The Story of Jax and Payton

By Anita Claire

Payton's hectic schedule didn't include being ordered to show up at a customer’s office after his computers are taken hostage.

Of course, Jax, the guy doing the ordering wasn’t expecting his computer guy to be such a beauty.

Their first meeting doesn’t get off too well as Jax blurts out, “Payton—the dude I’ve been e-mailing back and forth with for the last two years—is really a girl?”
“Yeah, well, Jax, you look a lot different than what I pictured too.” Except in Jax’s case he’s big, broad, and ruggedly handsome. Why do all the good-looking guys have to be such dicks?

Jax can’t stop watching this beauty fix his computers, while Payton’s intrigued and repulsed all at the same time. Even though Jax can tell Payton doesn’t feel very receptive, he still can’t get her out of his mind. A couple of days later, wanting to see Payton again, Jax hatches a plan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anita Claire
• Release date: Jul 1, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310757372

Anita Claire

Anita Claire is an author of contemporary romance novels. Her books explore women who hold non-traditional jobs and the situations they encounter. She writes about smart, hard-working women and the men they fall in love with.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – The Problem

Payton

Jax: Our computers are being held hostage. There’s a message that threatens to wipe out our hard drives if we don’t pay them two Bitcoins in the next twelve hours.

Payton: Pay the ransom. It will cost more to have me fix your computers.

Jax: Fuck that, get your ass over here and fix my computers.

Payton: My fee is $1,000.

Jax: Be here within the hour or you’re fired.

Payton: Turn off ALL your computers. I’m leaving now.

I was hoping my price would scare him off. Talk about blowing up my day. After stuffing my supplies into a big backpack, I get in my car. On a good day, Silicon Valley is a forty-five-minute-drive from my home, but traffic over the Santa Cruz Mountains is always a bitch.

I usually deal with the office manager. It’s been two years since I’ve built his website and managed his cloud apps, but I’ve never met Jax, the owner. I’ve never even spoken to the man. My old boss recommended me for the job. Periodically, Jax sends me a terse text. I visualize Jax as a gruff, middle-aged guy with a paunch—like a cross of Donald Trump and Tony Soprano.

My GPS directs me to a one-story warehouse in an industrial park. Shouldering my bag, I open the front door.

Hey, anyone here? I call out as I walk past the empty reception station into an open office area. No one’s around.

Jax?

The place looks abandoned. I look back to the door and see the logo for Hammer Construction. I plop myself down in front of one of the computers and turn it on. As it’s starting up, I reach into my backpack to lay out my supplies.

Get the fuck out of here, an angry voice roars at me.

I look up to see a huge, well-built guy headed my way. He’s glowering at me. More than glowering—I actually feel physically threatened. Like he’s about ready to throw me through the door.

What…? I stutter.

You heard me, get the fuck out before I call the police! He’s pointing at the door.

The door was open!

Fuck! What, you think that gives you a license to steal my computers?

Steal your computers? What?

Get out.

I’m looking for Jax.

What do you want with Jax?

I’m here to fix his computers.

I’m waiting for Payton to fix my computers.

I’m Payton.

But you’re a girl.

Yes, I know.

You know how to do all this computer stuff?

I’ve been doing it for you for two years.

Payton—the dude I’ve been texting back and forth with for the last two years—is really a girl?

It takes all my self-control not to roll my eyes at him. At thirty-four, I think I, at least, deserve to be called a woman.

Yeah, well, Jax, you look a lot different than what I pictured too.

Though, he looks a whole lot better; as in big, broad, and ruggedly handsome. Why do all the good-looking guys have to be such dicks?

By now, the computer is back on.

What are you going to do? Jax asks.

First, I’m going to see what they’ve done. If necessary, I’ll pull out your hard drive and use my computer to disinfect or delete the virus. I’m going to look up the virus’s signature to see how it works, and then I can figure out if it has replicated itself in your operating system. If it has, I’ll need to track down all of the virus’s files to make sure they’re gone. Then I get to repeat it on all of your other computers.

Really? You know how to do this?

What’s with this guy? Did he just wake up from the 50’s?

When you thought Payton was a dude, you had no problem thinking I could do this.

He sits down on the desk behind me and gives me a sexy, boyish smirk.

Damn. I bet he gets away with all kinds of shit with that look. Feeling uncomfortable, I turn back to the computer. A notice is plastered across the frozen screen.

Pay two Bitcoins to account A4@789 before the counter hits 0.

You have until 11:38:23—or your hard drives will be erased.

There’s a hyperlink that probably leads to the hacker’s account. The number starts counting down.

I sent everyone home, his voice drips with frustration. How can I run a company? How can we get our work done with our computers locked up?

Jax. You are Jax, right?

He nods.

Why don’t you pay the two Bitcoins? It’s five hundred dollars—less than what I charge. Look at the cost and productivity loss you have.

Five hundred bucks this week. Then next week it’s another five, or maybe even a thousand. I know how guys like this work. Death by a thousand paper cuts. They stay small and under the radar. They’re too little for the police or the FBI to get involved. I’m no one’s patsy.

I turn off the computer, reach into my bag for my tools and start working on pulling out the hard drive. Jax sits inches from me, perched on the desk with his knees splayed. Typical Alpha guy taking up too much space.

I try to focus on my work, but the back of my neck starts crawling. He gives off an incredible amount of masculine energy. It’s distracting me.

Don’t you have something better to do?

No, I’m good.

I turn to look at him. He’s staring at me. It’s the first time I register his eyes; they’re a warm caramel brown with thick dark lashes. It’s not fair that a guy gets to have lashes that nice. He’s too close. My face feels warm from proximity. How can this guy repulse me and turn me on all at the same time?

I’m going to be here for the next few hours. Don’t you have something better to do than watch me?

He shakes his head.

I turn and refocus on my computer. I set up a few different virus scanners to see what I can find. My shoulders and jaw prickle as he continues to stare at me.

How do you know if you got it?

I twitch from his voice.

After running through all the different virus detectors, I’ll isolate this computer, and see if the virus is still on it. If the message doesn’t come up, I assume we got it.

And the virus won’t infect your computer?

No, I’m running Linux; you’ve got Windows. Each virus is calibrated to a specific operating system.

So my guys in the field using iPads shouldn’t be affected?

Not by this virus.

How did you learn how to do this?

You mean computers?

Yeah.

I got a masters in computer science. Then I worked in high-tech. After my last layoff, I started consulting.

He nods.

Now that his face is no longer contorted in anger, he looks even more handsome. Yeesh, Payton, don’t crush on your client…especially this client.

As I work through the different applications, I try to ignore Jax watching me, which isn’t necessarily easy. He exudes power, confidence, and masculinity. I finish working on the first computer and turn to Jax.

I need to check the other computers.

Jax stands up next to me and smiles.

My breath hitches.

He reaches out his hand.

I stare at it.

He’s displaying another one of those sexy boyish smiles.

I guess we got off to a bad start. Can we start over? I’m Jax.

I realize he wants to shake my hand, but I feel paralyzed. Why is my entire nervous system spazzing out? What is this man doing to me? I finally pull myself together and raise my hand to shake his.

Payton. I’m Payton, my voice cracks as I stammer out my name.

Pull yourself together.

Glad you came over to help out, he says as he shakes my hand.

I flinch as a burning energy runs up my arm.

The ends of his lips rise higher.

He knows what he’s doing to me. Jax is my customer. Jax called me a girl. Jax is a total Neanderthal. As I maneuver to get around him, I can feel the warmth emanating from his body. My body tingles with proximity. Stupid body.

Uncomfortably, I point to a computer on another desk. I need to check that one too.

Chapter 2 – Payton

Jax

While Payton tries to explain what’s going on with the computers, I find myself mesmerized by her. She has a melodic voice. It runs over me like water. Even though I have no idea what she’s saying, I think I could sit here for hours just listening to her talk.

Hey, boss, the shipment from the Orman project is here. Where do you want it? Tyler, my warehouse manager and gofer interrupts.

Who’s that? Tyler asks as I follow him back to the warehouse.

Our computer person, I tell him in a clipped voice.

Really? She’s pretty.

I bristle. Why does his comment on her looks bother me? I look around the warehouse for space. Move the boxes from the Sullivan project, you’ll have enough room to fit everything for the Orman project over there.

My phone rings. Not surprisingly, it’s another problem to solve. My day is filled with one problem after another. Not that I mind; it’s what I do. I find myself walking back into the office. By now, Payton has opened up four of our computers. Shit, what a mess. I had to give my accounting and purchasing people the rest of the day off. They can’t do anything without their computers.

Do you think you can get this fixed today? I groan as I stand in the middle of the room.

Big blue eyes peer at me from behind a monitor. Tyler is right, she’s pretty. Tall and thin, but she looks like she’s got some meat on her—tits and ass, I like that. I hate screwing a skeleton.

They all have the virus. I’m running three of the latest virus scanners. Hopefully, one of them will catch it.

How long will that take?

She chews on her lip as she looks at all my computers. I need to run each of the hard drives through the virus scanner. It’ll be at least a few hours, but probably the rest of the day.

You’re charging me a grand for what, a few hours of work?

If you wanted to save money, you should have paid the blackmailers. I told you what it would cost and you agreed.

Not as meek as I thought. I like that. I watch her for a few more minutes. She’s not wearing any makeup and she has nice skin. I bet it’s soft and I’m sure she smells good. My last girlfriend was Russian. She had big boobs, white blond hair, and spent an inordinate amount of time primping. Before the Russian, I dated an Asian chick. Both were too focused on my money. I don’t think Payton would be so high maintenance.

My phone rings again. Shit, another mess for me to take care of.

In my office, I sit down at my desk feeling jumpy. I don’t want to leave the building until Payton is done, but not having my computer makes it hard for me to work on anything. I pick up my iPad and check up on our projects, then move to sorting papers I should have thrown out a long time ago. Eventually, I go back into the warehouse. I’m sure there’s stuff back there for me to do. I keep finding myself drawn into the office to see what Payton is up to.

She’s standing up, bent slightly over a computer. I get a shot of Payton’s perfect ass.

Are you close to being done?

She flinches before turning around. She has this geeky, uncomfortable quality about her. For some strange reason, I find it…charming.

This takes a while.

My stomach growls. I’ll order a pizza. You eat pizza?

I eat pizza.

What do you want on it?

Whatever.

Women never say whatever and actually mean it. What do you really want?

Maybe you’re hanging with the wrong sort of women.

Maybe.

***

I set the box on the desk by Payton. I got us mushroom and pepperoni.

She breathes in the smell and smiles.

Damn, to think all I have to do is buy this girl a pizza to get a smile like that. Dig in, I say as I open our refrigerator for a cold drink.

I thought only high-tech companies had stocked refrigerators.

I need to keep my people caffeinated. We’ve got Coke, Sprite, and more Coke.

Water?

Water it is.

I only eat real foods, she explains.

As opposed to?

Processed foods, chemicals, preservatives.

Duly noted.

She takes a big bite of her slice and smiles.

Man, I like that smile. It lights up her whole face.

All my friends are health food nuts, she groans. We never go out for pizza.

I like a woman who eats. Most of the women I’ve dated have been hot, but I’ve always wondered how they survived on a handful of lettuce. At some point, she realizes I’m watching her. She gets an uncomfortable, shy look. Of course, Tyler breaks the mood again by coming in.

Pizza. Cool, I love it when you buy us pizza.

I probably should get back to work, Payton nervously exclaims.

No hurry. I’m paying you the same if you spend five hours or ten hours here.

She chuckles as she watches Tyler dig in.

Boss, you’re cool with long lunch hours?

Not for you.

Payton finishes her second slice. She squints her eyes at me. I’m still trying to figure out how this virus got on your computers. I’m diligent about making sure you have the latest protection. Have you been visiting sites you normally don’t go to?

I shake my head.

"They’re all laptops. Do your employees take them home?

My project managers and I are pretty much the only ones who take their computer home, and we all use iPads.

Have you used any flash drives you’ve found lying around?

Nope.

How about traveling? Logging in at the airport or hotels?

I shake my head.

Well, except for that trip you took to China last month, no one’s been traveling, Tyler interrupts.

You went to China! And you didn’t tell me?

My latest project is with some Chinese businessman. He’s building a twenty-million-dollar house in the hills. I flew over to wine and dine him and get his signature on my contract.

Jax, you need to tell me when you travel—especially to China. No wonder you got infected. Haven’t you heard of the great Chinese wall?

It was a bitch. I never did figure out how to access half the sites I normally use.

Payton covers her eyes in frustration and shakes her head. Please tell me the next time you travel to China, or Russia, or the Middle East. Those areas are notorious for placing all kinds of crap on your computer. This is going to take longer than I thought. I need to make double sure your computers are secure.

Chapter 3 – The Beach

Payton

I pull into my house feeling guilty. Pluto, my eighty-pound golden doodle is waiting for me. He’s not used to being left alone. For the last three years, he’s been my constant companion. He hangs next to me while I work and has watched me slowly renovate this old house I purchased. I’m just three houses from the beach. From the upstairs master bedroom, which functions as my office, I have an uninterrupted view of the ocean. My bed is in one of the small bedrooms downstairs. I don’t need amazing views when I sleep.

Hey boy! I pat Pluto’s side to greet him. After dropping my bag by the door, the two of us walk to the beach for our evening ritual. As soon as we hit the sand, he runs as fast as he can to meet up with his friends. I make my way to the pod of dog walkers.

Hey, Payton, Sophia yells to me. She has two corgis.

Anyone up for a walk? Emily, who has a terrier, asks.

I nod as the three of us start walking down the beach, followed by our dogs.

I missed you today at yoga, Sophia says. She’s an artist and a yoga instructor. She teaches our noon beach yoga class.

Work. I had to go to a customer’s.

Sophia looks me over. What aren’t you telling us?

How do you do that?

She raises her eyebrows waiting for my answer.

My customer, he kind of unnerved me.

Did he do something iffy? Emily asks.

He looks like the Brawny Man and—

Now that sounds interesting, Sophia interrupts. Did you get some?

What? No. He’s my customer and I don’t sell that.

But…? Emily continues.

He also repulsed me. He called me a girl and assumed I knew nothing about computers. It was demeaning. He wasn’t wearing a ring, so I figure he’s not married. I bet his girlfriend has big hair, big boobs, and wears revealing clothes.

But he sure got under your skin, Emily comments.

He radiated sex. We shook hands and I literally felt as if he had electrocuted me.

Now this sounds interesting. It’s been a long time for you. Maybe you can use him to end your dry spell.

He’s a customer. My reaction to him was surprising. Mostly it’s nice to know that part of me still works.

I want to know more about Brawny Man, Emily interjects. Was he wearing red flannel and jeans? Was he big and powerful, with a square jaw?

His shirt was navy and it was cotton, not flannel. And yes, he was big, like six four, jacked and had a masculine square jaw.

When do you get to see Brawny Man again?

Probably never. I manage his computers. I only needed to be on site today to clean his drives from a virus attack.

Why don’t you infect his computers? Another visit and you might get lucky.

That’s the dumbest idea I’ve ever heard of, I tell her.

We need to end your drought. This is the first time you’ve even spoken of anyone since you and Chris broke up.

Chapter 4 – Poker

Jax

Deal me in.

Logan deals two cards to each of us and places five cards face up.