Page 26 of Handcuffed Hussy
Jack swallowed hard and turned to me, still addressing the crowd. "I'm ashamed to say I never gave it much thought, but this beautiful lady here has educated me on the responsibility we all have to watch out for our fellow neighbor. When she came to me, wanting a way to reach out and help on a bigger scale, I was all for this event. I think it's safe to say this is just the beginning of what you'll see Fashion Forward take on in the future, led by this badass, Bailey Smith."
Everyone cheered and whistled, but I didn't register much beyond the look of adoration on Jack's face as he looked at me. My mouth was hanging open, a look I don't recommend. Then again, I never claimed to be a model. I just couldn't get my brain to catch up with my ears. This was my event? Fashion Forward was my company? Did he do all this? For me?
Jack turned back to the microphone. "Please enjoy the vendors that are here tonight and be sure to drop off your used coats to the right of the stage. Checks can be dropped off directly to Bailey. Thank you again for your generosity. You are what makes Huntington Beach great."
Applause broke out again and people moved to mingle through the vendor tents, stacks of coats already piled up to the side of the stage. Jack pulled me off to the side of the stage, still not releasing me from his side.
My stomach was in knots and I felt hope bubbling up in place of sadness. If there wasn't any hope that Jack and I had a chance, I wanted to squash that bitch before she let me take a big fall. I couldn't handle losing Jack twice.
"Jack, wh--" I tried to get my questions answered, but was interrupted by a woman in a suit coming up to us and greeting me, like she was happy to see me.
"Hi Bailey. I'm Jackie Bartholomew. I'm here to present you with a check for your charity efforts. We're so proud you're part of our team and doing so much good in our community." She reached out and shook my hand, then turned so we were shoulder to shoulder.
A man with a camera around his neck told us to say cheese, a check held between Jackie's hand and mine. I smiled, automatically posing, though inside I was a ball of disjointed questions. Nothing made sense, and I needed an explanation if only someone would pause everything for a second and clue me in.
After they got the picture they wanted and a few profuse, and confused, thank you's from me, Jackie and her cameraman took off. I whirled around to find Jack just a few steps away, watching me with a smile on his face that could only be described as proud. Which let me tell you, it was a hell of a lot better look than the one of disappointment he'd given me a week ago.
"What did you do, mister?" I wanted answers. I needed answers. I was only two seconds away from pulling him behind one of the vendor tents and having my way with him. I'd prefer to know exactly what was going on first so I knew exactly how much I needed to thank him.
He laughed and I couldn't help smiling in return, hoping his smile lines would one day be more pronounced than his frown lines. I hoped I still had a chance at being the cause of all those laugh lines.
His laugh ended, his lips still tilted up, his good humor not just for show in front of an audience. I made a valiant effort to focus on my questions. All I could hold in my brain was the thought that the man looked damn good in a suit. Strong legs walked over, his tailored suit jacket open, the white dress shirt contrasting nicely with his tan skin. He looked like he was born in a suit, the power exuding from him and making my knees weak.
I had a healthy self-esteem, anyone who knew me even a little bit, knew that. Yet a small part of me still wondered what this man was doing with a girl like me. One with no family of her own, a yen for breaking the law, and always up for a good fight. He was gorgeous, successful, smart, and he was just sogood. When you looked up the definition for a good and honorable man, Jack's face was sure to be there.
"I've been thinking, Bae." His rough hand came up to cup the side of my face. His eyes spoke volumes, telling me we had a chance, waiting for me to say the right thing. "Under all this bluster and sass is a good woman. A woman I'd like in my life. Maybe you just needed someone to show you what you could do to help people legally." His hand tightened its grip. "Esa told me you've quit all the hacking. Does that mean you understand why it's wrong?"
I nodded, my heart beating faster, the hope growing bigger. "Yes," I whispered. "I never meant to hurt anyone. I just wanted to help." It was the God's honest truth. I was an idiot to think it was actually okay to break the law to help the needy. Robin Hood was a fairy tale told to children at bedtime, not something to model my adult behavior after.
His smile grew, and he pulled me close, those lips finally touching mine, sealing the deal. Hope blossomed in my chest, causing happiness and relief to run through my veins. We could get past this. Wewouldget past this. I wouldn't let him slip through my fingers again.
The kiss just got heated with his tongue reaching out to caress my bottom lip when I heard a throat being cleared right next to us. I pulled back, blinking quickly to come back to the present and figure out where I was.
The sounds of the event returned, people walking around talking, the ocean waves a constant backdrop to a well-attended event. Esa and Brinley stood there, smiling at Jack and I.
"Can I help you bitches with anything?" I may have been in a happy bubble with Jack, but I didn't forget that they knew what was happening and kept me in the dark all week.
Brinley grinned and Esa smacked her thigh before breaking out into loud laughter. "You should have seen your face when he dragged you up on stage!"
"Just remember, payback's a bitch," I warned them both, before letting myself smile along with them. I guess I couldn't be too mad. They went along with this charade so my man could win me back. All's well that ends well.
"You're wanted back at the stage. You gotta count the donated money and the final tally of coats donated," Brinley informed me.
Jack grabbed my elbow, whispering out of the side of his mouth. "By the way, I registered Fashion Forward as your LLC so you'll have to figure out what to do with the money donated tonight and how to set yourself up as an official charity legally. Everyone thinks this has been your event right from the beginning. Hope that was okay."
He looked nervous, like I'd be anything but touched that he'd go to all this trouble to show me what I could do to help without landing myself in jail. I mean, I wanted to be in his handcuffs, but in a bedroom, not his interrogation room.
I didn't answer, just grabbed his hand and dragged him back up on the stage with me. This time I grabbed the microphone and addressed the crowd still mingling in the parking lot.
"Okay, we have our totals. You ready to hear the difference you've made here tonight?" I shouted to the crowd. I grabbed the envelope Esa handed to me and proceeded to read what she'd written on the sheet of paper.
"We've collected 183 used coats!" For the second time that night, I felt my jaw drop. I couldn't believe it. It would take me years to buy that many marked down jackets and distribute them. One night and the community had done so much more. I smiled at Jack, grateful again that he was so brilliant. "And as for cold, hard cash..."
I checked the number Esa had written, certain she got it wrong. I looked over at her and went to hand the paper back. She shook her head and pointed at it.
"Are you sure this is right?" I said into the microphone.
The crowd laughed, thinking I was joking. Esa just gave me a thumbs-up, the totals were correct.
