I couldn’t tell Luke that my novel was finished, and I was meeting with an agent, so what could I say? I ran a hand through my hair. “I gotta go, but I’ll think about the TA thing. Okay?” I was sure all of Jax’s T.A.s were graduate students and that wasn’t me. Not yet, anyway.
He seemed satisfied. “Okay, yeah. Sorry. I’ll call you!” He put up his right hand in a sort of wave as I backed away and hurried off across the campus to catch a cab home. I’d worry about Luke’s request later, but right now, I had to focus on the meeting with Jax’s agent, and from what he said, she was a force to be reckoned with… At least for a nobody, like me.
15
The luxury black sedan stopped in front of a building just north of Fourth on Lexington Avenue.
The driver opened the door, and Jax got out first, then extended his hand to me and helped me out. The thumb drive with my precious manuscript was securely inside my clutch, and I was dressed in a stylish fall suit that Michelle had purchased for me at J. Jill the past weekend after I’d told her about the meeting with Jax’s agent.
Yes, I was supposed to be keeping it all a big secret, but I’d already ruined that right after the first time I’d been with Jax. What were best friends for, anyway, if not to confide in? It wasn’t as if Jax and I had stuck to the plan one hundred percent, anyway. We’d all but blown off that ridiculous NDA that Jax’s brother Jefferson had drawn up for me to sign.
I glanced up, out of the concrete jungle that was Manhattan, and took in the dreary grey sky. The sun went down around 5 PM in mid-fall, and soon, lights of the buildings would obscure the darkness. It was cold and I shivered.
Jax, impeccably dressed in a tailored navy suit that showed off his incredibly lean and muscular physique, stood proudly by my side. The building was older, and maybe twenty stories tall. Small in comparison to some in the city, but still impressive.
There was no doorman to let us in, but my handsome companion was eager to do the job. Masses of businesspeople bustling home after a busy day crowded the sidewalks and cabs, and cars filled the streets. The smells and sounds that were so familiar rushed around us.
Jax stood tall, looking so perfect in the dark suit, with his light gray shirt, silver pocket square and smartly patterned tie in hues of navy, silver, and white. I felt like I was on the arm of a superstar about to enter a dream; one that I’d never imagined could come true. If being with the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen wasn’t enough, he was about to let me into his world. In fact, introduce me to it and guide my every move. I shouldn’t feel afraid, but something inside me trembled as if my fragile castle could all come crashing down.
With his hand at the back of my waist steadying me, as we rode up the elevator to the eleventh floor.
“Ready?” he asked smoothly.
“Sure. If you say so,” I answered.
“Hey,” he said, turning me to face him after we exited the elevators and stood in front of the impressive glass double doors that led inside the offices had Bloom & Wandough, Literary Agents emblazoned in smart gold and black lettering across them. “You got this. Be cocky. Don’t let her push you around.”
I was a bit taken aback. “Will she try?”
He half-assed rolled his deep blue eyes. “She likes to have the upper hand, but she needs you more than you need her.”
I wasn’t so sure. “You mean she needs you, don’t you?”
He sighed, letting one hand slide down my arm until his fingers threaded through mine. “It’s not like that, but yes, if I have to apply some pressure, I’m willing.”
I shook my head adamantly, nerves starting to flutter in my stomach. “No, I don’t want you to do that. Please? If she decides to take me, I don’t want it to be because you threatened to leave the agency.” My eyes implored him to understand.
“I’ll do what I have to, Addison.” He touched my cheek with the back of his knuckles, and I had to resist the urge to press into his hand. Instead, I reached up and wrapped my fingers around it. My body and heart quickened with just a look from this man, or his slightest touch.
“No! Promise me, Jax!” The last thing I wanted was for him to hurt his career in the process of launching mine.
“We’ll see what happens. Just breathe. You got this.” Jax squeezed my hand and bent to place a lingering, open-mouthed kiss on my lips. “You look brilliantly stunning, and you’re stunningly brilliant.” He smiled that genuine, unconscious smile that was so endearing to me now. It was contagious and it put me at ease. “Let’s go in.” He nodded toward the door.
I nodded, deliberately pulling my hand free of his. Our deal was that no one would know we were involved so we couldn’t be touching each other. It was bad for his career and could stall mine in the starting gate. He looked surprised for a second, then the realization of my motive settled his face in a bland expression as he opened the door for me. I preceded him inside taking in the heavy bookcases lining the walls of the lobby. There was a central foyer with a reception desk that sat between two long hallways of offices running in opposite directions.
The agency décor was masculine; dark wood, wine-red walls, and light tan antique carpet with a small fleur-de-lis pattern in the same dark burgundy. The scent was spicy and held the faint odor of a good cigar. Not at all what I expected. Didn’t the city no-smoking ordinances apply?
A young, perky receptionist greeted us with a smile; her short sleek hair was cut into a chin-length bob cut and swayed every time she moved her head.
“Hello, Dr. Michaels! You must be Miss Tomms! Please have a seat for just a moment. Ms. Sussex is just finishing up with another client.”
Jax nodded a greeting. “Thank you, Stella. Is Jason in?”
She shook her head. “Mr. Bloom and the others have already left for the day.”
I could tell by the way the woman was eye fucking Jax that it would only take another nod from him and she’d be on her back with her legs in the air. Probably behind her desk. Heat rushed up under the skin of my chest and neck at the thought. Soon, it would be visible on my face and I willed myself to calm down before it became embarrassing. I hated that I was jealous. Absolutely hated that I was that girl. You know, the one who bristled every time another woman looked at or flirted with a man I was with. I’d known from day one that women salivated over him, their carnal lust barely contained. Offering her a cold smile, I took the seat Jax offered before he sat next to me. I blinked, refocusing on why we were here.
Ten stilted minutes later, Jax glanced at his elegantly sleek, black-faced Movado watch. “What the fuck is taking her so long? She never makes me wait,” he muttered quietly.
I drew in another calming breath but refrained from commenting, sure that Stella was most likely straining to hear every word.
The door at the end of one of the long hallways opened, and the tall, slender, and simply stunning form of Gloria Sussex emerged on the arm of James Sanderson. He was in his mid-sixties, but still cranking out best sellers in suspense and crime drama. I didn’t know much about him, but he did TV spots for every new release, so he was easily recognizable. I could remember his books lying around my parent’s house. He had a very long and illustrious career.