Brenda looked at him with wide eyes, dodging Anthony’s flying fist as he grabbed for her earring. "What’s that?"

{Tell her. Tell her.} "Ummm…. I don’t know where you’re parked. You have to point me in the right direction," he said with charming style. {Coward.}

"Oh, of course," she laughed. "Out this way, past Penney’s." She hesitated for a second, but apparently he WAS a real gentleman. She had just told him they should exit toward the east, and only moments before, she had almost made an Olympic-worthy sprint towards the WEST when she thought he was looking at her wet shirt. Instead, he fell into pace and walked beside her as they made their way out of the mall.

"Oh, my name is Jacks, by the way, Jasper Jacks. Although, I personally hate the name Jasper and all my friends just call me Jax," he said. He held his breath, waiting for any recognition on her part.

"I’m Brenda Cerullo," she smiled back, and his heart slowed back to a normal pace. "And this is Anthony, of course."

Jax smiled at the toddler, who was still giving him a happy grin. As they began to leave the mall, Brenda secretly began sizing up this knight-in-shining-armor who had come to her son’s rescue. Apparently, when God handed out smile power and charm, Jax had kicked everyone else out of the line and collected their shares. His appeal crossed the generation gap, and then some. First, Brenda saw a posse of teenage girls openly gape at him, and make comments that had her blushing. Then, a pair of grandmothers stopped to watch him walk by, and Brenda didn’t even try to understand what they were saying to each other. Even women who already had male companions in tow turned their heads to take a second look.

It gave Brenda a shock, but then made her feel strangely proud to have such an attractive man in her company. She stole another glance at him. His face was lined, perhaps from the horrible pain he must have suffered in the accident. But how old could he be, to have suffered so much already? Surely not more than 30. Probably about the same age Louie would have been.

Louie. Brenda suddenly felt as though she had betrayed something sacred. She had forgotten all about him for at least 15 minutes. If he were still alive, she wouldn’t need to rely on kind strangers to rescue her child from mall fountains. She felt guilty, somehow, that she had forgotten her promise to him never to let his memory go cold.

Jax broke her solemn reverie. "How old is Anthony?"

"Just over 17 months," she answered.

"He’s chunky, isn’t he? I mean, I don’t know a whole lot about babies, but he just felt … well-fed when I held him," Jax laughed.

"Yes, he’s hefty for his age. He’s never met food he doesn’t like," Brenda sighed. "But his dad was muscular."

"Was?"

"He died." Brenda said it as though the topic of conversation were closed. She didn’t want to elaborate.

"I’m sorry to hear that," Jax said, hoping for an opening, but she gave him none. Obviously, this was not the time for his confession. He had dreamed of meeting Brenda for so long. He had even fantasized about it some nights when he couldn’t sleep in the rehab center in Texas. But, the dreams and fantasies certainly didn’t include him rescuing her child from a mall fountain on a crowded Saturday afternoon.

Brenda searched for a safe topic of conversation as they walked through the endless sea of cars. "I’d say from your accent you’re not from around here, are you, Mr. Jacks?"

"Good ear. I’m from Australia, originally. My folks moved to the States when I was little, but the accent just hangs on. They live in Alaska, and I moved to Port Charles about a month ago. And please – the name is Jax."

There was that smile again. {That smile should be outlawed as being dangerous to the health of the female population.} "So, what brings you to Port Charles?" Brenda asked.

{You.} "Money." He waited for her stunned reaction, and laughed. "My family has a business and I’ve opened a branch office here in Port Charles."

"What kind of business?"

Jax searched for a polite way to explain it. "Actually, we’re involved in corporate mergers and takeovers. We find companies that are financially vulnerable, buy them, break them up, and re-sell them, making a tidy profit for ourselves in the process." Jax stole a glance at her. "Are you ashamed to be seen with me now?"

"Not at all. We have several wealthy families here in Port Charles that probably haven’t done worse things than that in the past." Just as she was about to ask about his corporate connections, she walked up to a white mini-van.

"This is me."

He read the name stenciled on the side. "L&B Records?"

Brenda smiled. "I’m the "B", and my sister-in-law and best friend, Lois, is the "L." We have a small record label, but it’s growing every day. We even have a small facility downtown with a recording studio and offices."

{5978 Tower Parkway. You have a first floor occupancy, 2,817 square feet, your receptionist has blonde, shoulder-length hair and she drinks Diet Coke with her lunch, you drive a white mini-van and your partner drives a blue one.} "Really?" Jax said, acting surprised. "I’ll have to take a drive past it sometime."

She struggled to get Anthony into his car seat. "Well, thank you again Mr. … uh….Jax." She wondered if she looked as awkward as she felt. How do you thank a total stranger for saving your child’s life? "I really appreciate all you’ve done this afternoon. And welcome to the community."

"No problem." He could see she was obviously trying to escape, but he didn’t want to let her go just yet. She climbed behind the wheel, and after putting her key in the ignition, Jax heard the engine grind, but not purr to life. He watched her lips move, and then after she tried to start the motor again without success, he read the word that formed on them. He was surprised she even knew the word, and hoped that Anthony didn’t pick words up the first time he heard them.

As he watched and came closer, she tried the ignition again, and he saw her slump back against the seat when it failed a third time. He tapped on the window, and she rolled it down.

"Problem?"

"It doesn’t want to start. I think maybe the battery’s dead."

{There ARE angels, and they obviously have been hearing me.}

She tried the motor again, but now it didn’t even grind. There was silence. That is, until Anthony decided to start exercising his lungs again, disgusted at being confined in a stationery object.

"Can I help?"

"No, thanks Jax. I’ll just go in the mall and call my father-in-law to come pick us up and jump-start the battery."

Jax listened to Anthony wail. "I have a better idea. Why don’t I just drive the two of you home?"

A sudden chill crept up Brenda’s spine. How many times had she heard the lecture about not getting into a stranger’s car? How did she know he hadn’t somehow tampered with the mini-van’s battery, and then befriended her in the mall….

"No, I’ll manage. I really don’t want to take up any more of your time."

"It’s no trouble."

"No, thanks again."

When she looked at Jax again, she wasn’t prepared for the pain in his eyes. "It’s the scar, isn’t it?" he said quietly. "You’re afraid of me."

{Oh, great. Now he’ll think I’m some reactionary, prejudiced monster.} "No, I’m not afraid of you."

Then, to her surprise, he relaxed and almost smiled. "Well, you should be. Don’t you watch the evening news? Don’t tell me they don’t have assaults and muggings in Port Charles." Then, his expression softened and his eyes pulled her into their blue depths. "But I’m only trying to help you," he added softly.

Now she really felt like an idiot. And besides, what man would ruin an Armani suit and expensive pair of Italian leather shoes to rescue a child from a fountain, and then turn out to be a serial killer?

She smiled in concession. "All right. Where are you parked?"

"Pretty far from here. Why don’t you let me carry Tony the Tiger?" She hesitated for a moment, but Anthony was delighted when Jax lifted him out of the carseat. He patted Jax’s cheek and almost stuck one finger up his nose, causing Jax to roar with laughter. Anthony’s intuition certainly indicated that this was a man to be trusted. Brenda was sure of it as she watched Jax walk away, with Anthony stroking the scar on his cheek lovingly.

Jax was most apologetic when they got to his car, but Brenda had to catch her breath. While she certainly expected a swinging bachelor’s sportscar, she hadn’t expected an expensive Jaguar convertible. Apparently, business was good.

She had to concentrate on what he was saying. "I didn’t realize I would have guests. Will you and Anthony be able to ride without the carseat?"

Brenda nodded silently, still amazed at the car. "Why don’t you let me hand him to you? The car’s kind of hard to get into gracefully when you’re holding him." He held the door open for her, and as he placed Anthony in her lap, his arm was trapped briefly between her breast and the baby. They both pretended it didn’t happen, but both heartbeats quickened briefly at the contact.

"It’s warm in here, with the sun shining on the upholstery. I’ll get the A/C going as soon as possible," Jax said, sliding behind the wheel.

"That’s OK," Brenda said. "Actually, the warm seat feels good. We’re both still damp from Anthony’s swim." After she said it, she could have bitten off her tongue. {Good, Brenda, remind the man that you look like a refugee from a wet T-shirt contest.}

There were awkward silences as Jax maneuvered the magnificent machine out of the parking lot and onto the highway. Brenda tried to occupy her mind by giving Jax directions and keeping Anthony’s inquisitive fingers from playing with every knob on the dashboard.

{He probably thinks I’m a basket case. Total failure as a mother, and a ninny when it comes to making conversation with a man.} Her glance strayed over to Jax as he sat comfortably behind the wheel of the Jag. Somehow, he was just too … sexy to fit the role of good Samaritan. His hands were large, strong, and tanned as he held the wheel with assurance and power. He moved his foot from the accelerator to the brake, and Brenda’s gaze couldn’t help but stray to his powerful legs and thighs, which the expensive trousers fit like a glove. Just as her gaze wandered traitorously to his lap, he broke the silence, and she jumped.

"Hot?"

"Excuse me?"

Jax smiled at her, not understanding her mortification. "Are you getting hot? Should I turn on the A/C now?"

"Yes, that would be … fine." {GET A GRIP, BRENDA!} She forced herself to make harmless conversation for the remainder of the short drive. "We live with my in-laws, Anthony and I. They insisted that we move in after Anthony’s father died. My parents both died when I was young." Brenda peered through the windshield. "That’s it, up ahead on the left. The one with the sprinkler going."

Jax had to restrain himself, since his foot had already been moving toward the brake, even before she gave him the direction. He had driven past the house so many times, he already knew what time she left for work and which days Carmine chose to water the lawn.

Brenda, meanwhile, didn’t notice his uncanny intuition because she was too upset about seeing Lois’s van parked in the driveway. Perhaps she could have just hopped out of the car with Anthony before anyone saw them and the inquisition began, but not with Lois and her vivid imagination around. Maybe she could still manage it.

But this was not to be her Saturday. Just as Jax pulled up in the driveway, Carmine Cerullo wandered out onto the porch and ambled down to turn off the sprinkler. He straightened up in surprise to see the fancy car pulling into his drive, and was even more curious when he saw Brenda and Anthony sitting inside.

Jax, meanwhile, didn’t seem at all phased. "Hi!" He turned back to the car as he got out. "End of the line, folks." Then he looked down at Brenda and reached for Anthony. "Why don’t you give the Tiger to me?" He hoisted Anthony, who chuckled in glee, into his left arm, and then helped Brenda out with his right hand. Shutting the car door with one motion, he slid the right hand to the small of her back as they rounded the car.

Carmine was looking suspicious. "Where’s your car, Brenda?"

"Nothing’s wrong, Pops. You can relax."

At that moment, Gloria Cerullo and Lois chose to make their appearance on the porch, too. While Gloria rushed down to the driveway, her gaze bouncing back and forth between Brenda and the blonde stranger holding her grandson, Lois was still standing on the porch, gaping with an open mouth at Jax.

Brenda decided to take matters into her hands. "Mom, Pops, this is Jasper Jacks." Jax nodded politely at them both, shaking Carmine’s hand with his right, and still holding Anthony with the left. "And that woman with the Grand Canyon for her mouth up there on the porch is my sister-in-law, Lois Cerullo."

"Hi, Ms. Cerullo," Jax said in his most charming voice.

Lois was not acquainted with the words "tact" or "restraint." "Hi ‘ya, handsome. Where’d she find you?"

Brenda could have cheerfully strangled her. "He found us, actually. He gave us a ride home from the mall when my battery died."

Lois’s voice rang out. "That was very chivalrous of you, Mr. Jacks. And it took a lot of your time. Won’t Mrs. Jacks be worried about ‘ya?"

Jax smiled at Lois. He immediately recognized her – a born flirt, a kindred spirit. He looked into her twinkling blue eyes. In an earlier lifetime, he could have matched her, double entendre for double entendre, but suddenly that didn’t seem so important anymore. "My mother doesn’t really care how I spend my time, Ms. Cerullo."

Jax shifted Anthony a little and decided to put him down. But as soon as Anthony felt solid ground under his little feet, he grabbed Jax’s wet pants leg and held on for dear life. He bent his knees, bouncing his little wet bottom up and down in frustration and adding a whine for extra effect. Jax immediately noticed his displeasure, smiled, and swung him up into his arms again. Anthony immediately quieted and cuddled close to Jax’s chest, a move that did not go un-noticed by either Brenda or Gloria.

As Brenda and Jax locked gazes, much to Lois’s amusement, Gloria decided to break the silence. "Anthony’s clothes are soaking wet!"

Brenda gave him a disapproving look. "That’s because he decided to do a swan dive into the fountain at North County Mall."

Carmine really looked confused now. "Was this before or after the battery ran down?"

Brenda took a deep breath. "I was feeding Anthony an ice cream cone in the mall, and he got away from me when I went to throw away the trash. Next thing I knew, a crowd had gathered around the fountain, and Mr. Jacks was there, holding a dripping Anthony."

Lois came down off the porch for a better view of this Sir Galahad. "You jumped in the fountain to save my nephew?" She made a point of glancing down at his wet trouser pants and ruined shoes, and Gloria and Carmine followed her gaze.

Jax nodded. "Basically."

"Hmmm," Lois purred, and Brenda could have slapped her.

That caused Gloria and Carmine to begin thanking Jax profusely for his kindness and quick thinking, any trace of skepticism now gone. While they engaged him in conversation, Brenda took Anthony from Jax and began walking back to the house with Lois. Since their backs were turned, the other three couldn’t see the mouthed conversation between the two women.

"He’s hot!" Lois breathed.

"Shut up!"

Lois giggled. "Your boobs are wet!"

Just as Brenda glanced down at her front, Jax’s conversation with the Cerullo’s ended and his gaze followed hers. She could feel the heat of his eyes on her lack of a bra, which was obvious under the tube top. She glared up at him quickly, and he caught the message and looked back at Gloria.

"Why don’t you come in and have a soft drink, Mr. Jacks? It’s the least we can do for rescuing our only grandson!" Gloria schmoozed.

"No!" Brenda was surprised that the word came out so loudly and forcefully, and bit her tongue afterwards. "I mean, I’ve already taken up most of Mr. Jacks’ afternoon, and he’s a very busy businessman. I’m sure he has much more important things to do than waste any more time with us." She looked into his blue eyes once more, almost regretting that she wouldn’t ever see them again. "Thanks again, Jax, for rescuing Anthony. And the ride home."

Jax definitely got the "Scram!" message, so he decided he had pushed the situation enough for the first day. "No problem at all." He grinned at Anthony, who was still reaching for him. "You be good for your mum now, Tiger." He waved at the other Cerullo’s as he got into the Jag. "Nice to meet you."

They watched him drive up the street, and Brenda broke the tense mood. "I’ve got to get Anthony out of these wet clothes."

Lois caught her by the arm. "So, tell us, Brenda!!"

Brenda sighed. "Tell you what?"

They headed into the kitchen where Brenda got a tippy cup and some juice for Anthony. "Did he really jump in the mall fountain to rescue Anthony?" Gloria asked, ruffling the toddler’s hair.

"Mom, don’t make it sound so life-threatening. Last time I checked, North County Mall isn’t stocking the fountain with piranhas. It’s not that deep, either." Brenda almost gagged on the words. {Right. That’s why you were thanking the man for saving your son’s life and considering nominating him for sainthood about 45 minutes ago.}

"What about the car?" Carmine asked. "How did he know about that?"

"He walked me out to the car," Brenda said, trying for nonchalantly. "I was pretty upset after Anthony got away, and so he helped me with the stroller and everything."

"He volunteered to do that?" Lois said in a low tone.

"Yep. No big deal."

"Hmm." Lois tapped her fingernail on her lips.

"That was nice of him to volunteer to drive you home, too," Gloria offered.

"He limps," Carmine said, in a typical, short, masculine assessment. "Wonder why?"

"Hmmm," Lois observed again.

Brenda got up from the table in disgust. "Lois, will you stop that? You sound like a doctor making a diagnosis! He’s just a good Samaritan. That’s all." She looked at Carmine. "And we don’t have to sit and guess about what causes him to limp, because we won’t ever see him again."

The Cerullo’s all got Brenda’s message. Her voice had taken on that cold, clipped tone she began using after Louie died. The tone that meant that the subject was closed to discussion. The tone that meant BACK OFF!!

Brenda slipped Anthony out of the highchair and took him upstairs, with Lois in hot pursuit. "Don’t you have a date tonight with Eddie?"

Eddie Maine was one of L&B’s new discoveries, and Lois was "warm for his form," as she put it. "Don’t go there, Bren," Lois said, flopping down in the rocking chair in Anthony’s room as Brenda changed him.

"Don’t go where? I wasn’t going anywhere."

"I mean, you’re trying to change the subject. I want to hear about your tall, blonde, handsome hunk."

Brenda was beginning to get angry. "He’s not MY anything! He’s just a nice man."

Lois leaned forward in the rocker. "He’s not married, ‘ya know. At least, he wasn’t wearing a wedding band, and he didn’t have that married look, if ‘ya know what I mean."

"No," Brenda sighed, "I don’t know, and furthermore, I don’t care. I really didn’t look."

"Well, I did, at every single, solitary inch of him. How tall do ‘ya think he is, anyway? Six-foot-one, six-foot-two, maybe?" Lois sat back, and then smiled wickedly. "And did you notice the way he filled out the front of those trousers?" At Brenda’s gasp, Lois just waved her off and continued. "Somehow, those suits that Pops buys at Sears never fit the way a designer suit does. ‘Ya know, those tailors make sure that everything fits REALLY snug…"

"Lois…" Brenda’s blood was beginning to boil.

"It’s kinda like that plumbin’ truck we saw the other day with the sign on the side that said, "Having the right parts can make a big difference," ‘ya know?"

"Stop it!!"

"What?" Lois said innocently. "Did I say somethin’ wrong?" She ignored Brenda’s murderous gaze. "But those gray eyes… didn’t they just want to make you die?"

Brenda was putting the wet clothes in Anthony’s hamper, trying to think of something else. "They weren’t gray, they were blue," she answered absently, and then she put her hands on her hips at Lois’s snicker.

"Thought ‘ya said ‘ya didn’t look," Lois said quietly in a sing-song voice.

"I’m going to give Anthony a bath now. Why don’t you go to your apartment and meet Eddie and get rid of some of that nervous energy?" Brenda said. She watched Lois rise slowly. "I don’t even want to think about Mr. Jacks anymore."

Lois walked past her slowly, stopping to look in her eyes. "I betcha he’s thinkin’ about you." She stopped once more in the doorway. "And he DID notice your wet boobs!"

"Did not!" Brenda cried.

Lois sauntered triumphantly out of the room. She was walking down the hall as Brenda heard her say, "Did too!"

Brenda went downstairs later to have a late supper with Lois and Carmine. After she re-told the story for the fifth time, and could barely stand it if she had to listen to one more of Carmine’s theories about why he limped, she rose from the table. "I should have just taken a taxi! Why is everybody so taken with the man? We’ll never see him again!"

She showered and got into bed, and tried to read a book to take her mind off the day’s events. But it didn’t work.

{No wonder I can’t think about anything but Jax. Everyone keeps talking about him. And no matter what Lois thinks, he WAS NOT staring at my chest. He DID NOT notice.}

*~*~*~*

As most of Port Charles slept that night, at least two people lay awake, staring at the ceilings in their respective bedrooms.

Jax tossed and turned in his expensive penthouse suite at the Port Charles Hotel. All he could think of was the way she looked, and particularly the way she looked in that wet tube top. The vision of her perfect breasts haunted his dreams when he was finally able to drift off.

Brenda lay awake in her bed. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw a blonde-haired, blue-eyed god, his eyes twinkling with delight. And they were trained on her wet chest. And what really bothered her was the fact that she didn’t feel ashamed or embarrassed. She felt a tingle that ran down to her toes each time she remembered the way his gaze caressed her. And the most disturbing thought of all – she wanted to feel that tingle again.

To be continued…