Page 47 of Alluring

Jack grinned down at her. "Sweetheart, that wasn't a line."

Alexis walked into the ballroom of the Hilton, Jack at her side. On their way in, the media had gotten a hold of them. They'd had their picture taken (Jack's mother as a co-founder and Jack being a major contributor to the charity was big news), and Jack announced Alexis's name, as his girlfriend, for the article. She felt strange knowing that tomorrow her picture would be in the paper.

Alexis heard an orchestra playing a soulful melody that couples danced to on the dance floor. Pockets of people were scattered about the room creating a din of conversation and laughter. Waiters carried trays of champagne and hors d'oeuvres.

Barbara spied them from the right side of the room. She was frantically waving her arm to grab their attention. Jack chuckled and pulled Alexis with him to his mother's side.

"My dear, don't you look lovely," Barbara said, pulling Alexis in for a hug before she was passed to Frank.

He gave her a tight squeeze before asking, "My son's treating you well I hope?"

She gave him a smile. "Of course."

Jack took her by the waist and drew her to his side. "If you two don't mind, I'm going to ask my girl to dance."

He steered her to the dance floor and wrapped her in his arms. "You know, you didn't even ask me," she said, melting into his embrace.

"You would've said yes." He gave her a cocky grin.

She didn't comment but gave him narrowed eyes. That was answer enough.

"So, now that I have you here, trapped on the dance floor, there's something we need to discuss." She gave him a quizzical look and he continued. "Our month trial is up. I want you to give up your apartment and move in with me permanently."

"Okay."

"Okay?" His brow furrowed. "That was surprisingly quick and easy."

"Do you want me to make it difficult? Drag it out? When we both know, you'll end up getting your way in the end. You always do."

Jack threw his head back and laughed. He leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the lips. "You make me happy."

"I'm glad." She softly ran a finger over his smiling lips. "You make me happy, too. And that's something I haven't truly felt in a long time."

"Then that will be my goal in life. Keeping you happy. Always."

Over the next week, Alexis went through everything in her apartment. She threw away some, gave things away, took some to Jack's but most went into storage. She couldn't part with any of her mom's belonging. Not now anyway. After she'd explained the sentimental value of the old furniture she wanted to keep, Jack had it delivered to a storage room in the hotel so she would know it was close by and safe.

It was Thursday night and Alexis had finally finished organizing and moving in her stuff. She hummed to herself as she padded around the kitchen barefoot, in jeans and a tank top, making dinner.

She was at the kitchen counter chopping vegetables when Jack came home. He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her middle and resting his chin on the top of her head.

"You know," she said, slicing a cucumber. "My side of the closet seems to get fuller every time I walk into it." She set the knife down and turned, butt against the counter, looking up a Jack. "Any idea how that might be happening?"

Jack reached around her and plucked a slice of cucumber off the cutting board. He popped it in his mouth and thoughtfully chewed. "Closet fairies?" He plucked up another piece of cucumber. "Wardrobe gnomes?" He popped it into his mouth and chewed. "Armoire elves?"

"Jack, be serious. You need to stop buying me things."

He went in for her neck and nuzzled placing small kisses between his words. "No. I. Don't."

Alexis sighed, melting against the assault on her neck. She forgot all about the closet and instead thought only about Jack and all the wonderful things he could do with his mouth.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

When Alexis came home from work the next night, she stopped by the hotel lobby to pick up the mail before heading upstairs. She's been waiting for the monthly bill for her mom's medical care and hadn't received it yet. She'd forwarded her mail a few weeks ago, finding it silly, stopping at her apartment every few days to collect it. She didn't want to be late on her payment. The fees they charged were ridiculous.

"Hey Tammy," Alexis said, stepping up to the counter. "Any mail for us?"

"Let me go check." She walked into a back room and came out a minute later, a stack of mail in her hand. "Here you go."

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