Brenda's Dreams
Chapter Fourteen

A man was sitting behind the desk, facing away from the doorway, towards
the window. She couldn’t see much of him except for the top of his blonde
head. Then she heard his voice as he spoke into the phone. He spoke with an Australian accent. His voice sounded so familiar to her for some reason.
Where had she heard it?

Mr. Jacks finished his phone call and then turned the chair to face her.

Brenda’s jaw dropped to her knees.

“What in the world are you doing here?” Jax growled.

With difficulty, Brenda conquered her first impulse to rush out of the office,
drive the car to the airport and fly back to San Francisco. Heart pounding in
her ears, she forced herself to meet Jax’s angry gaze, she bravely stepped
towards his desk.

“Mr. Jacks, I’m Brenda Barrett. I’m from L and B records,” she said, amazed
she could keep her voice level when she felt she could hardly breathe. “I
came instead of Lois Ashton. She had something personal come up.”

Watching Jax fight for self-control, she told herself he hadn’t suffered through sleepless nights and bad dreams like she had. He deserved the shock. Her own control was tenuous, but putting some emotional distance between them by calling him Mr. Jacks helped a little.

Okay, Jax thought to himself, if she didn’t want to acknowledge their time at
the Cape so be it. Obviously she didn’t want anymore to do with him and that was fine with him the sooner he got whatever business she had with him the better.

Jax stood up and walked around his desk, with his arm extended. “Ms. Barrett why don’t you sit down and tell me what I can do for you.”

Brenda walked over to one of the chairs in front of the desk and sat down. She couldn’t stop herself from glancing at him and saw with dismay that he
seemed well rested. He hadn’t suffered any sleepless nights that was for
sure. She had to get her business done and get back to San Francisco before she completely became heartbroken.

“Well, I’m here with an offer to buy a record company you recently had the
pleasure of raiding. L and B records is looking to expand and with the way
things are going we need to do it soon.”

Jax leaned back against his desk with arms folded. He couldn’t stop looking
at her. He remembered her hair blowing in the Cape breeze and its fragrance in his nostrils when he held her...

He remembered way too much for his own peace of mind. No other woman
had given him sleepless nights. And then there’d been those depressing
seaweed dreams.

If he followed his instincts he’d take her in his arms, here and now. He’d
forget the unhappy ending at the Cape, and he’d say the hell with everything else.

And wind up without her again?

He shook his head. He still couldn’t believe she was here in the flesh. He
thought he had been hallucinating when he turned his chair around and she was standing in his office. He had to blank his mind and get on with this meeting. He was still angry about what had happened at the Cape, but that didn’t stop him from wanting her.

Brenda named a price for the record company then asked. “Did I come close?”

“Close?” he repeated.

“To what you want.”

She was everything he’d ever wanted.

Pull yourself together, Jax. Shape up. She doesn’t see any to eager to fall into your arms. You got her message it was over, didn’t you? The lady’s only here on business, as she’s already reminded you. Now just tell her you accept her offer and get this business over with. Get rid of her. Who needs more pain?

“No, I cannot accept that offer, “ he found himself saying instead.

Brenda blinked. “Why not?”

Jax pushed himself away from his desk and walked back around. He stopped beside his chair. “Because it’s not enough,” he said and then sat back down in the chair.

“But...”

“Look Ms. Barrett, I don’t have time right now to listen to another offer. I have another meeting to attend. However, if you would like to present another offer to me I could meet you tomorrow for breakfast.”

“Well, I was hoping to get back to San Francisco today.”

Jax shrugged. “That’s your choice then. Now, if you will excuse me, I have to prepare for my next meeting.” He picked up a pen and started reading some documents.

Brenda couldn’t believe he was just going to ignore her now. A look of
determination came over her face. She wasn’t going to let him run her off.
“Fine, I’ll meet you for breakfast. When and where?”

Jax’s head came up. He smiled slightly. “Meet me downstairs in the
Executive Dining Room at 8 am”

Brenda gathered her things and stood up. “I’ll be there. Thank you for the
opportunity to present another offer”

“Your welcome.” Jax rose and made his way around the desk. He paused in front of her and held out his hand.

Reluctantly Brenda placed her hand in his, expecting him to shake it. Instead, he raised her hand towards his lips and for a breathless moment she thought he meant to kiss it. He stopped inches from his mouth. “Until tomorrow then.”

Brenda was taken aback at how instantaneous his touch affected her. Then she remembered all the problems he had caused her. She wretched her hand away. “Yes, until tomorrow.” She turned and left the office, never glancing back.

Jax watched her leave. When she was gone he turned and walked towards his desk. He stopped. He couldn’t leave it like this until tomorrow. He needed some answers. Then maybe he could get on with his life and forget her. He turned back around and went after her.

Brenda stepped on to the elevator and pushed the button for the parking
garage. The doors were closing as Jax vaulted into the elevator.

“What do you think your doing!” Brenda yelled at him as the elevator started to descend.

“I’m getting some answers.” Jax answered back as he pushed the stop button then he pulled her into his arms, lowered his head and kissed her.