Reawakened Secrets (11 page)

I fumbled through my purse until I found a tissue. I was in desperate need of moral support, but there was no way I could confide in Alice. I had to tell Jackson and I had to tell him first. How fast would his supposed love change once that happened? I saw my phone at the bottom of my purse next to my keys. I snatched it up and dialed before I could change my mind.

“Hello?”

“Hello, Adam. Thank God you answered the phone.”

“Dozer?”

“Yeah, it’s me,” I sniffed. “I’m sorry for the late notice, but I need a favor. Can you come out with me and some friends?”

“Claire, are you okay? Are you crying?”

“I have to tell Jackson tonight. You said to tell him, and you were right. I’ve just made things so much worse,” I sobbed.

“Claire, I can’t believe you would drag things out like this. What were you thinking?”

“Damn it, are you working or not?”

“No,” he sighed. “I’m off, but I have a date.”

“We’re going to some club downtown. It’s supposed to be the new hot spot. Bring your date—please, Adam. If you’re there, I won’t chicken out.” The silence on the line was excruciating. “Adam?”

“Okay, Dozer. I can’t make you any promises, but I’ll see if Melissa wants to go.”

“Thank you. You’re saving my life. Do you know where it’s at? I can get directions from Alice.”

“Alice will be there?”

“Yeah, she’s the reason we’re all going? Do you need directions? I don’t even know the name of the place.”

“No, I know where it is. There’s not much to choose from.” There was a pause on the line. “Claire?”

“Yes?”

“Tell him.”

“I’ll see you there. Bye.”

T
HE SUV JACKSON
hired sped toward an unfamiliar part of downtown. The tightly clustered buildings became more sparse and upscale. Finally we reached a busy area once again. Cars were scattered in a large parking lot. The old-fashioned street lights illuminated a beautiful New England style building. The only indication it was a night club was the faint throb of music that permeated the night.

Alice couldn’t stop smiling. After ten years of only existing, unconscious in a bed, who could begrudge her the novelty of a night on the town? I should have seen this was what she needed. It was so like Jackson to do this for her. He had always been good at taking care of people, especially Alice.

My nervousness was just as prevalent as Alice’s excitement. Tonight was the night; no more running. Afterwards, it was possible that both Jackson and Alice would hate me. I was determined to enjoy my last moment, much like a death row inmate endeavors to savor his last meal. It sucked, but I needed something to hold on to if this was really the end.

I looked at Alice and tried my best to feign excitement as the driver opened the car door. We were standing in front of a private entrance at the back of the building.

“Good evening Ms. Sinclair, Ms. Brown. Mr. Montgomery is expecting you,” said the attendant before opening the door and ushering us in.

Inside, the music pulsed all around us. There was the option of going to a restroom on the left or up a short flight of stairs. The stairs led to a raised platform for a private seating area. Jackson sat at a large round table with two guys I’d never seen before.

He stood to welcome us, and I swallowed hard, practically drooling at the sight of him. His broad shoulders were molded in a black button-down shirt, and his dark jeans were tucked into kick-ass motor cycle boots. His hair was spiked and sexy as hell. Jackson reached Alice first and gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then he turned to me. In the near darkness, his turquoise eyes seemed to glow, searing right through me. Before I could move, his arms were wrapped around my waist, squeezing the breath out of me. Unable to stop myself, I hugged him back. Reveling in the feel of him pressed against me, I drank in the spicy smell of his cologne and the even more intoxicating scent that belonged only to Jackson.

“You look beautiful,” he whispered in my ear.

I tried to take a step back, but he grabbed both my hands to prevent me from getting away.

“Well, you deserve the credit for that. This dress is amazing. You have good taste,” I said looking down at our joined hands, willing mine not to tremble.

“Yes I do,” he replied smoothly.

“Uhmm, thanks for including me tonight and for everything,” I finished looking into his eyes uncertainly. But what the hell was I supposed to say? Thanks for loving me. I hope you don’t completely hate my guts before the night is over.

“The pleasure’s all mine, Claire.”

Unable to break away from his stare, I watched, amazed as he lifted my hand to place a gentle kiss on my wrist. A small shiver of pleasure tingled down my spine. Jackson continued, giving the same attention to my other wrist. And just like that, the rest of the world ceased to exist. The way he was looking at me, touching me, caused everything inside me to clench with longing. It made me remember how it felt to have his lips on me—everywhere—and I wanted to feel that again.

“Champagne?” he asked.

I blinked, trying to dilute the hypnotic power of his gaze. “Please,” I replied in a breathy whisper, not quite sure if I was begging for mercy or alcohol.

I looked to the table, surprised to see Alice chatting easily with two Chuck Bass clones. High school flash backs had me dragging my feet. Shit, just like old times.

“Claire!” My head jerked up to see CB#1 headed my way. “Thank God you’re finally here. Have some pity and put our boy out of his misery,” he said before folding me into a tight hug.

Uh yeah, this was awkward. Not only because I was being crushed by a total stranger, but Jackson refused to let me go no matter how hard CB#1 pulled.

“Take your hands off my girl, asshole,” Jackson warned.

CB#1 took a step back and threw his hands in the air like he was being held at gunpoint. But, he continued to talk to me somehow unconcerned Jackson was fuming beside me. “I’m so glad you’re here. You have no idea,” he sighed dramatically while I held in my laughter.

“Shut the hell up, fucker,” Jackson said over my shoulder.

Unable to hold it any longer, we both giggled in delight, and I knew instantly I had just found a new friend. Never had I been so wrong about a first impression, and I couldn’t have been happier about it.

“Oh no,” I begged. “Please tell me more about his misery.”

CB#1’s mouth opened, but quickly snapped shut when he looked up at Jackson. Shaking his head from side to side, he reached in to give me another small squeeze.

“We’ll talk later, Claire.” Then he made his way back to his seat.

I looked back to see Jackson’s fingers combing through his hair. With a hand at the small of my back, he led me to the table and pulled out my chair, sitting between me and Alice.

Not bothering to formally introduce his friends, Jackson signaled to the bartender. Cristal flowed from that point forward. Alice was radiant. The fact that she had recovered was evident in her no longer hollowed, but rosy cheeks. If we could be granted one miracle, then would two really be asking too much? I looked around me until my eyes locked with Jackson’s again. Still a little jumpy, I darted my attention elsewhere.

I exhaled the breath I had been holding, and tried to take in our surroundings. We were secluded on a raised pedestal, away from the rest of the club. We had to be in the VIP section—at least what I would imagine a VIP section to be. There were two sets of stairs. One went to the private entrance we had just come from, and the other led to a half empty dance floor. Off to the side was our own bar and bartender. It was an amazing set up, but not surprising in the least. Jackson Montgomery would only allow the very best.

As time went on, I was surprised by how much I was enjoying myself. I wanted to pretend it was because of the pleasure Alice got from flirting with the two unattached guys at our table. But I knew it was because of Jackson. Every time he touched my hand or stroked my hair, my heart stopped and then pounded, thundering so hard I was afraid he could hear it over the music. I was acting like a silly school girl. It was ridiculous—absolutely absurd.

Jackson witnessed the quick smile that touched my lips and took my hand and held it in both of his. My heart, already working double time, fluttered at the contact. What the hell was happening to me? This man made me weak without even breaking a sweat. I looked around to see if anyone, especially Alice, was watching, but no one seemed to notice anything out of the ordinary. Still, it continued to amaze me how natural it felt to be the one next to him, having him touch me as if we belonged together.

Jackson had told me he loved me—not out loud or in person, but in a way more poignant because I could hold onto it forever. I definitely hadn’t made it easy for him to do. I owed it to both of us to be just as honest. I had to tell Jackson how I’ve always felt about him. I needed him to know how much I loved him before I lost him forever. Trying to get his attention, I clasped his arm. He looked at me, eyes glimmering in the dimmed light.

“How did you find this place?”

“Well, I own it,” he replied.

“What? Montgomery Enterprises is in the night club business now?”

“No,” he said with a laugh, “just me. I wanted something of my own, apart from my family. This is the third club I’ve opened so far.”

“Well, it’s amazing. How do you find time to do it all?”

“I have lots of help. Scott and Will,” he paused to point at his two friend at the end of the table, “put this club together based on the model of the first two. This is my first time here.”

“And you decided to venture into night clubs because?”

The slow, seductive strokes of his fingers stopped. He let go of my hand, before leaning back in his chair to answer. “Singing was an outlet for me when I was gone. I started the first club, mainly for the open MIC night.”

“How is that possible? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sing.”

“Then you will, one day soon,” Jackson promised. “Next time, we’ll come on karaoke night, and we can all do it.”

Next time. I sighed to myself before the rest of his sentence registered. “Are you crazy? No one in their right mind would put a microphone in my hand.”

“
I’ve heard you sing before. It was—unforgettable.”

“Good, cause it’ll never happen again, jerk.” He just laughed and reached for my hand again. “I was only nine, jackass.” This only made him laugh harder.

“Jackson, go ahead and sing for your girl,” Will, formerly known as CB#1, said from across the table. “It’ll be good PR for the club.”

“Oh, cool,” Alice said leaning forward in her chair. “I want to hear you sing.”

Jackson’s hands balled into fists on top of the table. His voice was unusually sharp when he replied, “You know I don’t do that anymore.”

With a grimace, Will looked back at Jackson and said, “C’mon, man, this is different.”

Jackson pounded on the table, cutting off whatever else Will was about to say.

“For the last time, I said no.”

My wide eyes looked at Alice who seemed equally confused.

“Bullshit,” Scott jumped in. “If you’re serious about this place succeeding, that’s the best way to make it happen.”

“The club is fine.”

“Bull-fucking-shit!”

“We’re in New Haven, not New York, Scott. It’s not going to be an overnight success,” Jackson said.

“But that’s exactly what would happen if you’d stop being so stubborn,” Scott argued. “The chicks will come out of the woodwork to see you on stage. They’ll go crazy, including your beautiful little Claire.”

“Is that so?” I asked, turning to Jackson. He looked down into my amused face. Some dark emotion I’d never seen before worked behind his eyes.

“Do you want me to sing, Claire?”

I shrugged my shoulders, unsure which answer would put him back at ease. “If you’re too embarrassed to do it, I understand. I’d be scared to sing in front of all these people, too.”

Finally, he relaxed back into his chair and flashed the smirk I loved. “I’m not scared, I’m rusty. But, I’ll do it for you.”

“Well then, go for it, rock star. But if you expect me throw my panties on the stage, then you’ll be disappointed.”