Cole, who was looking increasingly uncomfortable.

"Oh yes. Maya this, Maya that. Maya's beautiful, Maya's smart, Maya's got the prettiest smile..." Jax grinned as Cole's face reddened. "It's been quite nauseating, actually."

"Jax," Cole growled.

"What? I'm just saying, it's nice to finally meet the woman who's got you so smitten." Jax's expression grew more serious. "And I wanted to tell you personally—what Cole said about the club having your back? That goes for me too. We take care of our own."

Maya felt a flutter of something she couldn't quite identify. "Your own?"

"Anyone important to Cole is important to us," Jax said simply. "And you, sweetheart, are very important to Cole."

There was something in Jax's tone, something in the way he looked at her, that made Maya's pulse quicken. It wasn't just friendship or loyalty she saw in his green eyes. It was interest, attraction, desire carefully held in check out of respect for his friend.

The realization should have made her uncomfortable. Instead, she found herself studying Jax more closely—the way his blonde hair caught the streetlight, the easy confidence in his posture, the warmth in his smile. He was undeniably attractive, but more than that, there was something about him that drew her in, just as Cole did.

"I should let you two get back to your evening," Jax said, pushing off from his bike. "Maya, I hope we'll see more of each other soon."

"I'm sure we will," Maya replied, her voice slightly breathless.

Jax's smile widened, as if he'd heard something in her tone that pleased him. "I'm counting on it."

As Jax rode away, Cole turned to Maya with an apologetic expression. "I'm sorry about that. He means well, but he can be..."

"Overwhelming?" Maya suggested.

"That's one word for it." Cole helped her onto his bike. "He's a good man, though. The best friend I've ever had."

As they rode back to Maya's house, she found herself thinking about Jax's words, about the way he'd looked at her, about the strange flutter of attraction she'd felt. She was falling for Cole—that much was undeniable. But there was something about Jax that intrigued her too, something that made her wonder what it would be like to know him better.

The thought should have troubled her. She was barely out of an abusive relationship, just starting to build something with Cole. The last thing she needed was to complicate things further. But as Cole walked her to her door and kissed her goodnight—a real kiss this time, soft and sweet and full of promise—Maya couldn't shake the feeling that her life was about to become much more complicated indeed.