Without You

He smiled. “I owe you, big time.”

She returned his smile, and it felt good. “Believe me, you’ll pay.”

“Through the pocketbook, right?”

“Right.”

“If it keeps me out of court, it’ll be worth it.”

“I’ll do my best.”

He didn’t say anything for a minute, then he asked, “How about dinner tonight?” He paused. “For old time’s sake.”

She stiffened, and he raised his hands in an innocent gesture. “I promise, no hanky-panky. I just don’t want to be alone.”

“You’re never alone. You’re surrounded by people at Elan.”

“It’s not the same—” He cleared his throat. “But if you’d feel more comfortable, we could dine at the club.”

“Jackson—”

“Please.”

She had hesitated, trying to decide what to do, when her cell phone rang. Without looking at him, she reached for it. Darcy’s name was registered in the caller ID box, and she answered immediately.

“I’m glad to hear from you.”

Silence.

“Darcy, are you there?” The dial tone buzzed in her ear. Frowning she pushed the off button and met Jackson’s inquisitive eyes.

“What was that all about?”

“I wish I knew.”

“You seem upset. Is Darcy all right?”

“I don’t know that, either. Nothing there has changed in two years.” Hallie tried to keep the fear and frustration out of her voice, but she knew she’d failed.

“All the more reason to have dinner with me.”

Nine

Jackson had seized the opportunity and persuaded her to join him. Still, she’d insisted on meeting for an early dinner after work. During the afternoon, she’d tried to reach her sister but to no avail, which had convinced her that maybe Jackson’s company wouldn’t be a bad thing provided she kept things on an impersonal level.

“So did you ever talk to your sister?” he asked after they were seated.

Hallie sighed. “No, unfortunately I didn’t.”

“I had hoped she’d stopped giving you so much grief.”

“Surely you weren’t thinking she’d grown up.”

Jackson gave her a crooked smile. “Yeah, that’s sort of what I had in mind.”

“No such miracle,” Hallie responded, “but I haven’t given up on her. Yet it’s an uphill battle, I’ll admit.”

Before Jackson could respond, a young waiter appeared at his side. “What is it, Jesse?”

Hallie picked up on the irritation in Jackson’s voice, and apparently so did Jesse, for he flushed, then shifted his feet uncomfortably.

“Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Cole, but you have a phone call.”

Jackson frowned. “Get a name. I’ll call ’em back.”

Jesse’s face duplicated Jackson’s frown. “He said it was urgent, but I’ll do whatever you want.”

“It’s okay,” Hallie said, her eyes meeting his. “Go ahead and take the call. I’ll be fine.”

“Jesse, please bring Ms. Hunter another glass of wine.”

Hallie shook her head and smiled. “Thanks, but I’ll pass for the moment.”

“You sure?” Jackson’s eyebrows were raised.

“I’m sure.”

The waiter nodded, then strode off hurriedly as if he couldn’t wait to put distance between him and Jackson.

“Dammit, I told him not to interrupt me.”

“Hey, lighten up,” Hallie said in a smooth tone. “I’m a big girl. I can be left alone.”

Jackson stood, then stared down at her. The candlelight from the table made his eyes appear to glisten. Hallie didn’t want to meet his probing gaze, but the pull was too strong. They stared at each other for what seemed the longest time, electricity crackling.

To relieve the moment, she said in a halting voice, “Go on.”

“I won’t be long,” he said huskily.

The second he strode off, her entire body went limp. She hadn’t realized how tense she’d been until she was alone. She shouldn’t have agreed to have dinner with him. But after the weird call from Darcy, she’d been feeling a tad vulnerable.

As she waited for Jackson to return, her eyes wandered around the club. Little had changed in the two years since she’d been there. Of all the clubs on Beale Street, she thought this one was the classiest and most elegant. That had been her opinion before she’d ever met Jackson.

She likened Elan to the old supper clubs that used to be so popular. Couples could drink, eat and dance, all under one roof. The one noticeable difference was that the clientele dressed down instead of up—dressy casual was the buzzword. Still, the tables, with their white linen cloths, vases of fresh flowers, and candles, were a cut above the average. Patrons felt as though they had really stepped out for the evening.

After she and Jackson had gone their separate ways, she had missed the evenings they had spent here. They had visited Elan often, not out of necessity, but rather out of preference. She loved to dance and so did Jackson. And they had been good together on the dance floor as well as in bed.

Her face flamed suddenly at her unbidden thoughts. Still, an intense longing for those days shook her to the core. Seeing Jackson again, being at the club, brought back the good memories, making her long for what she had once had.