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Chapter 474 Never Gonna Have

"

Scarlett moved silently determined to sneak up on Jax and her father without getting caught. With the open floor plan, it wasn't easy. There was a place where the wall came out and there was a kitchen cupboard near the bar. It provided a little concealment. Jax was at the stove following her father's directions. He was teaching Jax how to make an omelet. It was so cute; it made her heart hurt.

"When Scarlett was little, I used to put her hair in a ponytail, get out this little step stool she could stand on and then have her help me cook. She thought she was so grown up. She loved whisking the eggs," Decker said.

"Did the two of you cook a lot together?"

"Almost every night when she was little. When she was old enough to cook by herself, we took turns and then cooked together a night or two each week."

"I can't cook at all beyond making toast and scrambled eggs."

"I was the same way until I met Scarlett's mother. I learned to cook from her."

Her father had been polite to the few boyfriends she brought to meet him, but he had never been as welcoming as he was to Jax. It wasn't just Jax's willingness to protect her life with his own. Part of it was Jax belonged to the outlaw world. This was her and her father's world now and Jax could understand what it was like living outside the law better than any guy she'd ever met.

She would have loved to have a mother figure in her life, but she doubted that would ever happen with Gemma. Gemma didn't see her as a potential daughter. She saw her as a love rival. It was twisted and sick, but it was clear that Gemma wanted to be the only love in Jax's life. Every encounter with Gemma would be a battle. She could handle the fight, but she would have preferred becoming friends with Gemma.

It would be best for Jax if they could get along and have a good relationship. She was willing to try, but she wasn't going to be a fool like Tara. Tara would trust her and Gemma would stab her in the back every single time. Poor Tara. She'd just been a teen then and had been so eager to please. Gemma took advantage of that.

Tara may have grown up, but the treacherous bitch Gemma had been ten years ago was still alive and well. Scarlett would never trust Gemma even if Gemma became more welcoming to her.

Jax finished his making his second omelet and was just about to sit down when Scarlett walked into the kitchen.

"You two are so cute cooking together. I should get you matching aprons."

"Don't do that," Jax said.

"Scarlett," Decker said in a warning voice.

Scarlett grinned at the men eating their omelets together at the breakfast bar.

"Jax, you do realize that my dad and I are a package deal. If you ever get tired of me and don't want to see me anymore, you can't see my dad either."

"Scarlett, darlin', I'll never get tired of your dad. I guess I'll just have to put up with you."

The two men chuckled.

Scarlett narrowed her green eyes pretending to be mad.

"That's right laugh it up and you can watch over me tonight from the couch."

The men laughed harder neither believing Jax was really going to be banished to the couch for the night.

"It could be worse," Jax said. "My mother and I could be a package deal."

Scarlett thought that over for a moment or two, but her mind went blank thinking of the horror of it all.

"Is there anything I could do that would get your mother to like me?"

Scarlett knew they would never be best friends, but they could at least be civil and have a conversation.

"Dying or moving would do it," Jax said seriously.

"Kind of defeats the purpose of her liking me," Scarlett said.

"It isn't you Scars; she's just an overbearing possessive woman. She needs to learn her place in my life and that's my problem to fix."

"Maybe I should talk to her," Decker suggested.

"No," Jax and Scarlett said in unison.

"I wasn't serious," Decker said with a laugh. "The look of horror on both your faces was great."

Scarlett knew that Gemma had dodged a bullet. If her father talked to her, he would rip her a new one.

"

Author's Note: In writing workshops or books, they always say to show rather than tell and that's what I'm doing here. Jax and Decker's relationship is going to be important to this story so I need to spend time building their bond.

Decker is the first man in Jax's life that isn't in SAMCRO.