Page 7 of Falling for Love

“I need to talk to him.” There’s shuffling in the background and then my sister’s voice. “Jack! I’m turning this to FaceTime. Answer it.”

I hear the familiar sound on the phone and tap when she switches to video chat. Her face comes into view. Her curly brown hair is hanging around her face as she sits down on Lucas’s lap. A pang of envy for something like what they share hits me, and I push it aside.

“Hey, Rainey.” I grin at my sister because she’s just so happy with my friend and that thrills me. “You do realize Lucas and I have business to discuss, right?”

She nods. “But I have something more important to ask you. It’s spring and I have a small window of time off before the season starts, meaning everyone is free. Dad and Mom, and Hudson and Miles,” she says of the twins. “I want us to take a family vacation in a couple of weeks.”

I groan. “Lucas and I may be in the middle of buying or renovating the second Midnight location.”

She clasps her hands together. “Please? Make it work?”

“Where?” I ask, knowing if my sister wants me somewhere, I’m going to do my best to make it happen.

“Asher’s island home in the Bahamas. I already asked if we could stay and he said nobody else will be there. It’ll be so much fun! I’ve got Kaylee working on Tristan. All three of you are due for a break. I just need a head count. So, you’re in, right?”

I run my hand through my hair and laugh. “Yeah, I’ll be the single odd man out.” My mind drifts to Taylor and I shake my head. It’s ironic that the one time I find a woman worth getting to know better, she’s lost to me.

“Yay! Thank you, Jack.” She blows me a kiss before handing the cell to Lucas.

I hear them whisper something, and then Rainey’s gone and my partner is back. “Sorry, man. She’s a force of nature.”

I laugh. “No kidding. So let me tell you about the perfect building I found.”

We talk for thirty minutes and then I call Tristan, repeating the same information. By text, all of us agree to a three-way call to discuss our options tonight, and they’ll fly here this weekend to check it out themselves.

Once I’m finished with business, I don’t want to sit around my room with nothing to do, so I decide to take a walk, explore the city some more, and check out the area around the building where we may open the club during daylight hours.

Leaving the room, I take the elevator to the lobby, and I’m shocked to see Taylor standing by the front desk. I step out and pick up speed before I lose the chance to talk to her again.

CHAPTER FIVE

Taylor

After a painfully long, drawn-out lunch with Chandler and donors who he wanted to schmooze with, we part ways with him reminding me to wear his earrings Saturday night. I’m not about to forget, which is why I’m now standing in line at the front desk of the hotel waiting to talk to someone about their lost and found items.

“Taylor!” Surprised to hear my name, I turn in time to see Jack walking toward me.

My stomach flips at the sight of him, looking sexy in a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, the hair that I ran my fingers through now freshly washed and still damp.

“Jack! I didn’t expect to run into you.” Though I knew it was possible with him staying at the hotel, the rational part of me hoped to slip in and out before having to face him after leaving early this morning.

“I’m glad you did.” He stops beside me, a grin on his handsome face. “You look beautiful,” he says, his gaze taking in the outfit I chose to keep Chandler happy.

I hate it. “Thank you. I was at a luncheon earlier,” I explain.

Specific memories of last night wash over me—him taking me against the wall, then again in his bed, and everything in between. I shift from foot to foot, my panties suddenly wet.

“Are you looking for this?” He slides his hand into the front of his jeans pocket and pulls out my earring. “I found it on the floor this morning.”

“Oh, thank goodness.” I didn’t think there was much hope of housekeeping finding them, but now I don’t have to hunt them down in a store and charge a small fortune to my credit card to replace them.

He drops it into my hand, his fingers brushing over my palm, and an accompanying zing zips through my veins. I swallow hard. “They were a … gift and I’d have been so disappointed if I lost one,” I lie. I’m just glad it gave me a chance to see him again.

“At least the earring brought you back here. So, what are you doing this afternoon? Want to show me around the city?” he asks in a gruff voice.

More than anything, I want to say yes, but the fact is, I can’t risk anyone seeing me with him. Last night was a close call, one I don’t care to repeat.

“I wish I could,” I tell him, hearing the disappointment in my voice. “Unfortunately, I have to work. I have a meeting this afternoon,” I lie. “In fact, I need to go now,” I add before I change my mind. Rising to my tiptoes, I press a kiss to his cheek. “Thanks for everything,” I tell him and turn to go.