Meg blinked back the burning in her eyes. “She has over a thousand likes and almost a hundred comments.”
“Unbelievable,” Nashelle said in a reverent tone.
“Let me check something.” Meg grabbed her laptop from the back room. She logged into the spreadsheet that downloaded the online sales. There were dozens of new orders. Some things had completely sold out, and as Meg refreshed the spreadsheet, four more orders popped up.
“Meg, this is crazy,” Nashelle said. “Do you want me to put in some stock orders?”
Meg met her co-worker’s gaze. “What do you think?”
Nashelle’s smile widened. “I think yes. We’ll put in one overnight order, then we can do more tomorrow if needed.”
Meg felt breathless. “Okay. Let’s do it.” She perched on the stool and started to pull up their order accounts.
“No way,” Nashelle said, nudging Meg. “I’m doing the ordering. You’re going to grab one of those dresses at the front of the store and go home to get dressed.”
“For what?” Meg asked, although her heart was pounding.
Nashelle’s smile was coy. “You have a man to wish a happy birthday to.”
Meg stood in front of the full-length mirror in her bedroom at her grandma’s house. She was wearing a black dress with a high neckline, but the sleeves were scooped out, and the back dipped nearly to her waist, exposing her entire back.
It was a daring dress. Sexy but still classy. The skirt flared just above her knees and swirled when she moved. She’d tried on several different pairs of shoes, finally settling on burnished-silver stilettos. It was a bold choice even for her.
A tap sounded on her door, and Meg said, “You can come in, Grandma.”
Her grandma entered the bedroom. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks,” Meg breathed. But she still felt unsure. Not about the dress or the heels but about seeing Jax. What would she say to him? What would he think when he saw her crash his parents’ party and his birthday celebration? Well, she’d technically been invited—but still . . .
Her grandma stepped more fully into the room and turned to look at Meg’s reflection in the mirror. “Just remember, you are worth it. And so is he.”
Meg released a shaky breath. She’d told her grandma most of what had happened, and while her grandma agreed that Jax had overstepped his bounds, she was more of the mind of Gina Emerson. This was something that could be worked out. It wasn’t a deal breaker.
So Meg was going to put a little more faith into herself, eat some humble pie, and go wish Jax a happy birthday. Come what may.
“It’s not too much? Too bare for December?” Meg did a slow turn.
Her grandma only smiled. “It’s a dress that will draw attention, there’s no doubt. But if you love it, then that’s all that matters.”
Meg nodded. Nashelle had helped her pick it out, and the earrings of course—silvery dangling ones.
“Go,” Grandma said. “Have a wonderful time.”
“Thanks,” Meg said through a tightened throat. She bent and kissed her grandma’s soft cheek.
The night was windless, cold, and clear as she drove to the Palace Hotel. Her nerves wound tighter and tighter with each mile that she grew closer. And then the lights of the hotel sparkled again in the night sky, putting to shame the thousands of winter stars.
She was here. Slowly, she pulled into the valet parking and put her car into park.
Climbing out of her low car, she grasped the door to keep her balance. She thanked the valet, then she walked through the sliding door and followed the lobby signs to the ballroom. It wasn’t too hard to find it, with the thumping music practically vibrating the walls.
It was like walking into another world. Holiday lights made the room look like a winter wonderland, and the dance floor was packed. People milled about with glasses of wine. Others were sitting at tables, eating food from the buffet.
Meg hovered near the entrance, scanning for Mrs. Emerson.
When Meg spotted her near the buffet table, speaking to a waiter, she hurried over. She wanted to talk to her before looking for Jax. But her stilettos kept her footsteps careful.
“Meg,” Gina said, turning just as Meg reached her.
The air-kiss shouldn’t have been a surprise, but it was.
“It’s wonderful to see you,” Gina continued. “You look beautiful.”
“You too,” Meg said. “Thank you for posting to Instagram about the store, too.”
Gina winked. “No problem. I never shy away from recommending something I like. Now, have you seen Jax yet?”
Before she could answer, Mr. Emerson appeared, his gaze curious.
“You remember Meg Bailey, don’t you, dear?” Gina said in a smooth tone.
“I do,” Mr. Emerson said, extending his hand.
Then Meg was shaking Jax’s father’s hand. Nerves danced in her belly.
“I owe you an apology, Miss Bailey,” he said. “I jumped to some wrong conclusions about you, but Jax set me straight.”
Meg nodded. “He told me.”
“Well, then, everything all cleared up?” Mr. Emerson asked, patting her arm. “You going to go dance with our boy and put him out of his misery?”
“Todd,” his wife chided. “Meg just arrived. Give her a bit of a break.”
“Don’t wait too long,” he said with a wink at Meg. “He’s been brooding too long.”
Meg had no words, but Mr. Emerson turned and began talking to someone else in the next moment.
Gina linked her arm through Meg’s and drew her away from the two men. “Don’t mind him. He’s been set down by his son, which I secretly love.”
“What happened?” Meg asked, scanning the crowd, not seeing Jax yet.
“Oh, Jax gave him an ultimatum,” Gina said. “Told him that he needed to be donating to the Northbrook Elite Hockey Club. Jax wants any contract renewal to come directly from the Flyers. No daddy money involved.”
Meg was holding her breath. “And . . . what happened?”
“Todd agreed. You’ll have to ask Jax about the rest.”
Meg released her breath. “Where is he?”
“Dancing, of course.”
Meg’s eyes landed on a tall figure toward the center of the dancing floor.
He was dancing with a blond woman. She was gorgeous, and Jax was laughing at something she’d just said. He also looked amazing in a tux, not that Meg had ever doubted.
“I see him.” She tried to ignore the stab of disappointment pricking her chest. “He looks happy.”
“Yeah, he might look happy, but he misses you, Meg.” Gina squeezed her arm. “I probably shouldn’t admit this, since Lacy and I became friends, but with Lacy, Jax was . . . always trying to keep up with her demands. It drained him. But with you, he’s a better man. You’re the other half of his heart.”
“So who’s the woman he’s dancing with?”
Gina smiled. “His cousin. Brenna.”
Oh. Okay. The fluttering nerves returned.
The music changed, and Jax led the woman off the dance floor.
“Go to him,” Gina said, releasing her arm.
And then Meg was standing on her own, watching Jax join a group of guys. A couple of them clapped him on the back. Their conversation looked lively, jovial, and she was about to walk into the middle of it.
She forced one step in front of the other, keeping her eyes on Jax while at the same time willing herself not to trip. She shouldn’t have worn the stilettos. She wouldn’t be surprised if she twisted an ankle, because at that moment, she reached the circle, and six pairs of eyes looked at her.
Jax turned as well, since everyone in his group had stopped talking when they spotted her.
“Hi, Jax,” she said the moment their eyes connected.
She needed no introduction to this group. She’d met them all—Rocco, Bones, Corbie, Clint, and Lucas.
Jax hadn’t budged. Even in the dim lighting, she felt his eyes on her
, moving from her face down to her shoes, then back up again. His shoulders seemed broader somehow, and his beard was shorter, but everything else was the same. His eyes, the slope of his nose, those lips she’d tasted many times.
She kept moving toward him, although she was pretty sure her legs were trembling, and she definitely couldn’t catch a full breath. Six pro athletes were about to watch her grovel. When she stopped in front of Jax, somehow the music faded.
In the multicolored lighting, his eyes were nearly black, and at this moment she sure hoped his mom had been right. That he’d take her back in a heartbeat, that he didn’t hate her but instead . . . loved her.
And she sure hoped he was in the mood for forgiveness.
“Meghan, what are you doing here?” he asked.
His low tones felt like a surge of warm water had washed over her. It had been too long since she’d heard his voice. Listening to his old messages didn’t count. “I came to wish you a happy birthday.”
No expression. No reaction.
Behind her, one of his friends said something about getting another drink at a bar. Another mentioned he was going to hit the buffet. One said he’d spotted an old friend; another needed some cold air. Rocco murmured something about collecting on a bet. And then they were truly alone—or as alone as they could be in a ballroom full of people.
Meg exhaled and bravely held his gaze. “Do you want to dance?”
“Meghan—”
“And don’t tell me you can’t dance,” she said in a rush, since she was pretty sure he was about to turn her down, and that would ruin all her plans, “because I saw you dancing with your cousin, and you were excellent.”
He rubbed his neck, his gaze dropping. “You can’t just show up here, Meghan, wearing a dress like that,” he said in a low voice only she could hear, his eyes perusing her again slowly enough that goosebumps pricked her arms, “and ask a man to dance without him wondering what’s going on.”
Another exhale. So maybe he’d take a bit of cajoling. “A lot of things have happened, Jax, but one is the most important. Which is why I swallowed my stupid pride and took your mom’s advice and—”
“Wait, you talked to my mom?”
Meg nodded. “I don’t know if I can answer all of your questions, but I do want to apologize.”
“For what?”
His mom was right. He was the most stubborn man on the planet.
“For ghosting you. For not calling you back. For not listening to you when you needed me to. For not telling you how I feel. For not . . . trusting you.”
His eyes narrowed. “That’s a lot of apologizing.”
“There’s more.”
“Maybe we should dance, then,” he said. “I think we have an audience.”
She glanced around to see that indeed, there were a lot of curious onlookers trying not to look curious. But Meg wasn’t fooled. Before she could comment, Jax grasped her hand and led her into the heart of the dance floor.
She almost sagged at his touch, but she didn’t. Biting her lip, she kept her head lifted, her heart contained in her chest.
And they danced. Just like that. Not a word between them as Jax took the lead. He really was a good dancer. Had his mom made him take dance lessons, or was it something he’d done with a girlfriend? However he’d learned, her mind soon turned to the fact that she was dancing with Jax. His hands were on her, drawing her close, his clothing brushing against hers, and his familiar scent made memories rush back. All of which she’d never forgotten.
The music shifted to a much slower number, and Meg thought she caught a glimpse of Rocco leaving the DJ stand. Had he requested something?
But it was like Jax had been waiting for the slower song, because he drew her closer with no hesitation. His large hand pressed against the bare skin of her lower back. He stalled for a moment, as if just realizing how low-cut the back of her dress was. Then he pulled her close as his other hand engulfed her hand. He lowered his head so that she could feel the tickle of his beard against her cheek. “What did my mom tell you?” his voice rumbled next to her ear.
Meg closed her eyes, breathing in his familiar spicy, clean scent as goosebumps raced over her skin. Her heart literally ached with how much she’d missed him. “She said that you were really grumpy.”
He chuckled, and the vibration made her heart skip a beat. “That’s true.”
“And she said that you missed me.”
He hesitated, then said, “That’s true too.” His voice was lower, softer.
A thrill ran through her, and she moved her hand higher up on his shoulder so that her fingers could brush the back of his warm neck.
“She also told me that you’re in love with me. Or you were,” Meg said next to his ear. “I don’t know if she was right, but . . .” Her heart was racing so much that she was having trouble catching a full breath, but she had to finish. “But I love you, Jax Emerson, and I’m sorry I was too caught up in my self-righteousness to admit it.”
There. She was out of breath, but she’d told him.
His hand moved up her back, creating a path of fire as his palm trailed along her bare skin. “Say it again,” he whispered.
She bit her lip, then said, “I love you.” She felt his smile against her neck. And then he pressed a kiss against her jaw.
“That’s good to hear, Meghan Bailey,” he murmured, then he kissed her below her earlobe.
“Jax,” she breathed. “Does this mean you accept my apologies?” Although she was pretty sure he did.
He lifted his head, and this time she could read his gray eyes. And they said yes.
“Have you confessed all of them?” His gaze dipped to her mouth.
She smiled. “I think so.”
“Then the answer is yes.” He leaned his forehead against hers. “And I still love you, Meghan. My feelings aren’t in the past, not by a long shot.”
She couldn’t stop the grin spreading on her face.
Jax released her hand and ran his thumb along her jaw, both hands cradling her face as he continued to sway her with the music. Then he kissed her, on the mouth. And it wasn’t a brief kiss. His hand inched behind her neck, and his other hand slid over her shoulder to the middle of her back as he anchored her against him.
When he let her breathe again, she whispered, “Everyone’s watching.”
“I don’t care,” he rumbled, then he kissed her again.
Meg slid her arms about his neck. In for a penny, in for a pound. She was pretty sure she heard some clapping going on. And an “It’s about time” that sounded suspiciously like Rocco’s voice.
The delicious kiss came to a slow end, but Jax was nowhere close to putting any space between them. “I know you’ve turned me down, multiple times, but my investment offer still stands.”
“Here’s the thing, Jax,” Meg said, tracing the edge of his collar with her fingers. “I called my landlord tonight with the news that I want to extend at least another month. Yesterday and today we had record sales. Nashelle is ordering more stock to be overnighted.”
“That’s great.” Jax didn’t look at all surprised, which only confirmed her suspicions.
Meg smiled. “I think I have a little bird to thank for putting the word out. Two birds. You and your mom.”
“Hmm.” Jax gazed at her. “I like seeing you happy.”
“You make me happy.”
“I like that even better.”
She looped both arms around his neck and pulled him closer, no longer caring who was watching or talking about them. “Your mom said that you gave your dad the ultimatum.”
Jax’s mouth quirked. “You two are pretty tight, huh?”
“It’s all new.”
Jax chuckled, and one of his hands settled at her waist. “My dad’s putting his money into the Northbrook club. And we’ll see what happens with Coach Lindon, how much he wants me on the Flyers.”
Not exactly what Meg was hoping for, but it was a beginning, and she could see the ha
rmony in Jax’s eyes.
She brushed the edges of his hair. “What are you hoping for?”
“Whatever’s best for us.”
“Us?”
His eyes didn’t leave her face. “I want you coming with me, Meghan. Wherever I go, whatever happens. If it’s Chicago, then that’s fine. If it’s another city, then you can open up a chain of boutiques.”
Jax was being kind of presumptuous, but her heart was expanding, and she knew, without a doubt, that she belonged with this man.
“I won’t force you, of course,” he said, lowering his face to hers. “But I will try my best to convince you.”
Meg released a shaky breath, then smiled. “I’m familiar with your tactics.”
He grinned. “I love you, Meghan Bailey.”
“And I love you, Jax Emerson,” she whispered. “And don’t worry, I’m already convinced. Wherever you go, I’ll come too.”
He scooped her close and lifted her off the ground.
She squealed, and Jax laughed. Then he kissed her, not holding back a thing. People around them started clapping. Meg was sure she was bright red with the attention, but she was in Jax’s arms, Jax’s world, and she didn’t want to be anywhere else. Ever again.
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Heather B. Moore is a four-time USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore; her latest thrillers include The Killing Curse and Breaking Jess. Under the name Heather B. Moore, she writes romance and women’s fiction. Her newest releases include the historical romances Love is Come and Ruth. She’s also one of the coauthors of the USA Today bestselling series: A Timeless Romance Anthology. Heather writes speculative fiction under the pen name Jane Redd; releases include the Solstice series and Mistress Grim. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
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