Releasing my arms slowly to make sure I’m steady on my feet, he takes a step back and extends his hand in my direction. “Hi, I’m Jax Knight.” His smile seems genuine.

“Olivia Michaels.” I finally speak as he takes my hand in his. He shakes my hand, but continues holding it as his father finishes the introductions.

“Miss Michaels is a reporter from the Daily Sun Times. She’s doing a feature story for the re-election campaign. She’d like to ask you a few questions.”

“It’s very nice to meet you Miss Michaels.” A grin on his face, he finally releases my hand.

“Please, call me Olivia.”

He nods, “Only if you call me Jax.”

“Not Jackson?”

“Nah, too formal. My father here likes to use Jackson, he thinks it sounds more presidential, but my friends call me Jax.”

Senator Knight’s phone rings and he walks away for a moment, leaving Jax and I alone.

“So what do your friends call you, Olivia Michaels?” The flirtatious smile is back. It’s different than Vinny’s, but I’m positive it has the same effect on women. There’s just something there. A hint of cockiness mixed with good looks is a lethal combination. Jackson Knight is tall, maybe even an inch or two taller than Vinny, and broad just like his father. He’s wearing a plain white t-shirt and low hanging sweat pants, making him appear all the more like Vinny.

“Most new friends call me Olivia, but my closest, oldest friends call me Liv.”

“Okay then, Liv.” He grins. “I was just going to head out for a run, but I forgot my water so I came back.” He pauses. “I’m glad I did. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Your mother wants me in the garden for some photos.” Senator Knight turns back to us as he makes his way to the door. “Be on your best behavior with Miss Michaels, Jackson,” he scolds his son before walking out.

Ignoring his father, Jax motions for me to follow. “Come on, I’ll grab us some waters and we can take a walk outside while we talk, if you want.”

“That would be great, thank you.”

Surprisingly, our conversation flows freely as we walk. Unlike Senator Knight, every question seems to be answered without rehearsed speech. Our banter is easy, natural, and so many of his responses border on flirting, but he doesn’t cross the line.

“So, what made you get into the world of Financial Management?” I know he made a name for himself in managing high net wealth personal portfolios. The Wall Street Journal even took notice of the returns he secured last year for his investors.

“My father,” Jax responds with a truthful answer that I don’t expect.

“Not your first choice, huh?”

He laughs, “Nope. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve done well, and it’s an interesting enough job.”

“But…,” I encourage him to continue. Obviously there’s more to his statement.

“But, what I really would love to do isn’t exactly a great long term career move.”

“And that is?”

Jax smiles sheepishly, he almost seems embarrassed to admit his childhood dream. “I always wanted to get into pro boxing. I’ve been doing it since I was a kid.”

I stop in my tracks. Jax takes two steps more before realizing I’m not walking next to him anymore.

“Liv. You okay? You’re scaring me again.” One arm quickly reaches for me, as if he’s afraid I’m going to lose my balance again.

The reality of what’s been hanging over my head since I was given this assignment finally hits me and I feel sick. Allowing it to sink in for the first time that, no matter how much I want the story not to be true, I can’t change the truth. Time freezes, my anything’s possible life suddenly flashes before my eyes. Doors that I see open in my future slam shut and I just know nothing will ever be the same from this point on.

“Liv. Do you need to sit down?” There’s concern on his face and I realize I didn’t even notice him coming to stand in front of me, both his arms holding my shoulders tightly. I’ve actually lost time, stuck somewhere in my own head.

Shaking my head to physically force myself to snap out of it, I finally regain my senses. “I’m fine. I’m sorry. I should’ve eaten something this morning. Sometimes my blood sugar gets a little low and I get a little foggy,” I lie.

“Come on, let me sugar you up inside.”

Once inside, Jax makes me sit and eat some fruit and drink a full bottle of Gatorade before he allows me to stand. Yet another thing he has in common with Vinny, bellowing demands that I seem to follow like a petty officer to a drill sergeant.

“You sure you’re okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You know, if you want me to hold you, you could just ask. You don’t need to pretend you’re going to faint.”

“What? I wasn’t…” I’m about to set him straight when I look up and see he’s joking written on his face. He laughs and it helps me relax a bit.

“You sure you don’t have any more questions for me?” Jax smiles in response to my telling him I’m done and should probably go. Standing, I casually grab both our empty drink bottles from the table and head to the garbage. Just as I’m about to toss his in, I change my mind and slip it into my jacket pocket. Hoping he didn’t notice, I walk to the sink and set my plate down in the basin.

Turning around, I find Jax standing behind me. Close. Too close. My back to the sink, I have no room to back up to put the requisite personal space between us. He notices my looking around, ready to make my escape, and puts one hand on either side of the sink and cages me in, his body close enough to feel the heat resonating from him, but not actually touching. “Have dinner with me, Liv.”

Oh boy. “I, I can’t. I have a boyfriend.” Who I’m pretty sure at this point also happens to also be your brother.

“I don’t see a ring on your finger.” He arches one eyebrow and smirks. “One date. Tonight.”

“My boyfriend is here with me, I don’t think it would sit well if I told him I was going on a date tonight.”

Releasing me from where he’d cornered me, he grins. “My loss. You know where to find me if you change your mind.”

***

I help Paul pack up his equipment and the entire Knight family walks us to our car. “Thank you so much for all of your time.” I address all three members of the family. “It was very nice meeting you.” Senator Knight and Mrs. Knight say their goodbyes and chat with Paul about getting advance copies of the photos to review. Jax walks me to my side of the car. I extend my hand. “It was nice meeting you, Jax.”