Page 38

JACKSON

“Thank you. Yes, we’re thrilled… this is a complete triumph.” I nodded in acknowledgment of a few well-wishers bombarding me after our opening performance wrapped. There was nothing like the energy in the lobby now, with everyone raving while enjoying the champagne and light refreshments set out for a celebratory reception. Three months of work—meetings, deadlines, compromises—had led to sheer rapture on the faces of countless guests.

Including my friends, who found me before I found Winter. “Amazing! Completely incredible!” Sebastian clapped me on the back, beaming. “The best I’ve ever seen you do.”

“It was awesome. Something you should be so proud of,” Claudia offered a quick hug before waving frantically, and everyone gathered around. “We have to run and make sure everything’s ready for the party. See you over there.” She and Sebastian disappeared in the crowd on their way to the restaurant where we planned to host the entire cast and crew.

“Really, great show. Congratulations.” Grayson shook my hand before Vaughn did the same.

“I only wish you were mounting this production in one of my casinos,” he muttered before his wife, Nova, gave him a playful smack. “What?” he asked her, shrugging. “You said the exact same thing during intermission.”

Aiden looked around, arching an eyebrow. “Where’s the genius behind all of this?”

I wondered the same thing. The congratulations and praise were nice, but everything fell flat without her. “This is a special night for her and her mom,” I explained, scanning the area. “Her mom’s never seen the show before, so it’s a big deal.”

“Oh, that’s so nice. Is she coming to the party?” Scarlet asked while Grayson draped an arm around her waist. I shook my head, distracted as I tried to find the one person I wanted most to see.

Vaughn chuckled a little. “You look like a lost puppy searching for its owner.” There was no judgment behind the statement, only a grin. “Why don’t you go find her, and we can all catch up later? Go ahead,” he urged.

“And don’t worry if you’re a little late to the party,” Aiden added. “I’m sure we can keep everybody occupied in the meantime.”

“You leave my dancers alone,” I warned him with a laugh before heading out to do exactly what my friends knew was the first thing on my mind. I hadn’t seen her yet, but I knew she had to be overjoyed at the way everything went. I sure as hell was.

Rather than try to find her, though, I looked for clusters of people, knowing she would be at the center of one of them, peppered with questions by audience members and the press alike. Sure enough, it didn’t take long before I found her at the center of one such group. A woman who looked a lot like her and smiled the way only a proud mother could smile stood at her side. There hadn’t been time to meet yet with all the frantic activity and last-minute shit, but I had no doubt I was looking at Mrs. Monroe.

What would it be like to have a supportive mother? Considering mine was in the Florida Keys at the moment, I wouldn’t have the first idea. It was better this way. Even the rather nasty messages from Christian Lawrence in the weeks since I’d turned down his daughter weren’t enough to tarnish this triumph.

My heart skipped a beat when Winter found me watching. Did she feel the energy that passed between us when our eyes met, or was that only in my head? I couldn’t believe it was. This wasn’t my imagination.

“Here’s our producer,” she called out, waving me over, beaming because she knew she was putting me on the spot. I played it off, accepting the congratulations that were passed my way as I joined them and quietly introduced myself to Mrs. Monroe, whose eyes shone with what I hoped were happy tears.

“What inspired you to bring this production to the States?” someone called out.

“Do you predict an extension on your run at the Luxor?” someone else asked. There were other questions, so many others, but how could I pay them any attention when Winter was so stunning in her simple, black sleeveless gown? She had never been more beautiful than she was tonight, beaming, bright-eyed, gazing at me with all the warmth and excitement I’d been missing from my life for too long.

While we posed side by side for photos, I murmured through my teeth, “Forget the party. Champagne. Upstairs.” There was no way I’d share her tonight. I needed this woman all to myself.

A slight shiver ran through her, but she lifted her chin, smiling more brilliantly than ever. “You read my mind.”

“Mom is having the time of her life over there.” Winter laughed softly before holding out her phone for me to see the selfie her mom had texted, sitting at a long table with much of the cast around her. “She deserves to feel special.”

I set my champagne flute next to the bucket of ice, which held the rest of the bottle. “Are you sure you wouldn’t rather be there with her and everyone else?” I asked, approaching her from behind, placing my hands on her waist. Her skin was silk under my lips when I touched them to her shoulder. “We don’t have to stay here. I can wait to have you all to myself.”

Her mom was still caught up in the afterparty when we slipped away, which was exactly what we needed. But part of me still wondered if Winter wished she was with her.

“Who said I feel like waiting to have you all to myself?” she countered, leaning against me with a soft sigh once I pinned her between the desk and me. “After all the noise and excitement, this is what I need most.”

“And there I was, thinking I was what you wanted.”

“Shut up.” She giggled, then sighed once I brushed her hair away from her neck to continue a long, slow tour with my lips. “Oh, that’s nice.”

“How is your skin this soft?” I asked. “It’s unreal.”

I began to stir, pressing against her ass, and the way she rolled her hips didn’t help matters. “If you think that’s good, you should touch where I just shaved for you today,” she whispered, and the idea made me rigid, heating my blood.

With one hand, I began working her dress up an inch at a time, my desire growing with every heartbeat. “Touch? I’d much rather taste.”

There was no resistance when I turned her to face me, capturing her mouth with mine, exploring her with every sweep of my tongue while working her dress up to her hips. Her fingers tangled in my hair, nails scraping my scalp. She held my head in place while returning my kiss, whimpering into my mouth as I bunched the fabric around her waist before easing her against the desk until she was sitting on the edge.