Jackson looked him up and down as he walked over the threshold. Park closed the door with a nod at the bodyguards and then escorted Jackson over to the chair he’d pulled over to the coffee table.
Jackson sat and surveyed the table. “This is some breakfast.”
“I didn’t know what you’d want, but I thought ordering ahead would save us time.” That didn’t sound atall like Park had lain awake that morning thinking about lazy Sundays and brunches with friends or remembering that Jackson had eaten cereal for breakfast most mornings but loved breakfast food.
“Good thinking,” Jackson said. He picked up the mug of coffee Park had prepared and shot an astonished look at Park. “You still know how I like my coffee.”
“All those years arguing with you aboutthe sugar content of the creamer you always buy will do that.”
Jackson nodded. “About that. You understand why I’m here, right?”
“To take the case?”
“Exactly.” Jackson’s professional exterior fell for a moment. “Well, I’m here because my partner, Reed, said I should go with my gut, and my gut feeling is that you are not guilty of this crime and that I could do a good job defendingyou.”
Park took a fortifying sip of coffee and then grabbed a plate so he could pile it high with bacon. Emotional conversations like this called for bacon. “I know the situation is not ideal, and you probably never expected to see me again, so I understand why—” Park shook his head. Jackson didn’t need the speech. “I know there’s...a lot between us. But I also came to you in your professionalcapacity.”
“Yes, I know. We should set some boundaries.” Jackson eyed the hastily made bed. “Like not meeting in bedrooms after this.”
Park had a flash of pushing Jackson down on that bed. A lot had changed, but Park’s attraction to Jackson hadn’t. A million memories of their life together flooded his mind’s eye, little details and snapshots, the knowledge of what it felt like to buryhis face in Jackson’s neck, to run his hands down Jackson’s naked, hairy chest, to rub his cheek against the stubble on Jackson’s chin, to be above Jackson, inside him. He coughed, willing the memories to go away. He looked over Jackson, who looked pressed and professional, the cut of his suit highlighting his strong shoulders and trim hips, the morning light making his eyes sparkle. Jackson was stilldead sexy.
Park tried to push his attraction to the side. He said, “It can’t be helped. The campaign staff won’t let me out of the hotel.”
“But this hotel surely has conference rooms.”
“They do, yes. I’ll see if I can reserve one for the rest of my stay here. We’ve mostly been meeting in rooms, though. More privacy. The walls are completely soundproof on the top few floors of the hotel.”
Jackson looked around. “Interesting. When I stay in hotels, I always end up in the room next to the couple having loud sex all night.”
“I’m paying a pretty penny for the luxury of not overhearing my neighbors.”
“You can afford it.”
Park shrugged.
Jackson sipped his coffee. Then he leafed through his briefcase and came back with a file folder and a pad of paper. He extracteda sheaf of paper and handed it to Park. “Sign this. Both copies.”
Park looked over the first page and realized it was an agreement for Jackson to represent Park in this particular legal matter. “Give me a minute to read it over.”
“Please do. Is the French toast any good?”
“Stuffed with cream cheese.”
“Christ. I never eat shit like this anymore.”
Park read over the contractwhile keeping an eye on Jackson, who made up a generous plate of food before pouring syrup over most of it and taking a few bites. “God, that’s good. Anyway, the contract just states that I’m agreeing to represent you in this specific instance and no others, that anything you tell me will be kept in confidence, and that I will do everything within my ability to be your advocate in this matter. Butremind me to add a clause that you are required to provide breakfast daily, because this is amazing.”
“Ha.” The contract was five pages long, and it was not quite as simple as Jackson claimed, but the legalese made Park’s eyes glaze over. He skimmed the rest and signed while Jackson watched.
“My fees were there on page three. Did you notice?”
“Yeah. No wonder you can afford your clothes.Is that a Zegna?”
“Tom Ford.”
“Of course. I should have been able to tell by the lapels. I always thought you’d look good in Tom Ford. Anyway, the fees won’t be a problem. I’ll pay whatever it takes.”
“Right.” Jackson took the documents back and signed them himself. He handed one copy back to Park. He slid his own copy into the file folder and put it back in the briefcase. Then heclicked his pen a couple of times and said, “Well, let’s start with your weekend. You said you were in Buffalo?” He hovered over the legal pad as if he planned to take notes.
