“It’s a jealousy thing, wanting to mark someone as yours and yours alone. By the way, one of the board members is stalking me, so don’t disappear with Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome.”
She turned around quickly and squeaked, “He’s going to be there?”
Patrick shrugged, “He bought a table. I assume he’s going to be there.”
As the color drained from her face she drained her wine.
Clayton stood at the bar, pulling at his collar and talking to Poole, “She was right about the plant in Michigan. Financially it’s a wash, but marketing wise it’s phenomenal. Any idea how she heard about them?”
Poole shook his head, “Probably Google.”
Clayton muttered, “Or maybe she works for the plant in Michigan.”
Karen gasped, “Wow, she looks amazing!”
Poole and Clayton followed Karen’s gaze to the end of the bar, Jane was on Patrick’s arm and listening to a woman talking animatedly to Patrick. Jane looked up sensing the stares and nodded politely.
“I don’t understand how a receptionist affords so many dresses.” Clayton mused.
Poole glared, “She makes them Clay. Don’t believe the gossip, ok?”
Clayton nodded, embarrassed at the chastisement.
Gray spotted Missy and waved, but Missy bee lined it to Jane and hugged her, almost yanking her from Patrick’s arm. Patrick immediately placed his arm protectively around Jane’s waist and Gray was happy for the excuse to join them.
Gray recognized the woman talking to Patrick, a recently divorced socialite, poured into an expensive dress. Her face looked like it had undergone a recent chemical peel; it was shiny and pink but smooth. As he approached he heard her aggressively pursuing Patrick, inviting him to come to his house and do renovations. Patrick seemed nonplussed, but it explained the arm around Jane, and her refusal to leave his side.
“Missy, it’s good to see you.” Gray leaned in and kissed her cheek. She threw her arms around him, surprising him.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, releasing her.
“Nothing! Oh my God, you have to see these.” She pulled out her phone and handed it to him, the photos Jane had taken of Tess were on there. He stopped when he saw Tess riding an elephant in the backyard.
Turning the phone to the woman next to him he said, “Isn’t that clever. How did you manage that Jane?”
The woman looked at the phone, annoyed at his interruption and then stopped suddenly, “Grayson Poole, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Jackie Connor.” She shook his hand too firmly and held it too long. Patrick seemed amused and pleased.
“Nice to meet you Mrs. Connor, you’ve done a beautiful job organizing this event tonight.” He then turned to Jane, “How, Jane?”
She shrugged, “Photoshop. Tess said she loved elephants and zebras.”
Missy grabbed the phone, “Wait until you see this one!” She flipped through several photos, all of which were his niece looking incredibly adorable, she stopped and handed the phone back and he laughed.
“God, that’s really clever!” His niece was holding a dog leash, looking over her shoulder and directly into the eyes of a zebra. Apparently taking her pet zebra for a walk, her face was carefree, and she was wearing overalls and sneakers, somehow Jane had made the background look like a farm.
Missy said, “Look at the next one.”
He flipped to the next picture and now the zebra was rainbow striped, in the next one it was spotted. The next picture she was sitting in a tree, grinning and absolutely precious, with fairies wings on her back, the lighting on the tree making some parts iridescent. Missy looked over his shoulder, “I think I want this one as the watercolor. God these are so amazing it’s impossible to choose!”
She hugged Gray again, “You are the best Uncle, ever!”
He hugged her tightly, “You are most welcome.” He looked at Jane, and mouthed thank you.
Jackie looked at Jane critically, “Do you do senior portraits?”
Jane blinked, “Um, no, sorry.” She turned to Patrick and said quietly, “Excuse us, please,” and dragged him away and closer to the bar. Patrick ordered drinks and they were about two steps away when the mayor approached Patrick. They started talking shop, the mayor picking his brain about future projects and which construction companies he trusted. Jane finished her wine too quickly and was surprised when a hand took her glass and replaced it.
Gray leaned in, “These things are definitely more tolerable hammered.” She tilted her glass toward him in a toast and took a sip. “Another love child I see,” he nodded at her dress.
She grinned, “Yes, this time it’s Givenchy and Escher.”
“What are the chances Patrick will allow you to dance with me?”
“Not good.”
“Then I should just steal you away,” he teased.
“No sir, I would not allow that.” Jane leaned in, “I think he’s afraid of Jackie.”
Gray nodded and whispered, “Me too.”
Jane laughed, and Patrick and the mayor looked over. The mayor clapped Gray on the back, “Thanks for the tickets, Gray, I didn’t see you there.”
“You’re welcome Paul, how are you?”
“Good, good. Just picking Whitfield’s brain for free. He’d probably charge the city thousands for the information he willingly shared.”
Patrick smiled, “Not at all, I am always happy to help you Mayor, and of course recommend reputable contractors.”
The mayor’s wife approached, putting her hand on his back, “Paul, who is this beautiful woman in the amazing dress.”
Jane flushed when the mayor said, “Mrs. Whitfield, I presume, my wife Anna Roswarski.”
Jane shook her hand, “Jane Austen, it’s nice to meet you Mrs. Roswarski.”
“Where did you find this dress?”
Patrick smirked as Jane’s face turned a deeper shade of pink. “I, uh, it was a class project.”
Gray spoke up, “Jane is one of those unique women who is accomplished in many arts, design, fashion, photography, painting. Do you play an instrument too?”
Patrick answered for her, “Piano; she’s an excellent pianist.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, “Her father taught her. She started playing when she was three.” Jane smiled, and her face was able to resume its natural color. Gray noticed Patrick’s touch seemed to calm her. Patrick turned his gaze to the mayor, “Her mother is an excellent artist, but Jane’s fashion sense is all her own.”
The mayor nodded, “You’re father was a wonderful man. He was kind enough to counsel me on many occasions. You’ve grown up since I last saw you. I think you were probably twelve.” She nodded, but didn’t answer. “You’re a lucky man Patrick.” The mayor added.
“Thank you sir, Jane and I have been friends forever, but she unfortunately refuses to marry me.”
The mayor raised an eyebrow, and Jane responded, “I find him hideous, but my mother adores him so I keep him around.”
Gray laughed, “Too bad old man.”
Patrick asked drily, “Old man?”
Jane nudged him, “Maybe not old, just stodgy.”
Patrick turned, “Stodgy?”
Jane grinned and playfully chided, “Do you prefer stuffy, fastidious, demanding?”
“Oh Jane, I prefer challenging, intense, persistent.” He grinned and the effect on Jane was immediate, she blushed and everyone felt the chemistry between the two of them. “Come woman, I desire a dance,” his look was sultry, his tone husky, and she followed him shyly on to the dance floor.
Gray watched them leave together; hoping the jealousy he felt wasn’t obvious. Anna sighed, “Damn, I would marry him in a second. Sorry, dear.”
The mayor chuckled, “They do make a good couple. How do you know them?”
“Jane works for me.” He watched them dance, “She is an amazing woman.”
“There you are,” an arm brushed past Gray and shook Anna’s hand. She stood to close and Gray was overpowered by
a cloying scent, threatening him with a headache. Jackie cooed, “Did she tell you where she found the dress?”
“She made it.” Anna answered simply. Gray noticed she seemed chilly toward the woman who ignored it.
Jackie looked out on the dance floor, “I’ve heard some rumors about her.”
Anna raised an eyebrow, “I’m sure they’re like most rumors, designed to hurt and best left unsaid.”
Jackie looked to Gray to see if he was interested and he glared, “Jane works for me, and I find her to be the most honorable woman I’ve ever met.”
Jackie shrugged and tried to change the subject, “How is business, I heard you were planning on building something off the corridor?”
Gray looked nonplussed; she was referring to the piece of land Richard purchased, “I wouldn’t know. I have people that handle inconsequential details.”
“My God, I’ve never met someone who considers a million dollar deal inconsequential.” She wrapped her arm around his, and he stiffened.
The mayor and Anna left to dance, and she dug her nails into his bicep, “Do you dance, Gray?”
He shrugged out of her grasp, “Your wit and perfume are poisonous.” He stalked toward the banquet room, standing in front of the complicated map of the tables with lists of names. He found his table and then was curious about where Jane would be seated. He realized Patrick had put them at a table with Jackie and two other board members. He removed his jacket and sat down; Missy and Drake were already seated.
Missy looked at him curious, “What’s wrong?”
He grunted, “Jane and Patrick are sitting at a table with a boorish woman. I hate to think of her having to endure a dinner like that.”
Drake looked at Missy hopefully, and she nodded. He raised his eyebrows, “I tell you what, you have them sit here, and Missy and I will get a room upstairs and have loud noisy hot monkey, no children sex. Please say yes Gray, please?”
Gray sat back amused, “Yes, of course.”
Missy pumped her fist in the air, “Yes!” She leapt up and kissed Gray’s cheek. “I like Jane, Gray; she’d be good for you.”
He raised an eyebrow, “I believe Patrick thinks she’d be good for him too.”
She said lightly, “Nope, I asked. They’re just friends.”
Drake was pulling on her hand, “Come my love, let me undress you and do things we haven’t had time to do in years…”
Patrick whirled Jane around the floor, “Stodgy? I think you are confusing me for the old man you are in love with.”
She leaned in, putting her head on his shoulder, “He’s not stodgy, he’s brilliant, and funny.” She sighed, “And sometimes cold and distant.” She looked at Patrick, “The thing is I know he likes to play with me. I don’t know if he’d like me, though. You know?”
Patrick held her close, “No, I’m not sure I understand. Do you act differently around him?”
“A little. I find myself trying to impress him.”
Patrick chuckled, “Jane, you’re infatuated, he is too. He is falling head over heels in love with you; it’s obvious in the way he looks at you.”
Jane looked up at Patrick, worried. “He never talks about normal things though, we’ve never had a normal conversation, it’s always play. I can’t do that for the rest of my life, I mean I do it with Mom because I have to, but I don’t need another relationship like that.”
“Jane, have you been on a date with the guy?” he asked amused.
“No.”
“Well, before you decide whether to give him the heave ho, you might want to try sharing a meal together, without your mom. He might then have the chance to actually talk to you. It’s a new thing, this dating thing, you know. Unless you’d rather have your Mom set you up in an arranged marriage, because I’m pretty sure she’d be ok with that too.”
“Ugh, can you see it? I’d probably get stuck with Jarrod Scott.” Jane muttered.
“Jeez, you’d have some ugly babies.”
Jane looked at him skeptically, “I’d be celibate.” He twirled her and pulled her back in; she looked up, “That Jackie woman is a nightmare.”
“She’s just forlorn.”
Jane looked at him, “Introduce her to Ben, he’d cure that.”
He shuddered, “She’d never leave us alone.” He spun her again and pulled close, “Besides, if you don’t like her than it’s a definite no.”
She snuggled in to him, “You are my very best friend Patrick.”
“Oh I’m so glad you said that, because we are eating dinner with her.”
“Shoot me now.” Jane groaned, pushing away and steadying herself.
They walked in to the banquet room and Patrick led her close to their table when Gray stopped them.
His eyes searched Jane’s, and he flicked them quickly at Patrick before returning his gaze to her, “Missy and her husband had to leave early. There are two seats available at my table, and I would be honored if you joined us.”
“Tess is ok?” Jane asked, worried.
Gray smirked, “Tess is fine. They were bored out of their minds and begged to leave.”
Jane looked at Patrick beseeching, “Do you need to sit with the board members?”
Patrick rolled his eyes, “I’m not going to make you sit with Jackie. I’ll go and make some excuses. Thanks Gray. You might not be as big a prick as Jane keeps telling me.” He smirked, and raised an eyebrow at Jane, causing her to blush again.
Jane’s mouth flew open, but Gray laughed and slipped his hand in Jane’s leading her toward the table.
“Tonight Jane, we will have dinner, no games, no wordplay.” He felt her tense and she appeared nervous and he rolled his eyes, “Relax Jane. If you can handle Mr. Poole, I’m sure you can handle me.”
He pulled her chair out and sat down next to her. Leaning close he watched her carefully before asking, “Jane, does it bother you that I’m ten years older than you?”
She answered quietly, “Gray, my parents were almost thirty years apart in age and they were incredibly in love. Even at the end, my mother cared for him not like a child or grandchild but as his wife.”
Gray’s eyes darkened and he admitted huskily, “I can’t stop thinking of you. I replay ever conversation we’ve ever had.”
He stopped speaking, waiting for her to respond. He glanced over to find her looking at him dubiously. She replied tartly, “Seriously? I think I liked it better when you spoke in riddles.” She sighed loudly, but then added quietly, “I replay our conversations too.” A small smile tugged at her lips, “I wish I was wittier.”
He relaxed, looking at her carefully. She looked beautiful, carefully put together like a piece of art. He tilted his head to the side, wondering aloud, “Edith Head? I had to Google her, tell me about her.”
She looked up shyly, “I’m an Edith Head aficionado. I’m not crazy about her shoulder pads, mind you, but her lines are so clean. She was brilliant.”
He chuckled, “You are indeed most singular Ms. Eyre.” He poured wine and nodded to the mayor and his wife as they sat down next to Clayton and Karen.
She sipped her wine, “You say singular, I say freaky.”
“I love the way you dress.” He said it emphatically, making her stomach flip, aware that his approval was important to her niggled in her brain.
She spent the next ten minutes giving him a brief synopsis of the many accomplishments of Edith Head and he was mesmerized, she was passionate about creation.
Karen commented she should design but Jane shook her head, “No, I really can’t. I’m not that talented, I can sew, but I really don’t have the talent or inclination to try and create a new form.” She wrinkled her nose, “You know what I mean.” She nudged Patrick affectionately, “I am always so impressed by Patrick’s creations. They are his, individual. They may be inspired by the location, but what he does is brand new, and beautiful.”
Patrick grinned, “Thanks Janie. But it’s different; I’m not trying to get fabric to lie on
a complicated form.”
“But your work is functional, and so organic. I love your plans for the new hospital wing.” Anna said, and the conversation turned to Patrick’s work. Jane beamed, and Gray sighed, watching her relax, enjoying the company of others.
He remembered the kiss and absentmindedly stroked his lower lip. As if she were thinking the same thing, he felt her hand brush gently against his thigh. She quickly retracted it and glanced over as he stilled. “Excuse me,” she whispered and then her eyes were forward, following a conversation at the table before lifting her wine glass to her lips. Her cheeks flushed slightly pink with embarrassment and he wished she was comfortable enough with him to touch him.
The conversation turned to paintings, and Gray cocked his head whispering, “Jane, why do you work for me? Surely you don’t need to work, you could spend your time painting?”
She shrugged, “I’m not willing to be a burden to my mother. I,” she looked uncomfortable, “Mom may need home care. I don’t want to use our investments until I have a better idea of what her needs are.”
He nodded, “I could help with that, you know. I mean if you need legal help. Clayton is excellent with investments and could advise you.”
She smiled, “Thank you, I have someone counseling me, but,” her eyes cast down, “I’m not sure what my stepbrother has planned.”
He leaned in toward her, “Let Clayton go over things with you. You could speak to him privately at my office. He could give you an idea of what complications could arise, if Richard chose to legally question your father’s wishes. I don’t need to be there.”
She nodded, “Actually I came to the same conclusion and I have talked with someone. Thank you for your concern, but I’m sure between all of us it will be fine.” She sat back in her chair, sipping her wine. Amazed that this man, this beautiful man would be willing to help her and her crazy mother.
Her heart skipped a beat went he smiled and gently touched her hand. “Good, I’m relieved to hear that.”
She smiled, lowering her eyes and nodding her agreement.
Jane Eyre Austen Page 10
