About to thrust the calla lilies at Charli, my gaze slipped to Jack. At his indulgent stare, I knew I had made the right decision one week ago. I couldn’t stop the smile that tipped my mouth.
We traipsed back to our seats. As I sat and set the flowers down, Jack grasped my hand and held it on his thigh, then shifted, his leg sliding along mine. I cut him a quick look, but he was taking a drink of his water. And since he held my right hand, I used my left to eat my chocolate mousse.
Max rose from his seat a moment later, and Ila frowned at him. He merely smiled and strolled across the dance floor. A spotlight came on, showcasing the bronze baby grand just off the floor where he took a seat. I stifled a laugh. I should have guessed. First, the engagement two years ago, and now this.
My sister’s mouth dropped. Nope, she hadn’t known about this, then she huffed out a laugh, pushing back the tendrils of hair framing her flushed face.
Max’s fingers glided over the keys, and the low chatter dropped, a soft solo filling the place. Soon, the concerto swarmed through the reception. It built and hit the first crescendo before falling back to a smooth flow again. Max’s green eyes lifted to Ila, and he nodded. This time, she didn’t hesitate. Grabbing the train of her dress in one hand, she glided across the dance floor.
He rose, but the piano solo continued to play and became a full-scale musical backed by an orchestra. The melody played on from speakers. Max met Ila halfway, swept her into his arms, and across the floor in their dance.
“He composed another song for her,” I said with a smile. “Ila didn’t expect that.”
“He loves her,” Jack said softly from my side.
At the quiet note in his voice, I cut him a furtive glance and found him watching me.
No, he didn’t compose songs for me, he gave me so much more. His love, his protection. Himself. Something he’d never given anyone, ever.
At the tenderness and hunger in his eyes, I bit back a groan, wishing we could leave. It had been too long since I’d been with him. But we couldn’t just yet, so I fixed my attention on Max and Ila.
Halfway through the song, Jack grasped my hand, pulled me to my feet, and led me onto the floor. My heart pounded in a drumroll. There was no denying Jack’s possessiveness in his hold as he drew me into his hard body.
Vivienne smiled at us, but Margo appeared as if she swallowed a glacier. Oh, she knew Jack and I were together again, especially with him being so attentive—heck, he hadn’t taken his stare off me at all during the ceremony or now. And, no matter how hard I tried or where I focused, my gaze always crept back to him. Now on an empty dance floor, yeah, only a blind person would not know we were still a couple. Ah, well—
“If I didn’t tell you before,” I told him, “you look really sexy in this.” I fingered the lapel of his black morning coat. “Without it, even better.”
A low growl escaped him as the song ended, and another slow one started. “Very soon, I’m going to—”
“My turn,” a cheerful voice cut in.
“Just as well,” Jack muttered beneath his breath.
Biting back a smile at his testiness, I stepped away to partner Nigel.
He swung me out onto the floor. “I always liked dancing with my Em,” he said with a reminiscent smile. “You remind me of her a little. She was a feisty one, took no nonsense from me—you’re good for my grandson.” Naturally, Nigel wouldn’t miss the pull between us. The man should have been named after an eagle.
Then he grinned and brought us to a slower pace. “I’ll admit when Cliff first told me there was a girl who worked at the bar that didn’t stand for my grandson’s baloney, I had to meet her. After a little digging, I found out you volunteered at Sunset Homes where Chuck was, and I knew I had to get to know you better.”
My jaw dropped. “You were spying on me?”
“Not at first. When I first met you while visiting Chuck, it was accidental. But afterward, yes,” he said without shame. Yeah, I knew where Jack got his single-minded traits from. “And, my dear, I wasn’t disappointed.”
“So…” I arched a brow as he skillfully swung me in a ballroom move, away from the crush to the edge of the dance floor. “The companion job offer wasn’t real?”
“Oh, it was. I like you. You’re a breath of fresh air this family needs, but I had to steer Jack in your direction. Thankfully, he finally got that hard head of his back on track and stopped hovering over me like I would breathe my last if he wasn’t there and went after you instead.”
I snorted. “He didn’t give me much choice.”
“That’s the Griffin blood.” Nigel nodded, pleased, as if I’d just paid him a huge compliment. Men.
“He worries about you,” I said gently.
“I have Cliff for that…” His lined brow creased, digging deeper furrows. He expelled a weary sigh, his expression introspective. “No matter Jack’s wild ways, which I admit gravely concerned me, my grandson had it hard for a long time. Then he shut himself off and became reckless with his life after finding out the truth,”—I nodded, knowing what Nigel was talking about—“and I despaired. I wanted him to be happy, not repeat history by falling into Margo’s clutches. That woman, every life she touches, she ruins.” His mouth thinned, sorrow etching more grooves into his brow. “I did wrong by my son. Grant was heartbroken. I should have told him not to give up instead of sending him into the hyena’s clutches… She wasn’t happy when I agreed that Grant should get a divorce all those years ago.”
Since meeting Jack’s family, and after what he’d revealed to me in New York, and given how she’d threatened me, not much shocked me. It was how the dynamics worked with them. Everything became a power play. At least Nigel’s interference in my life was a forgivable one, not malicious. But my heart still hurt for Jack.
“He’s never let anyone close, but since meeting you, he’s been different, happier—and, Ray?” At Nigel’s low tone, I pulled my attention away from watching Jack dance with my mother. Whatever he said made her smile, and my heart turned to mush. “Don’t let the old battle-ax scare you.”
