Love Left Behind (47 page)

"Wait!" I
sputtered, but Corinne was already gone to do Jackson's bidding. "I'm the
one wearing this stuff. Shouldn't I be making the decisions? I don't need shoes
or a clutch."

Jackson turned his gaze
towards me, looking enigmatic. "Emma, why are you fighting me about
spending money on you? It's just sitting around collecting dust."

"It just isn't
me," I implored. "I like beautiful things, but I'm not used to
spending so much money. It seems almost indecent."

Jackson came close,
tipping my chin up to look me in the eyes. "Sweetheart, you need to get
used to it. I'm going to spend the rest of my life spoiling you. One of the
perks of being an actor is that they pay you an obscene amount of money, just
for pretending to be someone else. I'm finally really enjoying spending it.
Because it's on you."

It was hard to refuse
Jackson's generosity so I decided to stop protesting. When Corinne came back
with several pairs of shoes and clutches, I didn't look at the price tags,
instead choosing which ones I wanted purely on aesthetic value. I was hesitant
about the five-inch platform heels, even though I loved them.

"Do you think I'll
break my neck in these?" I asked Jackson as I wobbled across the dressing
room.

"Don't worry. If
you fall, I'll be there to catch you."

Despite Jackson's
reassurances, I settled on nude heels that were just shy of four inches with a
bit of a platform. The color made me legs look longer than normal and a silver
clutch completed the ensemble. I gulped when Corinne rang up the purchases and
the total was well over $8,000, but Jackson just nonchalantly handed over his
credit card.

Corinne handed me a
business card as Jackson lifted the bag off the counter. "Here's my
business card. Feel free to call me personally if you need anything else."

I smiled and nodded my
thanks. Now that I had bitten the bullet and let Jackson buy my expensive
outfit, I was giddy at the prospect of wearing it tonight. Craig reached for
the bag when we stepped out of the store, turning to stow it in the trunk of
the SUV.

"Now what?" I
asked after we had climbed back into the vehicle. "I didn't think shopping
would be over so quick. We have the rest of the day free."

"I can think of
some things we can do to pass the time," Jackson said suggestively.

"You have a one
track mind!"

Jackson didn't respond
because his cell phone started ringing. He routinely turned it off when we were
together because he said he didn't want to be constantly interrupted, but he
had turned it back on at Ferragamo because he was anticipating a call from
Marcie. I stilled when he answered the phone and I heard his greeting.

"Hi, Mom. What's
up?"

I had met Jackson's
mother a few times and we had gotten along well. His mother had an easy grace
and was much more laid back than Jackson was, but I didn't know how she would
react to us being back together.

Jackson ran his thumb
over the back of my hand absentmindedly as he spoke.

"Yes, we
are." Jackson paused, listening to his mother. "She's here with me
now."

I tensed at Jackson's
words but he just glanced at me and smiled. "Yes, I know, Mom."
Jackson sounded a little exasperated and I was desperately curious as to what
his mother was saying. "We'll try to make it out there soon, I promise.
Okay, I'll tell her. I love you too. Bye, Mom."

I looked at Jackson
expectantly as he disconnected the call. "Well?" I said impatiently
when he didn't say anything. "What were you two talking about? Was it
about me?"

Jackson nodded, looking
a little rueful. "She asked me if we were back together, and when I told
her yes, she instructed me not to mess it up again. Despite not knowing the
details of our relationship five years ago, she's convinced I did something to
drive you away." Jackson smirked. "So much for being on her son's
side."

I bit my tongue,
wanting to blurt out that he did drive me away by cheating with Claire, but
technically that wasn't true. I had pushed him away before I found out about
his unfaithfulness.

"What did you
mean, 'we'll try to make it out there soon?'"

"She wants us to
come visit. We'll have to make it out to Westchester one weekend. She wanted me
to tell you that she's looking forward to seeing you again." Jackson
smiled at me. "She also told me that my brother Ryan made her promise to
let him know when we would be visiting so that he could come too."

I was pleased that
Jackson's mother approved of the rekindling of our relationship. It was one
less thing I had to worry about. I had never met Jackson's father but I hoped
he shared his wife's sentiment. I was also eager to meet Jackson's brother
since he had never visited from Miami while we had been together before.

We went back to my
apartment and ordered in Thai food. I had enjoyed shopping with Jackson, but I
had been acutely aware of the stares in the store and even on the sidewalk and
was happy to have some privacy. It was a relief that there had been no one
trailing behind us, taking pictures. Maybe Marcie's solution was actually
working.

She called later that
night to discuss the joint interview she wanted Jackson and me to do. I asked
if it was still necessary since the fervor had already died down, but she
informed us that she had gotten wind of Candace's camp preparing a counter
statement that would be released soon. Marcie advised that it was smart to
strike while the iron was hot. The interview would be with Vanity Fair and
Marcie promised that the questions would be prescreened and all elements
controlled. Marcie seemed to know what she was doing so I agreed and she
promised to call with the date of the interview.

Jackson and I watched
The Way We Were
for the millionth time,
and it was a bit surreal to be cuddled next to Jackson again, watching Hubbell
and Katie drive their relationship into a ditch.

"Second
chances," Jackson whispered against my hair at the closing scene where
they painfully parted. I nodded, understanding what he meant. I was grateful
that we had been given another chance to become more than a memory of the way
we were.

I was feeling a mixture
of nervousness and excitement when we pulled up to Hydra, Marc Bradley's new
lounge. I glanced at Jackson, who looked perfectly calm and collected. I
couldn't get over how gorgeous he looked in his dark elegant suit that fit him
like a glove. His grey shirt was unbuttoned at the collar and paired with his
dark single-breasted jacket, Jackson looked effortlessly sophisticated and
urbane. His eyes had lit with approval when he had seen me in my dress,
commenting that it was going to be a long night because he was going to be
constantly undressing me in his mind. I had flushed with pleasure at his words,
but now I was flushed for a different reason. I could see a million flashes
going off in a sea of cameras.

"Are you
ready?" Jackson asked, studying my face. I put on a bright smile,
determined to enjoy tonight.

"I'm ready."

Craig was waiting
beside the car and he jumped to grab the door as Jackson opened it. Jackson
stepped out first and turned around to offer his hand. I took it gratefully as
cameras started going off like crazy and photographers started yelling out our
names.

"Jackson! Emma!
Over here!"

"Emma, give me a
smile!"

"Jackson, does
this mean you and Emma are back together?"

"Emma, what did
Jackson do to win you back?"

Jackson guided me past
the photographers with a relaxed smile but I could feel the tension radiating
from his body. I couldn't imagine enduring these personal questions and rabid
attention for years, and I understood why Jackson got sick and tired of it. But
I knew he was making an effort to play along with the press because of our
situation.

"Gentlemen,"
he said smoothly with a wide smile, "I'm happy to report that Emma is giving
me another chance and we're back together."

"Emma!" A man
with a protruding potbelly leaned close to me, a camera clutched in his hands.
He was so close that I could smell the odor of garlic on his warm breath.
"How does it feel to be with one of Hollywood's leading men? Is dating
Jackson Reynard a dream come true? Are you intimidated by all the leading
ladies he's been with?"

Jackson frowned and
made a move towards the man, but I stopped Jackson with a hand on his arm. I
turned back to the man, wanting to dismiss him but not able to ignore his
questions. "Dating Jackson Reynard is a dream come true, but I believed
that five years ago, when we first met and he was still making a name for
himself. I'm dating the man, not the image, and Jackson has always been a man
to be in awe of. As for other women he's dated, all I care about is today. And
today Jackson is with me."

Jackson pulled me
close, away from the questioning man, and tipped my chin up with his
forefinger, planting a hard kiss on my lips. I was aware of dozens of flashes
going off, the crowd in a frenzy over our open affection.

Jackson grinned at me
when he pulled back and I rolled my eyes at his smug expression. "Was that
necessary?"

"I've decided that
I'm going to enjoy myself at the party. That means I'm going to kiss you
whenever and wherever the mood strikes me. And the mood seems to strike me an
awful lot. It's not my fault you're irresistible."

I was mollified by
Jackson's answer and let him guide me past more shouted questions that I
ignored. We had to stand in front of a backdrop that Jackson called a step and
repeat, posing together for photographers that were yelling our names and
asking us to look in their direction. I spotted quite a few celebrities making
their way to the step and repeat, and even though I wasn't usually overly
excited by fame, it was undeniably thrilling to see these people in real life.

It was a relief when we
passed through security and entered the cavernous lounge. It was dimly light
with house music pumping through the sound system, although it was subdued
enough that you could have a conversation. Hydra was separated into two
sections, the first section being much more sedate with sleek sofas and low
tables where people were congregating. An impressive bar made out of glass and
chrome snaked along the wall of the entire section, manned by several
bartenders that were attending to the guests' needs. The second part was more
like a club, with a dance floor flashing with strobe lights and a DJ on a
platform. There were a few dancers already gyrating on the dance floor,
although most of the guests had opted to mingle in the lounge.

"Jackson!" I
heard someone call out. We both turned towards the voice and I saw Marc Bradley
striding towards us. I couldn't help blinking when I saw him up close. Marc was
devastatingly handsome with a shock of blond hair and startling blue eyes. I
could imagine him playing the archangel Gabriel with his chiseled features and
charming smile. Presently, he was slapping Jackson on the shoulder, looking
more human than angelic. "Thanks for coming. I know you hate these types
of things."

Jackson quirked his
mouth, not denying it. "I owe you one for getting me out of that scrape in
Burbank." He wrapped his arm around my waist and glanced down at me. "Emma,
this is Marc."

Marc's eyes lit up as
he turned to me. "Emma, nice to meet you." I was flummoxed when he
gave me a sly wink. I couldn't believe Marc Bradley was winking at me.
"I've been reading a lot about you these days. I never thought I'd see Jackson
falling all over himself because of a woman."

I smiled and accepted
Marc's greeting of a kiss on both cheeks. "I wouldn't go as far as that,
but I appreciate the sentiment."

Marc raised an eyebrow.
"Don't be so quick to dismiss it. There are a lot of women wondering what
you have that they don't, since they weren't able to snare Jackson."

"Marc,"
Jackson warned, with a slight shake of his head. Marc looked chastened and
covered it up with a broad smile.

"Never mind about
that. We need to get you two drinks." Marc caught the attention of a
waiter carrying a tray of drinks and handed one to each of us. I took a
tentative sip as Marc explained it was a French 75, the house specialty
cocktail, made from gin, sugar, lemon juice and champagne. It was a dangerous
drink, so delicious that you forgot it contained alcohol.

"What made you
decide to open up a lounge?" I asked for lack of a better question.

"I've always
wanted a place where I could hang out with my friends. A buddy and I opened up
a lounge a year ago in L.A. and it's doing really well, so we decided to branch
out into New York." Marc smiled wryly. "I tried to get Jackson to
invest in Hydra since he spends so much time in New York, but he said he didn't
want to shell out money just to have a place to hang out. He thinks that actors
opening up bars and restaurants are acts of frivolous indulgence. Even though I
told him the returns would be through the roof."

Jackson smiled drily.
"I don't remember giving that explanation. In fact, I don't remember giving
an explanation at all. I believe my exact words were, 'Hell no.'"

"I'm an actor. I
can glean a lot of meaning out of two words."

I watched the interplay
between Jackson and Marc, fascinated by this glimpse into Jackson's world. Even
though I had tried to steer clear of any news of Jackson throughout the years,
it was difficult to block out everything. I had seen pictures of him with
female celebrities draped on his arm, rumors about who he was dating and who he
was sleeping with. I had tried to block these things from my mind since Jackson
and I had rekindled our relationship, not wanting the past to affect our
present. However, with Marc's mention of all the women jealous of my
relationship with Jackson, questions came rushing to the forefront of my mind.
I wondered how many women Jackson had dated during the years we had been apart,
if he had been serious about anyone. Despite his insistence that he hadn't been
able to forget me, I didn't really believe that meant he didn't routinely have
a warm body next to him in bed.