Page 8 (1/1)
They stepped into the elevator together, and she jerked when Jack was suddenly there, his arms around her and his lips beside her ear "I’et beaten up is hard enough, but being the only one to remember it is misery"
He pulled back, and they shared a weak sainst the wave of emotion that washed over her She could cry later But she wouldn’t Holding the world together while a new ti her memory was his job--and had been for the last three years
She took a slow breath as the elevator halted with a cheerful ding She would have written down their reservation The night was not entirely ruined, and she would appreciate a good wine and the release that flirting with Jack would bring "What e getting, anyway?"
Immediately Jack relaxed "Remember that virus that Opti used to reinforce the United Nations’ pollution lily stepsister," he said "I’m sorry, Peri At least you didn’t lose the sumers in his as they got out of the elevator No, she hadn’t lost the summer, but if she had, she knew that she could’ve fallen in love with hiain
CHAPTER
THREE
The stairas cralittery with the hearts-and-roses banner someone had put up for next week’s Valentine’s Day party Peri had to go up alh the walls see to push her up to the loft where the pool tables were Jack was still downstairs talking on his phone to their handler, Bill, under the guise of arranging paye of jealousy Couldn’t they have even one ?
But her frown shifted to a blank nothing as the uard surfaced, a hole in hi it, she continued upstairs, eager to push out the faint--and ad
This will help, she thought, pleased as she eed onto the second floor and took in the six tables ofthe wide range of attire froaht them here and wiped out their differences like blue chalk in the wind, and she breathed in the faint scent of sreen felt and relaxed
But someone noticed her and jostled an elbow Another cleared his throat, and soon everyone looked up, their gazes traveling over her in appreciation and lingering in question on her black eye and TSA-approved cue case instead of her curves Three tables were open, but it was the one in the back corner that caught her eye Sashaying to the supply rack, she took a finger towel and an old chalk
Jack was just co up when she turned, his smile wide as he noticed every eye on her "I can’t leave you alone for even a second," he said, tugging her to him for a welcome kiss
His lips met hers, and she leaned into hi evening would only fan higher The estive rhythm, and the post-adrenaline crash hed, happy to have him in her life
"It’s the clothes, believe me," she said, and he shook his head
"It’s what they’re wrapped around," he said, one araze lifted to the roo, she headed that way, shivering when his hand slipped from her Eyes were still on the at the electronic whine colad the place had only the one No one was playing it, probably because it was out of synch and the graphix were juh Peri’s feet as she set her handbag on the sh stool A heartbeat of electronic dance hts to the corners of the two-story, upscale club, but the spinning flashes werepool table lights The at, a heady les and vectors surrounded by chaotic ht as Jack ran the play card to free the balls Sh the club’s at-table s and two red wines as usual Tradition dictated that dessert would be determined by the winner--which would be her if she had her way
"My break?" she asked when Jack lifted the rack up and away, not liking that she didn’t reame
"As I recall," he said as he handed Peri her cue stick
Slipping from the stool, she leaned to rest the flat of her arm on the smooth finish of the pool table Her swollen eye throbbed as she held her breath and lined up the shot The cue slid between her fingers like silk, once, twice, and then away … and she straightened at the fa, she watched the balls scatter as the nine dropped in With the noise below, it wasnevertheless Around the theht be a while," he said with ht miss," she promised as she exhaled and lined up another shot