sharp fitted navy-blue suit with a silver tie, and his salt-and-pepper hair was fashionably styled. Instead of his hair color aging him, it made him even more attractive.
If only I wasn’t married.
He distracted me from my indecent thoughts by pulling out my chair.
Handsome and a gentleman?
Jack took the seat across from me. His face turned serious as he slid an envelope towards me. “Please, call me Jack. I’m sorry we’re meeting under these circumstances, Caitlyn. I don’t think you want to see this.”
He was right. I didn’t want to see it. I had to see it.
“There is no need to hide the truth from me. There is no fairytale expected. I
know you want to tell me my husband is not a womanizer, that I am his one and
only. Let me guess…this holds a picture of a big-breasted blonde who is either
giving or receiving pleasure, right?”
His face paled. “He’s really hurt you, hasn’t he?”
I placed my hand on his, “Sweet Jack, I’m not hurt or even jaded. I’m being
real. I feel liberated. You’ve done me a great favor. Now, shall we eat? My treat?”
“Are you ready to order?” The waiter appeared as if on cue.
“What are you drinking?” I pointed at Jack’s drink.
“Scotch on the rocks.”
“Perfect, make mine a double. And I want a steak. Rare. And mashed
potatoes.” Food Jeremy would shame me for eating.
Jack stared at me in surprise. “I’ll take the same. The lady seems to know what she wants.”
Jack and I ate our meal. We had such pleasant conversation despite the circumstances. We talked for hours.
We discussed my life before Jeremy and my plans for the future. Jack was interested in why I became an editor and how I ended up in L.A. Our time passed by too quickly.
“Would you like to order any dessert tonight?” the waiter proposed.
“You need to try their chocolate cake. It’s out of this world,” Jack insisted.
“Oh, I couldn’t,” I resisted. You already had a big meal. You are going to have to work out for days to burn off those calories, I warned myself.
“Bring us the cake. We can share,” Jack said with a wink.
Jack had been right. It was the best chocolate cake I ever ate. I wasn’t sure if
it was the rich chocolate with the sweet cherry drizzle or because he had fed me
my first bite. As the fork slid from my lips, our eyes never left each other’s.
“What did I tell you? Worth the calories?” Jack smiled and took a big bite.
Handing me a fork, he said, “Go on. Help me finish it, Caitlyn.”
There was something about him that excited me. He seemed so formal but emitted a hint of danger. I had edited his books. How many of the steamy scenes
were real-life events versus his fantastic imagination? Did he think the same thing about my edits?
For some reason, I wanted to find out more. It wasn’t wrong, right? I was divorcing Jeremy. What would be wrong with having a little bit of fun myself?
You aren’t that girl, Caitlyn. Eat your cake and say your goodbyes. Yes, the little voice in my head was a damn buzzkill.
After we finished up, Jack insisted on paying the bill. Instead of calling a cab, he insisted on driving me back to Rodeo. I was enjoying his company so much that I couldn’t resist. Jack surprised me when a silver Mercedes pulled up
with a driver.
Settled in the luxurious back seat, Jack slid in next to me. “Don’t mind Patrick. He’s discreet, if nothing else. Are you going to open the envelope? It might be better to do it when you’re not alone.”
I had been holding the manila envelope on my lap since we left the
restaurant. Nervously, I peeled back the clasps and slid the photos out. Closing
my eyes, I forced myself to breathe.
