“You’re going to go meet with him, aren’t you?”
“I really don’t know what I want to do. I know my heart wants Jax back in my life. But my head is saying move on, you are no one’s sloppy seconds.”
“How were things when you two were together?”
“Honestly?”
“Honestly, Stacey. Tell me.”
“At first it was smoldering lust. I’d never wanted to bed a man more in my life. Then afterwards, we really clicked. Bonded. I feel like…”
She trailed off and Morgan cocked her head. “Like?”
“I know it wasn’t much time but… I really think we fell in love. I know how pathetic that sounds but - I thought we were going to make it.”
Chapter 5
Back in the hotel, her mind wouldn’t stop bouncing back between the ‘yes’ and the ‘no’. Should she meet with Jax or not? Morgan already voiced her opinion and while she always trusted her best friend’s judgement, this was one time when she alone had to make a decision. She was going to follow her heart.
She took out her cell, hoped with all her might she wasn’t making the wrong choice, and punched in the numbers Jax had left her.
“Stacey?” There was excitement in Jax’s voice. “I didn’t think you’d call.”
“Well I really had to think about your invitation. I’m not calling at a bad time, am I?”
“No, of course not. The meeting hasn’t started yet. What have you decided?”
“I would like to meet with you for dinner tonight.”
She could just see the small smile spreading over his face, and she heard it in his tone too. “Really? This is so great! You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
“I think I have a feeling,” Stacey said, trying to sound more casual than she felt.
“I’ll stop by your room at eight. What room are you in?”
“How about I meet you in the lobby. I don’t want Morgan to see us together. This is something I need to hear from you first, before I even try to explain it to Morgan.”
*****
Jax finished making the final arrangements for dinner with Stacey. He got reservations for a restaurant on the beach, Roman’s, and was excited about the possibility of her hearing him out. It wouldn’t be easy, but she was willing to listen!
His heart was racing after hearing from her, he wanted so badly to mend the situation as quickly as he could. But he made himself calm down before going into the conference room. This was an important presentation for his company and he didn’t want to mess it up. As a market researcher most of his work was behind the scenes, however this was a special case. Taking a deep breath and straightening his tie, he walked inside the room where his clients waited. Just get through this meeting and then you can think about your Stacey, he told himself. All he had to do was focus strictly on work for a few hours and he’d be ready for tonight.
Jax was relieved when the meeting ended with success. He did his best to appear more collected than he was, but was secretly hurrying through as much of it as he could afford to so it wouldn’t drag on. Some days he had the patience for longer meetings but this was absolutely not that day. The clients didn’t seem to mind as they shook his hand before leaving the conference room. Sitting back in his chair, he closed his eyes. Tonight he was being given a second chance by Stacey and he wasn’t going to mess it up this time. He believed that night at the lounge three years ago happened for a reason. They were meant to meet one another, he was certain of it. That she was the woman he was meant to be with. Not once did she ever slip his mind, and meeting again at this hotel was a sign.
He’d tried to move on several times in the past. Tried to respect her wishes and find somebody else. But no one had come close to replacing her. There still was a void where she used to be.
He looked at the time on his phone: six-o’clock. Time for him to get ready for his date. Leaving the conference room, he couldn’t help but smile, thinking of what tonight was going to bring. He hadn’t been this happy in a long time.
*****
Stacey stepped out of the shower and walked into the bedroom, looking for the perfect dress to wear to dinner. She found a purple sundress that she’d brought with her. Not too fancy and not too plain. It was perfect for dinner with a friend. That was what Jax was to her, wasn’t it? A friend? She tried not to remember their last good encounter. How he had touched her under the table at dinner, bringing her right to the edge of pleasure only to tongue her in the back of the car as his driver drove them back to his place.
She’d never known the excitement that he had brought with him every time they were together. She missed it. No, she longed for it again. But she couldn’t be anyone’s second.
Morgan looked at her. “Just took a shower and now you’re putting on a dress. Let me guess, you’re going out with Jax?”
Stacey sighed. “I thought you were going to stay downstairs at the pool.”
“I was, but I decided I wanted to get to bed early. Am I right though? You’re going out with him aren’t you?”
“And this is why I was hoping you wouldn’t be here while I got ready.”
“Why? So that I couldn’t talk sense into you? Because this is a huge mistake and you know it.”
“You don’t understand Morgan. It’s not a date.”
“You’re right, I don’t understand. So why don’t you tell me? Tell me why you would agree to meet up with a guy who cheated on his wife with you! Why are you going out with a guy who betrayed you by lying and making you the other woman! How do you even know if he’s even still married or not?”
“We’re not going out like that. This isn’t some kind of date. This is more for closure.”
“What do you need closure from?” Morgan asked, gesturing to the air around them.
“Would you just let me handle this, please? I need closure from what we had all those years ago. I know he lied and was married at the time, but what we had was real. It was real to me, at least. I can’t explain it, but I really thought he was the one. The one I was meant to spend my life with. And that night when I confronted him with the truth, I kicked him out and ignored every phone call from him after. We never had any closure because I was so mad at him. And that is why I agreed to go to dinner with him. To finally hear what he wanted to tell me that night. If it turns out badly, then hopefully he won’t keep trying to get my attention after this.”
Morgan watched as her best friend walked out of the suite and headed to meet Jax. She sighed, worried that it was all going to end badly. All she wanted was Stacey to be happy, as she was with Ivan.
*****
Jax reached the lobby and saw Stacey waiting. She looked gorgeous in her dress and he didn’t feel overdressed in his suit. “Stacey, you look amazing,” he said as he walked up to her. He went to kiss her cheek but remembered she had asked him not to touch her like that.
“You don’t look bad yourself,” she said. “So where are we off to?”
He offered her his arm. She looked at it reluctantly, but took it for decency’s sake. He felt grateful, and led her outside.
“See that building with all the lights?” He pointed down the beach. “Over there is one of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to, called Roman’s. Whenever I’m here in Florida, I always make sure I go there at least once for dinner. I got us reservations.”
“This place is lovely,” Stacey looked around as she sat at the table. “But isn’t this kind of expensive for what we came to discuss?”
“What do you think it is that I wanted to discuss?” Jax thought when he asked her to dinner that she would’ve realized he was asking her out on a date. He wanted to continue where they’d left off before she kicked him out of her life.
“Aren’t we here to discuss closure from our breakup? So that we both can finally move on. Because I think that’s one thing that’s been holding me back.”
Jax shook his head. This wasn’t going as planned. “Stacey, I don’t want closure becau
se I don’t want to lose you. I thought this was going to be a second chance for us to be a couple.”
“A couple! Jax!” She put a hand to her head in exasperation. “How is this not - How can I be with someone who’s married?”
“Stacey before you get mad, I have something important to tell you.” This was going to be tough for him but Stacey deserved to know the truth.
“Fine Jax. What is so important that you have to tell me?” Stacey said, crossing her arms. Clearly she had no interest in trusting him. And she didn’t. Not after he had her thinking this was to talk about ending their relationship, not starting it again.
“Stacey, my wife died two years ago.”
She blinked at him.
He nodded solemnly.
“Your wife … died?” she asked.
Another nod.
Her eyes wandered for a moment then looked back at his. “Is that why you’re here in Florida?”
“I wanted to explain why I was married. Look, Stacey, Abbie and I were friends. She was the daughter of an old classmate who was fond of me. After her graduation she found out she had cancer. She needed someone to go to the treatments, but more so than that, she needed help. My father owned GlobalPharm, you know that already I’m sure from the internet searches.” Jax stopped for a moment, drinking a long sip of water before continuing, “I married her so that she could have health insurance. She couldn’t afford it on her salary but my company would have no problem financing it. We were best friends, and now she’s gone. Our arrangement never included sex, and it didn’t keep us from dating other people.”
Stacey saw the sorrow in Jax’s eyes and knew he wasn’t lying.
“Jax… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to accuse you. I mean I’m sorry about your wife too.” She looked down, ashamed.
“I don’t blame you for not trusting me. But Stacey, I do love you. With all my heart.”
“Jax, please don’t talk like that. I mean we haven’t been together all these years, how can you be so sure you love me?”
“Since the day we met, I haven’t been with another woman. A date here and there but nothing even remotely close. I couldn’t picture myself being with anyone but you.”
She considered this for a moment. “Jax, I swore off ever being in a relationship again after what you did to me. I’ve only been casually dating. I don’t know how I feel about getting into a relationship with anyone. Even you.”
Jax was crushed. “Have you dated many?”
“That really isn’t your business but yes, I have. You hurt me so much that I didn’t care about being in a relationship again. I didn’t want to have my heart broken. Not the way you broke mine.”
“I am so sorry for how I hurt you. Truly I am, Stacey. But I see us being in the same hotel at the same time a sign. One that shows we are meant to be together.”
The sad reluctance was crystal clear on her face.
“Stacey, please say you’ll at least give me a chance. Let me show you I’m a different man than the one you used to know. I mean, I’m the same guy but – one who doesn’t keep secrets anymore. Now I know the damage it can do and I never want that to happen again. What do you say?”
Stacey tried to avoid looking into Jax’s eyes. One look and she knew she’d fall for him all over again, the way she did at the restaurant lounge. But temptation was too great and she looked deep into his eyes. There was honesty there. Sincerity and imploring.
“I don’t want to be a couple immediately,” she said, noting the instant light in his eyes. “But I will give you a chance. How about we start by going to Morgan’s wedding this weekend? Will you be my date?”
Jax couldn’t contain his hope as he blurted out, “I’d love to Stacey. I’d love to.”
Chapter 6
Saturday morning arrived and Morgan and Stacey were in the hotel, getting ready for the ceremony. “I really wish you had found a date to take to my wedding,” Morgan pouted.
“What’s to say I didn’t find someone,” Stacey smirked. She hadn’t told Morgan she invited Jax to be her date. If she waited until the ceremony itself, what would Morgan do when she saw him arrive? Surely she wouldn’t kick him out.
“How on earth could you have found someone? I was with you almost every single day we’ve been here. And I know that you were not with any guys.” She was silent. “Oh Stacey, you didn’t invite one of those guys you’ve been seeing back home did you? You know none of those guys are good enough for you.”
Stacey rolled her eyes. “You wanted me to find a date didn’t you? Well I found a date. But he’s not going to get there until the reception. So you’ll meet him then.” She purposely told Jax to arrive after the ceremony so as not to upset Morgan, after all it was her day.
“I know I didn’t want you to be at the wedding alone. But I also didn’t want you to pick up some random guy on the beach to bring as your date either.”
“If it’ll make you feel any better, it isn’t just any random guy. It’s someone I know. Does that make you feel better?”
“I think I would feel much better if you just told me who it was you were bringing to the ceremony.” Morgan though for a while.
“Wait a second, please tell me it isn’t Jax you invited to the wedding. Tell me it isn’t him.”
“Look at the time. We still need to get you dressed and your hair done and we’re running late,” Stacey said changing the subject.
“You’re avoiding my question!”
“I’m not avoiding anything, Morgan. I’m just saying that if you want to be on time for your own wedding then we need to get ready now. Come on.”
Morgan was quiet while Stacey helped her get into the wedding gown. It was her day and she knew Stacey was trying to make sure Morgan was relaxed and not worried about Jax.
“There we go,” Stacey said as she finished styling Morgan’s hair. “You are one beautiful bride.”
“And that dress you have for being the maid of honor is amazing,” Morgan smiled. She was going to marry the love of her life. She tried to put her worry for Stacey aside and focus on Ivan and the life they’d share. Looking at Stacey fuss about the details, she knew her friend only had her best interest at heart for today.
There was a limousine waiting at the hotel to bring Morgan and Stacey to Ivan’s beach house.
“This is it,” Stacey smiled excitedly at her friend as the limousine stopped outside the house. “Oh wow. This place is huge.”
Ivan’s parents’ house was four stories, with a garden area, stables, and a rose trellis. It looked different from the more traditional Florida residences.
“Isn’t it?” Morgan beamed. “That’s why I knew it would be perfect for the wedding.”
They walked inside while everyone gathered in the backyard for the ceremony. Morgan explained that she and Ivan didn’t want a lot of guests so it was mostly close family and friends. Morgan’s father walked over to the two girls.
“Are you ready? I think everyone is in their seats by now.”
Morgan smiled at her father, a few tears falling from her eyes. Stacey hugged her best friend. “This is it, Morgan. This is the day you’ve always dreamt of.”
Stacey was sitting in the front row, watching Morgan and Ivan say their vows when she felt someone tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she saw Jax had arrived and was sitting. “How’s that for luck, there was a seat behind you,” he whispered.
“I’m really glad you made it. We’ll talk at the reception,” she smiled.
The reception was held at a historic hall that was on the beach, along the road to the house. Stacey was with Morgan, taking photographs when Jax walked into the hall.
“What’s he doing here?” Morgan asked.
Stacey hadn’t seen Jax until Morgan spoke. “What’s who doing here?”
“You know very well who I mean! What is Jax doing here? You said you weren’t going to bring him here!”
“Morgan this isn’t the time to talk about this. I’m going to go while
you take your pictures with Ivan.”
“You’re not getting away that easily! This is my wedding and I demand to know why there’s a guy here who I specifically told you I never wanted to see near you again!”
“We’ll talk about this later,” Stacey walked away towards Jax. This was what she’d feared by inviting Jax to the wedding. She’d almost reached the table where Jax sat when she felt someone grab her arm from behind.
“You will not walk away from me when I’m asking you a question!”
“Shouldn’t you be concentrating on your husband rather than who it is I brought to the wedding?”
“Of course it’s my business who you brought to my wedding! You said it wasn’t him!”
“If I remember correctly, you kept bugging me to bring a date to your wedding, so I did. Now you’re mad that I did. Why don’t you make up your mind?”
“I would’ve been fine with you bringing any guy but him!” Morgan insisted. “This guy has brought nothing but trouble for you and he’s going to do it again.”
“Listen to me, Morgan. You should be over there with Ivan. You just got married and he should be your only concern. I promise you that once you’re back from your honeymoon and we’ve a chance to talk you’ll understand. Just trust me, Morgan, please.”
Morgan sighed. “Stacey, you have to understand where I’m coming from.”
“I swear I do, Morgan. Just believe in me, trust me on this for a little while.”
Morgan watched as her best friend walked away to sit with Jax. She didn’t like it at all, not after he had hurt Stacey the first time. She watched as Stacey laughed along with Jax. She knew she needed to believe her that something had changed. Stacey was having a good time and here she was, sulking that her best friend brought him as a date to her wedding. Stacey was right, this was her day. She should be with her husband and enjoying the celebration.
“Is everything alright?” Ivan asked when she joined the table in the front of the hall.
CEO in the Sand Page 5
