Free Jax (Broken Strings #1) by Cherry Shephard

we’re somewhere in New Mexico, we should be reaching Oklahoma in the next couple of hours.”
    “Amaranth, please,” he begged, holding up his hand. “Let me talk.”
    She looked at him warily once more, before moving to sit on the edge of the bed.
    Jax pulled out his hair tie and raked his hands through his hair, buying a few moments to work out what he was going to say.
    “I’m sorry,” he finally said, looking at her. “About last night, I mean.”
    “It’s okay,” she said, standing up quickly. “I understand, I-”
    “Could you please just sit back down?” he asked, gesturing to the bed. “I promise, I won’t touch you.”
     
    Amaranth reluctantly sat back down on the bed, moving as far away as possible when he sat down next to her.
    “What I did last night,” he said quietly. “It was unforgiveable. I know that. There’s no excuse for the way that I acted.”
    “Jax,” Amaranth said gently. “You really don’t have to do this.”
    “I want to though,” he insisted. “I let my emotions get the better of me, it’s not something that I’m particularly proud of. I just don’t understand…” he said, looking at her desperately. “Why won’t you let me touch you?”
    “Jax, please,” she begged, getting to her feet once more, wrapping her arms around her middle, hugging herself. This time he didn’t stop her.
    “Tell me,” he pleaded, his heart sinking when she shook her head.
    “I can’t,” she said, tears threatening to spill over in her beautiful eyes. “Look, I forgive you for last night, and I’m not going to pull out of our deal. But please, don’t ask me about that.”
     
    Jax stared at her. Fuck, she was stubborn as a mule, and for some reason that made him want her even more.
    He nodded slowly “okay,” he agreed, seeing her shoulders slump in relief. “But mark my words Amaranth,” he continued. “I will get to the bottom of this.”
     
    She paled, but this time he didn’t care. Let her think he was the bad guy, it wouldn’t stop him from working out who had hurt her, who stopped her from releasing the passion he expected lay beneath her tough exterior.
     
    The bus lurched, and she pitched forward. Jax just caught her, his hands around her waist, steadying her. “Are you okay?” he asked, smoothing the hair away from her face.
    “Yes,” she said breathlessly.
    “Guys,” Kane said, sticking his head around the corner. He sounded urgent. “Some idiot in a white Datsun keeps cutting us off. We’re gonna try and lose him, but you may want to hold on to something.” His head disappeared back around the curtain.
     
    “Fuck,” Amaranth whispered, scrambling off Jax’s lap, her face deathly pale.
    “Amaranth?” he asked, concerned. “What’s going on? Do you know him?”
    She didn’t say anything, but stood there with wide eyes, looking absolutely terrified.
    “Amaranth,” he shouted, causing her to jump. “If you know who it is, you need to tell us. This doesn’t just involve you anymore.”