Chapter Four
Jack
I’m not the kind of guy to sneak out after a one-night stand, so I was shocked and disappointed when I woke up and Taylor was gone.
I can’t say I like being on the receiving end, but I’m sure she had her reasons.
There’s a part of Taylor that’s locked up tight.
I noticed it last night, and I don’t take her leaving personally. Or I try not to.
I glance at my watch. I overslept and didn’t rise until almost eleven, which is unlike me, but then again, we were up late.
I wish she’d stayed because I genuinely liked her, not to mention the sex was phenomenal.
She’s beautiful, fun, and we laughed. A lot.
I admit I’ve never had as much fun eating dessert as I did with her.
But she’s gone and until now, I didn’t realize we hadn’t exchanged last names.
I’m in Charleston for another couple of days, and I’d like to see her again. Unfortunately, the likelihood is slim.
I sit down at the desk in the outer area of my hotel suite.
Opening my laptop, I pull up the search engine and type in “Taylor, charity, Charleston.” None of the results match who I’m looking for.
Of course, I didn’t get the name of the foundation where she works and though she mentioned her father’s real estate company, I don’t have that either.
It’s like searching for a specific fish in the vast ocean, an impossible feat.
Frustrated, I turn my thoughts to food and call downstairs for breakfast. While waiting, I shower and dress in jeans and a T-shirt.
It’s hot as hell in Charleston and unless I’m meeting with people for business, I’m not going to dress up.
I step past the bed, look down, and see something shiny on the floor.
Bending, I pick up a diamond earring I assume Taylor lost last night.
I twirl the post between my thumb and forefinger, staring at the glittering diamond, a knot in my stomach because I won’t be seeing her again.
Without thought, I slide the earring into my front jeans pocket and when a knock sounds on the door, I let the waiter with the food cart into my room.
While drinking my coffee, I tap my phone and call Lucas to tell him about the building. I might have played disinterested with the realtor, but I’m aware there’s always a chance I could lose the opportunity if I don’t move things along.
The phone rings and my partner answers. “Jack! Good to hear from you.”
“Hey. How are things in Miami?” I ask, taking a bite of a blueberry muffin. The tangy taste explodes on my tongue and I take another nibble.
“All good,” Lucas says. “The club is running smoothly and—”
“Is that my brother?” my sister Rainey asks loudly in the background.
“Yes, it’s Jack,” Lucas replies.
“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.