The Carter Legacy: 3 Book Box Set, page 7
‘Please take a seat Miss Grant,’ Cassandra indicated the chair in front of her desk.
‘Alice,’ the girl corrected her. ‘Look I know this is unprofessional but, oh my God. I’ve only just moved to New York…are all the guys like that?’
‘No,’ Cassandra murmured, ‘I’m pretty sure they broke the mold with that one.’
4.
Jackson glanced around the room as he sipped his champagne. His collar felt way too tight. He detested wearing a tux, in fact he detested attending these events. If it wasn’t for his mother, he wouldn’t have come at all. Despite the exceptional work that this particular charity did for abused children, the room was filled with people he couldn’t stand, or relate to. Being there was like torture and he was certain it was bound to get worse at some point. His father delighted in using these events to humiliate him, in small ways or in big ways, it didn’t seem to matter which. If an opportunity arose to stick the knife in, Carson Evans usually took it.
Downing the rest of his drink in one gulp, he switched out his glass for a fresh one as a server wandered past.
‘Bit early to be getting drunk, isn’t it?’ a familiar voice spoke from behind him.
‘Just getting in a buffer before my parents arrive,’ Jackson replied, turning to face his friend.
Dex grinned at Jackson. His dark unruly hair looked as if he’d run his hands through it several times, his shirt was already unbuttoned at the throat, with his bow tie hanging around his neck as if he hadn’t even bothered to tie it to begin with. He rocked comfortably back on his heels as he grabbed a nearby glass and took a swig. He exuded confidence, something Jackson both admired and envied about his best friend. It didn’t matter what social scene you put him in, Dex always seemed so comfortable in his own skin.
‘Same old crowd then,’ Dex scanned the room as he sipped his champagne.
‘Why are you here?’ Jackson asked. ‘I thought you were snowed under on a case.’
‘Same reason you’re here, I promised my mom I’d make an appearance. Besides we caught a break on the case, made some arrests earlier today. I got a mountain of paperwork on my desk, but nothing that can’t wait until tomorrow.’
‘Well aren’t we both just the dutiful sons?’ Jackson replied dryly.
‘Yeah well, I’m wishing now that I was at my desk with that mountain of paperwork,’ Dex shook his head.
‘Why?’
‘Turns out my mom is a lot more devious than I gave her credit for.’
‘Your mom’s a sweetheart,’ Jackson laughed. ‘She doesn’t have a devious bone in her body.’
‘Yeah you say that but she thinks it’s time I found a wife, and if I’m not willing to do it she’s taken it upon herself to find someone…’ he raised his fingers to draw quote speech marks in the air, before adding… ‘suitable.’
‘Sorry,’ Jackson laughed again, ‘I know it’s not funny.’
‘This is all Clay and Chase’s fault,’ he muttered darkly, inwardly cursing his younger twin brothers.
‘How so?’
‘They’ve both got engaged to their girls recently.’
‘No way,’ Jackson smiled. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah,’ Dex stared hard at his champagne flute. ‘You know what, getting drunk right now doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.’
‘I can’t believe it,’ Jackson shook his head. ‘Seems like only yesterday we were teasing Clay and Chase about girls.’
‘I know,’ Dex’s expression lightened, ‘though I’m not surprised they both got engaged at the same time, they always had to do everything together. I’m only surprised they’re not marrying sisters. Anyway, it’s given mom ideas and she’s got this picture in her head of being surrounded by dozens of grandchildren and all her sons snuggled up in connubial bliss. I think she’s angling for a granddaughter seeing as she didn’t get a girl the first time around.’
‘You’d better warn Cody,’ Jackson replied, referring to Dex’s youngest brother.
‘I didn’t need to,’ he snorted. ‘The second mom started trying to set him up, he took off for the Andes to climb a mountain.’
‘Doesn’t surprise me,’ Jackson laughed.
‘Yeah,’ Dex stared down into his now empty glass, ‘sneaky bastard. Wish I was stuck up a mountain right now.’
‘Believe me, you’re not the only one,’ Jackson agreed, as his surly gaze scanned the room.
They both fell into a comfortable, contemplative silence and once again Jackson’s wayward thoughts drifted back to the woman who’d occupied his mind since the moment he’d met her. His gaze absently grazed the shifting tide of people surrounding him and he frowned. He really didn’t want to be there; he’d much rather have taken Cassandra out on a date. He’d thought more than once about sending her flowers, but it just seemed so ordinary, so cliché and she was anything but. Maybe he could sneak out early and call her.
‘Jackson?’ Dex nudged him.
He barely heard his friend as suddenly the crowd parted and his face lit up with a smile. It seemed someone up there was smiling on him tonight, as his surprised and pleased gaze landed on the object of his obsession.
‘Jackson,’ Dex repeated, following his friend’s eyes which were locked on a rather sexy woman with jet black hair and the most intense blue eyes he’d ever seen.
‘Cassandra,’ Jackson murmured under his breath.
‘That’s her, isn’t it?’ Dex’s eyes narrowed as he studied the woman who had captured Jackson’s interest so completely.
She was a knockout, he had to admit Jackson certainly had flawless taste. She was petite but curvy in all the right places. She wore a dress of deep midnight blue, which shimmered as she turned, making it appear as if the very material was made from the night sky. The dress itself may have had a modest neckline but the back was cut dramatically low, almost to the curve of her buttocks and slashed to one thigh, making it seem as if her legs went all the way to her armpits.
‘Come on,’ Jackson grinned. ‘I want you to meet her.’
He made his way across the crowded floor with Dex trailing curiously behind him, snagging another drink along the way. Jackson had almost made it to her when she turned and her cool blue eyes locked on his.
‘Jackson,’ her voice was low and a small smile tugged at her lips.
‘Cassandra,’ ‘he replied.
They stood for a few moments their gazes locked, neither saying a word until finally, unable to stand the tension any longer, Dex cleared his throat in amusement.
‘Oh um,’ Jackson shook his head, for a moment he’d forgotten his friend had been standing there. ‘Cassandra, this is my friend, Fredrick Dexter III.’
‘Dex,’ he corrected offering his hand.
‘Pleasure,’ she smiled politely, taking his hand as her brow creased inquisitively. ‘Dexter? As in Dexter Telecommunications?’
‘My father’s company,’ he nodded.
‘I see,’ she replied as he released her hand.
‘Dex doesn’t work for his dad though,’ Jackson told her.
‘Oh?’ her brow rose questioningly.
‘Actually, I’m a detective.’
‘Really?’ she replied with interest. ‘So, with all that money and connections you just decided to become a cop?’
‘Pretty much,’ he shrugged.
‘Good for you,’ she murmured thoughtfully.
‘I wasn’t expecting to see you here,’ Jackson drew her attention back to him.
‘I’m here with a friend,’ her mouth curved.
‘A friend?’ he repeated casually, ‘and he is…’
‘She,’ Cassandra corrected him in amusement, ‘is around here somewhere, actually here she comes now.’
Both Dex and Jackson turned around to look and involuntarily flinched, taking a step back in retreat.
‘Magda,’ she greeted her friend.
‘There you are girl,’ Magda huffed, slightly out of breath. Her huge bosom heaved, strapped as it was into the tight confines of a gown which was, despite her slender frame, at least a size too small and a good few years too young for her.
‘I see you’ve found yourself a couple of handsome lads to keep you company. An Evans and a Dexter unless I’m very much mistaken. Which ones are you again?’
‘Jackson.’
‘Fredrick.’
They both spoke ruefully; everyone knew who Magda Henry was. She was quite the character within their social sphere. Middle aged and British, she was extremely wealthy and quite frankly the life and soul of the party, but was also, much to their chagrin, a notorious man-eater with a predilection for younger men.
‘See?’ she jabbed at Cassandra with a playful finger, ‘didn’t I tell you there were so many delicious young men to choose from?’
‘Magda,’ her tone was a low warning which Magda chose to ignore.
‘She doesn’t get out enough,’ she told Jackson and Dex in a conspiratorial whisper. ‘I had to practically prize her out of her apartment with a crowbar.’
‘I happen to like the peace and quiet.’
‘Rubbish,’ Magda waved her hand dismissively, ‘you’re far too young and beautiful to be so stuffy and boring. You’re always locked up in that office of yours at the library, having no fun.’
Cassandra’s eyes met Jackson’s and her cheeks pinked up prettily. Magda wouldn’t be saying that if she knew exactly what kind of ‘fun’ she and Jackson had got up to in her office, just the day before.
‘You know what you need?’ Magda continued relentlessly, missing the look which passed between the two of them.
‘What?’ Cassandra smiled affectionately at the older woman.
‘A husband.’
‘Not this again,’ she sighed, ‘what is it with everyone? You hit a certain age and suddenly everyone thinks you should be married and up to your knees in children.’
‘Tell me about it,’ Dex muttered sourly, taking a deep gulp of his drink.
‘Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it,’ Magda wiggled her finger at her. ‘I’ve been married four times so far and I’m about ready for number five…think I might try a younger one this time.’
Jackson jolted in surprise as Magda gave his ass a good squeeze, and he retreated discreetly behind Cassandra, but Dex hadn’t missed the looks passing between Jackson and Cassandra. Being, in his mind, the incredibly generous and good friend that he was, he impulsively decided to take one for the team.
‘Well Magda,’ he drained his drink in one gulp and slapped his glass down on a nearby table, ‘I’m afraid you might be entirely too much woman for me, but how about you and I go tear up the dance floor.’
Magda let out a breathy girlish giggle as Dex wrapped her arm over his and patted her hand. He led her out onto the dance floor, but not before turning back to look at Jackson.
‘You owe me,’ he mouthed silently.
‘He must be a very good friend, to take on Magda,’ Cassandra chuckled.
‘The best,’ Jackson admitted. ‘I think I would have gone crazy by now if it wasn’t for Dex and his family.’
Cassandra turned to face him more fully.
‘Don’t think I didn’t notice you using me as a human shield,’ her eyes narrowed.
‘Okay,’ Jackson rubbed the back of his neck ruefully, ‘although it’s lowering to admit, the woman terrifies me.’
‘Magda’s harmless,’ Cassandra laughed softly.
‘You wouldn’t be saying that if you were a guy,’ he replied.
‘Maybe,’ she mused, as her gaze dropped to his lips and her mind was instantly cast back to exactly what he’d done to her with that mouth of his.
‘Dance with me,’ he held out his hand.
‘Huh?’ she looked up into his eyes.
‘Dance with me,’ he smiled. ‘I want an excuse to get my arms around you again.’
She took his hand and allowed him to lead her onto the crowded floor.
‘I’m glad you’re here,’ Jackson murmured, as he wrapped his arm around her and they began to sway to the music.
‘Are these Galas really that dull?’ she replied in amusement.
‘You have no idea,’ he grinned. ‘I was actually giving some serious consideration to sneaking out of the bathroom window, until I saw you.’
‘Well ordinarily I wouldn’t have come, even with Magda nagging me,’ she answered, ‘but I work quite closely with this particular charity, through some of the support groups we run. It’s also an excellent chance to network.’
‘With the end result being…?’
‘I’m looking for some companies or private investors, who would be willing to fund the adult education classes we’re hoping to run, once we’ve expanded the library. I’m also hoping to get some of them to fund scholarship programs for underprivileged kids. Being friends with Magda has opened a lot of doors for me. Most of these people wouldn’t take me very seriously, as I’m only a librarian.’
‘You’re not just a librarian,’ he frowned.
‘Jackson, that’s exactly what I am,’ she smiled, ‘and that’s okay. I’m happy with that. But most of the people in this room wouldn’t even give me the time of day if it wasn’t for Magda’s seal of approval. Despite being deliciously dirty and crazy as a bat, she is respected for her shrewdness when it comes to business.’
She suddenly felt him tense, his body pulling taut under her hands.
‘What is it?’ she asked in concern.
‘Nothing,’ he replied tightly.
‘Jackson?’
‘My parents have arrived, that’s all.’
‘I take it that’s not a good thing,’ she asked curiously.
‘We’ll see,’ Jackson frowned. ‘It depends on what mood my father is in.’
‘Like that, is it?’
‘Yeah, like that,’ he murmured. He shook his head, trying to clear his dark thoughts. ‘What about you?’ he asked, changing the subject.
‘What about me?’
‘I know next to nothing about you,’ he shrugged.
‘There’s not much to know,’ she spoke casually.
‘How about your family?’ he asked. ‘What do they do?’
‘I don’t have any family,’ she stiffened in his arms, ‘it’s just me.’
‘I’m sorry,’ he frowned.
‘Nothing to be sorry about.’
He wanted to ask more, wanted to know what had happened but he couldn’t. It wasn’t the time or place for such an intimate conversation. Besides, he got the feeling she didn’t know him well enough to open up about something that was obviously an intensely personal subject for her. But he couldn’t help the relentless curiosity gnawing at his gut. She was fascinating to him, like a puzzle, with all those intricate little pieces of her that he was just dying to pick up and figure out.
They stayed for another dance, swaying to the music in comfortable silence. It was a brief respite but they finally broke away from one another, knowing that if they stayed locked together any longer it would simply invite unwelcome gossip and spiteful assumptions. He took her hand once again and led her away from the main floor, scooping up a glass of champagne and handing it to her, before reaching for one of his own.
‘Jackson,’ a smooth polished female voice spoke from behind them.
‘Mom,’ Jackson turned and warmly dropped a kiss on her cheek before turning to his father. ‘Mom, Dad,’ he placed his hand in the small of Cassandra’s back, ignoring the little jolt he got from grazing her naked skin, and urged her forward a step. ‘This is Cassandra Grayson. Cassandra, these are my parents Irina and Carson Evans.’
‘Pleasure,’ Cassandra smiled reaching out a hand to Irina.
Irina’s eyes narrowed slightly as she studied the beautiful dark haired woman standing so close to her son. There was something familiar about her, something she couldn’t quite place.
‘I’m sorry, have we met before?’ Irina shook her hand gently. ‘You seem very familiar.’
‘Cassandra is in charge of the library project in Queens, remember?’
‘I’m aware of that,’ she replied, ‘I recognize the name. It’s the face,’ she murmured, ‘I’m sure we’ve met before.’
‘No, we haven’t,’ Cassandra stiffened slightly as she withdrew her hand, ‘but I would like to take the opportunity to thank you for the grant your foundation awarded us. It will go a long way to improving the community.’
Irina nodded.
It was easy to see where Jackson got his good looks from. Irina was simply stunning. Her jaw length shiny dark hair was expertly sculpted into deep finger waves, which perfectly complimented the cream-colored vintage Dior gown she wore. Diamonds glinted casually at her throat and ears; everything about her screamed class. Even the streak of white hair at her temple, which she didn’t bother to hide with hair dye, wasn’t so much an admission of age as a personal accent.
Carson Evans was a completely different matter. She couldn’t see Jackson anywhere in the man’s features. He was shorter and slightly stockier than his son, his hair fair and liberally streaked with grey. His face bore the signs of what once was probably a very handsome man, but the years had not been as kind to him as it had to his wife. His face was lined and hardened with what seemed to be a perpetual frown.
As Cassandra turned her attention to Jackson’s father, she didn’t offer him her hand. Something in his expression told her it wouldn’t be welcome. She didn’t have to be a genius to figure out he wasn’t the least bit impressed with her.
Carson’s bored, disinterested gaze swept Cassandra from head to toe and she met his insulting expression with a defiant one of her own.
‘So, you’re the latest one, are you?’ he finally spoke.
‘Dad!’ Jackson glared dangerously at him.
‘I’m not at all interested in how you amuse yourself in your personal time Jackson, as long as you’re discreet,’ he replied contemptuously.
Jackson’s eyes flashed, his jaw clenching so tightly Cassandra was amazed she didn’t hear bone grating. His mouth opened and his fist curled involuntarily. He was about to say something he was sure he wouldn’t regret, but would almost certainly result in a scene, when he felt Cassandra’s small, warm hand on his wrist. He looked down and she gave a barely perceptible shake of her head, so slight he almost missed it. But there was something in her eyes, something he couldn’t name, that had the hot hard knot of outrage slowly releasing.
