This is my J&C adaptation of Susan Sizemore’s novel, "His Last Best Hope"

Chloe turned from side to side, holding first one luxurious blouse and then the other to her face in front of the tri-fold mirror in La Estrella del Mar’s most exclusive clothing boutique. "Pantera, darling," she purred, casting a glance over her shoulder at Jax, "which do you think looks better on me? The red or the orange?"

Jax barely shifted his eyes in her direction. "Either one, wapa. I don’t care."

Smiles didn’t seem to be part of Jax’s facial repertoire after he and Chloe left their meeting with Stefan. They had been ushered outside to a golf cart where a short, stocky man with virtually no hair on his head but a plentiful supply around his jaw greeted them. Senor Ramon, as he insisted they call him, was the manager of the complex of select shops that catered to the whims of guests of Stefan’s resort. He jovially welcomed Jax and Chloe to the resort, bundling them into the golf cart after rattling off a series of rapid-fire Spanish commands to the driver.

As Jax and Chloe rode in the back seat of the cart, Senor Ramon gave them an ongoing commentary on the various points of interest in the resort. Despite his realization that Stefan was testing him, Jax could have given a flying fig about whether or not the spa’s massage therapists were world class or how many purebred stallions Senor Cassidine’s stables held. He was only interested in one thing – getting the information he needed from Stefan and then getting both he and Chloe out of the estate. Preferably in one piece.

By the time they reached the retail portion of the complex, Senor Ramon had obviously held his tongue as long as possible regarding Jax and Chloe’s disheveled state of dress. "Senor Cassidine informs me that your luggage was lost in the storm, Senor Pantera."

"The storm? Ah yes, the storm!" Jax had to make a concentrated effort to listen to what the ridiculous little man was saying. His mind was whirling with possible scenarios as to how to accomplish his mission despite their current predicament. "My woman was most unhappy to lose her entire wardrobe."

"Now, Pantera," Chloe crooned, trailing a finger up and down Jax’s arm. "You know that that wasn’t *always* the case." She snuggled closer to him, having been in his loose embrace since they left the villa. "How many times did I *enjoy* not having a stitch of clothing to wear with you around?"

Heaven help me for the way I am

Chloe was enjoying playing the part of Jax’s "woman" to the hilt. Maybe it was the feeling of power – payback for all the times since she had met him where *he* dictated the terms and *he* called the shots. Now, Stefan had taken that power away from Jax. He had forced Jax into delaying his mission while he checked out their cover stories. Chloe was frankly surprised at how quickly and easily she slipped into the persona of "kept woman."

Jax had growled something at her under his breath when Chloe let her finger stray from his arm to the rippling muscles of his chest. His hand shot out to manacle her wrist as her hand threatened to slip lower. "Cuidado, amada………you are playing with fire."

Chloe stared up at Jax from beneath coyly lowered eyelids. "Maybe I want to get burned," she whispered in a husky voice.

The golf cart came to an abrupt halt, jolting the make-believe lovers back into the present. "Here we are!" Senor Ramon sang out cheerily. He had escorted Jax and Chloe into the most high-priced of the clothing boutiques, insisting that both of them pick out a complete wardrobe. He also explained that Senor Cassidine would be footing the entire bill.

Chloe didn’t hesitate to take the Senor up on his most generous offer. She had squealed delightedly like a child at Christmas as she selected fresh undergarments. The soft silks and luxurious satins felt like heaven as she sifted through the assortment of daywear. So…..when she had held up a boat-neck silk blouse to ask Jax’s color preference, it stung when he appeared to be more interested in the native boy trimming the hedges outside than how she looked.

Still holding both blouses, Chloe walked towards Jax with a seductive sway to her hips. "Pantera," she purred again, placing a finger beneath his chin to turn his face towards her. "Are you *sure* you don’t care which I choose?"

Jax’s eyes flared momentarily and he glanced over Chloe’s shoulder at the sales clerk, who was waiting on another customer at the time. "Just *what* the bloody h*ll do you think you’re doing, Chloe?"

"I’m *doing* exactly what you TOLD me to do, you jerk!!" she spat back, checking over her shoulder that the clerk couldn’t hear them. "I’m *pretending* to be your lust-smitten mistress, or lover, or whatever you want to call it. And I’m doing a h*ll of a better job at it than you are, I think!"

A slow smile spread over Jax’s face. "Yes – I do believe you’re right." The realization of the game Chloe played hit him like a ton of bricks. She was getting her sweet revenge for all the times he had bullied her since first abducting her from the Morgana. Getting even for him dragging her through the town and a near-hurricane, forcing her to share his bed at Leanita’s, ordering her to pretend that she was in love with him. "You enjoy this, don’t you? Being in control for a change?"

A smug smile graced Chloe’s face. "I *love* it."

The way Jax’s eyes shifted to something behind her clued Chloe in to the fact that the sales clerk had returned. "Ahhhh, but just last night, you seemed to enjoy it when *I* was the one in control, did you not, succulentita?" His ragged whisper was just loud enough for the clerk to hear. Her jaw dropped in surprise but before Chloe could choke out a response, Jax pulled her solidly against his chest, wrapping her wrists behind her and holding them tightly with one hand. "Or were you only pretending when you screamed my name over and over?" Chloe buried her flaming cheeks in Jax’s shoulder as his free hand tunneled under her hair to hold her head still. "When you begged me to stop teasing you and take you to paradise?"

Despite her anger at him, Chloe couldn’t stop her physical reaction as Jax ground the rock-hard wall of his chest against her tender breasts. She knew from the glint in his eye that he felt her nipples swell to hardened nubs at the contact. "You’re…….you’re……." She said a silent prayer of thanks when the tinkling of the bell over the door of the shop distracted the sales clerk momentarily. "You’re a ……a…….a much-o disgusting-o PIG, Pantera!" she shot back. "Now let me go right now!!"

He arched one eyebrow at her mockingly before leaning down to rim the shell of her ear with his tongue. "You shouldn’t be in the kitchen if you can’t stand the heat, wapa," he teased. Jax felt a shudder go through her body when he nipped at the tender flesh of her neck beneath her ear and then soothed it with his tongue. "Comprende?"

Jax abruptly released Chloe just as the salesclerk returned to them. "But to answer your question, enamorada," he continued, nodding towards the two blouses, "I really don’t like *either* of those two." Before Chloe could recover enough to reply, he snatched a small scrap of silk from a side counter and tossed it towards her. "Now THIS would look good on you!"

Chloe barely had time to catch the top as Jax leaned triumphantly against a glass display case, crossing his arms and smiling. She shook it out and couldn’t stifle her gasp while the salesclerk beamed behind her. "Si – es verdad, senorita!" the clerk oozed. "This would make you look very beautiful!"

"But…..but……." Chloe held the top up in front of her, turning it around and around with a puzzled look before the realization hit. "But this has no back to it!! Just a few strings to hold it together……..and there’s hardly any fabric in the front either!!"

"Excellente!" Jax’s roar of approval cut Chloe off before she could elaborate any further. "We’ll take several of those – definitely that tropical print, and one in each color……."

"Pantera!!" Fortunately the clerk didn’t pick up on the acid in Chloe’s tone. "I thought you didn’t *care* about which clothes I picked," she growled through gritted teeth.

"Actually, I don’t," Jax shrugged nonchalantly. He rummaged through a stack of filmy next-to-nothing negligees on another counter. "You know that most of the time I prefer you in NOTHING at all." Then he looked up at her and winked slyly. "But since you *asked*………"

For the first time since he met her, Jax heard Chloe swear beneath her breath. She was moving towards the opposite corner of the shop when he snatched a pale blue nylon confection from the counter. "Now THIS I’d love to see you in!"

Chloe’s cheeks flamed a color to rival the shirt in her hand. "Pantera!!"

Jax held up the baby-doll, swing-style, see-through nightgown. "But only for about two minutes…….." He tossed the matching panties over his shoulder with a wicked grin. "……and *those* definitely won’t be needed!"

Chloe rivaled Olympic records as she dashed across the shop just in time to catch the panties in mid-air. "In your dreams," she snarled at Jax, slamming them back down on the counter behind him.

"Noooo…….in *your* dreams, calientita," he replied, swaggering so close to her that his masculine aura made her weak in the knees. He arched one eyebrow in question. "Si?"

Chloe’s head was reeling, not only from Jax’s erotic suggestions and the way her body seemed to melt into hot liquid every time he was near her. He was a puzzle, this bad guy/good guy/bad guy. One moment, he could be ruthless and cold, totally focused on his mission and oblivious to everyone and everything else around him. But the next, he seemed to be wooing her – weaving a sensual web around her that was becoming more and more difficult to escape. Was he just toying with her emotions? Or was he really attracted to her? The way he kissed her in the plaza when he thought they were saying goodbye seemed to indicate that he wanted her…….

Fortunately, the salesclerk interrupted Chloe’s musings. She bagged up all of the things that Jax picked out for Chloe, including several pairs of shorts, a complete assortment of halter tops, and a bikini similar to the red one she was wearing the first time they met on the Morgana. Chloe shyly added a daring, form-fitting shimmering aqua taffeta cocktail dress to the pile when Jax was off selecting some shorts and chest-hugging t-shirts for himself.

"Now remember, honey," Chloe called, "you *do* look good in other colors besides blue!" While the clerk was laughing at the expression on Jax’s face as he placed two blue shirts back on the counter and took pale green and black ones instead, Chloe stuffed a size 2X bright red t-shirt into the bottom of the growing pile of bags. At least she would have something to sleep in besides the four filmy negligees that Jax had insisted on.

He groused and rattled off a string of Spanish expletives again when the sales clerk informed him that the main dining room in the resort required a dress coat. Chloe was about to suggest that they could just eat in their room when she realized that additional enforced privacy with each other was the LAST thing they probably needed at that point. When a beautiful black watered silk robe and nightgown caught her eye, Chloe never saw Jax slip a pair of trousers and dress shirt into the last shopping bag.

The clerk was silently tabulating the total charge for the clothing when a tall, statuesque brunette breezed into the boutique. "Buenos tardes, Consuela!" she called cheerily. "I am here to take Senorita Chloe for her massage and sauna!"

Chloe almost gasped out loud when she felt Jax’s arm go around her waist like a steel band. "Massage and sauna?" Although he sounded cheerful, she saw the wariness in his eyes. "I certainly hope those things are co-ed!" He rotated his left shoulder and pressed on it. "I’ve had a pain in my neck and shoulder here that just won’t seem to go away, and a massage sounds like just the cure!"

"You ARE a pain in the neck, Pantera," Chloe whispered as the sales clerk and brunette laughed loudly at Jax’s suggestion.

"I am afraid that the spa facilities are restricted only to our female guests, Senor Pantera," the brunette crooned. Her eyes seemed to devour every inch of Jax’s tall frame as they roamed him up and down at will. "But I am sure that if you speak with Senor Ramon, he can arrange something for you at the fitness center."

"Ohhhh, do you have to take my woman away from me right now?" Jax pulled Chloe closer to him and passed one hand over her breast on the way to cup her face. It was only a light touch, but still it shot piercing arrows of heat into Chloe’s lower body. "I was sort of hoping that she would put on a private fashion show for me once we got these new clothes to our accommodations." He waggled his eyebrows with just the right amount of suggestiveness.

The brunette held up one hand to dismiss Jax’s objections. "Senor Cassidine was most specific in his orders, Senor Pantera. He insists that Senorita Chloe be treated to a complete makeover at our spa facility as soon as she is finished selecting her new clothing."

"Now, daaaaarling," Chloe drawled, tracing a finger down Jax’s chest. "You know we were caught in that terrible storm this morning and I never had a chance to take a proper shower." She threaded her fingers through her hair before lovingly caressing his clenched jaw. "I’m sure it’ll only take a few hours……"

It was like a tennis match, this rivalry born of testosterone. When they had entered the shop, Chloe had enjoyed seeing Jax powerless to control the situation for a change. Then, after her erotic challenge, the advantage had shifted back to Jax. Now – with Stefan’s directive that she be treated to a makeover – the power had shifted once again. And Chloe was loving it – not only because it put Jax on the defensive again but also because she was actually looking forward to some pampering.

"A few hours can seem like a lifetime without you, wapa," Jax murmured into Chloe’s ear. He buried his face in her neck, apparently placing heated kisses there. But as soon as the two women looked away discreetly, Jax moved ever so slightly so that he could whisper to Chloe without them hearing. "This is a *bad* idea, Chloe! You’ll be on your own without me there to cover for you if you make a mistake!"

Chloe raised her head and ran her hands up and down Jax’s chest, thrilling when she saw his eyes flare in response to her touch. "I know you’ll miss me, honeybuns, but I’ll be fine! And when I come back, just think how…….rejuvenated……I’ll feel!" she said loudly. She winked at him and then abruptly pulled his face towards her to capture his lips in an intoxicating kiss.

Jax felt like he was drowning – floundering in deep water, not only because he had once again lost control of the situation, but also because Chloe was seductively daring him to live up to the part he played once again. He broke the kiss momentarily, staring into the blazing heat in her eyes, but then reclaimed her mouth with a passion to match her own. Their tongues twined and Chloe moaned softly at the back of her throat when Jax pulled her against the proof of his growing desire for her.

The sound of the sales clerk clearing her throat finally broke them apart. "I’ll see you at dinner tonight, Pantera," Chloe whispered. She rubbed her thumb sensually over his swollen, parted lips. "And I promise ……I’ll make it worth the wait!"

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tonight we dance

Jax glared at the profusion of orchids that decorated the main dining room of La Estrella del Mar. {Bloody h*ll, they should call it The Temple of Sex. Could Stefan have picked a décor that was any more erotic? The smell in here could knock over a stevedore! Those flowers are probably worse than bloody bunny rabbits when it comes to reproducing! With those long, slender, golden throats…….and the stamens……and pistils…….}

He shifted uncomfortably for probably the fourth time in the past ten minutes while waiting for Chloe to appear. After she had left with the sultry brunette, Jax had been shown to facilities in another part of the resort that were reserved strictly for the men. Although he relished the opportunity to take a real shower and shave, his mind had been occupied with thoughts of Chloe. He wondered how she was doing on her own. If she was saying anything that might seem perfectly innocent to her but would end up blowing his cover and getting them both killed. Then – disturbingly – he began to wonder *what* she was doing – and when steamy images of her in the shower started to pass through his mind, he growled some profanities beneath his breath.

"Is this seat taken?" The sound of Chloe’s voice nearly made Jax tip over his wineglass. He covered his choke with his napkin and then rose abruptly, all the breath leaving his body when he saw the results of the makeover.

The aqua taffeta dress that she *thought* he hadn’t seen certainly looked a h*ll of a lot better on her than it did on the hanger. It was a simple sheath with a nipped in waistline and sarong style skirt that parted temptingly over her left thigh. The square neckline and spaghetti straps that left a daring amount of bare skin around her collarbone were complimented by multiple strands of fresh-water pearls. The hairdresser had swept Chloe’s golden curls up and away from her face, catching them at the back of her head with combs that featured more pearls. She smelled like heaven and looked like an angel.

"Estas magnifica," Jax breathed in a husky voice. He strolled towards Chloe and brushed behind her as he pulled out her chair. "Mi corazon," he added, sliding his lips down the side of her neck as she took her seat.

Chloe was very grateful that the chair was beneath her when Jax nibbled at her earlobe and her legs turned to Silly Putty. "You look pretty magnifico yourself, Pantera," she purred, turning to look at him over her shoulder. Jax’s white cotton trousers were cut just a fraction of an inch shy of being indecent in the front. He wore a long-sleeve, white gauzy shirt that was open from the neckline halfway down his chest. A bright red silk handkerchief tucked jauntily in the breast pocket of the shirt reminded her of steamy tropical nights.

Don’t let the world dim my sight

As Jax took his seat again, he nodded at the waiter who began to fill their water glasses. He accepted a menu from another attentive waiter, who informed him that their dinner that night would be courtesy of Senor Cassidine. "So……..what do you feel like tonight, amada?" he asked, glancing up at Chloe with a naughty gleam in his eye.

She wasn’t quite ready for the game to end yet. "Why don’t you move your chair closer to mine and find out for yourself?" Chloe teased, batting her eyes for effect.

But it was Jax’s turn to once again turn the tables on her. "That’s the best idea I’ve heard this evening," he replied with a gloat. Before she could say a word, he slid his large, fan-backed rattan chair around the table so that it was touching hers. When his left hand disappeared beneath the tablecloth and Chloe felt it start to inch its way up her thigh beneath the taffeta, she squirmed visibly and muffled her squeal of shock. "I think that the senorita and I will need a few minutes before we order," Jax informed the waiter, who disappeared with a knowing smile.

Chloe barely managed to wait until the waiter was out of earshot. "What the H*LL do you think you’re doing??!!"

"Exactly what you invited me to do, wapa," Jax replied. His eyes lifted in the waiter’s direction and his hand froze in place. "How did things go in the spa? Any problems?"

"Actually – I almost fell asleep a few times," Chloe admitted in a whisper. "It felt so good to have my hair washed and a hot shower again."

"Do you talk in your sleep?"

"You should know!"

Before Jax had a chance to question Chloe any further on her afternoon activities, the waiter returned. They both slipped easily into their roles again – Jax being the affectionate suitor, Chloe being his sexy, self-assured "woman." While they were sampling the salad that preceded their surf and turf entrees, though, some of the doubts that Ned had pounded into her mind re-surfaced. Jax caught Chloe eyeing the other women at the secluded tables in the room dining awkwardly. He covered her hand with his. "You truly *are* the most beautiful woman in the room tonight, Chloe."

Her lips thinned. "And you lie like a rug, Pantera!"

"It’s not a lie!" He bristled and re-adjusted his napkin on his lap. "And I *always* tell the truth!"

Chloe’s jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me? Your entire LIFE is a lie!"

Jax looked around cautiously and leaned over to place his first finger across her lips, silencing her. "Only because my employer *forces* me to!" Then he straightened and rose an eyebrow in a dare. "Go ahead – ask me a question. I *guarantee* you that I’ll tell you the truth."

Chloe didn’t miss a beat. "What’s your real name?"

Neither did Jax. "Any one but that." His eyes darted around to make sure nobody had overheard them. "Something simpler."

Chloe tapped her fingers against her chin. "OK…….let me think." She paused, stabbed a forkful of endive, and then smiled smugly. "I’ve got it. What’s your favorite sport?"

Jax choked on the wine he had just sipped. "Are you serious?" Chloe nodded and folded her arms in an "I’m-waiting" posture. He chewed on his lower lip for a few seconds and then his face brightened. "OK – I’ve got it. Soccer."

"See – I told you. You’re lying again." Chloe shook her head as Jax frowned in confusion. "ALL men love football first and foremost. You’re making that one up, my friend."

Through the delicious lobster and aged beef that Jax had ordered for them, Chloe found out that Jax *was* telling the truth. Even though he took a lot of ribbing for it from his friends, he rarely followed American football. He was an avid water sports enthusiast and loved to surf when he had the chance. On the flip side, he learned that Chloe rarely missed a baseball game if the New York Mets were playing. When she boasted of being a championship swimmer in high school, Jax challenged her to a race the following morning at dawn.

As the lights dimmed in the restaurant, Jax suddenly put down his knife and fork. "Dance with me." Before Chloe could even reply, he rose from his chair and held out a hand. She hesitated, but then he looked down at her, his eyes wide and bluer than the Caribbean. "Please?"

Who could resist?

As Jax held Chloe close in his arms, he began to rotate his hips in time to the music. The position of his feet interspersed with hers forced her to swivel her hips in counterpart, retreating when he thrust forward and advancing when he pulled back. His hand slid south of the small of her back, pressing Chloe’s lower body against his tight, flat belly and muscular thighs. He spun her under his arm and then caught her again, laying her back in what her Aunt Gertrude would have affectionately called a "dip" in her day. As Chloe stiffened her spine and rose to a standing position again, the driving need saw in Jax’s eyes made her catch her breath.

The throbbing guitars and sweet scent of the orchids in the dining room made Chloe’s head spin. Surely she was going to wake up soon. She would find out this had all been some kind of fantastic, erotic dream, and she would be back in Port Charles with Ned. She would never be in such a sensual paradise with such a dangerous man. A dangerous man who made her feel like she really was a desirable woman.

As the music ended, Jax continued to hold Chloe in his arms. Just as he was lowering his head to kiss her again, the sound of discreet throat-clearing reached their ears. "Your cottage is ready Senor Pantera – if you and the Senorita would care to retire for the night."

Jax’s eyes widened as he turned and found Senor Ramon at his side once again. "How thoughtful of you, senor," he murmured, still holding Chloe firmly in his re-assuring embrace. He turned back to her and arched an eyebrow. "Shall we go, succulentita?"

Chloe fought the mixed feelings of dread and anticipation that the news brought. {Sure – he wants me now. But that’s only because we haven’t made love yet and I haven’t disappointed him – like Ned always said I did.} "Sounds like a wonderful idea to me, Pantera," she managed to choke.

After once again assuring them that Senor Cassidine would pay for their meal, Ramon lead Jax and Chloe out into the humid tropical night. He held out a hand to yet another waiting golf cart. "Jose will take you to your cottage, Senor Pantera." He winked at Jax and bowed from the waist. "Do not hesitate to let me know if you find anything lacking in your accommodations."

"I’ll do that, senor. Muchas gracias!" After Jax helped Chloe into the back of the cart and then hopped in beside her, Ramon gave the driver some further directions in Spanish. Then, with one more lewd smile, he clapped his hands twice and the cart sped off into the night.

Chloe tried to ask Jax once if he had any idea where they were going. But as soon as she took a breath to speak, he pushed her head down on his shoulder and pointed cautiously at the silent driver as a warning. After a few minutes of rocking back and forth in the small cart with the steamy night air ruffling her hair and the growling in her stomach finally satisfied, Chloe’s eyelids began to feel like they were made of lead.

It didn’t take Jax long to realize that Chloe was falling asleep. Her head lolled on his shoulder and every bone in her body seemed to melt into warm pudding. When the cart hit a bump and she reflexively snuggled closer, wrapping her arm around Jax’s waist, he smiled. {So much for plans for a "climactic" end to the evening!}

It was difficult in the dark for Jax to figure out exactly where their cottage was located in relation to the main villa. They had been traveling for about five minutes when Jose finally brought the cart to a halt. Tall palm trees framed the front of a small adobe cottage. When Jose turned around and handed him the key to the cottage, Jax shook his head and then nodded towards a sleeping Chloe.

Jose had the door open by the time Jax carried her inside. When he tried to juggle her weight to dig in his pocket for a tip, Jose shook his head firmly. He placed the key to the cottage on the small table near the door and then bowed one last time before closing the door on the would-be lovers.

The click of the door made Chloe startle in Jax’s arms. "What? Where……" She looked around with panic in her eyes but when she started to say Jax’s name, he placed a finger against her lips.

"Let’s go outside and see the view from the terrace, shall we, amada?" Chloe started to object and Jax laughed loudly. "I know you’re anxious for my loving, wapa, but all good things come to those who wait!"

If Chloe hadn’t been so sleepy, she would have decked Jax on the spot for such a chauvinistic comment. He carried her out some French doors to a private stone patio that was overgrown with tropical blossoms. As soon as he set her on her feet, Chloe remained in his arms. "Do you think the cottage is bugged?" she whispered softly near his ear.

"I wouldn’t put it past him," Jax hissed in reply. "It wouldn’t be the first time Cassidine’s stooped to blackmail in his checkered career."

"Then what are we going to do?" Chloe’s eyes widened. "Surely you don’t expect us to actually …….do something?" Before he could answer, her eyes grew even larger. "Or even to…….to…….to make it sound like we’re……..like we’re doing…….something…….."

Jax chuckled softly before placing a chaste kiss on Chloe’s forehead. "Chloe! Relax! You’re exhausted…….." He let out a long sigh. "I’m exhausted……." He looked over his shoulder at the king-size bed that awaited them. "Let’s just go take advantage of the accommodations and get some rest." He took her hand and started walking towards the bed but felt her slight resistance. "Unless…….." Jax could barely see her face in the inky tropical darkness. "Unless you want me to sleep on the floor for tonight……"

He swore he grew at least ten more gray hairs while he waited for her answer. "No……no, we’d better not do that," Chloe finally replied firmly. "I mean, what if he has *cameras* in there, too??!!"

{I seriously doubt he would…….but who am I to burst her bubble?} "You’re probably right." Jax pretended to be impressed with Chloe’s theory. "Good idea."

"Yeah – I thought so." Chloe was relieved that Jax couldn’t see the shaky breath she took. "Well, I’ll just go in the bathroom and change out of this…….."

"You do that." {And I’ll try to find a nice cold shower somewhere.}

Fifteen minutes later, Chloe emerged from the sumptuous lavatory. She moved so quickly to the bed that Jax only caught a glimpse of the huge t-shirt she was wearing as a nightgown. The bed dipped and when she rolled over towards Jax, she saw that he was wearing a pair of satin boxer shorts from their shopping expedition earlier in the day.

As she snuggled against Jax’s chest, Chloe sighed blissfully. Then her eyes popped back open. "Was that just *this morning* that we got caught in the rainstorm?"

Jax smiled in the darkness. "Yep."

"And went to the mission to see your friend the Padre?"

"Uh-huh."

"And Sonny caught us in the alley? And you had to fight for me?"

"Right again."

"And didn’t we sleep in a whorehouse just last night?"

"Leanita hates that word."

Chloe shook her head in amazement. "Wow – a lot can sure happen in 24 hours, can’t it?"

Jax smoothed the flat of his hand across her face. "Close your eyes and go to sleep now, Chloe." He stared out at the tropical moon that shone in on them through the open French doors and sighed loudly. "Tomorrow is another day."

To be continued………

Music credits: "Criminal" by Fiona Apple, from the CD "Tidal."

"Bailamos," by Enrique Iglesias and Mark Taylor, from the CD "Bailamos" and also the soundtrack "Wild Wild West."