"So what about you?" he asks.
"What about me?" I ask.
"What's your story?" Jack asks, sipping from his glass. I watch as the ice cubes slide down the upturned glass and touch his lips.
"Well, I'm an accounting major and I just love, love numbers.” I put my hands together and under my chin. “I've gone to Math Camp every year since I was fourteen. Oh gee whiz, math is just the funnest!" I say with over the top enthusiasm. Jack grins and gives me a little laugh.
"That's what I get for judging you before I met you," Jack admits. He holds out his glass and tips it to me.
"I judged you, too," I confess. "I thought you were going to be an arrogant, boring prick and I just knew this wasn't going to be anything I'd do again."
Jack puts his hands over his heart as though he's been wounded. "Oh, the things she says."
Brent arrives with the brie and after being assured that everything looks great, beelines for the kitchen again.
A small perfect cylinder of creamy white cheese rests underneath a criminal amount of caramel and pecans. Jack picks up a fork and cuts through the gooey cheese.
"Here," he says, holding the fork out to me. I look past the fork and at him. "Go ahead," he urges.
I lean in, never taking my eyes off his, and close my lips around the tines of the fork. I slide the brie into my mouth. A stray drop of caramel slides down my lip and I catch it with the tip of my tongue. It tastes marvelous.
Jack lets a little breath out between his pursed lips. "The way you did that..." he trails off.
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the restaurant," I say.
Jack gives me another inspecting look before taking a bite of the brie with the same fork. I watch his mouth as he lets the sweet caramel hit his tongue.
"That's pretty tasty," he says. I pick up my own fork, not really sure who would end up turned on the most if I continued to let him feed me. We finish the brie as Brent makes his way to our table carrying two large silver domed plates. He sits them in front of us and removes the domes.
The lobster tails have already been cracked and little dishes of butter and lemon sit between them. I pick up my fork and carve away a bite of the tender white meat, dip it in butter, then squeeze a little lemon juice over it. It is divine.
I would never have ordered something this expensive on any date, but I'm glad Jack did the ordering.
We manage to do a little eating between jokes and conversation. Each time Jack makes me laugh, I have to admit to myself that this is the best date I've ever had. I don't want it to end.
Finally, the server clears away our plates and sits down two servings of apple dumplings. "I don't think I can eat another bite," I say honestly. I didn't eat a lot of my food, but everything was so filling.
"Me, either," Jack says. He waves his hand and Brent comes back to our table. "Could we get the check, please?" He nods and pulls a black leather book from his pocket. Jack slides his credit card inside and Brent disappears.
"You should let me pay for my food," I say.
"No," Jack says. "It's my treat. You can pay next time."
Next time. Just like that my heart hammers between my throat and my feet.
"It'll be beer and pizza," I warn.
"As long as the beer's cold and the pizza's hot," Jack says with a grin. Brent hands Jack the black notebook again and Jack takes his card, scribbling on the white slip.
We stand at the same time and Jack towers over me. He pulls his jacket tight and for the first time tonight, I get a good dose of his scent. Jack pulls a pack of gum from his pocket and unwraps it. He holds the pack out to me and I shake my head.
I dig through my clutch and find the familiar plastic box. I shake a couple of Tic-tac's loose and pop them in my mouth. We walk out of the restaurant and into the crisp night air.
"So, where to now?" Jack asks.
"Um, is there more? I don't remember agreeing to more," I say, acting confused.
"Okay then," Jack says with a sigh. He leans in and quickly kisses my mouth; the taste of his lips is surprisingly sweet. "See ya 'round."
I stare at him a second as he starts to walk away. "Get your ass back here," I say.
Jack turns around, his face so damned devilish in the streetlight.
"I thought you don't like people?" I ask, walking toward him. "You want to go somewhere, but no matter where we go there are going to be more people."
"I want to go wherever you are," Jack says.
I reach where he's standing and, not intent on doing it; gently press my lips to his. He hesitates for a second before sliding his hands up and on my face. His fingers move to my temples and he twists them into my hair as he kisses me back. The cold air does nothing to us as every single small sound disappears. It’s as though our kiss has hit an invisible mute button on the world. I pray this is the silence before the storm.
I taste a glimpse of his tongue and he moves his mouth slowly, giving me ample opportunity. I finally pull away due to shortness of breath.
"Let's go to your club," Jack says. "It'd be a shame for you to not get a night out of that dress."
"Should I leave my car here?" I ask as he slides his big hand into mine.
"Yeah, I know the owner of the place, so it'll be fine." Jack takes his keys out of his pocket and clicks the button. Halogen lights flood the parking lot as the shiny black Cadillac Escalade roars to life. It's the douche-mobile I scowled at earlier.
"Where's your truck?" I ask.
"It's at the mill. This is mine, too."
"I prefer the truck," I say with a grin. "It seems more you."
He gives me that same appraising look before opening the door for me and I hate to let go of his hand long enough to climb inside.
He closes his door, puts the SUV in gear and immediately reaches across the cab to take my hand again.
We pull up at Rider's and I look for Allie's red Nissan in the parking lot. I dig out my lip gloss and Jack looks across the vehicle at me.
"You have the prettiest mouth, just so you know."
I look at him, and then at his lips. "Yours isn't so bad, either. Just so you know."
He leans across and plants a soft kiss against my freshly shined lips.
"Mm, strawberries," he says. I smile at him and he opens his door. He comes around the SUV and opens my door before I get the chance to. I take his hand and hop down from the tall vehicle.
I follow him inside and wave at Billy as we pass the bar. I feel like a spotlight has been cast on us as we meander through the crowds of people. I keep my eyes peeled for Allie, but haven't spotted her yet. She knows I had a date with Robert. I can't wait to reveal my happy surprise.
"Do you want a drink?" Jack asks.
"Um, sure. Maybe something light?"
"Liquor or beer?" he asks, pulling me toward a table.
"Beer," I answer. "Corona." I'd better play it safe. I don't want to be drunk for a minute of this date.
"Corona, coming right up." He leans in and kisses me again, claiming a familiarity with me that he shouldn't have yet and I shouldn't allow. But he does and I do.
Allie is nowhere to be seen, but I keep looking through the decent sized crowd of people for her kinky blonde hair. Finally, I think I see her in the corner. I figure I can grab her and be back at the table before Jack can get through the line at the bar.
Walking through a crowd of dancing bodies is never easy, but doing it in high heels is even less fun. I manage to make my way to the blonde and thankfully, it's Allie.
I tap her on the shoulder and she spins around. "Oh my god, Carls! What're you doing here?" Her face falls. "Was the date that bad?"
I smile at her and shake my head. "You won't even believe me," I shout. "Come over here and sit down with me for a second."
I grab her hand and lead her toward our table.
"You look so beautiful tonight, Carly!" Allie says as we finally get to see each other. She's wearing low rider jeans and a fishnet shirt that shows
her taut midriff.
"You look good yourself, hot stuff," I say.
"Now what happened with Robert," Allie asks.
"Robert is Jack," I say, leaning in to be heard.
"What?"
"Robert, the guy Mark fixed me up with, is Jack, the guy from last weekend."
Allie shakes her head in confusion. "Okay, I’m not even drinking tonight and you're confusing me."
"It was confusing," I say. "Robert is Jack's first name. Jack is just a nickname. We had no idea we were being set up with each other."
"That's crazy!" Allie cries, putting her hands over her mouth. "What are the odds?"
"I know," I say. "We had dinner at Captain’s and he asked if I wanted to come here. He kissed me in the parking lot." This is a real first for me. I've never really gushed to Allie about a guy and she won't let me forget it.
"Ooh, somebody has got it bad!" she shouts.
Jack nudges his way around a small cluster of people and holds out my Corona.
"Well, hello there, Allie. Nice to see you holding your own head up."
"Nice to see you making her smile again," Allie says, pointing to me. I don’t even attempt to stop her this time.
Jack looks at me and gives me a grin. "She returns the favor."
Allie smiles at me, her eyes telling me she approves.
"Would you turn her loose long enough to dance one with me?"
"As long as you promise to bring her back," Jack says, his eyes falling on mine.
"Allie, I'm not dressed to shake my ass," I protest. "Really. I'm wearing thigh highs." I pull the dress up a little and show her the black lacy top to the hose.
"Damn," Jack says, leaning into my neck. "You'd better put that dress down."
I hastily jerk it down as Allie starts to laugh. I didn't even think; I just pulled it up.
"Looks like you've got your hands full," Allie says, but I'm not sure if she's talking to me or to Jack. He puts his arm around my waist and pulls me closer to him. She blows me a kiss and drifts back through the throng of dancers.
A slow song starts and Jack's mouth is at my ear. "Would you dance with me?"
"I thought you didn't dance," I say.
"Only with you," Jack answers. His breath is hot in my ear.
Slow guitar strums as we find ourselves on the dance floor hand in hand again. I immediately recognize the song and something in me lurches through my heart and into my throat. Hayley Williams' voice sings out the words I know so well.
When I was younger I saw my daddy cry and curse at the wind.
Jack's arm wraps around me and I'm pulled into him again. I try to focus on him and not feel the words of the song, but I'm listening to my life story as I have so many times before.
"This has been the best night I've had in so long," Jack says. His smell has wrapped around my head again, fogging my brain as I let my fingers run through his hair.
Maybe I know somewhere, deep in my soul, that love never lasts.
"I'm still trying to grasp my luck," I say. "I've thought about you more than I care to admit since last weekend."
Jack just pulls his arms tighter around me and I rest my head on his chest. I'd swear I can feel the beat of his heart, but I know it's just the music.
I've got a tight grip on reality, but I can't let go of what's in front of me here. I know you're leaving in the morning when you wake up, leave me with some kind of proof it’s not a dream.
Jack slides his fingers underneath my chin and tilts my face up to his. I stare into those dark eyes that reflect the slow moving lights of the disco ball like tiny stars in the abyss of space. He presses his mouth to mine, his lips are so plump and his wet tongue ventures into my mouth fully for the first time.
The kiss lifts me up and I think back to my favorite movie as a kid. I loved Casper and watched it a million times. Claire and I would sit on the floor in front of the TV and watch from start to finish without moving. The scene at the end of the party where Casper kisses Cat and they float up from the floor was what I thought my first kiss would be like. I was sadly disappointed at thirteen when Malcolm Walsh kissed me and all I could taste was the corndog he'd had for lunch and then he stepped on my foot.
This kiss, though, this kiss is my floating kiss.
You are the only exception, you are the only exception. You are the only exception, you are the only exception.
The song ends, but Jack keeps his arms around me and holds the closeness for a second. I can't breathe, but I don't want to.
§
Allie finds me again at the table and asks me to go to the bathroom with her, practically insists on it. I grab my clutch and Jack nods as I walk around the table. I look back over my shoulder at him and he smiles at me, the upturn of his mouth and his eyes tell me he’s watching my ass as I walk away from him. There go my panties.
"Carls, Nick's here,” Allie says as we walk toward the bathroom. “He was asking me where you were and why you won't respond to any of his messages." Nick has texted me every day since I broke it off, but I haven't responded other than the one blow job text. I haven't heard from him today and to be honest, I'd forgotten he even existed.
"So? Who gives a shit?" I say.
"He's looking for you, Carly. And you're here. With Jack. Don't you think that could spell trouble?"
"Why? Nick doesn't want me. He just wants me to be alone so I'll be there for him. It's not gonna happen. Even if Jack and I don't start dating, I'm beyond finished with Nick."
Allie's eyes are surprisingly serious and I wish she'd just let it go.
We finally get an open stall, so I hold the door for her as she pees. We check our faces in the mirror as we wash our hands.
We wiggle through the waiting women at the door, then fingers clench at the flesh of my upper arm and I’m violently yanked back toward the bathroom.
"Why won’t you talk to me?"
Nick's breath is positively saturated with vodka. It hits my nose and I have to lean my head away to keep from gagging.
"Let me go," I say, jerking my arm free with more force than it actually takes. Allie reaches out and pulls me back toward her.
"Who is he?" Nick raises his voice at me.
"None of your fucking business," I shout. His blue eyes are narrowed and glassy.
"Is that why you broke it off with me? So you could go fuck him?"
"There was nothing to break off with you, Nick. And I don't owe you any explanation about who I fuck. You're just an asshole."
"And you're just a whore," he yells like a wounded little boy.
I don't see Jack at first, I just watch as Nick takes a big fist to the face and falls on the bar. People try to jump out of his fall path and beer bottles crash to the floor.
Jack’s chest isn’t heaving like I expect after Hulking out the way he did. He stands there, his arms slightly raised, his face begging Nick to get up and come at him.
“Ugh,” Nick groans, attempting to push himself off the bar. I can see a giant knot forming underneath his already blackening eye. His face is going to hurt tomorrow.
“You know you gotta leave now,” Billy calls out from behind the bar. I look to the door and see the bouncers coming to break up the already finished fight.
“Jack!” I call.
“Come on,” he growls, grabbing my hand. He leads me out as the bouncers go over to Nick and start to help him to his feet.
“Your coat!” I call out to Jack.
“Fuck it,” Jack says, meandering between the forming crowd as people try to find out who got their ass kicked.
"I'll get it!" Allie shouts. She glances at Nick and then watches as we walk toward the door.
I walk fast in the wake of him, his smell clear over even the strongest liquor odor of the club. Adrenaline courses through my veins, heightening everything around me.
“I have to go back in and get Allie.”
“We can't go back in,” Jack says, his dark eyes are serious again, the playful light I’d bro
ught to them inside is now gone. “Because of your boyfriend.”
“Because you had to get in a fight,” I counter.
“Over you!” Jack almost bellows. He turns to face me, the frustration flushing his face and he tenses his jaw at me.
He closes the gap he’d put between us. "I did it for you."
“Well, I would never ask you to do that for me,” I say.
“You did when you let me hold you.” The words come out in a hushed whisper. A blush is rising in his cheeks as we stand in the cold having this insane argument. Jack defended my honor and knocked Nick’s ass out in the process. I should be flattered, but instead, I’m confused. Why would he fight for me? He barely knows me.
He opens the passenger door and I stare at it. “Are you going to get in or not?” he asks, his tone is controlled as he stares at me.
I look at him, at this impulsive man who would defend me when he doesn't even really know me. Finally, the cold temperature takes his side and forces me to get in. Fighting off a body shiver, I walk to the Escalade and grab the bar to hoist myself up and inside.
Heat pours out of the vents, chasing the cold out of the cab. Jack climbs inside and slams his door. He reaches across me and presses a button on the side of my seat.
“The seat’s heated,” he explains. A warm sensation blossoms underneath my ass. I can smell his hair again; a sweet, clean scent as he leans back to his side of the vehicle.
He exhales heavily and then rubs his face. "I'm sorry," Jack says, keeping his eyes focused on the distant parking lot. The hand that's not on the steering wheel rests on his lap.
"You don't have to apologize, Jack. I'm just trying to get my head together after that."
“Was he your boyfriend?” Jack asks.
“Not exactly,” I say. I don’t really want to explain what Nick was to me. I keep waiting for Allie to come out the door, but she doesn't.
“You danced with him last weekend.”
I look across the vehicle at him. “You were watching me?”
“Every man in there was watching you, Carly,” Jack says. His eyes are so dark in the dimly lit vehicle, like black holes that I know I could completely disappear in.
Save Me (Saved Series, Book One) Page 6