Without You

Even though she thought about him often, she had been convinced she was over him, that his betrayal had destroyed her feelings for him. She could not have been more wrong. The idea that she might not ever get over him chilled her. Perhaps when and if they married others the fires of passion would burn themselves out.

What terrified her the most was the fact that hadn’t yet happened.

As he wound his way back toward her, she watched him smile at the patrons who were drinking and dining, and it hit her again how much she still wanted him. Even though his smile hadn’t connected with his eyes, it didn’t matter. His handsome self-assurance and good looks stole her next breath.

“Are you okay?” he asked, concern in his voice.

“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”

He shrugged, though a smile flirted with his lips. “For starters, you’re a beautiful woman sitting alone. I expected every single man at the bar to hit on you.”

“It didn’t happen.”

“Good. I’d hate to have to kick ass this early in the evening.”

In spite of herself, Hallie laughed.

His eyes darkened on her, making him more dangerously attractive than ever.

“What?” she asked in a breathless tone.

“Your dimple. It still does crazy things when you laugh.”

She felt herself grow warm all over. Suddenly they were stepping into forbidden territory. If she wasn’t careful, she’d be in his arms on the dance floor.

“Is everything okay?” she asked, swiftly changing the subject.

“What do you mean?”

“The call,” she pressed. “Remember the important message?”

For a second, his features became guarded, as if a curtain had fallen over them, shutting her out. Nonetheless, she knew that whoever the caller had been had upset him. Then he shrugged in a nonchalant fashion.

“It was nothing I can’t handle.”

“Fine.”

An awkward silence fell between them as he sat back down and reached for his drink. At moments like this, she wondered what had possessed her to take his case, to get involved with him again in any way.

“It was Roberta’s mother.” A sigh followed his words.

Hallie stared at him, wide-eyed, surprised both by his confiding in her and by who the caller was.

“She told me I wasn’t welcome at the funeral.”

“I’m sorry, Jackson,” she said, for lack of anything better to say.

“Me, too, for more reasons than one. Ruby has always been a sort of surrogate mother, and it sickens me that she thinks I’m capable of murdering anyone, most of all her daughter.”

“So she actually thinks you’re guilty?”

“Oh yeah,” he responded bitterly. “Even though she’s an old lady, she hasn’t lost her mind or her sharp tongue.”

“Was she even interested in hearing your side?”

“Nope.”

“Again, I’m sorry. I know how much Roberta and her family meant to you.”

“They did—she did, only not in the way you think.”

Hallie averted her gaze. “Let’s not go there, okay?”

“Whatever you say.” His tone was low and brusque.

Another round of silence. He broke it by asking, “How ’bout a dance for old time’s sake?” His voice sounded like it had been rubbed with sandpaper.

She whipped her head back around. His eyes collided with hers. She knew exactly what he was thinking, about the many times they had danced cheek-to-cheek, belly to belly, lips to lips, alone, after hours, until their passion was screaming for release.

Then they would leave, only just making it to the car before they lost control. Breathing heavy and with lips meshed, he’d jerk her panties down, open his fly and sit her down on his lap, ramming his hardness into her softness.

When the frenzied, almost desperate mating was over, they would collapse against each other, gasping.

For a second, she almost bought into his attempt to seduce her; her heart beating out of sync, she became conscious of the wetness between her legs. But then she came to her senses and gave her head a violent shake.

“In your dreams.”

“Every night,” he whispered.

She snapped alert. “Dammit, Jackson, do you want me to get up and walk out?”

He straightened. “Don’t be silly.”

“Then, behave yourself,” she responded with tartness.

“How can you just turn your emotions off like that, Hallie?”

“It’s easy.” Her tone was cold. “I just remember the conversation with Roberta.”

His face drained of color and his curse stung the air.

“Look, maybe we should forget having dinner.”

“Not on your life. We’re going to eat. I’ve ordered us both the best steaks in the house.” Jackson’s gaze softened and he smiled. “Meanwhile, I promise to behave.”

“I’ve heard that before.”

“Yeah, I guess you have. So do I get another chance?”