He must have seen something in his peripheral view because his head turned to her. His angry expression turned to one of confusion and then concern before he turned back to the seated men. He stood, said something, then walked out the door.
He walked straight to her and captured her cheek with his hand, tilting her face up. "Alexis, what's wrong? Why aren't you at work?"
"Nothing's wrong. I just need to talk to you."
He nodded his head. "Give me a minute to wrap things up. Wait for me in my office."
"Don't wrap things up on my account. I can wait."
He looked at Becky for the first time since they arrived. "Take Alexis to my office. Get her something to drink. I'll be there in a minute."
"Come on, his office is over here." Becky took Alexis's arm and steered her to a set of wooden, double doors.
Jack's office was large and sterile. A big, wooden desk dominated the center of the room. Two leather guest chairs sat in front of it and a grand, leather chair sat behind it. A bar was set up in the corner. A comfortable looking couch with a large wooden coffee table made up a little sitting area. A few pieces of artwork hung here and there. And that was it. Not one trace of anything personal. No pictures or memorabilia. Not even a nameplate on the desk. It could have been anyone's office.
"Have a seat." Becky waved to the couch. "What can I get you to drink?"
"Just some water, would be nice," Alexis said, taking a seat. Yes, it was as comfortable as it looked.
Becky disappeared behind the bar coming back out with a bottled water. "Here you go. I'll be in my office right next door if you need anything else."
"Thank you, Becky. This should be fine," she said, indicating the bottle she held in her hand.
Jack walked in as Becky was leaving. He nodded to her, shutting the office door behind him. "Tell me what's going on," he said, taking a seat next to her on the couch.
"Well," Alexis looked down and picked invisible lint off her skirt. She didn't know why she was so anxious all of a sudden when, not five minutes ago, she was so excited. Maybe, she was worried she wouldn't get the reaction from Jack she was hoping for.
He captured her fidgeting hand and lifted her chin with his finger, "Tell me," he said, softly.
"I talked with my manager at the dealership today. I'm going to start selling cars. With the extra money I'll make on commissions, I was able to quit my job here. I won't be waitressing anymore."
Jack was silent for a moment before he said, "If selling cars makes more money with fewer hours, why didn't you do this before?"
"I couldn't take the chance of not selling enough cars to pay my bills." She gave his hand a squeeze. "But for you, I'm willing to take that chance. If it eases your mind that I'm not running around half naked where guys can hit-on me, then that makes me happy."
He closed his eyes, took in a deep breath, and let it out slowly. He laid his forehead to hers and moved the hand, holding her chin, to the back of her neck, holding it tight. He took another deep breath before saying quietly, "Thank you, baby. You don't know how much what you did means to me." Then he placed the softest of kisses on her lips.
Alexis felt a tear slide down her cheek. That was exactly the response she was hoping for.
"So does that mean you're mine tonight?"
"Tonight and any other night you want me," she giggled.
"I want you every night, silly girl." He stood and led her to the door. "I say, we go celebrate. Dinner and dancing?"
"I'm not really dressed for a celebration."
"A problem easily fixed." He kissed her on the nose. "Trust me. Becky!" he yelled.
Becky popped her head out of her office. "Yes, sir?"
"Call down to Enchanted, and let them know we're coming," he said, briskly.
"Doesn't she get to go home?" Alexis asked, knowing it was at least eight o'clock.
"Don't worry about Becky. She gets paid extremely well."
"Is she married?"
"No. Divorced."
"Did that happen before or after she started working for you?"
He stopped walking and looked down at her, frowning in thought. "After, I believe."
"Uh huh," was all that needed to be said.
Enchanted was a high-priced clothing store sandwiched between a magic shop and a jeweler, on the second-floor promenade of the hotel.
A cute blond greeted them as they walked in. "Mr. Cole, it's an honor having you here this evening. What can I do for you?"
Alexis rolled her eyes. She was ignored, again. Not that she blamed the girl for giving her full attention to Jack. She thought he was mighty spectacular herself.
"We need a cocktail dress, preferably red, size six."
She wasn't even going to ask, how he knew her dress size. She had a feeling, she wouldn't like the answer.
The salesgirl gave him a nod. "Follow me. Our dresses are right over here."
A half hour later, Alexis was decked out in a red dress with a heart-shaped bodice held up by spaghetti straps. The flowing skirt ended at mid thigh. Spiked-heel, open-toe, red pumps, completed the look. "This dress doesn't cover much more than my waitressing outfit."
Jack held her arm and whispered in her ear. "Yes, but tonight you won't be leaving my side." He nipped her lobe playfully before sucking it into his mouth. "We have one more stop to make before dinner."
Jack told the salesgirl to hold Alexis's clothes, that someone would be by to pick them up (probably, poor Becky).
He took her, next door, to the jewelers. "Jack, no," Alexis said, stopping outside the door. "You are not buying me jewelery."
"As lovely as this neck is," he said, tracing a path down the column of her throat, "it would be stunning, surrounded by a diamond choker."
"It's too much. You already got me a dress. That's enough."
"I'll say what's enough. Your gift to me was far more valuable than a few paltry diamonds."
By the time Jack had finished, it was far from a few paltry diamonds. He did get her a choker, then insisted she get the matching bracelet. She put her foot down at the diamond earrings.
He just leaned in, gave her a quick kiss, then his devastating grin, and muttered, "Next time."
No. No. No. Just the thought of what he'd spent on her already had her almost breaking out in hives.
He took her to a fancy steakhouse where she had lobster for the first time. When she informed him of that fact, he gave her an inquisitive look but didn't reply. Of course, they were treated like royalty. The funnest part, Alexis thought, was that they had a male server. For once, she wasn't ignored! At some point, she even heard what sounded like a growl come from Jack, making Alexis giggle.
"You think it's funny that I'm jealous?" He playfully snarled, in her ear.
"I think it's nice not being ignored, for once, by your bevy of blond babes."
"Should I even ask what the hell that means?" Jack asked her, smiling.
She gave him a coy grin. "Probably not."
After their meal, he took her to Pulled. Alexis had eaten far too much and figured burning a few calories on the dance floor was a good idea, but Jack had other plans. Upon their arrival, he pulled out his cell phone, had a three-second conversation, and within a minute the upbeat music changed to a slow song. The lyrics to one of the most beautiful love songs ever written, Bryan Adams, everything I do, I do it for you, came through the speakers.
He took her by the hand. "Come dance with me."
"Is this your doing?" she asked, once she was in his arms.
"I don't dance. Ever. But for you, I'll d
o this at least."
He held her close and hummed along with the song, and Alexis wondered whether he picked it especially for her or if it was a random track. While he held her close, their bodies swaying to the rhythm of the song, and its hauntingly beautiful words pouring over her, she wanted to believe, in this moment, that he picked it for her.
They danced for three more songs before the music picked up-tempo again and he led her off the dance floor. "Thank you, Jack. I'm having a great time."
He kissed her on the temple. "Your smile, is thanks enough. Do you want a drink?"
"A glass of wine would be nice."
"Sit here, I'll go get it." He sat her at an unoccupied table for two then headed for the bar.
One of her favorite songs started, and she tapped her fingers to the beat.
"Would you like to dance?"
Alexis looked up. Standing beside her was an extremely good-looking guy with dirty-blond hair, blue eyes, and a dimple with his flirtatious smile. "No, thank you."
"Come on, I know you want to. I saw you twitching a mile away." He gave her a wink.
"I'm here with someone," Alexis said, curtly, wanting to end their exchange before Jack got back. If there was one thing she knew about Jack, he did not like other men talking to her.
"I don't see him anywhere." He took a step closer.
"You lay one finger on my woman, I'll forget we're friends and kick the shit out of you." Jack set down the drinks and wrapped a possessive hand around the back of Alexis's neck.
"Jack! " The guy took a step back and held up his hands. "I didn't know she was yours. Peace, brother." He made a peace sign with his fingers.
Alex couldn't hold in her giggle. The guy was ridiculous. She heard Jack chuckle as well.
"Can I at least get an introduction to this beautiful creature?" He put his hands in the front pockets of his jeans and gave them a boyish smile. "I won't even shake her hand."
Jack shook his head, clearly amused by his friend. "Mase, Alexis Taft. Alexis, Mason Connor," Jack begrudgingly muttered.
"It's nice to meet you, Mason."
"You, my lovely, may call me Mase."
Jack took a swig of his beer, giving Mase a glare over the bottle. Alexis dipped her head, so Jack couldn't see her smile.
"Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. Give me a call in the next few days, Jack. I have something important to talk to you about."
"Will do," he said, with a nod of his head.
"Night you two. Have a fun evening. Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
"That's a short list." Jack deadpanned.
Mase threw back his head and laughed. "I know, right!" He turned and was gone. Swallowed by the crowd.
"He's um ... different. Where do you know him from?" Alexis took a sip of her wine.
"My dad owns a part of the Nevada Pursuers. Mase is their star quarterback. We met at a charity function a few years back." Jack leaned in closer. "But enough about him. I want to talk about you and me and what I'm going to do to you once I get you upstairs."
Alexis played with the rim of her wineglass as she asked, "And what are you going to do to me?"
"First, I'm going to strip you of this incredibly sexy dress," he said, running a finger along the line of her zipper. "Then I'm going to lay you out on our bed—"
"Don't you mean, your bed?" she interrupted, turning to look at him.
"That's our bed, sweetheart. You and I are the only ones who have ever slept in it."
"Really?"
"Really." He lightly kissed the tip of her nose.
Alexis sighed. She loved when he did that. "That still doesn't make it our bed. It's your bed, in your house." That was a very important distinction.
It was now Jacks turn to sigh, but his was in frustration. "If I had it my way, you would be in that bed every night, living with me under that roof."
Alexis's body tensed. "What?" she whispered. OMG, was he insane? He couldn't possibly want her to move in with him. It was too soon. What if things didn't work out? She felt her heart beating wildly in her chest, and she had to concentrate on breathing in and out.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Shit. He saw the panic on her face and knew he had pushed too fast. Fuck it. She was his, and the sooner she realized this, the better. He wanted to walk into his home and be surrounded by her, her scent, her essence, her belongings, her laughter, her body. "I want you to move in with me."
"I can't move in with you. I ... It's too fast." She was getting flustered. He had to put her at ease.
"Let's try it for a month. You can keep your apartment." He moved in close, their noses touching as he spoke against her lips. "Move in with me, Alexis."
She licked her lips, in turn licking his. "For a month? If I kept my apartment, it wouldn't be like I was moving in. It would be more like a long visit."
She was rationalizing. He was fine with that as long as it got him what he wanted, her in his home. He smiled. He knew she felt it because his lips were still against hers. "Let's go upstairs so I can fuck you in our bed."
* * * * *
"Jack, please."
"Please what, Alexis?"
She was beyond aroused. If he didn't bury himself in her soon, she was going to start whimpering. "Please, I need you."
"What do you need?" He took her nipple into his mouth sucking deep.
Alexis moaned, arching herself off the bed. "I need you inside me."
Jack sat up on his knees. "Roll over on you stomach, baby."
Alexis was too far gone not to obey.
"Up on your knees. Ass in the air. Brace your arms on either side of your head."
Alexis was quick to comply.
"Spread your legs a little wider, baby." She felt him rub his hands along her ass. "Wish you could see this view. Your perfect." He grasped her hips and pushed inside. "So tight and wet. You're dripping for me."
Alexis sighed as he entered her. She pushed back with each of his forward thrusts. She felt so full, and the spot he was hitting, sweet torture. "Don't stop. Please don't stop," she chanted.
He pounded into her hard. Her head pushed into the pillows. She threw her arms before her, bracing against the headboard for leverage. He brought his hand around, stroked her sweet spot, and she exploded.
She cried out his name. Hers bursting from his lips as he gave a final thrust, collapsing against her back. He quickly rolled to his side, bringing her with, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?" He asked, softly rubbing her hip and thigh.
"It was amazing," she murmured against his chest, already half asleep.
He kissed the top of her head. "Sleep, sweetheart. I've got you."
"Okay." She closed her eyes and drifted off to the sound of his heartbeat.
"Do you think this is a bad idea?" Alexis asked, as Steph sat on her bed, watching her sort through the clothes in her closet, deciding what she wanted to take with her to Jack's.
"Probably."
Alexis popped her head out of the closet and turned to look at her friend. "Really?" She walked to the bed and sat down. "Then why aren't you trying to stop me?"
"Because, I said probably. I don't know for sure." Steph reached for her soda and took a sip. "What if it ends up working out."
"I don't know, maybe I shouldn't do this. I already really like him. He makes me feel things I've never felt before. Living with him will make it worse."
"So what. Why can't you have feelings for him? Why can't you fall in love?"
"Because he'll break my heart when he leaves me."
Steph sighed in what sounded like exasperation. "First of all, you don't know that he's going to leave you. What if he falls in love with you, too?"
"Come on Steph, this is Jack we're talking about here. We're so different." Alexis threw her arms in the air for emphasis.
"Haven't you ever heard the phrase opposites attract?" She brought two fists up between them. "Let's do a pro and con list. Pro. He's hot." She lifted her left pointer into the air.
"This is silly," Alexis said.
Steph gave her a stern look. "Pro and con lists are never silly. Now be quiet. Pro. He's rich." She held up her middle finger creating a 'V'.
"Peace to you, too." Alexis giggled.
Steph rolled her eyes. "Would you get serious."
Alexis sighed.
"Pro." She held up her ring finger. "He's hot."
"You've said that one already."
"Yeah well, I figured he's so hot it should count twice," Steph explained.
"The same should go for rich than, too," Alexis stated.
"Good point." Steph lifted her picky. "Pro."
"Don't you have any cons?" Alexis asked.
"Um ...," Steph looked over at her right fist, deep in concentration.
"What about the fact that he's a womanizer?"
"Was a womanizer. Alexis, you said yourself that he told you he wouldn't cheat on you and that you believed him."
"Okay fine, but he's got to have at least one con." They looked at Steph's right fist.
"Does he have a small dick?" Steph asked.
"I wouldn't really know, but I don't think so."
"Well, how big is it?"
Alexis held out her hands. "I guess about like this."
"OMG. Pro!" Steph popped her thumb out and waved her hand in the air. Then they collapsed on the bed laughing.
Jack arrived a few hours later, looking skeptically at Alexis's two suitcases and three boxes. "Is this all you're taking?"
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