Best Of Both Worlds
JULES
SUMMERS IN THE SOUTH WERE always a bitch.
It meant dealing with blaring heat and pouring rain. Cursing the fact that I’d chosen to run a few errands at lunch without taking my umbrella along, I shook off what I could of the remaining drops of water and glanced at myself in the office window.
My hair hung sodden against my forehead and cheeks. My clothes clung damp and heavy and were now chilled in the frigid air conditioning Finn had taken control of.
Closing my door, I stripped off my carefully selected dress and grabbed the jeans and tank I’d thrown in the back of my car last week when I’d spent the night at Jake’s midtown apartment.
After pulling my hair back into a messy bun, I wiped under my eyes and reapplied my mascara.
Ouch!
I’d stabbed myself in the eyeball, and in the process, my contact came tumbling out. Crap. On my hand and knees, I searched for it, but to no avail.
Scrunching the other one out, I tossed it the trash and opened my desk drawer, where I kept a spare pair of glasses.
They were cute enough. Made me look smart instead of geeky, but still, I hated wearing my glasses.
Glaring at my reflection this time, I sighed. I looked . . . unprofessional. Yes. That was the right word. Unprofessional. Unprofessional when I should be looking like one top dog wedding planner.
It was ironic that I looked the way I did since the cliché money is no object was about to take on new meaning with this wedding. The two million dollar budget meant an astonishing display of opulence had yet to be planned. And the riveting guest list would have every news outlet in town itching to not only catch a snap of the bride and groom but the venue as well.
Slipping my kitten heels back on, I opened the closet door in the corner that kept props for display. In there I found one of my uncle’s suit coats hanging on a hook. I put it on and rolled up the sleeves.
Not bad.
Then I opened a few of the boxes and found a strand of pearls and some pieces of lace.
Perfect.
I wrapped the pearls around my neck and slid the lace in the suit pocket.
So I was rocking the Madonna look.
It was coming back in style. I’d read about it while checking out at the supermarket a few weeks ago.
With my outfit crisis put at ease, I had a lot of important choices ahead of me to make. And Jake would be here soon to start the selection process.
The thought of spending time with him working on the wedding details during the daylight hours of the next few days, and then going out to dinner and maybe even the movies at night had me positively giddy.
My breath hiccupped as I reached for the list of things we had to accomplish in the next three hours. Jake, of course, had needed to get some sleep after working all night, and I had to come to work. It was the whole passing in the night routine that had become our norm. But it was about to change. And even as I looked at the perfect dress I had selected in a heap on the floor, I was still smiling.
Shrugging it off, I sat down and scattered the photos I had Finn print off the Internet over the table. They were from the garden party scene of The Great Gatsby and were my inspiration for Rory and Remy’s wedding.
Closing my eyes, I could practically see it.
The explosion of lavish hothouse orchids, stems of cymbidium, blankets of dendrobium. There would be a mix of cut blossoms, ferns, and potted orchids on the tables.
All in shades of white.
This would create a cream and soft green color palette. I could add crystals for sparkle and silver for shine. A dash of blush for the whimsy romantic effect. The cake. The cake would be blush in color. In the end, the garden would become a fairytale wonderland perfect for wooing true love.
It was going to be amazing.
There was a knock on the door, and I practically leaped out of my seat. “Come in,” I called in excitement.
Jake was here.
As the door to the office opened, giddy nerves danced down my spine, and then . . . Jaxson walked in.
My smile remained, although not as brightly, and I took my seat again. It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy to see him. He just wasn’t the man I had been expecting.
Jaxson, dark hair tousled from the wind and rain, raincoat open over faded jeans, and as handsome as ever, walked into my office.
His tranquil green eyes were downcast, and he was glancing at a handful of his own photos. “Good afternoon, beautiful. Lose a contact again?”
Jaxson oozed charm. It was in his nature. He was a natural born flirt, even with his ex-fiancé. “Hi handsome, this is a surprise, and as a matter of fact, I did.”
He kissed me on the cheek, and his casual smile warmed me like sunlight. “Yeah, well, that’s nothing new. I hope I’m not interrupting anything too important, but I wanted to get your opinion on these.” He waggled the eight by ten glossy photos in his hands
Embarrassed, I pushed the pile of inkjet-printed photos in front of me aside in a rush. “Sure. What are you looking at?”
He looked me up and down, and then made an inquisitive face when he saw my wet dress on the floor. “Don’t ask,” I told him. He gave me a nod.
He knew me too well.
Perching himself on the edge of the table, he looked at me with the most serious expression I think I had ever seen him wear, and then he scratched his head. “Remember a few months back when I sent you that text with the link about Sports Illustrated restructuring?”
I relaxed back in my chair. “I have a vague recollection of it.”
He laughed. “Yeah, well, it wasn’t as eye-opening as the one you sent me.”
I shoved him. “Jaxson, you promised to never bring that up again.”
His smirk was wicked. “Yes, I did. What was I thinking at the time? It’s way too good not to have in my pocket.”
I rolled my eyes. “Get to the point before I kick you out.”
“Right. Right. The point. That article discussed the Digital Department’s reorganization. Now the print department is doing the same. They cut staff photographers by almost thirty percent and removed the chief photographer from his role. This created a huge hole for SI, and they did pictures. Good pictures. So they are holding a photo contest for professional photographers, and I’m entering it. The winner gets the chief photography position for a three-month trial.”
I clamped my hand over my mouth. “Are you serious?”
This time his smile was genuine. “I sure am.”
“What about your business?”
“Well, there is a sick amount of photographers entering so who knows if I’ll win.”
“You will,” I assured him. “You’re so talented.”
He shrugged. “Says the girl who thinks inkjet-printed photos are acceptable to look at.”
I scrunched my nose. “You caught me, again.”
He shook his head. “Oh yeah, like that was getting past me. Anyway, putting your bad habits aside, if I don’t win, I think it’s time for a change.”
I couldn’t stop my frown.
“But, Jules,” he beamed, “if I do win this gig, it could open a shit ton of doors for me either at SI in one of their regular segments or at some other magazine in the Time family.”
I pointed to the stack of photos in his hand. “Are those the ones you’re using to enter the contest?”
He bit his lip in reluctance. “I can only submit one, but these are the ones I have to choose from.”
Excitement of a different kind than I was used to from the past few days brought a smile to my face. “Let me see,” I said anxiously.
Leaning toward me, he carefully set the pictures down on the table one at a time. When he did, my eyes nearly popped out of my head. The photo shoot he had done at The Bride Box wasn’t of brides wearing wedding dresses. It was of brides with no dresses on! They were in veils, or sexy lingerie, or wearing jewelry and nothing more. Each pictured a soccer ball or a football or a baseball somewhere in the photo, but the focus was on them sitting on the counter, or in a chair, or standing near the sink eating cake.
I glanced up at him. At the guy that had been such a huge part of my life for so long. How had I never seen his sensuality? It was written all over these pictures. In the way he posed the models. The angle of the picture. The faces the women were making, for him. “Montgomery mentioned you had done a shoot in the showroom, but conveniently left out the part about the brides being naked.”
He pointed to one of the pictures. “She isn’t naked.”
It was a sideways view. “She’s sitting on the counter wearing a blue garter and eating cake. Luckily the soccer ball under her arm covers up her boobies.”
His head fell back in laughter. “It wasn’t luck, Jules. I planned it that way.”
“Whatever,” I scoffed.
“Seriously,” he said, “don’t you think they’re edgy and hot and just the kind of photo SI would be interested in if they ever wanted to put a bride on their cover?”
I had to give it to him, he was right. “Yes, I do,” I admitted, and then I pointed to the bride wearing a cameo choker with tons of pearls around her neck. “This one is my favorite.”
“Why?” he asked.
“I’m not sure. It’s in the way you captured her expression. It’s soft but sexy. The way a bride should look on her big day. Like she’s in love. And with the blurred background, she could be anywhere. It’s mysterious and romantic and eye-catching. She makes me want to be her.”
Jaxson scooped me up and whirled me around. “I knew I could count on you.”
Just then a husky throat cleared.
It was Jake.
There was a dip in my belly as Jaxson set me down. Feeling anxious, I tucked a piece of fallen hair behind my ear and slowly raised my gaze toward the door. “Hi, Jake,” I said, adding a friendly laugh to help ease the tension I was feeling.
His hair was styled. He was cleanly shaven. He looked edible. He looked like sex. He looked like sin.
Looking at him made my toes curl.
In a pressed white shirt, unbuttoned at the top to reveal a smooth expanse of skin, paired with dark slacks, he looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ.
My knees went weak.
Under his white shirt, I could see the impressive muscle tone of his arms and chest. And his eyes, they were bright and wide, and for the first time, he didn’t look at all tired.
His eyebrows rose and his lips curved. “Hi, Juliette,” he said in return, and just as casually as I had addressed him.
Awkward.
“Jake.” I nudged Jaxson back a bit. “This is Jaxson. He’s ummm . . . he’s . . . he’s going to take the photos at Rory’s wedding,” I finally managed to say.
Jake strode into the room and held out his hand. “How’s it going?”
Casual. That was good.
Not at all jealous. That was even better. Especially since he had nothing to be jealous about.
“Good.” Jaxson shook his hand. “And just to help clear the air, I’m the guy Jules sent the video that was intended for you. Oh, and I’m her ex-fiancé, but we’re just friends.”
Jake smirked at him. “The first part I knew, and the second is good to know. I appreciate that.”
I glared at Jaxson. Did he really have to make that the first thing he said?
Out of nowhere, Jake swooped down and kissed me, right on the mouth. He might have taken me by surprise, but his lips were always welcome on mine.
Jaxson started to gather his photos.
I stared at Jake, unsure whether he was upset or not. But then his eyes roamed my body, and I felt whatever it was whirling in them between my thighs.
Something magnetic.
Irresistible.
Erotic.
Jaxson patted me on the shoulder and jolted me out of my daze. “I’m headed out. It was nice to meet you, Jake.”
Jake gave him a nod. “Same here, man.”
Jaxson looked at me with a curiosity I knew I would be expecting a call about. “I’ll be in touch about the wedding.”
“And the contest,” I called as he walked out the door. He waved a hand in acknowledgment.
Jake strode over to the old wooden desk so full of power goose bumps rose to the surface of my skin from the slight breeze he created in his wake. Casually, he picked up the picture that was on it. “Is this you?” he asked.
I nodded, my cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “I was seven.”
“Nice veil,” he commented.
“Yes, it was a pillowcase,” I laughed.
“And the flowers?” he asked, genuinely curious.
“They were dandelions from the garden. My father insisted on taking the picture because he knew my uncle would love it.”
Jake set the photo down and stared at me. “I bet he did.”
Just then Finn came into the office. “Hey Jake, how’s it going?”
Jake looked at him from head to toe, but for a completely different reason. “Good, really good, and you? You look much better.”
Finn set a box full of fabrics, silverware patterns, china dishes, and glass vases down. “Never been better,” he said with sarcasm. “Being the errand boy is the highlight of my life.”
“Finn,” I sighed. “You know I really appreciate the help.”
Regret coated his face. “I know, Jules, Sorry. Here’s the first batch of samples you asked for,” he said. “The rain slowed me down. I should be back with the rest within the hour.”
“That’s fine.”
Finn redirected his attention to Jake. “I made that call.”
“And?”
Finn smiled widely. “He’ll be in Las Vegas next month. He wants me to fly out and meet him at Moon’s Fight Club when he’s there.”
Jake fist pumped in the air. “Excellent. Let me know if it works out.”
“I will. And thanks, man,” Finn said as he headed to the door.
“Finn,” I called.
He turned.
“Vegas? You didn’t tell me that? Are you sure you want to go back there?”
He shrugged. “It will be fine.”
I stared at him for a long while. Until he gave me a nod, and then turned back around.
“Everything okay?” Jake asked.
“I hope so,” I answered, and then gave him my attention. He was standing there with his hands in his pockets and looked so incredibly sexy.
Feeling butterflies flutter to life in my belly, I strode over to the table and pushed my glasses up before I began to look through the box Finn had brought in. “Should we get started?”
Jake strode over to me. He pushed my chin up to look at him. “I like your glasses. You look like a sexy librarian.”
Those butterflies went crazy at the mere closeness of his face to mine. “Librarians aren’t sexy.”
His eyes blazed with heat. “Then you haven’t been going to the right libraries,” he drawled lazily.
I held his gaze for a few moments and that burn of desire started to pool in my belly. “Yes, well, clearly we have different interpretations when it comes to sexy.”
He smiled slowly at me. “Oh, I think we’re on the same page. And just to be clear,” he said, using the phrase Jaxson had used, “I’m really fucking jealous that he had you in his arms.”
I blinked in surprise. “You know you have no reason to be. Jaxson and I broke up for a reason, and now we are just friends.”
“Yeah, I know. You’ve both told me. That doesn’t change the facts.”
“The facts, what do you mean by the facts?”
He shook the question off.
I didn’t press him about it, but I did step a little closer. “If I promise to bang your brains out tonight, will that make you feel better?”
Features etched with determination, he yanked me roughly to him. “Then you better get started before I take you right here on the table,” he said, and then he crushed his mouth to mine.
I made a noise of surprise in the back of my throat and sunk into his kiss.
When he finally let me go we were both breathing hard. He smoothed his thumb over my cheek and his eyes went alight with passion. “For the record, I want you wearing those glasses when you fuck my brains out.”
My laughter exploded and Jake’s did as well. With my arms wrapped around him, I hugged him tightly. It wasn’t the first time I realized that I loved him, but it was the first time I wanted to say it out loud.
I did not.
Instead, I turned around and sat down at the table to get to work. Jake sat as well, easing back and crossing an ankle over his knee.
God, he was so sexy.
Work. It was time to work. I pulled my agenda from the stack of file folders beside me. “Let’s start with type of service, time of service, and roles.”
“That’s easy,” he grinned. “Non-denominational and I’ve already asked the Chaplin from the hospital to officiate, and he agreed.”
I clapped my hands together in excitement. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”
He smiled ruefully. “I just asked him last night, and you and I didn’t really do much talking this morning.”
Chewing my lip, I remembered vividly what we did. “Right,” I said with a flush. “So, what time do you have in mind for the actual ceremony?”
He shrugged. “Two?”
I shook my head. “Since we are having both the ceremony and the reception at Rosewood, I wouldn’t make it too early.”
“Five then, and I’ll walk her down the aisle,” he said decidedly.
“Both work.” I made some notations in my planner.
“See how easy I am?” he remarked.
I gave a huff of laughter. “Right. Easy. That’s how I’d describe you.”
“You wouldn’t say I was easy?” His voice was gruff, deeper than usual, and the sudden smile on his lips was absolutely sensual.
I shook my head. “And moving on.”
He moved his chair closer to mine. “What would you say I am?”
A prickle of nervousness tightened every inch of my body as he turned me toward him and stretched his arms on either side of me, caging me in. He was so close, and he smelled of soap and him. And I felt that dizzying sensation slide over me.
“Smart,” I started with.
“Okay, go on.”
“Strong.”
He took my fingers within one warm hand and laced his fingers between mine. “Go on.”
“Sexy.”
His lips curved as if he was amused. “Would you say I’m a good lover?”
“I would,” I answered, giving nothing else away.
He let go of my hand and eased back in his chair, although he didn’t move it away. “I’ll settle for that, for now.”
Picking up a binder, I handed it to him. “Caterers are next. We have to decide what we are going to serve, and that will help narrow the choices.”
Perusing it in five seconds flat, he shut it with a grunt. “Can I just close my eyes and put my finger on the menu and be done with it?”
“Jake,” I held my tone confident. Right now he was my overwhelmed client, not my lover, not a sex god. I squeezed my thighs together at the last one. He was better than good in bed. That was for certain. “You could. But what you should do is look them over and see which one offers the foods that appeal most to you.”
He opened the binder again and began reading the menus. After about five minutes, he pointed to one. “This one, but why exactly was I looking for what appealed most to me?”
I smiled at him. “Because it was the only way I could get you to read the menus.”
He shook his head. “Always a smartass.”
“On the bright side, we’ve checked one more thing off the list. Only ninety-nine to go.”
He dropped his head to the table and sighed. “I have no idea how you do this all day.”
“Because like you, I love my job, and I’m good at it.” I got up and went over to the bookcase to pull down the invitation samples I’d had Finn get earlier during the week.
When I got back to the table, I set the samples down. Before I could sit down, he grabbed me by the hips. “Let’s take a make out break.”
“We really should get through some of this,” I whispered, resting my hands on his shoulders and leaning down.
His eyes started to flutter closed, his eyelashes dark on his cheekbones as his lips came within a breath of mine. “Okay, what’s next?”
When I tried to move away, he dragged me onto his lap. “Jake?” I questioned looking at him over my shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Making this fun,” he grinned.
And fun it was.
Two hours later, I was still on his lap, and we’d accomplished very little, but the tension between us was thick with knowing and sparking with electric chemistry.
“Okay,” I finally conceded, turning myself to straddle him. “Let’s go to dinner so we can get back to your place.”
His eyelids lowered slightly in an unconscious smolder that sent off a rush of tingles between my legs. “That sounds like a really good idea. We’ll drop your car off and you can grab a bag. We’ll stay at my apartment tonight but at Rosewood tomorrow night.”
I curled my fingers in his hair. “I can’t stay with you every night.”
He pressed his fingers into my hips. “Sure you can.”
“Jake, I have to work.”
He ran his palms between my thighs. “Which has nothing to do with where you spend your nights. Besides, I plan to do two more days of this with you . . .”
All I could hear was my heart banging in my chest and my pulse ringing in my ears. He was talking, but all I heard was take it slow. Being around him made me feel a thousand different things, and the need to be guarded seemed to easily slip away. “Okay,” I said. “I think that sounds like fun.”
He placed a little kiss on the corner of my mouth. “I can promise you, it will be much more than fun.”
I closed my eyes and told myself there was nothing wrong with letting this thing between us go on for as long as we had together.
Fun.
We were having fun.
When he kissed the other side of my mouth, the feeling that washed through me was something much more than fun, though. Butterflies swarmed my belly, my throat tightened, and when he full on kissed me, I felt like he was my home.
It was a feeling I hadn’t felt in a very long time.
And right then I knew nothing would ever be the same in my life when he left.