Saving Jax (6 page)

“Damn, little brother, I didn’t think you’d wear a suit.”

Court grinned at Cal before clapping him on the back.  “You said it was fancy.”

Mel glanced around as Cal kissed Julie on the cheek.  The club was smaller than she had imagined and it was decorated in dark red and grey.  A bar, long and curved with a shiny wood top, was directly in front of them and rows of liquor bottles lined the shelves behind it.  About twenty tables were scattered around the room, most of them filled with couples and small groups, and a small stage with an even smaller dance floor was at the front of the room.  There was a jazz band, all of them men and all of them wearing tuxes, playing and she jumped a little when Cal took her arm.

“Hey, Mel.  You look nice.”

“Thanks, Cal.  So do you.  Are mom and dad here?”

He nodded.  “Yes.  Come with me.”

She took his arm and followed him across the room to the corner furthest from the stage.  It was a bit quieter there and she smiled at her parents as Cal helped her out of her jacket and pulled her chair out for her.

“Butterfly, you look so pretty.”  Her mom kissed her cheek.

“Thank you, mom.  Is that your new dress?”

“It is,” Darla confirmed.  “Do you like it?”

“I love it.”

“Thank you.”  Her mom turned to smile at Court and Julie.  “Hello peanut, hello jelly bean.”

“Jelly bean?”  Court said.

Her mother grinned.  “It’s my new nickname for Julie.  Do you like it?”

Julie smiled happily at Darla.  “I love it, Mrs. Thomas.  Thank you.”

“Oh goodness, call me Darla,” her mom said cheerfully.  “How’s that scarf coming along?”

“Good.  I’m almost finished,” Julie said as a waiter, he was dressed in a tux as well, approached them.

“Good evening.  My name is Randall and I’ll be serving you this evening.  Could I interest you in a wine list?”

“Randall, this is my family,” Cal said quickly.

Randall smiled politely.  “Then a bottle of our best on the house is in order.”

He unfolded Mel’s napkin and placed it on her lap before doing the same for Julie and Darla.  He gave a slight bow and disappeared as Cal rested his hand on the back of Court’s chair.

“Are you going to join us, pumpkin?”

“I can’t, mom.  I’m working.”  Cal glanced at the door as a couple strolled into the nightclub.  “But I’ll check in on you in a bit, alright?”

“Alright.  Have fun, pumpkin,” her mom replied before picking up the menu.

Melanie scanned the room nervously.  She was not looking for Jax, she told herself and ignored the trickle of disappointment when she didn’t see him.

“Son?”  Bill was staring at Court and Court gave him a strained smile.

“What’s up, dad?”

“Do you have a migraine?”

He hesitated before nodding and Darla reached across the table and squeezed his hand.  “Oh, peanut.  You shouldn’t have come tonight.”

“I’ll be alright.”

“He had so many migraines as a boy,” Darla said to Julie.  “We were terrified he had a brain tumour but the tests came back negative and the doctors said it was stress that caused the headaches.”

She squeezed Court’s hand again.  “What are you stressed about, peanut?”

“We’re behind on a build,” he replied.  “It’ll be fine.  The client isn’t freaking out,” he hesitated, “yet.”

“You’ll get it done, Court,” Bill said reassuringly.

“Thanks, dad.”

Julie rubbed his back as he squinted at the menu before closing it.

“What are you having to eat?”  She asked.

“I don’t have much of an appetite,” he admitted.

“You should try and eat something,” Mel said.  “I know you don’t want to, but it might help with the migraine.”

He nodded and opened the menu again as Julie gave him a worried look. 

Mel took another quick glance around the club.  There was still no sign of Jax and she forced herself to study the menu.

* * *

“I ate way too much,” Darla said before dabbing delicately at her mouth with her napkin.  “The food is amazing here.”

Bill grinned at her, “I’ve always loved a woman with a healthy appetite.”

Darla smacked him lightly on the arm.  “Watch it, mister.  You know I – ”

“Did you enjoy your meal?”  Cal was suddenly standing next to the table and Darla beamed at him.

“It was delicious, pumpkin.  Thank you.”

“Good.  I’d like to introduce my boss, Mr. Jimmy Golden.”

Bill and Court stood and Mel watched as they shook hands with the short, balding man.

“Mr. Golden, these are my parents, Bill and Darla Thomas, and my brother Court and his girlfriend, Julie.”

“Wonderful to meet you.”  Mr. Golden smiled at them before turning his attention to Melanie.  “And who is this lovely creature?”

Mel forced herself to smile at him as Cal said, “This is my younger sister, Melanie Thomas.”

“Hello, Mr. Golden.  It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine, Ms. Thomas.”  He held her hand firmly and she forced herself not to shudder.

The man had the looks of a kindly grandfather but there was a ruthlessness in his eyes that he couldn’t quite conceal, she decided.  She supposed that didn’t automatically make him some kind of crime lord but it did make her extremely uncomfortable.

He released her hand and she refrained from wiping it on her napkin as he smiled at her parents.  “I’m very pleased with your boy’s performance here at the nightclub.  He’s done exceedingly well in a very short time.”

“Well, he’s always been a very quick learner,” Darla said with a hint of pride in her voice.

“Indeed.  I have big plans for your son.  He possesses the ability to do quite well in the nightclub business,” Mr. Golden replied.

“Do you have children, Mr. Golden?”  Bill asked.

“I have a daughter.  I had hoped she would join the family business but unfortunately,” he hesitated, a brief look of anger flickering across his face, “we have drifted apart as she’s grown older.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.  Children often need to find their own path, I suppose,” Darla replied.

“Yes, I suppose they do.”  He glanced behind him and waved.  Mel’s stomach dropped when Jax Anderson materialized beside him.

“This is my associate, Jax Anderson.  Jax, this is – “

“Oh, we’ve already met Mr. Anderson,” Darla said brightly.  “He came by the house the other day with Cal for dinner.”

“Did he?”  Mr. Golden said.

“He did.  Hello again, Mr. Anderson,” Darla said.

“Hello, Mrs. Thomas.  You look lovely this evening.”

“Thank you.”

As Jax shook hands with her father and her brother, Mel stared down at her plate and willed herself not to blush.  Jax was wearing a dark suit that clung to his broad shoulders and emphasized the narrowness of his waist and he looked ridiculously sexy.  She could hardly stop herself from taking a quick peek at the front of his pants and she scolded herself fiercely.

Do not stare at his dick, Thomas!  Jesus, get yourself under control.  You act like you’ve never seen a man’s dick before.

“Mel?”  Her mother’s voice broke through her thoughts and Mel gave her a strained smile.

“Yes?”

“Mr. Anderson is saying hello.”

She swallowed thickly and forced herself to smile at Jax.  “Sorry.  Hello, Mr. Anderson.”

“Hello, Ms. Thomas.  It’s nice to see you again.”

“You as well.”

He stared at her, his eyes seemed to pierce right through her, and she cleared her throat nervously before forcing herself to look away.

There was awkward silence and Mel gave Julie a frantic look as her mother stared curiously at her and Jax.  Julie, her face flushing a little, broke the silence.

“Court, would you dance with me?”

Court’s face was pale and he looked a little nauseated but he nodded.  “I would love to, darlin’.”

He took her hand and led her toward the dance floor as Darla watched.  “Oh, dancing.  It’s been so long since we’ve danced, Bill.”

“Well, I guess we should remedy that.  May I have this dance?”  Her father held his hand out.

Darla hesitated, her gaze flickering to Mel.  “I don’t want to leave poor Mel sitting here all by herself.”

“It’s fine, mom,” Mel said.  “Go and dance with dad.  Have fun.”

“I just feel bad, butterfly, leaving you alone at the table.”  Her gaze switched to Jax and she smiled sweetly at him as Mel bit back her groan of dismay.

“I’m sure Jax would be honoured to dance with your daughter,” Mr. Golden said smoothly.  “Wouldn’t you, Jax?”

“I would,” Jax replied immediately.  “Ms. Thomas?”  He held his hand out to her and, her stomach churning with anxiety, Mel forced herself to smile at him.

“Oh, I’m really not much of a dancer but thank you anyway, Mr. – “

“What?  You love dancing, Mel,” Cal said.  “You took ten years of dance lessons.”

She could have cheerfully killed her brother in that moment but she ignored her homicidal urge and took Jax’s hand.

Her mother smiled delightedly and followed her father to the dance floor as Jax, his lean fingers gripping hers tightly, led her past the tables and on to the dance floor.  She gasped when he pulled her up against his hard body.

“You’re holding me too tightly, Mr. Anderson.”

“You look lovely tonight, butterfly,” he replied as he moved her smoothly around the dance floor.

She was a little surprised by his dancing abilities and he must have seen it on her face because he said, “You’re not the only one who took dance lessons, you know.”

“You’re kidding me.”  She stared in surprise at him.

He shrugged.  “I have a wide variety of interests.”

She shivered when the tips of his fingers caressed her bare upper back.  “Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“Touching me.”

“We’re dancing.  I kind of have to touch you,” he said.

“Not like that,” she hissed at him.

“Have I mentioned how lovely you look?”  He asked.

“Yes.”  She scowled at him.

He laughed. “You know, most women like it when I compliment them.”

“I’m not most women,”

“No, you certainly are not, butterfly,” he said.

“You don’t get to call me that.”

“Why not?”

“Well, because we don’t even know each other and that nickname is reserved for people who are close to me,” she said stupidly.

He pulled her even closer and her breath stopped when he dipped his head toward her.  Her lips parted automatically and he groaned before clearing his throat.  “I think fucking you in the bathroom makes us close, don’t you?”

She flushed bright red and glared at him.  “Keep your voice down!”

She stared nervously at her parents.  They were dancing a few feet away and Jax steered her away from them as he grinned at her.

“You should be apologizing to me for that, by the way,” she said.

“I never apologize for giving a woman what she needs.”

“I – I didn’t need it.”

“Didn’t you?”  He asked.

“No,” she whispered.

“So you didn’t like having my cock in your tight little pussy?”  He asked in a low voice.

She ignored the way her panties immediately dampened.  “I – I didn’t say I didn’t like it.  I just didn’t need it.”

“I did,” he confessed abruptly.  “Your wet pussy, the way you moaned my name – it’s all I’ve thought about.  I want –
need
– to finish what we started.”

“It was a mistake,” she whispered.  “I don’t – I don’t date men like you.”

“Who said anything about dating?”  He replied.  “Sorry, butterfly, I don’t date at all.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t have one night together.”

“Charming,” she said dryly.

He shrugged.  “Honest.  I don’t want you thinking this is something it isn’t.”

“It isn’t going to be anything.  I’m not going to have sex with you, Mr. Anderson.”

“You already have,” he pointed out teasingly.  “Why not take a night to finish it?  I’ll make you feel so good, butterfly.  I promise.”

“Someone’s full of himself,” she muttered.

He grinned.  “You like my confidence.”

“I don’t even know you.  Why would I spend the night with you?  You’re dangerous and – and bad for me,” she said lamely.

His grin widened.  “Let me guess, you’ve only ever slept with the good guys.”

She didn’t reply and he rubbed her lower back.  “One night, butterfly.  That’s all I’m asking for.  Let me show you how good I can make you feel.”

“Mr. Anderson, I – “

“Jax.”

“Jax, I – despite what happened before, I’m not the girl who just sleeps with someone she barely knows.”

“I know you’re not,” he said.

“Then why are you asking me to do this?”

“I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate, and you’re all I think about.  I want you in my bed.  I want to be between those smooth thighs and deep inside of you.  I want to hear you cry my name when you come,” he said honestly.

She blinked at him.  She had never once had a man be so direct with her about sex and it was making her hotter than hell.  Her gaze dropped to his mouth.  She could still remember how it felt to kiss him, how good he had tasted, and he inhaled sharply as his arm tightened around her.

“Keep looking at me like that, butterfly, and I’ll fuck you right here.”

“You would not,” she whispered weakly.

He gave her a predator grin.  “Well, maybe not right here but definitely in the bathroom.”

She flushed and stared at his chest as he moved her easily around the dance floor.  “What about Mr. Golden?”

“What about him?”  He asked.

“You work for a crime lord.  What happens if he finds out we slept together?  Will it put me in some kind of danger?”

“I’m a very private person, Melanie.  No one will know anything that happens between us.”

She was tempted, fuck was she tempted.  What harm would there be in one night of sex? 

Plenty of harm, Thomas.  Don’t be fooled into thinking you’re the type of girl who can sleep with a guy and then just walk away.  It doesn’t matter how much you want him or –

“Mel?”

Julie’s soft voice spoke behind her.  She was standing behind her and she gave Jax an apologetic look.  “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I’m going to take Court home.  He’s really feeling awful.”