He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and they made their way out of the dojo. Scarlett slid her fingers into his back pocket and her palm rested against his butt. It felt good. He locked up and tugged her a little closer. “You busy all weekend?”
“Why? Did you have something in mind?”
Yeah. He didn’t want to wait three days before he saw her again. “We could hang out. Grab something to eat.”
He chanced giving her a sideways glance. She had the same amazed expression on her face as when he’d told her he hadn’t been with anyone else. He really had no idea how to ask a woman out on a date.
“I’d love to. But things are pretty full on this weekend.”
“Sure. Some other time.” They reached his car, but he still had his arm around her. She didn’t seem in any hurry to let go of his butt, either.
“The thing is,” she tensed, as though she wasn’t sure how he’d take her next comment. “Liv and I—Liv’s my cousin, by the way—organize an annual charity ball to raise funds for Rose Marie House. And it’s tomorrow night. That’s why we’re getting together now, to go over all the last minute details.”
A charity ball. Of all the things he might have imagined her doing this weekend, this didn’t even come close.
“Right.” He didn’t know what else to say. People he knew might give up their time to help out, or donate to favorite causes. But they didn’t organize balls.
Obviously his response wasn’t enough, if Scarlett’s rigid body was anything to go by. And then he remembered their earlier conversation, when he’d almost bitten her head off when she’d suggested his dojo might be a charity.
Shit.
He needed to let her know he thought what she did was great. If only he could find the fucking words.
“You organized the whole thing?”
“Yes. Well, between Liv and I, we have plenty of contacts.” She offered him a half smile. She still wasn’t sure about his reaction.
“And you’re not afraid to use them.”
It was the right thing to say. She laughed and the tension drained from her as she leaned against him. “That’s right. This is only the third year we’ve done it, but the last two years were very successful. Sometimes having the Ashford name comes in very handy.”
He bet it did. But not everyone with an influential name used it the way she did. “You still put in the hard yards. Don’t put yourself down, babe.”
“That’s… thanks, Jackson.” There was a strange catch in her voice. “Sometimes people seem to think it’s all a game or some kind of hobby for me. But it’s not.”
“What the hell do they know?” He gave her a grin, but inside he was pissed that anyone would try and devalue the work Scarlett did. “You’re one in a million. Don’t ever forget it.”
“You’re pretty special yourself.” She smiled up at him, as though he’d made her day. “Don’t you ever forget it.”
Like he’d ever forget this conversation. It was the first time a woman had ever said he was special.
“How long does a charity ball take to organize?”
“Well, put it this way. Next month we’ll start putting together next year’s ball.”
“Enjoy organizing events, do you?” Maybe he could ask her to help get some more publicity for saving Heyward Street. Ella had told him he needed to organize a rally or something, but he had no idea where to start with that kind of thing.
“Apparently,” Scarlett said, “I have a talent for it.”
He grinned and kissed her. Long and slow and damn but it was hard to pull back. “That’s not your only talent, babe.”
“Flattery.” She shook her head in mock disgust. Then the smile slid from her face and she gave him an odd look. “Jackson.”
“Yeah?” He unlocked the car but made no move to release her.
She licked her lips in a strangely nervous gesture. “You can say no. You won’t hurt my feelings. But if you’re not doing anything tomorrow night I’d love—I mean, it would be great if you wanted to come to the ball.”
Ten minutes ago he’d wanted to ask Scarlett out to grab a pizza. Now she’d just asked him to go to a ball. Talk about a different world.
“Sure.”
“You will?” It was obvious she hadn’t expected him to accept. So why had she asked him?
“I’ve nothing else planned. I’d like to see how you put it together.”
“Oh.” She continued to stare at him as though she still couldn’t believe he’d agreed to go to her ball. “Good. Well, I’ll get you a VIP pass and let security know.”
“Okay.” He hid his grin as she got in the car. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d gone to a high society function, but this would be the first time he’d use a VIP guest pass.
Chapter Fifteen
Jackson took a deep breath as he strode into the marble-pillared reception of the hotel. A courier had delivered an embossed invitation and security clearance to Graysons’ that morning, as he and Scarlett had arranged the day before. He handed the card to a guard and tried to act natural. The only other times he’d been to anything like this, he’d been the one checking out the guests’ IDs.
He made his way toward the ballroom. The massive double doors were open and he caught sight of the rich and famous Scarlett counted among her friends.
Just like her father’s wedding, this was a different world.
“Hey, Jackson?” A deep voice pulled him back to the present. Mitch Chandler, a guy he’d met through work connections, grinned at him. If they’d been anywhere else, they would’ve punched each other’s arms in greeting.
“Mitch. Been a while.”
“Too long.” Mitch glanced toward the ballroom. “Who’re you with tonight?”
“Not working tonight.” Jackson resisted the urge to loosen his tie. “I’m a VIP guest.” He leered smugly at Mitch, since he could imagine what the other man thought of that.
“Fuck. Who’d you kill?”
“It’s all legit.” He almost told Mitch who he was with but something stopped him. Scarlett might have invited him tonight but he didn’t know if she wanted him telling people that.
“Undercover?” Mitch’s gaze scanned the area.
He wasn’t undercover, but he should have checked how physical she wanted them to be in public. He had a tough time keeping his hands off of her.
“No. See you.” He made his way into the ballroom, ignoring the cocktails offered to him. A sea of white and pink greeted him, from the tables to the covered chairs, the countless displays of flowers, and the floating helium balloons.
He caught sight of Scarlett. She wore a long pink dress that sparkled every time she moved, and glittering jewelry was threaded through her hair. She was talking to a couple of high profile politicians, sleazy bastards the pair of them. Should he go over and interrupt? Or would that give them a good excuse not to dig deep into their pockets for Scarlett’s charity?
When she noticed him, her smile lit up the room. Christ, he had it bad. She made her excuses to the two men before she crossed the floor to him.
Fucking gorgeous.
“Jackson.” She leaned in close and kissed his cheek. Her perfume was different tonight, but it suited her as well as her usual. Subtle, addictive, and classy.
“You’re beautiful.” He resisted the urge to pull her close for a proper kiss.
“Am I?” She tipped her head to one side and fluttered her eyelashes at him. Did she have pink glitter on her eyelashes as well? “Well, thank you.”
“Very pink.” Even her nails were pink.
“It’s supposed to be tea rose. Last year we went with misty rose. Next year—well, that’s something Liv and I have yet to agree on.”
Rose. He should’ve guessed, considering why this ball was being held. “This is really something, you know that?” He couldn’t imagine how much work was involved in putting together something like this. Sure, Scarlett had contacts but everything still needed to be coordinated.
Maybe he woul
d ask her for some pointers in spreading the word about saving his dojo.
“It seems to be going well so far.” She glanced around the room and he saw her bite her lip. But that was the only sign she gave. Anyone looking at her would think she was completely relaxed.
He threaded his fingers through hers and tugged her a little closer.
“You got a problem you want me to sort out?”
The tension drained from her and she shook her head. “No. But thanks. It’s just being on display, you know? There’s no way around it tonight. The pre-publicity is no problem because Liv loves being in the limelight. So she deals with that side of things while I’m happy to do the admin stuff.”
“Nothing would get done without the admin stuff.”
“True.” She squeezed his fingers. Since when did holding hands feel so good?
“Oh, you haven’t got a drink.” Scarlett raised one finger to a passing waiter who appeared like magic by their side. She took a flute of champagne and handed it to him. “Fine host I am.”
He took the flute although he had no intention of drinking it. “You’re the best. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.”
“You’re so good for my ego.”
“I’m just telling you the truth. There aren’t many who could put something like this together. No matter how many contacts they have.”
She trailed the tips of her fingers across his chest. “It’s a shame my family doesn’t see it that way.”
What the hell was wrong with those people? “They don’t see you the way I do.”
Her smile damn near took his breath away. Then she gave a little sigh. “The auction’s starting in a minute. Will you be okay if I just—”
“Go.” He released her fingers. “I’m a big boy. I can look after myself for one night.”
He watched her walk away and then prowled around the perimeter of the ballroom. Old habits died hard, and he spent most of the time sizing up all the guests.
The auction was something else. The donations on offer ranged from original artwork and exclusive hand made jewelry to a cruise to Antarctica. He stood at the back of the room, his gaze fixed on Scarlett, who was on the stage looking as though she belonged there. No one would guess how hard this side of things was for her.
“Didn’t expect to see you here.” The voice cut through him and he gritted his teeth. He should’ve known Edward Saunders would be there. “On duty, are you?”
Obviously Saunders now knew what he did for a living. “No.”
Saunders noticeably stiffened by his side, and Jackson allowed a grim smile to surface. Bastard clearly hadn’t expected that answer.
“Scarlett does enjoy her little charitable gestures.”
The smile died. He knew damn well Saunders wasn’t referring to the ball. He didn’t give the other man the satisfaction of looking his way and kept his gaze on Scarlett.
“Scarlett’s doing a great job.”
“Of course she is. She was born to host extravagant charity events. On the other hand, from what I’ve heard, you’re more used to being on the receiving end.”
Jackson forgot about not rising to the other man’s bait and swung around. Saunders smirked at him. He wanted to grind the smug bastard’s face into the nearest wall.
He dredged up his years of Aikido training. He might hate thinking about that time of his life but it had happened. It was about time he owned it.
“That’s right. It helped me and my brothers survive when we were kids. You got some moral objection to helping kids who live in poverty?”
A muscle twitched in Saunders’s jaw. He obviously hadn’t expected that response. “Don’t twist my words, Grayson. We both know you don’t belong here, unless you’re being paid.”
Of course he knew he didn’t belong here. Scarlett was way out of his league, but he didn’t need a prick like Saunders to rub his nose in it.
“Hey.” Scarlett appeared by his side and there was something brittle about the smile she flashed between him and Saunders. He had a powerful need to sling his arm around her shoulders and show Saunders he most certainly wasn’t Scarlett’s pet charity project, but he’d be damned if he’d let the other man dictate anything when it came to Scarlett.
“Hey. Auction went well.” At least he thought it had, if the unbelievable bids were anything to go by.
“Yes. Everyone’s been so generous.”
“I won the romantic weekend package in Venice,” Saunders announced, giving Scarlett a slimy grin and leaving no one in any doubt who he expected to take with him. “What did you bid on, Grayson?”
Since the vast majority of bids had started in the four figure range, the answer to that was none. Jackson might no longer be poverty-stricken but he didn’t have that kind of disposable cash lying around either.
Neither had he paid for his ticket. Scarlett had been horrified when he’d offered to yesterday, so he’d intended to make a donation tonight instead.
But he hadn’t made the donation yet. There was no way Saunders could know any of that but it still grated.
“Jackson isn’t here to bid.” There was an edge in Scarlett’s voice. “He doesn’t just put his hand in his pocket once a year. He’s on the front line.”
How about that? He had the mad urge to grin at her unexpected defense but managed to give a noncommittal grunt instead.
Saunders looked pissed enough to spit, as though Scarlett had just personally insulted him. Which he guessed in a way she had.
“Shouldn’t you still be up on stage, sweetheart?” Saunders said, giving her a smile a shark would be proud of. “The press is going crazy. It’s not right that Livia takes all the credit.”
“It’s fine. She loves giving sound bites.”
“It’s not fine. You need to be seen. It’s what the people want.”
“Fuck the people,” Jackson said. “Scarlett doesn’t have to suck up to the press if she doesn’t want to.”
Saunders sniffed, the little prick. “You obviously have no idea how these things work. The Ashford name opens doors, but Scarlett, sweetheart…” He turned back to Scarlett and what the fuck was all this sweetheart shit? “You have to give them their money’s worth.”
Scarlett had a polite smile fixed to her face, but Jackson saw her tense as though Saunders’ comment had stung.
Irritation rolled through him. “Back off.” He took a step toward Saunders and only stopped when Scarlett wrapped her hand around his arm. He flung one last glare in Saunders’s direction before turning to Scarlett. “You’ve done enough. They’ve gotten more than their money’s worth tonight.”
Her polite smile cracked into something warmer. She didn’t let go of his arm. “Thanks, Jackson. And it’s not as though I’ve been a hermit. They’ve got photos of me. It’s just—”
“You don’t need to explain yourself.” He was pissed she thought she needed to explain anything, when anyone with half a brain could see how much work she’d put into tonight. He shot Saunders a deadly glare. The other man offered Scarlett a stiff smile before stalking off.
Scarlett squeezed his arm. She looked as though she was trying not to laugh. “I’ll introduce you to Liv when she’s finished wrapping the press around her little finger. She’s dying to meet you.”
It was after three when the final guests left. Jackson pulled Scarlett against him. “You done here?”
“Just about.” Then she straightened. “Oh wait. I need to give the pink diamonds back.”
He watched as a couple of burly bodyguards he’d seen throughout the night approached. Scarlett and Liv helped each other pull the strings of diamonds from their hair before handing them to the silent men.
“You hired your jewelry?”
“Honey, why hire it when they’re happy to loan it?” Liv said. “Anyway, I’m for bed. If I didn’t know Scarlett would claw my eyes out, I’d invite you along for the ride, Jackson.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him while Scarlett slapped her arm.
He laughed. Liv
was fun but she sure wasn’t Scarlett. He liked the fact that she had obviously told her cousin about them. Sure, she’d introduced him as her friend, and it was obvious Liv thought friends with benefits.
He could deal with that.
“Do you need a ride home?” The security detail was hanging about but it didn’t feel right leaving Scarlett.
“Well, I was going to crash at Liv’s tonight.”
“Hon, even I’m not that much of a bitch to deprive you of a night with your Jackson.” Liv clutched Scarlett’s arm and then whispered loud enough for him to hear. “Just make sure you tell me every detail tomorrow.”
Liv left. Scarlett looked as though she wasn’t sure whether she should follow her cousin or not. It was kind of awkward. He’d never been to Scarlett’s place and he’d never invited her back to his.
Before she could run, he caught her hand. “Stay with me tonight.”
…
Scarlett stirred. Something wasn’t quite right. She forced open one eye and blurred, unfamiliar objects slowly came into focus. Shock stabbed through her, jerking her fully awake.
She’d stayed last night at Jackson’s.
He’d never invited her to his home before. And the first time he did, she’d been so exhausted all she’d done was fall asleep.
Before she could obsess about that, the bedroom door swung open and Jackson strolled into the room. She sat up and dragged a hand through her hair. She hadn’t cleaned her face last night or brushed her teeth. She slapped her hand across her mouth in horror. Not only did she look a fright, she had morning breath as well.
Jackson, of course, was gorgeous. He was also holding take out coffee and a bakery box.
Her stomach grumbled. Ugh. How sexy is that?
“Morning, babe.” He grinned, apparently not caring about her appearance or noisy stomach. She sagged against the pillows and yawned. “My shirt looks a lot better on you than it does me.”
“Mm.” She stretched and yawned again. What time was it? Definitely still the morning. No wonder she could hardly keep her eyes open. “I’m surprised you didn’t tear it off me in the night and have your wicked way.”
He laughed and sat next to her on the bed. “It crossed my mind. A few times.” He handed her a coffee. “But you looked so cute asleep. Plus I don’t think you could’ve stayed awake long enough to do anything.”
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