She wrote for eight, sometimes ten, hours a day, losing herself in another romance, in another catastrophe. When she wasn't chained to her machine, she was shopping, planning menus, checking off lists and supplies.
She insisted on doing all the cooking herself but had decided to enlist Mrs. Grange to help serve and her son, the future teacher, to tend bar.
She was delighted when Nathan joined her in the kitchen the afternoon of the party, his sleeves rolled up and his mind set on helping her make hors d'oeuvres. Determined he was, and clumsy. Jackie found both traits endearing. Tactfully she buried his attempts on the bottom tray.
Jackie, optimistic about the weather, had planned to set up tables outside so that the guests could wander out among the colored lights she'd hung. Her faith was rewarded when the day remained clear and promised a star-filled, breezy night.
She rarely worried about the success or failure of a party, but this was different. She wanted it to be perfect, to prove to herself and to Nathan that she belonged in his world as much as she belonged in his arms.
She had only a matter of days left before he would fly thousands of miles away from her. It was difficult not to dwell on that, and on the fact that he had never told her what he wanted of her. What he wanted for them. She refused to believe that he still considered permanence impossible.
He'd never told her he loved her. That was a thought that hit her painfully at the oddest times. But he'd shown her in so many ways. Often he'd call her in the middle of the day just to hear her voice. He'd bring her flowers, from his garden or from a roadside stand, just when the ones she'd put in a vase had begun to fade. He'd draw her close, just to hold her after lovemaking, after passion had ebbed and contentment remained.
A woman didn't need words when she had everything else.
The hell she didn't.
Pushing back her gnawing doubts, Jackie told herself that for once she would have to be content with what she had instead of what she wanted.
An hour before the party she began to pamper herself. This was one of her mother's traditions that Jackie approved of. She was using her old room after telling Nathan he'd only be in her way. There was some truth in that, but more, Jackie had discovered she wanted to add a touch of mystery to the evening. She wanted him to see not the step-by-step preparation but the completed woman.
A long, leisurely bubble bath was first on her list. She soaked, the radio playing quietly while she looked out through the skylight over the tub. The only clouds in the sky were as harmless as white spun sugar.
She took time and care with her makeup, shooting for the exotic. When she studied her face from every angle in the mirror, she was satisfied with the results. She indulged in the feminine pleasure of slathering on perfumed cream before she took the dress she'd bought only the day before out of the closet.
Nathan was already downstairs when she started out. She could hear him talking to Mrs. Grange, and she could hear the woman's gruff replies. Always one to enjoy a bit of drama, Jackie put her hand on the rail and started slowly down.
She wasn't disappointed. Nathan glanced up, saw her and stopped in midsentence. Intent on him, she didn't notice the tall sandy-haired man beside Mrs. Grange. Nor did she see his mouth fall open.
Her eyes dominated her face, smudged on the lids with blending tones of bronze. Her hair, a combination of nature and womanly art, was windswept and cunningly tousled. Oversize silver stars glinted at her ears.
When Nathan could drag his gaze away from her face to take in the rest of her, it was another shock to the system.
The dress she'd chosen was stunning, eye-burning white that fell in a narrow column from her breasts to her ankles, leaving her shoulders bare and her arms unadorned but for the dozen silver bracelets that encircled her arm from her wrist almost to her elbow. Smiling, she reached the bottom, then turned in a circle, revealing the slit in the back of the dress that reached to midthigh.
'What do you think?'
'You're stunning.'
Finishing the circle, she studied him in turn. No one wore a black suit with quite as much style as Nathan, Jackie thought. It must have been that broad-shouldered, muscled body that gave conservatism a dangerous look. She took a step closer to kiss him. Then, with her hand in his, she turned to Mrs. Grange.
'I really appreciate you helping us out tonight. And this is your son? You must be Charlie.'
'Yes, ma'am.' He swallowed audibly, then accepted the hand she offered. His palm was sweaty. His mother hadn't told him that Miss Jack was a goddess.
'It's nice to meet you, Charlie. Your mom's told us a lot about you. Shall I show you where we've set up the bar?'
Mrs. Grange gave him an elbow in the ribs. The boy looked as if he had rocks in his head when he stared that way. 'I'll show him what he needs to know. Come on, Charlie, get the lead out.'
Charlie went with his mother-because she had a death grip on his arm-but sent one last moonstruck look over his shoulder.
'The kid's eyes dropped on his shoes when he saw you.'
With a laugh, Jackie tucked her arm through Nathan's. 'That's kind of sweet.'
'Mine hit the floor.'
She looked at him, nearly level with him in her heeled sandals. 'That's even sweeter.'
'You always manage to surprise me, Jack.'
'I hope so.'
With his free hand he touched her shoulder, then ran his fingertips down her arm. 'This is the first time I remember wishing a party was over before it began.' It wasn't her usual scent tonight, but something stunningly sexy and taunting. 'What did you do to yourself up there?'
'Tricks of the trade.' She had to shift only slightly for her lips to meet his. 'It's still me, Nathan.'
'I know.' His arm curled around her waist to keep her there. 'That's why I wish the party was over.'
'Tell you what.' She slid her hands over his shoulders. 'When it is, we'll have one all our own.'
'I'm counting on it.' He lowered his lips to hers as the doorbell rang.
'Round one,' she said. Keeping his hand in hers, she went to answer the door.
Within an hour, the house was milling with people. Most of them were every bit as interested in finding out about the woman in Nathan's life as they were in an evening of socializing. She didn't mind. She was just as curious about them.
She discovered Nathan knew a wide variety of people, from the staunch and stuffy to the easygoing. It took only a smile and a greeting for her to click with Cody Johnson, an architect who had joined Nathan's firm two years before. He favored scuffed boots and faded jeans but had made a concession to formality by tossing on a suit jacket. Since her brother favored the same style and brand, Jackie recognized it as murderously expensive. He clamped a hand over hers, looked her up and down with eyes as brown as her own, then winked.
'I've been wanting to get a look at you.'
'Check out the boss's outside interests?'
'Something like that.' He still held her hand, but there was nothing flirtatious in the gesture. Jackie had the feeling that Cody got his impressions as much by touch as by sight. 'One thing you can never fault Nathan for is his taste. I always figured whenever he looked more than twice at a woman she'd have to be special.'
'That seemed like both a compliment and approval.'
'You could say that.' He didn't often give both so easily. 'I'm glad, because Nathan's a good friend. The best. You planning on sticking around?'
Her brow lifted. Though she preferred direct questions, Jackie didn't feel obligated to respond with a direct answer. 'You cut right through, don't you?'
'Hate to waste time.'
Yes, she decided, she liked Cody Johnson just fine. With her hand still in his, she looked over and spotted Nathan. 'I plan on sticking around.'
His lips curved. He had one of those quick, arrogant grins that women found devastating. Because, Jackie thought, a woman could never be sure what he was thinking. 'Then why don't I buy you a drink?'
Tucking her arm through his, she headed for the bar. 'Have you met Justine Chesterfield?'
His laugh was full and rich. Jackie liked that as much as she did the sun-bronzed hair that fell over his
