It Must Be Love

“You’re so bad!” Harper rolled her eyes in jest.

Jewel hadn’t noticed the music playing until it was lowered and Emily took to the podium to welcome everyone and announced what was to come for the remainder of the evening.

“I bet he’s the type of man that gets all into your system before you even realize you’re smitten.” Dominique went right back to their conversation the moment Emily walked away from the microphone.

Jewel sniffed. “I am not that gullible.”

“Then go out with him. I dare you. He’s obviously interested. You have nothing to lose,” Dominique challenged.

Jewel bit her bottom lip and glanced across the floor to where Sterling was bent over laughing next to Noah. “I imagine he’d be incredible in bed.” The three of them giggled like they were back in high school.

After a scrumptious dinner of lobster and chateaubriand, the organizers began the program starting with an icebreaker activity. A half hour later, it was time to party.

The band played a popular song from their high school years and almost everyone hit the dance floor. Jewel, Dominique and Harper danced together in their own circle. The three weren’t strangers to a party scene.

A tap on her shoulder startled Jewel. She turned around and was swallowed up by Sterling’s piercing hazel eyes.

“Can I join you?”

Jewel’s pulse quickened. She wanted to say no. She couldn’t control this effect he had on her. Despite that, she said yes. Sterling eased his fingers between hers and they swayed to the music together. Jewel felt as if she were back in school. Sterling had never been the object of her affection then, but she felt something brewing now.

Jewel physically shook her head to shake off whatever that feeling was. She stepped back, adding space between Sterling and her, then moved in time with the lively beat. Sterling matched her step for step and before long they were engrossed in a playful battle, stirring up memories of old popular dances. Next, a song came on from their senior year. A certain dance was known to accompany the rhythm. Jewel and Sterling joined the rest of those on the floor moving along with the crowd in unison. They danced, laughed and danced more. Other songs began and ended and the two were still dancing some time later. Dominique and Harper had found partners, too, and were no longer beside Jewel and Sterling. Sweat was beginning to trickle down the center of Jewel’s back. Her body had warmed from all the movement.

“Whew! I need a break.” Jewel panted, threw her head back and laughed. She hadn’t danced that hard in years. She felt free. “That was fun.”

“Let’s get a drink.” Taking her by the hand, Sterling led her off the dance floor and headed to the bar. He asked for two waters and handed one to Jewel. “Want to get some air?”

“Sure.” Jewel took the ice-cold water Sterling had just handed to her. She moaned after a long sip. “I needed this.”

Sterling took her hand again and led them to the terrace. Jewel was hyperaware of his touch as they snaked through the crowd, but didn’t pull away. She liked the way his strong, masculine hand felt wrapped around hers.

Once they hit the terrace, the cool air against her warm sweat-moistened skin caused a slight shiver. They maneuvered past people gathered in groups of two or three until they reached the far end of the terrace, which was lit mostly by the silver light of the moon. Jewel placed her hand on the marble parapet and slowly swept her gaze over the sprawling greenery of the country club and what she could see of the rolling hills on the golf course. Closing her eyes, she breathed in the fresh air, exhaling as slowly as she inhaled.

Sterling stood beside her. “Perfect night, huh?”

“Yes. It’s beautiful. If my mother were here she would scrutinize every crevice of this place.” Jewel turned to face Sterling and chuckled. “She’s so competitive.”

“So you’ve gotten it honestly.”

“What?” Her brows creased. “Me? No.”

Sterling wagged his finger. “I remember you on the girls’ lacrosse team. Unbeatable. Let’s not forget the swim team,” Sterling added. “Didn’t you make all-county and weren’t you named the scholar-athlete of the year?”

Jewel blushed. She’d forgotten all of that. “Well. Yes, there’s that.”

The two laughed and then eased into a sultry silence. Jewel and Sterling studied each other for a moment. The moonlight sparkled in his eyes. Jewel looked away first, turning her attention back to the lush gardens.

“Are you still as active?” Sterling asked after a while. His voice was slightly lower than the moments before.

“In the gym. Other than that, just some occasional horseback riding.”

Sterling nodded. A few more moments of silence passed. “I had such a crush on you in school.”

“Really?” Jewel was genuinely surprised.

“Yep. I was going to ask you to the prom, but Storm Wellington beat me to it.”

“Ha! Storm.” Jewel shook her head and smiled. “I haven’t seen him in years.”

“What ever happened to you two?”

“We dated that summer, went off to college, reconnected a few more summers and then everything just fizzled. He’s in Germany now. He went there for grad school and never came back. We spoke a couple of times. He’s doing well from what I understand.

“And you went to the prom with...” Jewel snapped her fingers and narrowed her eyes. “Angel?”

“Raven.”

“Yes. Raven. I don’t see her here tonight. What ever happened to her?”

“I married her.”

“Oh.” Jewel stood still, unsure of why that bit of information affected her. He’d mentioned his ex-wife inside, but hadn’t said her name. The picture of the little girl with the mess of curls came to mind and she remembered Raven’s face.

“She was pregnant.”

“What?” Jewel was still trapped in her own thoughts.

“The summer before our senior year of college. We got pregnant. So I married her after graduation. I wanted to do the right thing.”

Jewel simply raised her brows and tilted her head sideways, taking note of the fact that he’d said “we.” He was a gentleman.

“It didn’t last a year, but we have our beautiful Kylee. A few years ago Raven got a job offer in Chicago that offered her the opportunity to return to school and pursue her master’s. Our daughter spends summers and school breaks with me until she’s done with school.”

“Oh. That’s nice.” For once Jewel didn’t have much to say. She was ready to head back inside to the party, but not because she didn’t enjoy being alone with him. It just didn’t make sense to entertain his company any longer when she was sure it wouldn’t go anywhere. “Where did you go to school?” she had to ask.

His response was all the confirmation she needed. Sterling’s undergrad degree nor his MBA were earned at an Ivy League school. Jewel was far from judgmental. She still thought fondly of Sterling. He just couldn’t be the one for her. She was certain that there would be areas in life where they wouldn’t be able to relate. The one thing she listened to her mother about was being mindful of dating people you are compatible with. Jewel’s parents were a shining example of how successful a relationship could be when two were equally yoked.

“We should head back inside. The girls are probably looking for me.”

“Yeah. Noah’s probably looking for me, too.” Instead of moving, Sterling retrieved his wallet and pulled out a card. “I’d love to see you again. Perhaps over dinner.”

Jewel hesitated just a moment, smiled and took the card from him. “Sure.” She tucked it in her evening bag without looking it over.

Sterling had taken her hand again. She let him. Pulling away now would make things awkward. Their road ended there anyway. When she got home, she’d toss the card and forget about how piercing his eyes were and how his touch made her skin tingle because there was no way she could ever be with Sterling Bishop.

Chapter 6 (#ubb662c22-3c27-5e66-8fd9-8ceb0e69ba20)

Sterling drove to work with Jewel occupying his mind just like he had for the past few mornings. He was glad he listened to Stephan and decided to go the reunion. Seeing Jewel made it worthwhile. Sterling had also had a few inquiries about his technology service offerings since the reunion. Two meetings had already been set up as a result. His only regret was not taking Jewel’s card. He’d left his with her, but she hadn’t called. Sterling knew how women felt about being the first to call, but assumed Jewel was different. From what he remembered, she was a go-getter and Sterling couldn’t imagine her losing that zeal. He wasn’t concerned. Somehow, he’d find a way to get in front of Jewel. He had to.