Page 79 of Alluring

His hair was slicked back with some styling product keeping it in place, darkening his light-brown locks. His jaw was smooth. He had recently shaved.

His lips quirked at her inspection. "Like what you see?"

"Always."

He leaned down and gave her a soft kiss. "Me, too."

As they made their way up the stairs, voices and music floated to them from their right. Alexis looked up and over. Large double doors were opened wide, spilling bright light onto the landing.

They stepped into a grandiose ballroom. Black and white checkered marble lined the floor. The walls were covered with a light blue, satiny fabric that shined from the many overhead crystal chandeliers.

Elegantly dressed people roamed the room as a full orchestra played a happy melody, of which, was unknown to Alexis's untrained ears. A waiter passed, bearing a tray holding champagne in long, slender, glass flutes. Alexis snagged one from the passing tray, downing it in two long swallows.

Jack raised his eyebrows in question.

Alexis gave him a sheepish smile. "I'm nervous."

Jack swept her up into his arms and twirled her around. A giggle escaped, and her head fell back as he continued to spin. They came to a rest in the center of the room. Alexis raised her head and Jack's lips came crashing down on hers. His tongue demanded entrance and she quickly complied, parting her lips, moaning into his mouth.

Laughter, clapping, and cheering erupted around them. Jack slowly lifted his lips from hers. She gripped his arms tighter. She was dizzy from the champagne, the twirling, and the kiss.

"Still nervous?"

She gazed up at him in a haze and slowly shook her head.

He gave her a brilliant smile. "Good."

"Jack. Alexis." Alexis turned her head. Barbara was approaching them a broad smile on her face. "That was quite an entrance."

Alexis felt a blush heat her cheeks.

Barbara scooped her up into a hug, whispering in her ear, "No need to be embarrassed. It was beautiful." Next she hugged Jack, kissing him on the cheek. "You are a handsome devil," she said, wiping her lipstick off his face with her thumb.

Frank appeared at Barbara's side. "There's my girl," he said, engulfing Alexis into a bear hug. They broke apart, and Frank shook Jack's hand. "How you doing, son?"

"Good, dad." He looked over at Alexis. "Great actually."

"Wonderful!" Frank boomed. "Now that the guests of honor have arrived, we can get this party started."

He walked to the front of the room where the orchestra played, signaled for them to cut the music, then snatched up one of the microphones. "Ladies and gentlemen, we are here to celebrate the engagement of our son, Jackson, and his beautiful bride-to-be, Alexis Taft."

The crowd broke out into applause. The flash of cameras filled the room. Frank held up his hands in a silencing gesture. "She is a lovely, wonderful, intelligent girl, and Barbara and I are honored and extremely lucky to include her into our family. She is the daughter we never had, and we love her already. Not only because of how lovely she is, but also because of how happy she makes our Jack." He lifted a glass. "To Jack and Alexis!"

"Here. Here." The crowd chanted loudly.

Alexis wiped the tears from her face and turned, smiling at Barbara. "Thank you."

"It's you, we should be thanking. I've never seen Jack happier."

"I'm standing right here, mother."

"Oh posh." She slapped at his arm. "You know it's true."

Jack smiled down at Alexis. "She means everything to me." More camera lights flashed, closer this time, and Alexis knew the reporters captured on film, the way they gazed lovingly into each other's eyes.

Alexis thought the night was magical. They danced, drank champagne, and ate the most delicious food. Photographers snapped photos, people she didn't know chatted with her, and through it all, Jack never left her side.

Mase and Gage arrived, and they both had dates on their arms. Alexis was surprised to see Cassie with Gage. She knew he had done that charity concert for her, but she didn't realize they were dating.

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