“Get the fuck away from my table, Mellissa, before you force me to make a scene,” I threaten.

“I’m not afraid of you, Jax,” she snarls, placing her hands on her narrow hips.

“One more time, Mellissa. Get the fuck away from the table.”

“I can’t believe you traded me in for some slutty trailer trash bitch.”

Like it happens in slow motion, I see Ellie out of the corner of my eye as she wraps her fingers around her glass of water and tosses the contents on Mellissa, who shrieks at the top of her lungs. Ellie scoots out of the booth and storms towards the front of the restaurant.

“You bitch!” Mellissa screams, going after Ellie. Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pick her up, turn her around, and shove her into her dad’s arms.

“Put a leash on your daughter, Calder,” I tell him. His eyes narrow and his arms lock around Mellissa.

Moving through the restaurant, I see Mani, the owner, walking towards me from the kitchen. “Is everything okay, Jax?” he asks with concern in his tone, looking at me then over my shoulder at the commotion going on behind me.

“I’ll call and explain what happened, but right now, I need to go make sure Ellie is okay,” I tell him without stopping on my way past the maître d’.

“Sure.” He nods.

Pushing through the door, I look toward my truck and see Ellie isn’t there. Jogging up the road, I spot Ellie in the distance, walking with her arms wrapped around her body, her shoulders stooped inward and her head bent toward her feet.

“Ellie, stop,” I shout, watching her body jerk forward and her head move back and forth. Reaching her side, I wrap my arm around her shoulders and the other under her knees, lifting her to my chest. Hearing her soft sob rips my heart open.

“Please, don’t cry. I hate it when you cry,” I whisper, pressing my lips to the top of her head, holding her closer against me. When I get her to the truck, I place her in the passenger seat, buckle her in, and then jog around to get in behind the wheel.

“Can you just take me home?” she asks on a quiet sob, wiping the tears away as they fall.

“Yeah, baby,” I agree pulling out of the parking lot.

Taking her hand, I pull it toward me, wrapping my fingers tightly around hers, wanting her to know I’m here with her. When we reach the house, I get out and head around to her side, half expecting her to fight me, but her body wraps around mine tightly as I lift her from the truck and carry her into the house. I don’t even stop downstairs. I carry her up to my bedroom, lay her in the bed, and get in with her. As soon as I’m settled behind her, she turns in my arms to face me, burying her face against my chest.

“I’m sorry,” she says through her tears as I gather her closer.

“You don’t need to apologize.”

“I shouldn’t have let her get to me the way I did.”

“She’s a bitch, Ellie. You doing that is way better then me laying her out for talking to you like that,” I assure her.

“I’m so embarrassed,” she whispers painfully.

“You have nothing to be embarrassed about. She shouldn’t have come to our table; she should have stayed with her family. And she had no right to talk to you the way she did,” I tell her, feeling rage burn through me. Mellissa is lucky she’s a chick, ’cause I swear if she were a dude, she would have been sporting a black eye before I walked out of the restaurant.

“You know what makes me really mad?” she asks suddenly, pulling her head away from my chest and looking at me with her big eyes still full of tears.

“What’s that, baby?”

“I’m hungry,” she says sullenly, making me smile. “I was really looking forward to having dinner with you. Kim said they have the best steaks, and now I will never be able to find out for myself.”

“We can go back whenever you want. The Bryson’s and my family are tight.”

“I’m never going back there,” she pouts.

“We will be going back there. It’s tradition,” I tell her, ignoring her headshake. “Now, do you want to order in and we can watch a movie? Or do you want to go meet up with July?” I ask her, running my fingers through her hair.

“I want to get out of this dress and put on some sweats.”

“I’m more than happy to help you out of the dress.” I smile, running my hand up her bare thigh.

“Jax.”

“Ellie,” I reply then roll her to her back and loom over her. I can’t believe how beautiful she is, and she’s mine. For the rest of my life, this will be the face I look at. Months ago, that thought would have scared me, but it now sends a bolt of excitement through my system.

Dropping my eyes to her mouth, I lean in and place a soft kiss against her lips while running my fingertips up her calf and thigh, hearing her breath hitch.

Moving over her, I place my leg between hers, taking her hands in mine I pull them up and over her head, watching as her chest begins to rise and fall more rapidly.

“I’m a virgin,” she breathes, and I raise my eyes to meet hers. “I…” She stops, looking unsure and nervous.

“Shhh, baby, I’ll guide you,” I tell her gently, kissing her again.

Holding both her hands in one of mine, I run the fingers of my free hand over her cleavage. Her nails dig into the skin of my hand and her chest rises up to meet my palm. Smiling, I slowly pull the top of her dress down, exposing the black lace strapless bra she has on. My zipper cuts into my hard-on as my eyes focus on how perfect she is. Her nipples are visible through the lace, and running my finger over the hard peak and material, I groan when they pucker from the light touch. Sliding the material down under her breast, I lean back and meet her eyes again as I lower my mouth, pulling one hard nub into the cavern of my mouth.