Page 52 of Jack

"No, I don't."

Shoving his hands into the pockets of hisworn jeans, he rocked back on his heels and brooded. "I do allright. I mean, the bar is making money. The profit margin is good andwe're in the black. That's mostly due to Zoo's clever ideas and theway she handles the books. Before she joined up with me, it was amess. I don't know a thing about accounts. All I know is servingpints and running the show out front. That, I am good at."

His eyes swept around the elegant room withits antique furnishings. "You've made a killing during your timeof modeling, and you made wise investments." His shouldershunched. "I am not a wealthy man, and it occurred to me that werushed into this thing. I rushed you into it and it might not be whatyou want."

Jazmine felt the coldness spreading throughher chest as she stared at him.

"If you're breaking up with me-"

"Goddammit! I love you," heexploded. "But I don't deserve someone like you." He hissedout a breath. "I have nothing to offer you, and I refuse to liveon your money."

Taking a careful breath, she lifted herchin and gave him a cool look from wide blue eyes. "You thinkI'm shallow."

"What?"

"You think I am the kind of woman whoexpects to be wined and dined and draped with expensive jewelry. Ihad all of that and I was so miserable, I contemplated taking my ownlife. I came from nothing and built myself up to where I am now. Forthe first time in my life, I am with a guy who makes me feeltreasured." Her eyes filled with tears and had him rushing toher side. "You treat me with respect. You never once put medown. I am in love with you and if you are so stupid that you think Icare about money or the lack of it, then you're not the man I fell inlove with."

"Baby-"

"Let me finish."

He had to hide a grin at her prim tone. "Iapologize." He inclined his head solemnly. "Go on."

Sending him a lofty look that told him sheknew what he was doing, she continued. "I want a family. I neverhad one and I want one with you. I knew I told you we should keep usa secret, but I don't want that. I want the world to know about us."

Emotions wracked his body and had himshivering. Without a word, he drew her to him and cradled her. Theystayed that way for a long time, before he eased away and took offhis clothes.

"Baby?" he whispered as shesnuggled on his chest.

"Yes?"

"Tell me what's going on with Zoo."

Her pained sigh had him smiling. "Youthought I had forgotten."

"I was hoping you had. Yourpersistence is the least attractive thing about you."

"And the most?" Tilting her headup, he brushed his lips against hers.

"Too many to count."

*****

She examined herself in the mirrorcritically. A long soak in the bath using that bath gel that Jazminehad brought back from Italy had her skin feeling soft and dewy. Thematching cream completed the job. Her hair was loose. She had takenthe time to go and visit the salon and her curls were popping. Shehad not slept well last night-damn her brother to a fiery hell! Hiswords had played over and over in her mind and kept her up.

The pants were black and clingy, a sort ofsoft as butter wool that felt great on her skin. She had decidedagainst wearing panties, part of the reason, she was telling herself,was that the cut of the material did not allow her, but the mainreason, the one she was trying to ignore was the part where she washoping that it would make it easier for him to get to her skin and ifshe was going to make him fall in love with her, she was going tohave to seduce him.

So far, their two meetings had been likefire and oil coming together.

Spraying on a seductive scent, she passed ahand over her hips and stepped back. The shirt was a dusky pinkoversized, with the three top buttons open to reveal more than a hintof skin and the thin gold necklace with the cross pendant her dad hadgiven her for her sixteenth birthday.

Going into the closet, she grabbed a jacketand picked up her tote. She had packed some things for her overnightstay. A slinky transparent nightgown, panties, essentials like travelkit that had her toothpaste, toothbrush and other things. As well asa change of clothing.

She was getting ready to leave when therewas a knock on her door.

An exasperated sigh escaped her when shesaw who it was.

"I don't have time-"

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