Page 38 of Just My Luck

He shrugged and then smiled again. “I guess I’ll just have to prove to you how much better off you’d be here,” he said, his hand still on my arm. “Dinner tonight. I’ll have the details to you soon.” He leaned closer. “I’ll have something delivered”—his eyes moved over the simple cotton button-up shirt and yoga work pants I always traveled in—“that will suit the evening.”

Without waiting for my response, he turned and walked toward the door. Just as he opened it, Jax stepped up outside holding a bag of food and some drinks.

“Oh, it looks like Jax is here to drop off some drinks and food for you. Don’t spoil your appetite for later.” He winked at me and disappeared through the door, bypassing Jax altogether.

“What in the hell?” Jax said, stepping in and shutting the door behind him.

Then his eyes landed on me and he set the food down and rushed to my side. “Are you okay?” He took hold of me as I closed my eyes and rested my forehead against his chest.

“What took you so long?” I groaned.

“I had to stop off and get you some Tylenol.” He rubbed my shoulders.

“I’d kill for some Tylenol right now.” I groaned.

He pulled away and rummaged through the bag. He opened the bottle of Tylenol and handed me two pills and the drink he’d brought along.

I swallowed and then held onto him again when he pulled me close.

“Are you okay?” he asked after a moment.

“Yes. Nothing a very long nap won’t cure,” I admitted.

Before I could respond, he lifted me up, carried me to the bed, and set me down gently. “Food?” he asked.

“Depends.” I eyed the bag.

“Burger and fries from that place you liked last time we were here.”

“Food. Then rest.”

After eating more than half the burger and all the truffle fries, I curled up next to Jax, who was sitting on the bed, working on his laptop.

I woke a few hours later, feeling much better. Refreshed. Jax was fast asleep next to me, his arm around my waist.

I wanted to stay there all night as the heat outside cooled and the lights all turned as bright as the desert sun. I knew that the city was just now coming alive outside. My mind returned to what Kit had said. His offer. I was just about to roll out of bed and head to the bathroom when a knock sounded at the door.

Jax jolted awake. “I’ll get it,” he mumbled, and headed toward the door.

A man stood on the other side of the door, holding up a large black garment bag and another bouquet of flowers.

Jax took them both and shut the door.

“Looks like Kit strikes again.” He sighed and set the flowers next to the other ones. “He’s going to fill this room soon,” he warned as I walked over and took the garment bag. Hanging it up, I glanced over at Jax.

“I’m sort of afraid to open this,” I said. I’d relayed what Kit had said to me while we’d been eating our burgers earlier.

“Do it. If it’s bad, you can wear one of the many dresses you brought along. If not, at least you might get something I can appreciate.” He chuckled.

I unzipped the bag slowly.

The first thing I saw were the flowers. The black material was covered with gold, pink, green, yellow, and green floral patterns.

I removed the short dress and gasped.

“It’s an Oscar de la Renta dress,” I said, seeing the tag. The hand-printed tag read, ‘Mixed Botanical Embroidered Tulle High-Low Bustier.’

The dress was short. Not too short, but cocktail short. I held it up and looked in the mirror. The skirt flared out, bell shaped, with a scalloped tulle hem line. The neckline was low, but not too low, and there were thin almost fragile-looking straps with more floral designs.