IT WAS HALF past seven when I stepped into the Rosemont’s lobby. I’d kept myself physically busy with orders all day, but my thoughts had been solely focused on what was happening in the meeting between one of my best friends and my…well…whatever Jackson was. And I had to admit, I was antsy because I hadn’t been able to get in touch with either of them until Jackson responded with a text.

I had no idea what to expect as I scanned the lobby, and when I didn’t see him, my eyes shot over to the bar. Hell, that was where I’d be if things hadn’t gone my way, and knowing Bash as I did, I knew there was no way Jackson had gotten what he came for.

Sure enough, there he sat at the bar, his collared shirt unbuttoned at the neck and his tie undone and hanging down either side. He was sipping on a glass of amber liquid and didn’t notice my approach until I said, “What’s a gorgeous thing like you doing at the bar all alone?”

Jackson startled and looked up at me. “Hey.”

“Hey,” I said, unable to read his expression. “Thought I’d find you here.”

“You ready to go?” He went to stand up, and I put my hand on his shoulder.

“Finish your drink first,” I said, taking the empty seat on the other side of him. “Should I ask how your meeting went?”

Jackson brought his drink to his lips. “I think you know the answer to that.”

“You’re right. Knowing Bash, I can guess. And even if I didn’t, the fact that you’re drinking at the bar would’ve tipped me off.”

Rolling the glass between his hands, Jackson stared straight ahead. “I’ve never failed before. At my job. But today I just…lost it.”

“To be fair, you were facing an impossible task. Long as I’ve known Bash, he’s never been one to sell out. Not at any price.”

“So I learned,” he said, and took another sip. “But you know what?”

“What’s that?”

“I’ve never felt better.”

My brow furrowed as I studied him again. He must’ve been drunker than he let on. “Come again?”

Jackson turned to face me, and then a slow smile lit up his face. “I lost the account today. Millions of dollars, gone. Do you know what that means?”

“You’re broke and I should start planning your funeral now?”

“It means that’s millions of dollars my father doesn’t get.”

A beat and then I said, “Yeah, he might kill you for that.”

“Maybe. It’s not like he needs it. The bastard’s got more money than he’ll ever know what to do with.” When he saw the shock on my face, he laughed. “Yeah, I said it. He’s a bastard, and I’m the idiot who thought his dad could do no wrong. I was just too scared to do or say anything and lose what was left of my family.” Jackson reached for my hand and set it on top of his strong thigh.

“I think I like you on whiskey,” I said.

Jackson laughed again, but this time, his eyes dropped down to the slacks and button-down I wore, and his stare turned heated. “I’m suddenly feeling hungry.”

I raised my arm in the bartender’s direction. “Check, please.”

“I thought you’d agree,” Jackson said, tossing down a couple of bills on the bar. Then he squeezed the fingers I had resting on his thigh and licked his lips. “What do you say we do dinner up in my room tonight instead of going out?”

“You want to hide me away when I took the time to dress up for you?” I said, feigning annoyance, and then I slid my hand up his leg, winking when he stopped me just before I could cop a feel. “I say lead the way.”

“Damn trouble,” he said, shaking his head, but there was mischief in those contrasting eyes. After downing the rest of his drink, Jackson stood and then held out his free hand to me. “Shall we?”

It wasn’t his words that made me sit there, stupefied and blinking at his outstretched arm. It was that this man was reaching for me like it was something he did every day, a natural gesture he didn’t give a second thought about. With his shirt unbuttoned to show just the slightest bit of skin, Jackson looked like he’d just gotten off from a long day of work, ready to head upstairs like we did it every day.

Sliding off my barstool, I took his proffered hand and let him lead us out of the dimly lit bar and into the bustling lobby. If there were stares or whispers, I didn’t notice them, my gaze stuck on the profile of the man beside me, the one I still couldn’t believe was here. How was it possible that I was even thinking of Jackson in a way that suggested things would go further than this week? It was stupid and made me foolish to let myself get carried away yet again, but with every minute I spent with him, I craved more. Just another minute, another touch, another kiss, building up to the inevitable—another heartbreak. Complete devastation I knew was coming and had resigned myself to because I couldn’t stay away, and I couldn’t let him go. He’d have to be the one to leave again. And when he did, I’d deal with it, same as I had before, which was to say not well.

Stop, just fucking stop. Shut the fuck up and enjoy him while you have him, you morbid asshole.

Jackson punched the up button for the elevator, and opened his mouth to say something, but frowned when he looked at me. “Rethinking coming with me already?”

“Just wondering if you’re not taking me upstairs to kick my ass because of Bash,” I said, trying for a light, teasing tone.

His lips twisted up into a cocky grin. “Is that not a foreplay you’d enjoy?”

“As long as I have a heads-up about it.”

“You’re asking for it with that pun.” As Jackson interlaced our fingers, I looked down at our joined hands and my stomach twisted into knots. It was the first time I’d ever held anyone’s hand in a public setting. Jackson and I never had that luxury before, and I hadn’t exactly reaped relationship benefits since. It was a comforting thing, his hand in mine, and when he tugged me forward, he cupped my cheek. “I promise, no ass kicking unless it’s a special request.”

When I nodded, he leaned in and kissed me, softly and with no hesitation, even though we were in the lobby surrounded by people. I melted into his kiss as my fingers curled around the belt loops of his dress pants, holding him in place, but I needn’t have bothered, because Jackson’s mouth moved leisurely on mine, taking his time.

If only I’d known what was about to happen, maybe I would’ve somehow seared the memory more deeply into my brain. I didn’t know that this time when our lips touched, our world would be forever changed once again.