Page 10 (1/2)

But she was still as beautiful as ever, with dark hair cut into a sleek bob that fraoas a lovely contrast to her porcelain skin

"Hello, Allison," I said, turning e men across the room

"That’s a beautiful dress" She exaested it to me, as well, but it’s not ne to hide how I felt at the unexpected mention of the stylist’s nae faht be surprised to hear that it wasn’tbut friendly "You’re smart to let Jackson dress you But then you’re obviously save you credit for, or you wouldn’t be here"

"Can you go be a bitch so my hand carelessly "This is my space and you need to see your way out of it"

"If I remember correctly, you’re not a wo any your way We have to get along, after all Might as well start now"

"We don’t have to do anything" My gaze flicked over to her "I suggest we do our best to avoid one another"

Her brows rose as if she were surprised, then she laughed, the sound as melodious as her voice "That’s not how this works, Gianna You and I are going to be best friends, as far as public knowledge goes We’ll have lunch and shop together Ted and I will have dinner with you and Jackson We’ll go to ball gas where we’ll shter than sisters"

"You’ve had too ne"

"I’ll let Jackson explain it to you" Her eyes were suspiciously bright, which gotus

"Ted’s upco mayoral bid Jackson’s outdone hilass, alarina’s mouth curved, but her voice came cold and sharp "I think you should leave Gianna to Jackson He’s very protective"

"I get the hint" Allison looked at me "I’ll plan for us to have dinner in the city soon Enjoy yourself, Gianna And again, you look stunning That dress was lided off and I rubbedher off before dis away Parker still had Jax at his side, his hand resting on his son’s shoulder as they spoke to a white-haired gentleuely fa into ht

Her blond hair skimmed her shoulders in stylized waves that were reminiscent of the heydays of Hollywood starlets "She’s jealous She has a Rutledge, but" She lifted one shoulder in a careless shrug "Ted isn’t Jackson or Parker"

I silently agreed with that "It’s nice seeing you again," I said instead

Her mouth curved "You and I are lucky women Trust me, Jackson’s staina was nearer to e than her husband’s, she was still Jax’s step to her about sex with ourina His dark eyes hot on ht my hand and pulled me into him "Dance witharound et you everywhere" It was heady being in Jax’s ar held by hih, that I’d rather not ith stylists who are also working with Allison I don’t like her, Jax"

His fingers stroked over my back "She’s not one of my favorite people, either, but she’spost for her claws"

"She can be a raging bitch," he agreed, "but she has those claws for a reason You’ll need them, too, Gia"

I treated hih to deal with your life, and I’o out of rief"

"So, the part about us acting as a teas you choose?"

"That’s not fair! I would never ask you to just suffer quietly while people insult you I respect you more than that!"

A muscle ticked in his jaw "It’s not about respect, Gia I shouldn’t have to tell you that I’ to talk to Allison about how she approaches you--that should be obvious But whether we like her or not, we’ve all got to work together"

"I don’t have to do anything for her"

"Then do it for me," he snapped "This is my life I was very clear about how unpleasant some parts of it may be for you"

I was startled by his vehemence "You don’t like this any more than I do I know you don’t You don’t want to be here, at this party It’d be different if you were askingthat’s really important to you, but that’s not the case!"

"I htly, his face hard and remote "And you made the decision to lie in it withto reconcile the Jax in front of , larger than life, a hedonist in many ways "I don’t understand you Life is short, Jax Why spend ti you makes me very happy"

I shoved at his shoulder "Be serious This is important I really need to know"

He didn’t answerto end and another to begin I felt a change htening of his hold on me "The ti tio"

"That’s a cop-out You’re not even thirty Your whole life is ahead of you and nothing is behind you that you can’t fix"

Jax looked over aze distant and unfocused, as if he were seeing soo back," he muttered "You just have to face the consequences and own yournew ones" I cupped his cheek, returning his attention back to et it right Let’s not waste energy on people and situations that just drag us down"