CHAPTER SEVEN

 

After the performance ended, Jarrett approached one of the attendants asking permission to go backstage to meet the performers. It wasn't often he used his celebrity status, but this time he would have insisted if necessary. It wasn't. Smiling, and signing autographs for the small crowd that waited to meet the dancers and congratulate the director and producers, he welcomed the distraction. It helped his nerves to settle a little…then he saw her.

Dressed in a simple black sleeveless dress that hugged her body, black heels, her hair changed from the bun for the performance, to waves that fell right at the nape of her slender neck and a beautiful smile, his heart slammed into his chest. This wasn't the chatty young girl he'd met on the plane. This was a confident sensuous woman who knew how to handle an audience. She was grace in motion.

"Jarrett Bryson, what an honor to have you backstage."

Jarrett did not register the woman speaking to him until Sergio gave him an elbow. He turned to the woman as he finished signing the autograph for the person standing in front of him. He then shook the woman's extended hand.

"Hello." He nodded.

"Jolene Cadet." She held his hand as she smiled. "Did you enjoy the performance?"

"Immensely," he replied as he looked over her shoulder trying to find Paige again.

"I'm pleased to hear that. We have a vigorous rehearsal schedule, which pays off. I'm sure you understand the dedication it takes to stay in shape." She rubbed his bicep.

Finally taking a look at the woman, he found her to be attractive and she had a banging body, but…she wasn't Paige.

On the other side of the room, Victoria approached Paige while she was signing a program for a couple.

"Good evening," she said to the couple then turned to Paige. "May I have a moment of your time?"

That was the line Victoria would use to rescue her from a too eager admirer. However, this was a couple and Paige wasn't sure why Vic would think she needed to be rescued.

"Thank you for coming. Would you excuse me?" Paige stepped away from the couple and turned to Victoria. "I don't think the gentleman would hit on me with his wife standing right there."

Victoria took her hand and led her through the small crowd. "I want to show you something."

"Okay."

Taking a few steps to the side, Victoria stood in front of Paige.

"Look over my shoulder near the door."

Paige stepped to the side and peered over Victoria's shoulder. The expression on her face was priceless. A slow smile appeared and her always dancing eyes seemed to beam brighter.

"He came."

Victoria took Paige’s hand to keep her from moving.

"Do you see who he is talking to?"

Paige looked over Victoria’s shoulder again, then nodded.

"You and I know she will stop at nothing to get what she wants,” Victoria warned. “Don't let her upstage you."

Paige took another look over her shoulder. At the same moment, Jarrett looked up. Their eyes met and held. His smile emulated hers and in that moment she knew he had come to see her.

Paige squeezed Victoria’s hand as a show of appreciation for her concern. She looked into her friend’s eyes.

"What's for me is for me. No one can take it, especially not Jolene Cadet." Paige stepped around Victoria.

"Well...all right now." Victoria smiled and followed her friend.

Paige never took her eyes from his. A few people congratulated her on the performance as she walked by. She smiled, thanked them and continued to stride purposely towards the man who was making her hands sweat, her body tingle, and her heart skip a beat. She watched as he took a step away from Jolene and reached out his hands to her.

"Hello, Jarrett. You came." She smiled brightly.

"Paige." He grinned taking her hands. "I told you I would."

"Why did you make me wait so long?"

"I have no idea, but I promise, it will not happen again."

The heat building between the two could be felt by all standing around them. Several people in the crowd turned and just watched the couple standing there holding hands.

"Hello, Jarrett." Victoria extended her hand before the two drew more stares.

Paige looked over her shoulder at Victoria. She released one of Jarrett's hands and pulled Victoria closer.

"Jarrett this is my roommate Victoria Gaye. Vic, this is Jarrett Bryson."

Taking Paige’s arm and pulling her closer to him, unintentionally pushed Jolene further away.

"It's nice to meet you Victoria." Jarrett turned to his left. "Sergio, this is Paige Cartwright and Victoria Gaye."

"Good evening," Sergio said to Paige as he shook her hand. He then turned to Victoria. He took her hand, brought it to his lips and kissed it. "You are as beautiful as you are graceful."

Victoria raised an eyebrow as she smiled at the man. "Thank you and I love the accent."

Sergio then spilled a series of words, dropped her hand and smiled.

"I have no idea what in the hell you just said, but the answer is yes." Victoria raised an eyebrow and smiled.

Jarrett and Paige laughed until they heard Jolene clear her throat.

"Oh, I'm sorry, Jolene.” Paige frowned. “I forgot you were standing there. Please forgive my bad manners.” She then smiled. “Have you been introduced to Jarrett and Sergio?"

"Yes, we were having a conversation before you interrupted."

"It wasn't important," Jarrett said to Paige. "Are you free for dinner?"

Victoria snickered. Paige gave her a warning look, then turn to Jolene.

"He was in no way insinuating that you were not important." She looked at Jarrett. "Isn't that right, Jarrett?"

That was exactly what he was saying. The woman was coming on to him shamelessly. However, he could see Paige expected him to be nice.

"No not at all." Jarrett apologized.

Paige squeezed his hand and looked at him in anticipation.

No. He tried to respond with his eyes. She apparently chose to ignore his answer and squeezed his hand again. He turned to Jolene.

"Would you like to join us for dinner, Ms. Cadet?" Jarrett asked through clenched teeth.

"Actually,” Victoria interrupted, “Jolene, the producer is looking for you. Something about changing the lineup."

Jolene’s eyes grew large at the announcement. "Really? Why didn't you tell me that?"

"I just did," Victoria replied to Jolene’s back as she briskly walked away.

"Victoria." Sergio took her hand. "Will you be joining us for dinner?"

The sweetest smile appeared on her face as she turned to Sergio. "Why, I thought you'd never ask. Yes, I would love to join you.” She stepped closer to the group. “May I suggest we find our coats and use the back door to escape? It would be great if we leave before Jolene finds out I lied. Could you have your driver meet us in the back?"

Jarrett and Sergio laughed while Paige looked stunned, as Victoria pulled her towards.

"You lied to Jolene?"

"Yes, Paige. Keep walking." Paige looked in the direction of Jolene then hurriedly followed Victoria.

"Paige, I swear, you are the only person who would invite a barracuda to your party."

Jarrett coughed to cover his laugh. Paige turned to him.

"Please don't encourage her."

"I'm sorry, but she's right," he said as he pushed open the stage entrance door. "Where would you like to eat?"

None of them picked up on the look of rage Jolene sent their way after being embarrassed by the producer in front of the other performers.

 

*****

 

"Of all the places we could have gone to eat, you wanted to come to Coney Island, in the cold, for a hot dog and cotton candy?" Jarrett marveled at the woman who was walking backwards, a little ahead of him, while eating cotton candy and smiling as if she didn't have a care in the world.

Less than an hour ago she was on stage, transformed into a temptress. Here she was childlike, marveling at the things most New Yorkers don't even notice. This woman was a chameleon and he liked that.

"I love amusement parks, ballparks, the beach, the Ferris wheel and snow." Paige twirled around with her arms in the air. "I love it all. It's like having a little piece of heaven right here on earth. Doesn't being here give you a burst of energy?"

"Seeing you smile again is like a little piece of heaven to me."

The sincerity in his eyes touched her heart. She stopped walking and watched as Jarrett stepped closer to her.

He was so handsome, confident and powerful as he walked towards her. She could feel the power radiating from him. It gave her a sense of being safe, protected. The same feelings she got from her father. Well, not quite the same.

The cashmere coat he wore was unbuttoned. Jarrett had removed his tie, and stood with his hands in his pockets as he stared down at her. In heels, she still had to look up to meet his eyes. All Paige could do was marvel at how magnificent he was. She pulled a piece of the cotton candy off the stick and held it out on two fingers.

This woman was perfection in his eyes. The trim white coat fit her body like a glove, showing every curve, enticing him. Her smile embraced him, but it was her eyes that called out to him. He wondered if she had any idea how much of a temptress she was.

Jarrett smiled as he parted his lips, took the candy and the fingers that were offered. As the candy melted on his tongue, he continued to hold her fingers between his lips. He wasn't sure which was sweeter, the candy or the look in her eyes from his touch.

The cold air did not stop the warm sensation from seeping into her veins like a surge of electricity running through a wire. Her reaction to his touch was evident before she could sensor it. Her lips slowly parted to release a little air from the pressure building in her stomach. 

His hands were in his pockets, no other parts of their bodies were touching. Why did it feel like she was wrapped deep in his warmth? If he didn't break this contact soon, he was going to lose the little composure he’d managed to keep since seeing her on the stage.

Reaching up, Jarrett took her hand and slowly pulled her fingers from his mouth.

"I've thought about that light in your eyes for two weeks."

"I know," she said softly. "So have I." She shook her head. "Not about the light in my eyes, I mean." Paige blushed, never taking her eyes from his. "I thought about you and the way I felt talking to you."

"You're very easy to talk to."

"You should call when you need to talk to someone."

He kissed her fingers, then began walking with her hand in his. "Your hands are cold."

"Really? I feel warm all over."

Jarrett smiled as he thought about her offer. "I don't open up to people easily."

"I know. If you did the media wouldn't say some of the things they do about you. They would have a better understanding of the man you are."

"Do you think I should change that?"

She thought for a moment before responding. "I think you should adjust it. You should allow them to see some of what I see."

He stopped as she continued to walk. The sudden change caused Paige to be pulled back into his embrace.

"What do you see?" he asked standing there, with her hand in his, the other hand in his pocket.

The intensity in his eyes caused her to proceed with caution. Her response was important to him. She could tell by the vein in his neck that was pumping fiercely. The impulse to kiss it crossed her mind, but that would have been too forward.

He saw the look in her eyes as she began to formulate her response.

"No. I don't want it sugar coated. I need to know what you," still holding her hand in his, he pointed to her chest, "see when you look at me."

"I see a proud man filled with respect and integrity in all that he does. I also see a man filled with doubt about who he is and what awaits him in life. You're longing for something, and it’s standing right in front of you. All you have to do is get out of the way and let it happen. All your life your dedication has been to the game. You haven't allowed anything to come between you and success. Now, you're wondering what comes after you stop playing. As my Grand’Mere would say, throw the balls in the air and let them land where they may." She tilted her head as she spoke to him. "You can't control the future, Jarrett any more than you can control the feelings you have for me."

"You think I have feelings for you?"

"No. I know you do. I felt it from the moment you shook my hand on the plane. So did you. Just as both of us feel it right at this moment. What is puzzling me is why you took so long to come and get me?"

"That's a difficult question to answer."

"Please try. Your answer is going to determine if you get to kiss me or not, and I so want to kiss you."

He loved the way she just spoke her mind. Taking her other hand in his, he took a step closer.

"Then I better get this right, because I also want that kiss." He placed his arm around her waist. Standing toe-to-toe, nose-to-nose, lips a breath apart, he spoke. "My life is so complicated."

"Un-complicate it," she said as her eyes held his captive.

Against her lips he whispered, "It's not that simple."

"Yes, it is."

Her lips moving against his caused a tidal wave of emotions to surge through him. Her lips were soft, inviting. The rainbow cotton candy, mixed with her vanilla scented body, was like a sensual aphrodisiac to his senses. The temptation to taste more was too strong to resist. His tongue rolled across her bottom lip, then eased her lips apart. His heart skipped two beats when their tongues met. He moaned, and he knew it was him because it vibrated throughout his body. Pulling her body closer, he loved the way it fit to his. This must be heaven, was the last sensible thought he had.

Paige heard her purse and cotton candy hit the ground the moment his tongue touched hers. The heat on her back from where he held her penetrated through the material of the coat and dress, to spread throughout her body. Her arms, as if of their own will, circled his neck, fusing their bodies together. This must be heaven, because nothing on earth could ever feel this good, was her last sensible thought.

Jarrett’s body was telling him it was time to stop. Damn if he wanted to. He danced with her sweet tongue one last time then ended the kiss. He looked down into her eyes. The look in them screamed at him to kiss her again. He shook his head as he took her hand, picked up her purse and placed the cotton candy in a trashcan.

"I am in trouble," he said as they continued to walk.

"I'm right there with you."

"I don't think I want this night to end."

"If tonight doesn't end, there will be no tomorrows." Paige stepped around in front of him. "I want my tomorrows to be with you."

He kissed her temple. "I'm so gone," he laughed.

Victoria and Sergio sat on a bench watching. Sergio shook his head. "I can't believe Jarrett is kissing a woman in public and now he's laughing about it."

"Well...I'll be damned. It's snowing and they are acting like it's springtime out here," Victoria said in disbelief, then smiled, happy for her friend. "He is as gone as she is."

 

*****

Jolene sat in the mid-town apartment that she shared with another chorus line dancer, Carin Tomey. She was fuming.

"So are you going to let her get away with the principal and Bryson?"

Carin sat Indian style on the floor eating from a container of ice cream as she asked the question.

"No." Jolene gracefully stood as she walked to the window watching the light snow falling. "The only reason I am her back up is because of her heritage and money." The snarl was clear, crisp and deadly.

"You can always put broken glass in the toe of her slippers like you did with Melanie."

Jolene turned quickly on her roommate. "I told you to never mention that."

"It's just you and I here," Carin yelled back. "I know you from way back, Jo. You don't scare me." She put another spoonful of ice cream into her mouth. "So…what are you going to do? Break her legs?" she laughed.

"That's been done." Jolene sat on the sofa then leaned forward. "Remember the trick we pulled on Marcia Greene?"

Carin stopped eating and dropped the spoon into the container. "Need I remind you that Marcia died, Jo?"

"Marcia died from exposure to cold weather."

"Duh…It's cold, here in New York."

"Your point?"