Brenda pasted a broad smile on her face as the band swung into "For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow" and balloons cascaded around her. It had been two days since she had almost been raped on the docks. The superficial cuts had healed but the bruises on her wrists and windpipe still ached, especially after a long day like this one. If she had any sense, she would have passed on attending Mayor Ward’s re-election fundraiser, but a promise was a promise.

She couldn’t hide the wince as someone behind her in the packed ballroom bumped into her. The style of her long black crepe gown hid most of the ugly purple that painted her skin. Although the dress was sleeveless, it tapered deeply, raglan-style, to the turtleneck collar. Brenda had added a pale blue scarf at her waist as a makeshift belt and to add some color. The slightly flared skirt allowed her freedom of movement, even though the three-inch heels of her black satin sandals made her lower back ache miserably. The turquoise stones in her Southwestern necklace matched the color of the scarf, and the matching silver cuff around her upper arm gave the entire ensemble an exotic, sexy look.

When somebody on her left jostled her elbow again, Brenda debated whether or not she could slip out of the shoes altogether. It had been a *long* day, the pain from her injuries notwithstanding. Based on the information she had gathered, an arrest had been made in Drew Brighton’s murder, almost overshadowing the nearly tragic events she experienced. The fact that her boss, District Attorney Dara Jenson, had given the case to her to prosecute was icing on the cake. She prayed that a trial date wouldn’t be assigned before she could recover from the bruises her mugger had inflicted.

And the insomnia. In the two nights since the attack, Brenda estimated that she had gotten a total of six hours of undisturbed sleep. Dreams plagued her. She would wake up abruptly, sometimes screaming, always perspiring and with her heart pounding in her throat. At first, her dreams were predictably about the attack. She wasn’t rescued in time, and unfortunately she didn’t wake up in time to escape the scenario of what he might have done. But then, starting the night before, her dreams took a curious turn. They no longer centered around her attack or the perpetrator. They were about the rescue.

It was him. Kismet. HE was haunting her dreams, and she didn’t like it one bit. It was amazing, really – she could almost *feel* his hard body against hers, *smell* his unique scent of leather and powerful masculinity. And the dreams rarely mirrored what had actually happened. Instead, she would find Kismet sweeping her up into his arms and then carrying her off into the night. The dark mist would swirl around them until it cleared and she found herself alone with him in some candlelit room. He would lower her to a bed with black satin sheets and then mold his body to hers, nuzzling her neck as he softly whispered her name over and over while worshiping her with his hands. "Brenda………Brenda…….."

"BRENDA??"

She blinked her eyes and quickly focused on the dark-haired man standing in front of her. "Ned! I’m so sorry……"

Ned Ashton narrowed one eye and extended a champagne flute to her. "No problem, Bren." He stepped closer to her. "Are you sure you’re OK?"

"I’m fine – REALLY!" She patted her chest and took a sip of champagne to try to slow her racing heart. Then she winced and rubbed her lower back. "I just probably made a mistake coming here tonight after putting in so many hours at the office."

"AND after going through what you did the other night," Ned added. He put his free arm around her shoulders. "We can leave any time you want, you know." He gestured towards Justus Ward, who was in the center of a large group of well-wishers. "I’ve made my presence known to my boss and he’s got plenty of other assistants who can introduce him around if this is all getting to you."

"We can stay -- I’ll be fine." Brenda nodded and smiled wanly. "Besides, I haven’t had the chance to personally tell the Mayor why *I’m* going to vote for him come November!"

Ned winked and tipped his head to the side. "And you mean it has nothing to do with the fact that you’d lose your job if you didn’t?"

Brenda Barrett had met Ned Ashton shortly after coming to work for the Port Charles District Attorney’s office several years earlier. They had remained "just friends," although sometimes Brenda suspected that Ned wished it were more. To tell the truth, she just hadn’t had the time or the inclination to form any romantic attachments since arriving from New York. She loved her job and spent most of her free time putting in the extra hours that earned her the promotion to Assistant DA.

Ned Ashton’s uncle was Edward Quartermaine – one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in Port Charles. But Ned had forgone the opportunity to work in his family’s business and had worked his way up through Mayor Ward’s staff. Now, just about everyone knew that Justus Ward didn’t even choose a necktie without consulting Ned first. Talk was that someday when Justus moved on to bigger and better things in state politics, Ned would be his natural successor.

The relationship worked well for both of them. Having a beautiful woman like Brenda on his arm for political functions was good for Ned’s public image. Having a powerful man like Ned escort her to the most elite political soirees in Port Charles allowed Brenda to hobnob with important judges and defense attorneys. And once the platonic ground rules had been firmly established, "Ned and Brenda" seemed like a match made in heaven.

Loud laughter from the opposite side of the room drew their attention. Brenda saw a bevy of beautiful women surrounding someone. A few seconds after that, Justus Ward glanced over in that direction and made a beeline for the center of the crowd.

"Ned?" Brenda leaned towards him and gestured with her freshly-filled champagne flute. "Who’s that over there? At the center of that huddle of buxom blondes?" She straightened and snorted softly. "I don’t think I’ve seen Justus move that fast since they opened the buffet table tonight!"

Ned’s eyebrows drew together in a frown and then he relaxed and smiled grimly. "Well, that figures…….."

"What figures?"

"The man who’s the center of attention." Ned shook his head. "Have you ever heard of the name Jasper Jacks?"

"Jasper Jacks………" Brenda chewed on her lower lip and thought for a minute. Then she laughed raucously and lay her free hand on his arm. "Ned, you should know by now that I don’t know *anybody* in this town unless they’ve broken the law!"

Fate stepped in once again that night. The pre-recorded music stopped and a momentary hush fell in the room, allowing Brenda’s musical laughter to carry towards the group they were observing. Much to her chagrin, the ring of women parted and the tall, blonde man at the center abruptly turned towards her. She felt a jolt of something like electricity shudder through her body when he fixed his crystal blue eyes on her and smiled.

"Ned……..he’s watching us!!" Brenda shrank back a little, fondly wishing that she could just disappear.

"Don’t look now, Bren………." Ned grinned at her discomfort. "But he’s coming this way!"

Brenda’s jaw almost dropped to the floor as she watched him extricate himself from his female entourage. A blonde slid off one arm and a redhead looked as though she would burst into tears when he took her arm from around his waist and moved in the opposite direction. When Justus saw him coming towards her and Ned, he adjusted his stride to take an intersecting course. But unfortunately, fate stepped in again and the councilwoman from the 7^th ward intercepted the good mayor before he could reach the elusive Jasper Jacks.

The closer he came, the more magnificent Brenda could see that he was. His blonde hair fell in a rakish wave across his forehead. The deep cleft in his strong chin and the dimples that popped when he smiled were guaranteed to make a woman’s heart beat faster. He was tall – over six feet, she guessed – with impossibly broad shoulders. Unlike the other men in the ballroom who were running a finger beneath their starched collars, Jasper Jacks looked like he was *born* to wear a tuxedo. Bypassing a more traditional style, he had chosen a double-breasted black coat for the evening and a white formal shirt with a stand-up collar that made a bow tie unnecessary. Brenda looked the other way just as he came to stand next to Ned and clap a hand on his shoulder in greeting.

"Ashton!" His voice had a clipped accent – definitely not American. "You’ve been holding out on me!"

"Jax!" Ned extended a hand and smiled broadly. "You know I would never do a thing like that!"

Jax’s gaze was riveted on Brenda. "Of course you would – and have." He acknowledged Ned with a tip of his head – and that’s all. "You’ve been keeping the most beautiful woman here to yourself all evening -- and you *still* haven’t introduced me!"

Brenda flushed under his very sensual scrutiny. "Brenda, may I present Mr. Jasper Jacks, corporate raider extraordinaire and general pain in my grandfather’s behind." He turned to Jax. "Jax, this is Brenda Barrett, Port Charles’ Assistant District Attorney."

She extended a hand. "Mr. Jacks – I’m pleased to meet you."

He took her hand and turned it so that he could graze his lips over the back. "Miss Barrett – I can assure you, the pleasure is ALL mine." She exerted gentle pressure to get her hand back but Jax refused to release it. "So…….you’re the lady in charge of upholding the law in Port Charles….." His eyes made her feel like she was wearing nothing but her weak smile. "Tell me, Miss Barrett," he continued with a devilish wink, "what do I need to do to stay on your good side?"

"For starters – give me back my hand or I’ll be forced to prosecute you for possession of stolen property."

Brenda Barrett formed quick opinions of people based on her first impressions. She usually wasn’t wrong. And based on what she had seen and felt of Jasper Jacks, she knew *exactly* what he was – a player. And she didn’t like him at all.

Ned chuckled at Brenda’s effective put-down of the most sought-after bachelor in the Western Hemisphere. Jax released her hand with a reluctant shrug of the shoulders. "Don’t you have to go cut the mayor’s meat for him, Ashton?" he asked, still staring seductive daggers at Brenda.

"Actually……." Brenda’s eyes widened in surprise at Ned’s apologetic tone. Would he really leave her alone with this shallow playboy at a time like this? "It looks like the Mayor is trying to get my attention …… if you’ll excuse me for a minute……"

Brenda caught herself just as a very unladylike expletive was about to escape her lips. Ned winked at her as he sauntered away, leaving Jax eyeing her like she was the last ham sandwich in a roomful of starving men. And contrary to the giggling playmates he had left across the room, Brenda hated it. She frigidly glared in the opposite direction as the first soft strains of music from a ten-piece orchestra filled the room.

"Dance with me."

He reminded her of tele-marketers. Or a toothache. Persistent and annoying.

She favored him with a saccharine smile. "Is that a question or an order, Mr. Jacks?"

His smile was indulgent, determined, and fatally charming in certain female sectors of the population. "My friends call me Jax – with an "x.""

Brenda obviously wasn’t in one of those sectors. "I’m sure they do – Mr. Jacks."

He whistled softly, unruffled by her less-than-diplomatic brush-off. "Does Ned know what a lucky man he is?" When Brenda raised an eyebrow in question, Jax went on. "Having you as his woman?"

Although it rankled her to do it, Brenda stepped closer to make her point so there was no doubt in his mind. "I’m NOT Ned’s woman, Mr. Jacks." He stood his ground in the face of her ire, still smiling – which only made her more furious. "For that matter, I’m nobody’s ANYTHING!! I’m a person – not a thing! NOBODY owns me!"

"I’m sure you are, Miss Barrett," Jax whispered smoothly. When he lifted a hand to gently caress the side of her face, Brenda found herself frozen to the spot, unable to move – much to her disappointment. His finger trailed down the side of her jaw and then continued down her neck to follow the line to her bare shoulder. As he circled the bone, a shiver went down Brenda’s spine. "You’re like the wind……." The husky quality of his voice made Brenda close her eyes, almost reeling. "……Elemental. Free. Not able to be contained."

When she opened her eyes again to stare into Jax’s, the strangest feeling of déjà vu flitted across Brenda’s consciousness. The electric moment was shattered when a feminine whine came from just behind Jax’s left shoulder. "Jaaaaaax? Aren’t you going to dance with me? You proooomised……."

A busty blonde in a nearly-transparent white pailette gown latched onto Jax’s arm. Her lower lip pouted out so far Brenda thought it might break off. He never even looked at her, instead continuing to launch hot seductive salvos into Brenda’s eyes. "I did?" With a brisk shake of his head, Jax seemed to come out of his Brenda-induced trance. "Of course I did, Bunny," he replied smoothly, wrapping an arm around the blonde. Her happy smile caused her body to jiggle in places that had nothing to do with smiling. "And I *always* keep my promises……"

As the well-endowed Bunny led Jax to the dance floor, she never noticed that his eyes remained on Brenda. She shifted uncomfortably. She should have listened to her "little voice" that told her coming this evening would be a disaster. And it had been. Her feet were numb, the bruises inflicted by her mugger ached, and to top it off, Port Charles’ answer to Hugh Hefner had decided that he wanted her to join Bunny and the other eager female mammals in his hutch.

"Where did Jax go?" Brenda was so busy being angry with herself that she didn’t even notice Ned’s return at first.

"He’s off dancing with something soft and furry," she snarled in reply, reaching out to grab another flute of champagne from a passing waiter.

Ned grinned and offered her some caviar, which she politely declined with a wave of her hand. "Soft and furry?"

"Yeah – you know. His type." She took another slug of champagne. "The kind of woman whose IQ is just slightly smaller than her bra size."

"Ouch." Ned shook his head at Brenda’s sarcasm and sipped some of his own champagne. "So you think you’ve got old Jasper Jacks all figured out, huh?"

Brenda snorted grimly. "His kind are a dime a dozen in New York." She started ticking off his resume on her fingers. "Comes from old money – although not TOO old. Maybe his daddy hit it rich somewhere. Went to the best preppy schools and got daddy to pull strings so he’d graduate." She leaned closer to Ned. "Probably something across the pond – that would explain the accent." She straightened again and narrowed one eye critically at Jax as he sent smoldering gazes her way. "Now that daddy’s ready to retire, old Jasper will step into his shoes and get full access to his old man’s millions. And, in the meantime, he’ll sleep his way through the Port Charles social register, breaking hearts right and left with those killer dimples."

Ned’s lips thinned. "And would *your* heart be one of those, perchance?"

Brenda tapped her champagne flute to Ned’s in salute. "Not on your life, my friend." She shook her head. "It’ll be a cold day in h*ll before I let a man like Jasper Jacks get near *any* part of my anatomy, much less my heart."

Ned laughed softly. "So you think you’ve got him all figured out, huh?"

Brenda arched one eyebrow at him. "Don’t I?"

"Um…….counselor?" Ned leaned over to whisper in her ear. "I hate to break it to you, but you’re absolutely, positively, dead WRONG."

"Wrong?" Brenda jerked backward in disbelief and stared at the champagne as though it was at fault. "You mean like he didn’t go to school on the continent wrong?"

"Noooooo……..more like he’s only recently adopted the lifestyles of the rich and famous wrong," Ned replied. "Of course, you wouldn’t know about Jax’s history since you’ve only been in Port Charles for two years."

"What history?"

"Brace yourself, Bren……" Ned put his arm around Brenda’s shoulders, never seeing Jax shoot daggers in his direction for doing it. "Five years ago, Jasper Jacks was an undercover cop for the Port Charles Police Department."

"A cop?" Brenda choked. "You’re kidding!!"

"Not at all." Ned shook his head solemnly. "And a good one, at that. He and his partner were on the verge of bringing down Port Charles’ most infamous drug cartel."

"On the verge?" Brenda risked a glance in Jax’s direction but then quickly averted her eyes back to Ned. "What happened?"

"Don’t know." Ned shrugged his shoulders and sighed. "There was a leak somewhere – they’ve never exactly figured it out. The bad guys found out that Jax and Garcia were undercover and took ‘em down." Brenda winced. "Garcia was killed instantly and Jax took a slug in the heart."

"In the heart?" Brenda’s eyebrows rose in disbelief. "But he looks so healthy!"

Ned gestured towards Jax with his champagne glass. "Yeah, well it wasn’t that way for a long time. He flat-lined twice on the operating table – my Aunt Monica was the surgeon." Monica Quartermaine was the chief cardiologist at General Hospital and Ned’s aunt by marriage. "They brought him back and managed to pull him through surgery but he went into a coma for nine months after that."

"Oh, my God……." Brenda’s eyes softened. Conflicting emotions warred inside her. It would be so easy to feel sorry for this man – this suave, elegant, beyond-handsome man. But was compassion enough to make her overlook his frivolous, "I-can-have-anything-I-want," "seize-the-day" attitude towards life?

"That was about the only time Grandfather ever came close to taking over J&J Jacks of Alaska, I think," Ned went on. "Jax’s parents kept a nonstop vigil at his bedside and the old man let the business slide." He winked at Brenda. "And of course, you know what a softie Edward is."

Brenda grimaced. "Leave it to Edward Quartermaine to take advantage of his business rival’s grief over a sick child." She watched as two more voluptuous women descended on Jax and Bunny when the music ended. "What happened then?"

"He just………came out of it. Very unexpectedly. One day he was laying there doing his best imitation of a broccoli and the next day he was awake and talking." Ned signaled to a waiter and then handed him both empty champagne flutes as Brenda passed on a refill. "The doctors said it was a miracle."

"Yeah, well after the other night, far be it from me to make fun of miracles." Brenda shook her head and snorted softly. "I take it he didn’t go back to the PCPD after that?"

"Mac offered him a desk job," Ned replied, referring to Chief of Police Mac Scorpio. "But John Jacks always was trying to convince his son to go into the family business, and I guess Jax figured if he was going to be chained to a desk for the rest of his life, he might as well make the big bucks doing it." He held out a hand when a waiter passed with a tray of hors d’oeuvres, but Brenda declined. "I guess it was a smart move – thanks to some acquisitions and well-placed investments on Jax’s part, the family’s net worth tripled within two years."

"It just doesn’t make sense, though……" Brenda shook her head, taking advantage of Jax’s temporary involvement in a conversation with Mayor Ward to observe him. "How can a man bounce between career extremes like that? From being a cop one day to being a corporate shark the next?"

"The ambush hit him pretty hard, I think. Survivor guilt and all that." Brenda looked up at Ned when she heard the grim tone in his voice. "He was pretty close to Garcia, and I guess being around the station all the time brought back too many painful memories."

"Speaking of painful memories…….." Brenda winced and rotated her shoulders, massaging one with her hand. "You know Ned, it’s been fun, but I really think that I should have passed on this shindig tonight. That mugger gave me aches in places where I didn’t even know I had places."

Ned looked stricken. "Geez, Bren, I’m kind of caught between a rock and a hard place here." He glanced over towards Mayor Ward, who was giving him a "I-need-you-here-NOW" type look. "I probably could have done a disappearing act earlier to take you home, but now that the Mayor’s started pressing the flesh in the crowd, I’m stuck here until he’s done schmoozing the deep pockets for campaign contributions."

"That’s OK, Ned. I can just get a cab." Brenda moved towards the door leading from the Versailles Room to the main lobby of the Port Charles Hotel.

"Not on your life, missy!" Ned caught at her arm as she attempted to pull away from him. "*Especially* after what happened the other night!"

"It’s *hardly* the same situation, Ned!" Brenda continued to move nonchalantly towards the door as she argued in hushed tones with Ned. "The Port Charles Hotel is in a *much* better neighborhood than the place I was the other night, and I’ll be safe and sound inside a cab – not walking to my car."

Ned tipped his head in concession as they entered the lobby. "Well, I guess you do have a point…….and I suppose I should take some consolation in the fact that my family *owns* this place and no mugger in his right mind would *dare* come near Quartermaine property!!" He stopped her and pointed a finger at her for emphasis. "As long as you *promise* me you’ll make the driver wait till you’re safe inside your apartment building."

"Actuallllllly………." A guilty drawl colored Brenda’s voice. "I was thinking more of heading back in the direction of the office than home."

"The OFFICE!!??" Ned’s eyes widened considerably and he glanced up at the ornate lobby clock. "At THIS hour?"

"Some of us have to *work* for a living, remember, Ned?" Brenda grinned when Ned snarled at her wordlessly. Then she sighed and massaged her lower back. "They brought in that kid that’s accused of the Brighton shooting. I have to meet with him and his lawyer tomorrow morning……"

"You’re going to let him cop a plea?" Ned was clearly surprised.

"Depends on what he’s got to offer us." Brenda shrugged. "Dara says that he’s only a little fish, but she thinks he knows a lot about the bigger swimmers in the pond." She accepted Ned’s help in wrapping a black shawl with long satin fringe around her shoulders. "AND Dara dropped a new murder case on my desk this afternoon – some mob rivalry thing, I think." After taking a deep breath of the clear, cool, night air when they stepped outside the hotel door, she turned sparkling eyes to Ned. "Losing that day yesterday to paperwork on my mugging really put me behind." When he folded his arms and gave her a pointed look, she crossed her heart and held up one hand to swear. "I *promise* I won’t stay there long, Ned."

"Well, I guess there’s really not much I can do since you apparently have your mind made up……."

Brenda looked around him when somebody called his name from the ballroom. "You go – I think the Mayor needs you again. I’ll talk to you sometime tomorrow."

Ned kissed her gently on the forehead and then strode off in the direction of his master’s voice. Brenda rubbed her arms briskly and then smiled at the doorman for the hotel. "I need a cab, please…….."

"No she doesn’t."

The smile left Brenda’s face at the sound of the accented baritone voice behind her. She turned to face Jax, who wore his usual charming smile as effortlessly as he did a tuxedo. "Yes, she DOES," she replied through gritted teeth.

Jax waved an indulgent hand at the doorman. "Don’t worry about it, Franklin." He pointed at a huge black limousine pulling up to the curb. "I’ll take care of getting Miss Barrett home."

"Miss Barrett isn’t GOING home, Mister Jacks!" Brenda kept an icy smile on her face for the sake of the innocent doorman who was caught in the crossfire.

Jax tipped his head to the side and rose one eyebrow sexily. "Dare I hope that the lady want to go to MY home instead?"

"Is the gentleman familiar with the phrase, "When h*ll freezes over"?"

They were still firing verbal zingers at each other when a tall, dark-skinned man came around from the front of the limo and opened the passenger side door. Jax came closer to her and lowered his voice in mock confidentially. "A word to the wise, Miss Barrett -- If you don’t get into the limousine right now, Thomas will consider it a personal insult and heap all sorts of Aboriginal curses upon your head."

Brenda’s eyes widened with just the hint of a smile crinkling at the corners. "Whyyyyyy, Mr. Jacks!! Are you threatening me?"

The scents of expensive after-shave and aged Scotch enveloped her when he came closer. "No – I’m not." Jax grinned up at the driver. "Thomas is."

"Welllllll…….." She smiled flirtatiously with the hulking driver. "Since you put it that way……..how can I refuse?" Brenda tried to ignore the warmth of Jax’s touch when he took her elbow to guide her into the low-slung luxury car. The soft, leather upholstery drew a sigh from deep within her soul as she relaxed against the back seat and closed her eyes.

"Whyyyyy, Miss Barrett!" Jax eased himself into the car and shook his head at Thomas, closing the door himself. "Is that a SMILE I see on your face?" When Brenda opened one eye to glare at him, he smirked and went on. "I do believe that’s the first time that’s happened since we’ve met!"

"I’m only relieved to be off my feet, Mister Jacks," she replied, closing her eyes again. "I would have done the same thing in the taxi."

"Of course you would." Brenda heard a door slam as Thomas got in the driver’s seat. When Jax’s voice sounded again, her eyes flew open since he had moved much closer to her in the darkened car. "My driver needs an address, Miss Barrett………" He lazily reached back to rest an arm on the seat behind her – moving towards her shoulders at an alarming rate. "Unless you’d care to just sit here in the dark alone with me and see where things lead……"

A feline – yet innocent -- smile graced Brenda’s features. "But if you and I had a torrid affair, Mister Jacks, where would that leave your good friend, Bunny?"

To her surprise, Jax grimaced and moved away from her a little. "That woman gives a bad name to wascally wabbits everywhere." When Brenda couldn’t stop her soft laugh, Jax leaned back to stare at her intently. "You ought to do that more often you know – your laugh is almost as exquisite as you are."

Even in the inky blackness of the limo, Jax could see Brenda’s blush. "Won’t……uh……." She gestured back towards the ballroom. "Won’t the Mayor miss you at his reception if you leave now?"

Jax shrugged. "He’s not really interested in me. All he wanted tonight was a souvenir from my checkbook."

When the awkward silence descended again, she nodded and then leaned forward towards Thomas. "I’d like to go to the Municipal Courts Building, please………downtown…….."

The words were no sooner out of her mouth than Thomas slid the car into gear and it pulled away from the hotel. "Going to work this late, Miss Barrett?" Jax asked when she settled back in her seat again. "Don’t tell me you have to prosecute the poor slobs in night court yet tonight……."

"Unfortunately I have some new cases to work on and some meetings that are going to take a lot of my time tomorrow," Brenda replied. "Although, I find your attitude curious, Mister Jacks, since I hear that you worked to uphold criminal justice system yourself not that long ago……"

Jax’s body suddenly stiffened and he nodded. "Bad old days."

Brenda fought the urge to lay her hand on his to comfort him. "You don’t like to talk about it. I understand."

"I don’t want your pity, Miss Barrett." Jax’s words were cold and clipped. "I already have a mother."

"Which probably explains why you’re so taken with the illustrious Miss Bunny, since I’m sure that her feelings towards you are *anything* but maternal." Brenda saw the faint scar on Jax’s upper lip twitch as his mouth quirked into a smile again. She couldn’t help but wonder if the scar had been the result of the shooting.

It seemed as though they had only left the hotel moments earlier. Yet, Brenda felt the limo slowing and drawing to a halt in front of the large municipal complex that housed her office. She had no sooner undone her seat belt than Thomas came to the passenger door to open it for her. "I suppose that now you feel I owe you a favor, Mister Jacks," she whined in pretend annoyance. "You’ll probably want me to "fix" every parking ticket you get on this boat for the next five years."

"Hardly, Miss Barrett." Brenda was glad for the darkness of night and the shawl that wrapped around her thin dress. Otherwise, Jax would have seen the effect his seductive tone had on her. If he had seen her nipples tighten uncomfortably, he would have thought that his knowing, enticing smile caused it. And of course, it was due to the chilly night air. Of course.

"There are a number of other ways you can repay me," Jax went on. "Dinner being one of them."

"I’m afraid I’m busy, Mister Jacks." Thomas took her hand to help her out of the car.

"I didn’t say when, Miss Barrett." Jax slid over to the spot on the seat she had just occupied. "You can’t possibly be busy every night……"

"Every night……forever, Mister Jacks." Brenda tossed her shawl around her neck and tried to maintain a cool, civil attitude while her mind was racing at the thought of spending time alone with this dangerously sensuous man. "I’m afraid I just won’t be able……"

A perfect, blood red rose backed by fern and a sprinkling of baby’s breath thrust into her line of sight stopped her cold. Brenda looked down to find Jax offering it to her, his eyes sizzling with desire. "Say yes, Miss Barrett. I promise to make it a night you’ll remember."

Brenda took the rose and lifted it to take a deep breath, inhaling the poignant fragrance. Then the corners of her full lips lifted just slightly. "Are you trying to seduce me, Mister Jacks?"

Confident masculinity could find no better spokesman. "Is it working, Miss Barrett?"

She leaned down to tap his nose with the rose jauntily. "When it is, Mister Jacks – you won’t have to ask!"

He was still smiling when Brenda went through the revolving door into the lobby of the Courts Building. Thomas peered into the back seat. "Time to go home, boss?"

"No, Thomas." Jax unfolded his long legs and slid out of the car to stand next to the driver. "Stay here until Miss Barrett is finished. Then make sure she gets home safely."

"What about you?"

Jax sighed and stared into the inky night. "Time for me to go to work, too, Thomas." He thrust his hands into the pockets of his tuxedo trousers and started to walk away slowly. "I’ll see you at home in the morning."

To be continued…….