14. Jax
Jax
I had been raised in moderate wealth. We had attended private schools, were members of exclusive country clubs, and we never wanted for anything growing up.
There was wealth, then there was Kit’s level of wealth.
A few things were obvious upon our arrival. First, Kit Sterling had in no way believed I would be tagging along. Second, Nova was very thankful I was tagging along.
The all-glass enclosure that sat in the middle of the helicopter pad on the roof of the Apex building had a small circular table with two place settings.
The violin player, a man in his late fifties, was dressed in a tux and, despite the extravagant setting, managed to look completely bored as he played soft music.
Kit’s eyes darkened when he spotted Nova’s arm twined in mine. If looks could kill, I would have been an ink stain on the ground floor the second we were shown to the roof.
“Good evening,” Kit said after quickly punching a message on his phone. No doubt to secure a third seat to be delivered quickly.
“Wow,” Nova said in greeting. “This is crazy.” She laughed as she held her hair from blowing softly in the evening breeze.
Kit reached over, took her hand from my arm, and lifted it to his lips. “A good crazy, I hope,” he said smoothly.
He was dressed as I’d expected, in a black suit that probably cost as much as my truck. Just as slick as ever.
Honestly, if I was a woman, I’d probably drool over the guy.
I get it. He was the kind of guy magazines wanted on their covers.
He was the hero or billionaire in all those novels women swoon over.
He was young, mid-thirties, and tall, and he had thick sandy blond hair and dimples and muscles in all the right places.
Not to mention the wealth and power he held.
“I hope I’m not intruding,” I said smoothly, getting his attention. “There was no mention of exclusivity in the invitation.”
“Not a problem.” He waved, and by the time we were done talking, another chair and place setting had appeared. “Please.” He motioned toward the glass doors of the enclosure. There were flowers, more of Nova’s favorite, scattered around the large space.
There was no way in hell this man hadn’t pulled this exact move before. How did you even think of building a glass box up here in the first place.
As we moved into the space, I thought about it. Obviously, he’d had women up here before and had figured out that setting up temporary glass walls kept the wind and noise at bay while not distracting from the amazing views and the romance of it all.
Where did you get a temporary glass building like this in the first place?
The thing that finally exposed Kit was that damned violin player. He really did look bored. Like, really, really bored.
When his eyes landed on me, however, I saw a small spark of something in his eyes. That had me smiling.
At least no other woman had brought another man up here before. I had that going for me.
Kit pulled out a chair for Nova. She glanced over at me then dropped her arm from mine.
“Thank you for the beautiful dress,” she said to Kit as she moved to sit down.
“You look just as stunning in it as I’d imagined.” He leaned closer to her before taking his own seat. I grabbed the empty spot and scooted the chair closer to Nova.
I planned on making this as awkward as possible without tipping the balance so much so as to lose the account.
“I hope your rooms are to your liking,” Kit said as he poured some champagne into Nova’s empty glass.
“Room,” I corrected, earning a look from Kit. His eyebrows arched.
“Singular?” He glanced over at Nova.
“Yes, Jax and I… are officially an item. We made it official a few weeks back.” She reached for my hand and I squeezed it lightly in response.
“How, wonderful,” Kit said dryly. “Then I understand why you wouldn’t need the suite this go-round.”
Since he didn’t fill my glass, I poured myself a little and took a sip. Glancing at the bottle, I whistled. “I thought this tasted familiar,” I said, smoothly. “My mother’s favorite.”
Kit’s eyebrows rose again. “I’m very sorry to hear about your father’s passing. I hope your family is well.”
“Thank you, we are each handling it in different ways.” It was the best response I had come up with in the month since Dad’s passing. When I just said we were all well, people tended to feel put off.
“Good,” Kit said, motioning to the waiting staff that we were ready for our first course.
“You can see your new site from here,” Nova pointed out, motioning toward the horizon.
Kit glanced over and, for the first time, I saw pride flash behind the man’s eyes. “Yes.” Kit shifted to look. I followed their gaze.
The construction site was illuminated, no doubt to be on display for tonight’s festivities.
“Wow, it’s come so far since the last time we were here.” Nova shifted slightly.
“The latest estimate is that it will be completed in fall of next year,” Kit answered. “But how about we keep the work talk to a minimum?” he said smoothly. Clearly his main goal for tonight had been to win Nova over, and he didn’t want her distracted by work talk.
“What do you like to do during your free time?” Nova surprised Kit by asking.
“I, um, have several interests,” he answered.
We both waited. He took a sip of his drink and glanced at me.
“I play polo and golf and fly in any spare time I have,” he finally answered.
“How exciting. Jax plays polo as well. He was on his high school polo team and now takes part on our country club’s team. He has also won several local and state golf tournaments.” She beamed. I held in a chuckle.
In the last year I had skipped the polo team since I’d been too busy at work, and golf was more of a leisure activity now than a sport.
Those golf tournaments were back when I was in high school.
I suppose my father’s health slipping had caused me to spend more time at work than outdoors like I’d wanted.
“How interesting,” Kit said dryly.
“Do you have your own plane?” Nova asked.
“I have several.”
“I took a few lessons a few years back. Small single engine,” she said. “I lost interest in it pretty quick after hitting a gust of wind that almost took us down.”
I remember being thankful that day that she’d decided it was no longer for her.
For the next few moments, while we enjoyed our salads and soup, they talked flying and planes.
Then the main course arrived—filet mignon on a bed of fresh spinach and whiskey glazed shrimp, along with bacon and parmesan au gratin potatoes. The conversation turned to local politics somehow.
From the first few moments of the conversation I understood that Kit’s family was well embedded with Nevada’s political elite.
I loved listening to the small little jabs Nova made at the man, who was either willfully ignorant to them or too obtuse to understand clearly.
By the time desert rolled out—chocolate souffle with a fresh raspberry sauce and cream on top—I could tell Nova was bored and over playing games.
“I know the board wanted a quick meeting with you sometime tomorrow,” Kit said once our plates were removed.
“Yes, we have a ten o’clock meeting scheduled,” I answered.
“How about I take Nova over to the site and show her around? She didn’t get the full tour like you did on your last trip.”
“I’d like that,” Nova jumped in, her eyes returning to the lighted building. Then she glanced over at me and I nodded.
The board had specifically requested a meeting with me for the following day, and Nova had suggested she take the time to do some shopping or sightseeing.
This, however, was not something I had planned on. But I knew that she would be cautious, so I shrugged and took her hand under the table.
“Sounds like a plan,” I said casually. I was not going to make the man think that he could do anything to strain our relationship.
After another half an hour of conversation, Kit got a phone call and excused himself. The man who had collected us at our room suddenly appeared and showed us off the roof.
“That was…” Nova said once we were in the private elevator, heading down to the lobby.
“The craziest dinner I’ve ever had,” I finished with a chuckle.
“I was going to say that.” She slapped my shoulder playfully. “What now?” She glanced at her watch. “I’m too revved up and pretty to go back to our room.”
“Want to hit the machines?” I suggested.
“Yes!” She wiggled, and I enjoyed the way her skirt bounced around her legs.
I pulled her into my arms and kissed her. When the doors opened, she pulled back and smiled at me.
“What was that for?” she asked as I took her hand and we strolled through the slot machines.
“Watching you handle Kit was pure magic and extremely entertaining.”
She laughed. “I think half of my jokes went over his head.” She rolled her eyes. “He only laughed a few times.”
“He’s dense,” I suggested.
“He’s self-absorbed,” she corrected, then sat at a slot machine.
“Want a drink?” I asked, waving at a waitress.
“Something fruity,” she said, digging in her purse for some money.
Two hours later, we were sitting in the bar area, enjoying free drinks thanks to Nova’s jackpot win of just over fifteen grand.
“I’ve never won so much money before.” She giggled as she leaned on my shoulder.
“Well, you have now. I guess we will have to set aside some time in our trip to go shopping. What’ll you buy?”
She thought for a moment, her face squashed a little in thought, a true sign she was sloshed.
“A purse.”
“Singular?” I almost spit out my drink.
She laughed. “And a pair of shoes,” she added. “I’ve always wanted a Hermès Birkin.”
“What is that? Some sort of disease?” I joked. My mother had four of them in her closet that she cherished. My father had purchased one for her for each of their last four anniversaries.
Nova slapped my shoulder again and almost missed. I had to catch her before she fell off the stool.
“An orange one.” She sighed. “This one.” She pulled up her phone and, after a minute, showed me the photo.
“If they have it in stock. My father had to wait a full year to get one like that for my mother.”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You know about Birkins?”
“It’s a Kelly 25, right?” I asked, looking at the image again.
“Yes.” She practically squealed it.
“You may not have enough for the bag and a pair of shoes,” I pointed out.
“Depends on the shoes.” She swiped her phone and showed me a pair of silver heels. “These Jimmy Choos are only eighteen hundred.” She sighed. “I should have enough left over for a scarf for my mother, a leather watch band for my dad, and some earrings for Sofia.” She showed me photos.
“You planned this all out?” I asked, handing her back her phone.
“Yup.”
“What about me?” I leaned in closer and whispered against her neck, “What do you have planned for me?” I felt her vibrate under my touch.
“Anything you want,” she purred.