“Find some decent women so one of you all can give me some grandkids,” Carole interjected.
“Aw, mom,” Pete moaned and Tommy and Jax agreed.
That ended breakfast at the Sutton home. The boys had plans on being boys. Carole loved it, seeing her sons back together.
It was fun seeing Jax the day before, but Megan knew that was just an isolated encounter. It didn’t, it couldn’t mean anything. She would have the memory of seeing Jax in the parade and getting the key to her city and the smile they shared that lasted just long enough to leave an indelible impression on her heart. That night, Megan went to be with that gaze on her mind and his eyes piercing her heart. Jax Sutton…
But it was a new day, the next day and Megan convinced herself that spending all her time thinking about a man she couldn’t have was not only a waste of time, but it also took up too much of her time that would end up being fruitless in the end. Fortunately, her kids were on break and Megan didn’t have to brace herself to meet thirty wide-eyed fourth graders head on who had too much sugar for breakfast in their cereal and too much energy pinned up just waiting to explode in the classroom. No, Megan was on break and instead of pining for Jax, Megan decided to do some things she hadn’t done for a while, relax and take care of herself.
“We should go out tonight,” Megan said over the phone to her bestie, Bonnie.
Bonnie was also an educator so if Megan was off, Bonnie was, too. They talked about the things they’d like to do for summer break and spending time having fun was mutually agreed upon. So, Bonnie saying no to Megan was not even a thought. Bonnie would say yes, and she did. They agreed to hang out later for happy hour down at one of their favorite watering holes. It would be fun.
Jairos, Blues and Jazz Supper Club was the destination for Bonnie and Megan’s girls’ night out. Although Chandlerville had all the adorable qualities all those who love small towns looked forward to, Jairos added a different scene; a touch of sophistication, with cool colors painted on the club’s walls, heavy burgundy curtains reminiscent of any upscale supper club in any larger town across the nation, cool jazz sounds from a seasoned band, and savory flavors that tantalized the palette chased by chilled drinks to quench the thirst. Candelabras on the wall and candles on the tables provided ambient light, sufficient enough to create intriguing shadows and cozy opportunities for co-mingling or getting to know someone.
Megan decided to wear her newest little black dress for the occasion. She pinned her hair behind her ears and added rhinestone drop earrings that looked great against her elegant neck. She and Bonnie rode together to the supper club. Bonnie looked great too, choosing to go the opposite direction in a pale pink low-cut wrap dress that hit just below the knee. She wore her strawberry blonde hair loose and long and accessorized her outfit with a silver drop necklace that was soft, yet strong against her alabaster skin. When the ladies entered the club, it was undeniable that they turned heads. Every red-blooded male in the club saw the girls as they sashayed towards their table down front by where the band played.
Three of those red-blooded men were the Sutton brothers.
“Damn,” Tommy commented, seeing the two girls walk past their table. He did wait until they were out of earshot to make his comment. Tommy was the closest one to being the playboy of the group. He was the youngest and the least interested in settling down. Tommy had too many wild oats left to sow and refused to limit his availability to just one woman. Between Bourbonville and Chandlerville, Tommy had somewhat of a reputation with the ladies that he was damn proud of.
“I agree with you brother,” Pete chimed in, taking a second look. Pete was more like Jax in that, he had thoughts of finding a girl and settling down. But Pete wasn’t one to actively pursue. He was shyer than his other brothers and would much rather run into a girl in an accidental encounter that led to a casual conversation that could possibly turn into something more. He had a girl, a woman that he was very interested in making a life with, but it didn’t work out. That was three years ago, and Pete had been more gun-shy ever since. Pete was hoping for another accidental encounter. Maybe not with the two beauties that just passed their table, but maybe, just maybe there as a girl he could strike up a conversation with.
Jax's mouth was slightly agape when the two women passed their table. Sure, Chandlerville was small which increased the probability that he could possibly run into the girl from the parade again, but what were the odds? Maybe this was fate giving him the nod that staying in town for a while longer was the right idea. Jax tried not to stare, but she made it hard. She was gorgeous. Jax adjusted in his seat and chuckled with his brothers as they appreciated the women around them.
“We should end drinks,” Tommy suggested.
“We don’t even know what they’re drinking,” Pete countered.
“Just give it a minute,” Jax suggested. “you don’t want to look desperate,” he cautioned.
“But I am, man,” Tommy replied. “I am!” Tommy fell out laughing and his brothers joined in with him.
They ordered dinner, prime rib, lobster, twice baked potatoes, and a salad for balance and enjoyed the smooth jazz sounds from the band.
Megan and Bonnie were having a good time as well; their dinners slightly lighter, flounder instead of steak and rice pilaf to go along with their salads, but equally as satisfying. No matter how many times Megan had come to Jairos, there was always something good on the menu she’d never tried before, and a great band that got her swaying in her seat.
After dinner, Megan and Bonnie enjoyed a pour of Cabernet. It was a gift from the Sutton brothers. Once asked, the waiter pointed out the gentlemen who sent the bottle. It was only when Megan and Bonnie turned around to thank them did Megan realize Jax was in the club.
“Oh my God,” Bonnie screeched in a whisper, grabbing Megan’s hand where they guys couldn’t see. “Did you see him? Tell me you saw him,” Bonnie chirped. Besides the tight grip her best friend had on her hand, Megan felt another tinge, but this one was in her heart. She did see him, and once again, there was a brief moment where their eyes met. This time when a smile moved across her lips, almost instinctively, Megan turned away, feeling her cheeks flush and her heart palpitate. Yes, she saw Jax Sutton and from the smile on his lips, he saw her, too.
Chapter Five
Why was she suddenly so nervous? The answer to that question was obvious, because ever since Megan realized Jax was in the supper club, she couldn’t settle, she felt antsy and could barely concentrate on anything Bonnie said or the band playing in front of her. What Megan didn’t know is that Jax felt much the same way. He couldn’t take his eyes off her once he recognized her. His brothers continued to chat about who knows what, but Jax barely heard them. And several people around him were swaying to the beat the band was putting down but they were all a blur.
What should he do? That’s the question that kept repeating in Jax’s mind that kept him distracted. Or should he do anything at all? Jax started thinking about the pros and cons of both scenarios. If he did approach her and she rejected him, that wouldn’t be good, in the short term. His feelings would be momentarily hurt, but that would also be a clear sign that him seeing her again was not fate, just happenstance. But what if he approached her and they hit it off? For the short-term, that would be good. However, what about the long-term? How would having a relationship impact his life? She was from Chandlerville or thereabouts. Would she be willing to relocate on his behalf?
Jax had to chuckle at himself, realizing just how far ahead of the situation he had gotten. Maybe it was those parallel thought processes that kept him from making a move? Maybe it was that way of thinking that kept him single? His brothers didn’t wait for Jax to decide what he was going to do because they were already making moves of their own. Tommy found a cute girl at the bar that he was chatting up, and some girl Pete had casually run into in the past found her way to their table and Pete and the girl were enamored in conversation. That left Jax to mull over his own thou
ghts, trapping and untrapping himself in possibilities.
Before he could second-guess or stop himself, Jax got up from his seat. He started to move in the direction where the intriguing young lady sat, but she had gotten up from her seat too and was moving towards the hallway, presumably where the restrooms were. Feeling awkward, Jax altered his destination, instead moving towards the end of the bar that bordered the hallway the young lady had just gone down. This was so out of character for Jax. This was something he never did. At the same time, Jax couldn’t stop himself. He had to at least find out who she was.
The butterflies in Megan’s stomach continued to soar as she made her way to the bathroom. She’d never had that kind of feeling before about any guy, and there had been other guys. Megan dated before. A couple of guys were nice, and they were interested in her, but they didn’t quite mesh, and Megan didn’t connect with them. They were cordial, but nothing ever came of it. Even with those guys; the guys she thought might be the one, never gave her butterflies like the ones flitting around in her stomach at the moment. She just needed to take a moment to check her makeup and to breathe. Bonnie had her eyes on some guy across the club, so she wasn’t willing to quit flirting with him to accompany Megan to the bathroom. That was okay. Bonnie could forgive her for breaking rule number one – never let your bestie go to the restroom by herself.
After a quick makeup check and a check of her hair, Megan left the ladies’ room to return to her table. Jax leaned against the bar. He didn’t want it to look obvious that he was waiting for her, so he ordered a drink. Still, he stood rather than sit, looking down the hall every other minute or two to see if she was coming. When he caught a glimpse of her in his periphery, Jax smoothed down his shirt and tried his best not to look like a stalker. Megan had her mind on returning to Bonnie until she saw him standing at the bar. Her feet slowed down, refusing to move forward. There was a leap in her chest just seeing him. Suddenly, she became self-conscious about her outfit and her hair and everything else associated with her.
Jax looked down the hallway, and saw her shuffling, trying to decide if she should move forward or backtrack. But his eyes found hers and eventually, she started moving forward. He was busted, but it was too late for Jax to back out. His gaze wouldn’t allow Megan to back out either. They were stuck in this moment no matter how unnerving it was. Jax stood and faced Megan as she ventured the last few feet down the hallway and into the club area. Megan thought to sidestep and go a different way, but she really didn’t want to. She wanted this encounter no matter how nervous she was.
“Hi, I’m Jax,” he said nervously, extending his hand in her direction.
“I’m Megan,” she replied. Megan’s hand shook slightly as she accepted his, but when he closed his hand over hers, the shaking stopped in her hand and moved to her legs. She could totally fangirl, shaking hands with the Jax Sutton, but Megan closed her eyes for a split second, gathered her bearings and tried to smile without looking weird. As they held hands, although it was initially designed to be a polite handshake, Jax’s eyes took Megan in and she did the same.
“You look familiar,” Jax began.
“I was at the parade,” Megan replied.
“Yes, you were,” Jax replied, realizing he was still holding Megan’s hand. Easing his away with a smile, Jax continued. “But I think it’s more than that,” Jax said. Megan smiled broadly as her eyes momentarily left the unwavering look from Jax as he tried to figure out where he could possibly know her from. Megan chuckled as Jax struggled to figure it out. She laughed because she could easily bail him out but hearing him guess and seeing his eyes light up every time he thought he knew where they met before was kind of cute.
“I’ve got it!” Jax exclaimed, excited that he finally figured it out.
“Really?” Megan teased, interested to see if he was right. “Okay, where?”
“Well, it’s really a process of elimination,” Jax said, smiling smugly. “We’re about the same age, I think, even though with those high cheekbones, it would be difficult to tell just how old you are. Anyway, if we are about the same age, and presumably you’re from here, it would have to be either church or school. And since I know everyone back at my family’s church, none of which are as beautiful as you are, I would have to guess, Megan, that I know you from school.”
Jax stood back proudly as if he solved the mystery.
“Oh, so it’s not that you remember me from school, it’s just that it’s the only place you could have known me from?” Megan taunted.
“That sounded better in my head,” Jax replied, hearing what he said aloud.
“I understand, Megan answered, “I’m not very memorable.”
“That is so not true,” Jax said moving a step closer to Megan. “I remember you from the parade. True, it was only a day, or so ago, but not only do I remember you, I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“Really,” Megan said blushingly.
“And I’m not just saying that to bail myself out of the other mess I made,” Jax offered.
“I remember you though,” Megan suggested.
Now, Jax was the one blushing, in a manly way.
“From the parade?”
“And high school,” Megan corrected.
“My occupation makes me easier to remember,” Jax said. “I’m sure if I saw you in a parade, or on a billboard, or television, I would remember you too.”
“True,” Megan agreed, “but that’s not the only reason I remember you,” Megan admitted.
“Oh really?”
Megan paused briefly. She expected to be tongue-tied and too nervous to even formulate a coherent sentence in Jax’s presence. But he was so easy to talk to. It was disarming. Megan really wanted to pinch herself to see if she was dreaming or really standing in Jairos talking one-on-one with Jax Sutton.
“Come on,” Jax cajoled. “Tell me why you remember me?”
“Oh no,” Megan giggled. “It’s too embarrassing. I can’t believe I even said as much as I have.”
“It’s too late to back out now,” Jax teased, reaching out and touching Megan gently on the waist. His touch sent shivers to her core.
“Uhn uhn,” Megan replied, covering her face with both hands.
“You are really not going to tell me?” Jax jested.
“Nope, I am certainly not,” Megan laughed.
“Okay,” Jax said, stroking his chin with his free hand. “What will it take for you to tell me? Dinner? Dancing? The Movies?”
“Hmm,” Megan mused, stroking her chin as Jax did, obviously teasing him.
“Are you trying to bribe me?”
“Maybe,” Jax admitted. He smiled again, and their eyes connected again. Megan had a tough time holding Jax’s gaze. It felt like his eyes pierced her very soul. Her knees were weak and the butterflies in her stomach were doing somersaults and cartwheels. Then, Megan felt eyes on her from somewhere else and when she looked around, she saw Bonnie looking at her with wide eyes and her mouth open. It was just the excuse Megan needed.
“I have been a bad friend,” Megan said, turning Jax’s attention toward her table. When Bonnie saw Jax looking in her direction, her mouth closed, replaced by a goofy grin, and she shrugged her shoulders. Now she was just as embarrassed as Megan had been. Laughing Jax moved closer to Megan, sliding his arm around her waist.
“You should take me to meet your friend, so I can apologize for holding you up.”
Megan giggled, and then sighed, feeling the strength of his arm holding her possessively. She liked it. As they moved across the club towards Bonnie, it was a good thing Jax was holding her as Megan felt weakened by his touch. By the time they arrived at the table, Bonnie’s mouth was open again. She looked from Megan to Jax and back to Megan in disbelief. When she saw how bright Megan’s smile was, Bonnie beamed. Jax, being the perfect gentleman, eased Megan from his grip and pulled her chair out waiting for her to sit before he took the seat next to her. Underneath the table, Bonnie was tapping Megan�
�s leg. There was an internal squee they both wanted to release, but they held it in check in Jax’s presence.
“Jax Sutton, this is my best friend, Bonnie. Bonnie, this is Jax Sutton.”
Just as he had done with Megan, Jax extended a polite hand in Bonnie’s direction. She giggled and then accepted his handshake.
“Pleasure to meet you Bonnie,” Jax said, his baritone voice playing nicely against the backdrop of the jazz band.
“The pleasure is mine,” Bonnie giggled. She was fangirling as hard as Megan had in the beginning, excited that her friend finally met her dream guy.
Bonnie looked at Megan again. She looked excited and nervous, but mostly excited. The conversation between the three flowed smoothly. They changed from wine to mixed drinks and before it was over, Pete joined them at the table and the foursome sat together long into the night listening to good music, drinking good libations and enjoying each other’s company. Megan smiled when she saw how well Pete and Bonnie were hitting it off.
Jax leaned over and whispered in Megan’s ear. “There’s still something you haven’t told me.”
Feeling his warm breath against her ear sent a wave of chills down her spine. Coyly she smiled. “What is that?”
“Why you remember me,” Jax crooned.
“What about the bribes, Megan quipped. “Are they off the table?”
“No, but that was really just my way of seeing what you like so I can ask you out,” Jax crooned again. It took everything in Megan to keep her body from quivering in his presence.
“Well Mr. Sutton, I like, long walks in the park, fast cars, and all the other things you mentioned,” Megan said, whispering in Jax's ear as well. He too felt a pleasant sensation having her that close to him. He inhaled deeply taking in her scent. He wanted to remember that.
Missing Forever: A Chandler County Novel Page 3