Alluring (6 page)

Jack gave her a knowing smirk before asking, "What do you do in your free time?"

"I read."

When she didn't continue, he asked, "That's it?"

Alexis looked down at her hands.  She noticed a hangnail on her thumb and started picking at it.  Jack's hand reached over and covered hers to stop her fidgeting.  Alexis looked up at him.  They were stopped at a red light.  His gaze was on her and something worked behind his eyes.  As if, he were trying to figure her out.  She didn't want to be figured out.

She cleared her throat, put a smile on her face, and said with forced cheerfulness, "I work two jobs.  Most of my free time is spent sleeping."  Her smile faded when he didn't laugh at her joke and vanished completely, when he didn't even crack a grin. 

He continued to look at her until a horn honked behind them.  Alexis broke eye contact to look out the front window.  "Light's green," she said.  The car picked up speed and she kept staring out the window.

Jack took her to Engage, a trendy restaurant, located a few blocks off the strip in a commercial area that had several shopping and entertainment locales.  The restaurant had a rocker theme.  Album covers of various rock bands from the last three decades, covered the walls.  Rock memorabilia littered every surface.  Countless guitars of every shape, size, and color overlaid the ceiling.  Visually, it was almost too much to take in.  She'd heard somewhere that the lead singer of the band, Engage, opened the place about a year ago.

Jack firmly held Alexis's hand as he made his way to the hostess and whispered something in her ear.  She smiled, grabbed two menus, and motioned for them to follow.

As they made their way to the table, Jack leaned over near Alexis.  "I didn't realize this place would be so busy or so loud.  Not exactly what I had in mind for our first date."  Alexis didn't think it would be wise to mention that it was going to be their only date.  "I've never been here before.  Have you?" 

She shook her head.  "I've heard of it but have never been here.  Doesn't some rock star own the place?"  The waitress seated them at a back corner, semiprivate booth.  She handed them menus before informing them that their waitress would be with them shortly.

"Yeah, Gage Hunter, he's a friend of mine.  I've promised him, for a while now, that I would come and check the place out, but I've never had anyone that I've wanted to bring with me," Jack opened his menu and looked over the top of it, at Alexis, "Until now."

The waitress came up to their table.  She wore an uniform of black, short shorts and a tight, white T-shirt that had
Engage
written across the front in big, black, cursive letters.  She had straight, blond hair up in a high pony tail, blue eyes, a pert, little nose, and a dazzling smile which she directed exclusively at Jack. "Do you guys know what you want to order?" she asked, holding her order pad at the ready.  She was asking them both the question, but her eyes never strayed from Jack.

He was still looking at the menu.  "I don't think we're ready to order yet, but I'll have a beer."  He lowered his menu and smiled at Alexis.  "What would you like to drink?"

"I'll have an iced tea."

After the waitress left, Jack set his menu on the table.  "Do you know what you want?" 

Alexis closed her menu and put it to the side.  "I think I'll have the California burger with onion rings, instead of fries."

Jack smiled.

"What?"

"Most women would've ordered a salad."

Alexis shrugged.  "I like guacamole."

The waitress came back with their drinks, took their order (still not looking Alexis in the eye, whatever), and left.  Alexis played with the rim of her glass as she said, "I know who you are."

Jack leaned back in the booth.  He splayed his arm along the back of it and waited for her to continue.

"My friend told me who you were last night.  She said you called her."

"Ah, the excitable Steph."

Alexis giggled.  "Yes, I can well imagine how that conversation went."  She grew serious again.  "I didn't know who you were before that.  I didn't know you were, Jackson Cole.  After our conversation yesterday, I figured you were in upper management and that was bad enough but now, this is impossible."

Jack sat up straight.  "Impossible?  Explain."

"Jack, you own the hotel I work for.  We can't date." 

"I hate to tell you this, but we already are."

She shook her head.  "This will be the one and only time."

Jack leaned forward, placed his elbows on the table, and rested his chin on his entwined hands, studying her.  His stare made her nervous.  She had the urge to fidget but commanded her body to remain still.  She would not back down no matter how captivating he was.  He was no good for her, and she knew it.  This had disaster written all over it.  She had to make him understand.  She wasn't the kind of girl he was used to.  She wasn't a girl who put-out on the first date nor the second or even the third.  He would get tired of waiting.  Then, when her heart was involved (and she knew it would be), he would leave.  Or, if she did give in to him, let him sleep with her, he would eventually grow tired of her (why wouldn't he?  He could have anyone he wanted), and then he would leave.  Anyway she looked at it, he was leaving.  To protect herself, she needed to stop this now.

* * * * *

Jack stared, fascinated by the play of emotions crossing Alexis's face.  She was breathtakingly beautiful, inside and out, and he was completely enchanted by her. His fingers itched to trace the exquisite contour of her face, the delicate shell of her ear, the slim line of her neck.   He stared into her eyes fully entrapped by their dark whiskey color and her long thick lashes under finely sculpted brows.  Everything about her screamed in his head,
mine ... mine ... mine ....
   And he would do anything to make it so.

"Tell me what I can do to change your mind."

"There's nothing you can do to change my mind."

The waitress arrived with their food, pausing their conversation.  She set the plates of burgers in front of them before asking, "Anything else I can get for you?"

Jack's attention was solely focused on Alexis.  "We're good. Thank you,"  she said, then watch the waitress walk away.  She picked up her knife and stared to cut her burger into fourths.

"Alexis look at me."  She sighed and put down her knife before giving him her eyes.  "This is going to happen."

"You can't force me to date you, Jack."  Her eyes squinted in annoyance.  She was getting angry.  Good.

He took a large bite of his burger, chewed, swallowed, then wiped his mouth with his napkin before responding, "I won't be forcing you."  He moved his plate aside and leaned forward across the table lowering his voice as he said, "I won't need to force you.  By the time I'm done with you, you'll be begging me."

Alexis sat back in her seat.  She looked calm and composed, but he saw her pulse beating frantically at her neck and knew his words had gotten to her.  "Why are you doing this?" she asked beseechingly.  "Why go though this much trouble? Surely there are hundreds of women out there more than happy, probably thrilled, to spend time with you.  You wouldn't even have to try.  Why don't you go after them?"

"Because, I want
you
."

CHAPTER SIX

I want you.

Those three little words echoed in her head the whole way home.  He walked her to her door, kissed her lightly on the forehead, and made sure she got in safely before walking back to his car.  All without uttering a word.

She slowly walked to her bedroom, stripped off her clothes, threw on a large T-shirt, and went into the bathroom to wash her face and brush her teeth before climbing into bed.  She was tired, but her brain wouldn't shut off.   She laid in the dark, her thoughts focused on Jack, wondering what he would do next. 

Even though he was silent through the rest of dinner and on the way home, she knew he hadn't given up.  His need for her was in his eyes, when he said he wanted her.  But what Alexis couldn't figure out, was why he wanted
her
so badly?  She wasn't anything special.  She was sincere when she told him he could have anyone he wanted.  He was beautiful, brilliant, and rich.  Women would and did flock to him.  They threw themselves at him.

Was that it?  Was it because she had told him no?  Was she a challenge?  Were those other women too easy to get?  She replayed their first meeting through her mind, knowing even if she could redo it, she wouldn't change a thing.  Even if it meant, she'd be free of Jack now.

The next day at work, Alexis had to fight sleep.  She'd had a restless night and being tired didn't bode well for her night shift at Allure.  Her lunch hour was fast approaching, and she was seriously considering taking a catnap in the break room instead of eating the sandwich she had made, when a deliveryman, holding a vase of at least two dozen lavender roses, stepped up to her counter. 

He held out a clipboard.  "Need a signature for a delivery."

"Who are they for?"  Only two other women worked at the dealership, Peggy, in accounting and Nancy, in financing.  Someone's day was about to get better.

The deliveryman flipped the clipboard to read it, then flipped it back around.  "Alexis Taft."

"What?"  she asked, bewildered.  She didn't know anyone that would send her flowers.

"Can you please sign ma'am.  I have a lot of deliveries to make," he said, nudging the clipboard closer to her.

"Oh, sorry."  Alexis picked up a pen and scrawled her name in the indicated box.  The guy was gone before she could blink.

Alexis stood and smelled the fragrant roses before plucking the little card from its holder.  The envelope had the name of the florist stamped on the front of it.  She turned it around and untucked the flap.  She slipped out a solid white card with a red boarder.  Written on the card in flawless handwriting were the words,
I'll see you in ten  J.

"What the heck?" she said, under her breath, as she flopped down in her chair.  She flipped the card over, but it was blank on the other side.  The J had to stand for Jack.  Even her sluggish brain could figure that out.  But, she really hoped she was wrong about the rest, and that he wasn't showing up here it ten minutes.

"Whoa, someone got lucky last night."  Chuck, one of the car salesmen, made a beeline for her counter.  He wore a light-gray Armani suit (Alexis knew this because he always bragged that Armani was the only designer he ever wore), a dark-gray shirt, and a pink tie.  He had a very dark tan, pale-blue eyes, and perfectly styled blond hair.  Chuck had asked her out a few times when she started working at the dealership, but gave up after several months, when she kept refusing. 

He stopped when he reached her.  "Who was it, Peggy or Nancy?"

"Um ..."   

He saw her holding the open card.  "You?"  His brow furrowed and Alexis thought he looked a little ticked off.

"Of course, not.  I mean they are for me, but no one got lucky."

"Not yet."  Alexis's head whipped around at the sound of Jack's voice.  His long stride brought him to her desk, his signature wolfish grin on his face. He was dressed casually, in faded blue jeans and a tight, black T-shirt.  When he reached her, he leaned over and brushed a feather light kiss on her lips.  "Hello, sweetheart."

"Who the hell are you?"  Alexis looked over at Chuck.  Now he was looking a bit more than ticked off. 

Alexis felt Jack's body stiffen, and he stood to his full height, a good four inches above Chuck.  He gave him a once-over, not looking impressed by his Armani suit and styled hair.  He held out his hand.  "Jackson Cole."

Chuck slowly reached for it.  "Charlies Danbridge."

Alexis stood, trying to stave off any sort of pissing contest.  "Why are you here, Jack?"

She'd captured his attention back with her question.  "I'm taking you to lunch."

He didn't ask, he told.  Usually, she would have bristled at that, but she didn't want to cause a scene in front of a coworker.  "Let me grab my purse."  She reached into her bottom drawer.  When she stood back up, Chuck was staring at where her ass had been, and Jack was scowling at Chuck.  "Ready?"  She asked, grabbing Jack's arm and pulling him to the exit.

After they stepped outside and walked halfway through the parking lot, she dropped his arm and halted.  "What was that all about?"

"I didn't like the way he looked at you."

Alexis looked down at her four-inch, bone, pointy-toed slingbacks.  They were one of her favorite pair of shoes.  She had put on the cream pencil-skirt and coral, silk blouse this morning just so she could wear them.  She took a deep breath before looking back up.  "He's just a coworker."

"He wants to fuck you."

Alexis couldn't dispute that, so only said, "Well, he's not going to."  She decided to change the subject.  "You can't
just
show up at my work, Jack."

He took her hand and started walking again.  "I can if I want to take you to lunch."