“Julie, are you absolutely sure about this?” Brenda was saying late Wednesday morning as she tossed her remaining clothing into a suitcase, getting her final packing done.

     “Positive,” Juliet replied. “Just pack. It’s all been settled.”

     “Settled? So you told your parents I’m coming then?”

     “Ahhh . . no. But don’t worry about it. Trust me.”

     “You keep saying that. It makes me nervous,” Brenda said.

     Juliet just laughed. “Not to worry. I’m just bringing a friend home. You should have seen what my brother Jax brought home last summer.”

     Brenda was instantly curious. “What did he bring home?”

     “A harem! I kid you not. He brought home a harem of women from the Middle East. Vince was running himself ragged cooking enough food for those fifteen women. And poor Niles, he’s our butler, well he was just beside himself trying to serve them all.”

     “Fifteen women? Your brother sounds very wild,” Brenda murmured already having quite an interest in meeting this particular brother. Wildness tended to attract Brenda as she was fairly wild herself.

     Juliet laughed. “Well he definitely has his moments. Actually, many such moments. My mom is always saying that out of all of us Jax is the one who inherited the untamed spirit of her pirate ancestors. She swears her ancestry traces back to the famous pirate John Lafitte-- none of us believe her of course. But, to her credit, my mother didn’t even bat an eyelash when Jax brought the harem home. She just laughed and said she was thankful it wasn’t a truckload of elephants from Tanzania.”

     Brenda shook her head in amazement and concluded that Juliet’s family was nuts.

     “So how did it go when you told your stepmother about taking summer classes?” Juliet asked. “Was she suspicious at all?”

     “It was very strange,” Brenda murmured. “I told her about my plans for the summer, I mean I had barely gotten out the words and she was there muttering that it made no difference to her. She sounded really distracted and like she just wanted to get me off the phone. So I hung up and that was the end of that. It couldn’t possibly have been any easier.”

     Juliet gave her friend a surprised glance. “Well that’s wonderful! The gods are smiling down on you, Brenda Barrett. I think we should nick name you Lucky Brenda -- oh, and speaking of nick names, my brothers have this annoying little habit of giving everyone one. So if they come up with one for you, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

     “What nickname did they give you?” Brenda asked.

     “Pesticide.”

     “What?!” Brenda laughed.

     “Pest for short. Justin’s nickname is Mozart - you’ll understand that once you meet him. Jax, they call him the heartbreaker. You’ll definitely understand that one the minute you lay eyes on him. Jerry has no nickname because he’s the oldest and the one who gave us all of ours. I wonder what nickname they’ll come up with for you?” Juliet murmured. Then they heard a horn blowing outside and Juliet peered through the window and saw the limousine. “Come on, Brenda, the limo’s here.”

     Brenda grabbed her bags as she followed Juliet downstairs to the waiting black limousine.

     They arrived at the Jacks mansion two hours and twenty-five minutes later and Brenda’s jaw dropped as the limo climbed up a massive, winding blue-brick driveway. The driveway was attractively boarded on both sides by weeping willow trees, blooming white azalea bushes, sculpted lawns and hedges and a series of stunning European design water fountains. Each water fountain was set around a statue of a different Greek mythology figure.

     As they drove towards the ten-car garage, Juliet pointed out the stables, the tennis court and one of the in-ground swimming pools complete with redwood deck and expensive patio furniture. She then pointed out the guest house where her brother Jerry and his wife lived -- it was the size of a normal, large 4 bedroom home, but it was dwarfed in comparison to the elegant French Colonial mansion with it’s white roman columns and lovely white wrought iron terraces which wrapped around the entire vast length of the house. It was as if every room in the house opened up to either a terrace or a patio.

     Brenda’s hazel eyes were wide with wonder as she tried to absorb everything. When they reached the house there were two large catering trucks from Emeril’s Restaurant unloading loads of food and tables.

     Juliet gazed at the flurry of activity as the catering staff rushed to and fro.

     “What’s going on, Lionel?” she asked the chauffeur.

      “Oh it’s just one of your mother’s famous impromptu parties, Miss Juliet.”

     “Oh! Splendid,” Juliet said, smiling. Her mother’s parties were always the talk of the town. “What’s the occasion for this one?”

     “I’m not sure. I believe she said that since she saw a six spotted ladybug on her window sill this morning that it was cause for celebration,” he said with a shrug as he opened the door for both she and Brenda and unloaded their luggage from the trunk.

     “Your mother gives parties because of . . . insect sightings?” Brenda whispered, feeling somewhat like Alice in Wonderland who was in a world far different from the real one.

     Juliet laughed. “Are you kidding? My mother would give a party just to celebrate the sun coming up in the morning if the mood struck her. She’s very sociable that way. But you’ll love it, Brenda. Everybody loves my mom’s parties.”

     Brenda nodded. Standing in the driveway, she gazed around at the vast grounds in total and complete awe. Never had she seen anything like this except on television.

     “Come on, let’s go inside and see who’s home,” Juliet said as she led Brenda through the elegant brass and glass front doors and inside. The catering staff was buzzing around getting things ready while rich sounds of music floated from a large room down the hall to the right. Brenda was in awe of this house. They stepped down into a sunken living room with stunning white oak floors. The living room itself was at least ten times the size of Brenda’s own living room at home. Exquisite paintings of the French and English countryside hung on the walls. A grand piano sat regally in the corner by the bay windows with their rose-colored stained glass etchings. Atop the piano was a huge vase of gorgeous peach colored roses and baby’s breath and as Brenda continued to look around she saw that fresh cut flowers were in every room.

     Suddenly there was the sound of rapid-fire chatter and a beautiful woman with short, stylish blonde hair entered the hallway accompanied by a portly man dressed in a white chef’s smock who was going over a menu with her. The woman was the epitome of all that was elegance. She wore a gold satin ball gown that was simply spectacular and on her hands were matching, elbow-length gloves. She stopped, gave the chef some instructions and he veered off to the left through the swinging doors of the kitchen while the woman continued forward. Upon seeing Juliet the woman beamed with delight.

     “Well, school’s out, summer’s begun and the pests are swarming!” she said happily as she walked over to Juliet and gave her a great big hug and a fond kiss on both cheeks. Juliet’s mother had a pleasing, bubbly British accent much more pronounced than Juliet’s lilting Australian accent.

     “Hi Mom!” Juliet said. “How was London?”

     “Oh it was smashing. Simply smashing. We actually had some lovely weather and your father and I won the yacht race this year. Beat the pants off of the bloody Benedicts!” She gazed at Brenda who was shifting from leg to leg. “Now where on earth have you put your manners, Juliet Jacks? Aren’t you going to introduce me to this beautiful creature standing so nervously in front of my Renoir?”

     Brenda grinned and forced herself to stand still.

     “Mom, this is my very best friend from school, Brenda Barrett. Brenda, this is my mother, Lady Jane Jacks, please don’t hold it against me.”

     “Lovely to meet you Brenda,” Jane Jacks said clasping Brenda’s hand in greeting.

     “You too, Mrs. Jacks. I absolutely love your home! It’s the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen.”

     “Why thank you, luv. I do my best keeping it in tip top shape what with my brood of golden haired hooligans trekking in and out of here day in and day out.”

     “Mom, I’ve invited Brenda to spend the summer with us,” Juliet announced. “That’s all right, isn’t it?”

     Brenda held her breath as she watched Lady Jane’s reaction.

     “Well of course it’s all right. In fact, I think it’s a splendid idea!” Jane said enthusiastically and with such ease and sincerity that it knocked Brenda’s socks off. “You’ll help us to even things out around here, Brenda. There are far too many men under this roof, you know,” Jane chuckled.

     Brenda was delighted and relieved. She could stay!

     “Niles, please take the girl’s belongings upstairs,” Lady Jane instructed the posh looking, sandy-haired butler.

     “Right o’ Madame,” he said taking the bags with Lionel helping him.

     “That’s Niles, Bren. He’s our butler and he never smiles but we love him anyway,” Juliet teased as Niles nodded at Brenda.

     “Welcome, Miss Barrett. I’m sure you will have a most enjoyable stay,” he promised her as he disappeared up one of three gorgeous spiral staircases with Lionel directly behind him.

     “Come on, I want to introduce you to everybody,” Juliet said, grabbing hold of Brenda’s arm.

     “Oh, no you don’t,” Lady Jane said holding each girl by the arm. “You can do that later, luv. Right now I need you girls to go and change for the party. Now, tonight’s soiree is a Phantom of the Opera Masquerade ball theme so you young ladies will have to get into costume or else I’ll bar you from the ballroom. Now run along and get ready. I’ve got to find Justin. That boy has gone and run off with half of my bloody orchestra again!” she said as she scurried away down the long marble tiled hallways.

     Brenda turned to Juliet and laughed. “I love your mom! She’s such a riot!”

     “Wait until you meet my dad,” Juliet warned.

     “What did your mom mean about your brother running off with half of her orchestra?” Brenda wondered aloud as they mounted the stairs.

     “Justin is a musical genius of sorts. He’s a composer, a singer, and a magnificent pianist,” Juliet explained. “That’s why Jerry nicknamed him Mozart. He’s actually working on a full length musical at the moment in his spare time away from the office. But you’ll meet him and the others soon enough. Come on, lets go get ready for the party before my Mom sees us standing here chit chatting instead of picking out our costumes.”

     “I am going to love it here!” Brenda said as they raced up the stairs laughing. She had no idea how true that statement would prove to be and how attached to this Jacks family she was destined to become.

     Jax had just walked into the house when his mother cornered him.

     “Jax, where on earth has your father disappeared to? The guests will be coming shortly. Honestly, I need to invest in a leash for that man,” Jane said in exasperation. Then she looked at Jax who wore snug fitting black pants, a black silk shirt, a black cape and a black velvet mask which only served to vividly highlight the stunning beauty of his eyes - eyes that were the varying shades of blue of the ever changing ocean. “My but don’t you look smashing,” she said with a grin. “Be careful you don’t steal the spotlight away from your brother the Phantom.”

     He grinned back at her. “Well you look pretty smashing yourself there, mother of mine. As to that unbalanced man commonly known as my father, I just passed him in the garage. He’s got Niles lugging in some microphones and speakers. Is there going to be a performance tonight?” Jax asked as he grabbed a shrimp cocktail from a pretty waitress passing by.

     “Yes, but, oh Lord help us, I hope your father doesn’t think he’s the entertainment! If I’ve got to listen to that man sing ‘Put On A Happy Face’ one more time I think I’ll have to file for divorce.”

     Jax laughed. “Well then you’d better call your lawyer, because I heard Dad practicing his scales.”

     “Oh I’ve got to talk some sense into him,” Lady Jane said turning to leave.

     “Is the pest home?” Jax asked as his mother zipped towards the kitchen.

     “Yes, and she’s brought a friend. Such a stunning little thing. I must say, I really like her. She’s got lots of good old moxy.”

     Jax rolled his eyes. “Moxy is overrated.”

     “Nonsense. You can never have enough.”

     “So the pest brought home another pest, huh? Just what we need.”

     “Behave yourself, Jasper. If you’re not nice to her I’ll chain you back up in the attic where we found you.”

     Jax grinned. His mother was such a card.

     “That’s all right. As long as you chain me up with that waitress over there,” he said eyeing the pretty waitress from whose tray he had swiped the shrimp.

     “You’re an incorrigible flirt, Jasper Jacks,” his mother declared. “Just like your great, great, great grandfather.”

     “Oh right. The alleged pirate,” Jax said.

     “Alleged my foot! I have no idea why you offspring of mine refuse to believe me --He was a pirate I tell you, a descendant of John Lafitte. And you are his spitting image from your perfect face to your untamed heart to your wanderlust that carries you to all ends of the earth.”

     “Whatever you say, Mom.”

     His mother laughed. “Listen darling, I’ve got to go check on the real entertainment and then go hunt down your father and bind him with a chain. Please do me a favor and restrain your brother if he tries to abduct my orchestra again,” Jane begged as she vanished behind the swinging doors of the kitchen, a short cut to the family room.

     Jax was about to approach the waitress who was eyeing him as much as he was eyeing her, when all of a sudden his eyes were ambushed by an unexpected vision of impossible perfection that was making her way down the center staircase. Her hair was dark like a raven’s wing, but glossy like black diamonds scattered on the beach. She wore a deep blue velvet gown that clung to a body that could easily get a man arrested. She was making her way down the stairs way too fast in those high heels, but with a reckless, carefree abandon that was extremely attractive even though all he kept thinking was that she was going to break her pretty little neck. He stared at her as she picked up the hem of her dress, and laughing, raced across the hall towards the ballroom with his sister Juliet, dressed in a stunning silver satin gown, following but losing the race because she was being far more careful in her heels than her dark haired friend.

     Jax’s captivated gaze was interrupted by his sister-in-law, Joanna’s, approach.

     “Jax, have you seen any of the gods?” she asked him, sounding out of breath.

     Jax tore his eyes away from the vision that was carrying on with his sister and gave his attention to his brother’s wife. “The . . .gods?” he repeated, looking at her as if she had lost her mind.

     “Yes. Your mother hired the cast of Gods & Goddesses to perform tonight and I have no idea which room they’re using to change. I have to find Neptune because his costume just arrived and . . oh, this house is just so big!” she said looking frazzled.

     “Well I haven’t seen Neptune, but I think perhaps I just saw my own personal Venus,” Jax murmured as his eyes went back to where Juliet and the dark haired perfect looking thing were laughing their heads off about something.

     Joanna followed his gaze and then grinned. “Yes, she’s ridiculously pretty isn’t she? Unfortunately for you, Jax, she is not the entertainment for tonight and is off limits to you period. That’s Julie’s friend Brenda, from school. Your mom says she’ll be spending the summer here.”

     Jax just nodded with a look of interest flashing in his oceanic blue eyes.

     “Jax, I’ve got to find the gods!” Joanna insisted. “Neptune can’t go on without his crown and...” she stared at the item in her hand, “this thing --” she said gesturing at the golden trident she was holding. She turned to go in search of the sea god, but then paused, turning back to her brother-in-law. “By the way, Jax, have you seen Jerry?”

     “Why are all you women suddenly looking for your husbands?” Jax asked. “And why do you all think that I would know where to find them? Am I the gatekeeper?”

     “Oh, Jax stop being so irritable just because Amber Stanton will be coming to the party,” Joanna teased, batting her eyelashes profusely as she took off.

     Jax shook his head. Amber was coming? God, he’d better find a good place to bloody well hide. Memories of his 24th birthday celebration 2 months ago and Amber’s hot pursuit of him gave him a headache. His gaze slowly found itself back on the young Venus who now had a name -- Brenda. The grandfather clock chimed and Brenda turned to gaze at it and in doing so, saw him. She seemed momentarily taken aback and in fact, nearly tripped.

     Jax smiled, quite arrogantly pleased with his effect on her and then walked towards the door just as Justin was coming inside.

     “Don’t go near the orchestra, Mozart,” he warned his younger brother.

     “All right, all right. Hey, have you seen Julie?” Justin said.

     “She’s hanging around by the ballroom entrance with . . . Brenda,” he said.

     Justin raised a blonde eyebrow. “Oh yes, Brenda. Have you seen that girl?”

     “Yes.”

     “And you’re still standing?” Justin laughed. “I’m impressed. She got me and Jer to both fall backwards on the couch.”

     “Well you two are well known weaklings, I am not. Besides beautiful women are a dime a dozen,” Jax dismissed.

     “Oh please, don’t even try to tell me you weren’t affected when you saw her,” Justin said just as they were interrupted by the arrival of their father who enlisted them in aiding him sneaking the audio equipment into the ballroom

     Brenda stood there not hearing a word that Juliet was gabbing about. She only heard the sound of her own heart hammering away in her chest as the blond haired man with the mask over his eyes approached them along with Justin and Juliet’s dad, who were also both in costume.

     “Why girls!” John Jacks said, grinning, his stunning blue eyes sparkling. “Don’t you both look as scrumptious as Vince’s apple tarts. Now cover for us!”

     “Oh dad, we can’t do that. We’ve got to be on Mom’s side. There are too many men in this house as it is,” Juliet echoed her mother’s favorite mantra just as Jax grabbed her and gave her a hug and kissed her cheek.

     “Welcome home Pest,” he said smiling at his sister.

     “Jax!” she said hugging him tightly. “Where have you been, you louse? I’ve been looking everywhere for you ever since I got here,” she told him.

     “Sorry, I was with Devon overseeing the renovations on the riverboat.”

     “He’s coming isn’t he?” Juliet asked.

     “In a little while,” Jax affirmed.

     Brenda nudged Juliet.

     “Oh Jax, this is my dear friend Brenda Barrett. Brenda, this is my remaining brother, Jax, the one that’s always the hardest to track down. Brenda’s staying here for the summer,” Juliet informed him.

     “Hi,” Brenda said extending her hand to him, trying to stay cool and not lose her sense of balance at the sight of him as she had done only moments before. He was so handsome he made her dizzy just looking at him!

     He slipped his hand into hers and they both were slightly taken aback by the strange tingling they felt invade their bodies at the moment of physical contact.

     “Nice to meet you, Brenda,” Jax said pulling his hand away slowly.

     “You too,” she said trying to remain calm. But oh God, he was the most perfect looking man she had ever seen in her life! Justin and Jerry were both very attractive too, but Jax . . . he was astonishing. He was heartbreaking. And suddenly she realized why ‘heartbreaker’ was the nickname they had given to him. It made her feel a little better about tripping at the sight of him. He was worth tripping over, she decided and then she looked away from him momentarily, thinking that she was staring at him far too much for it to be polite.

     “Pest, I need you for a sec,” Justin said as he spirited Juliet away from them.

     Alone with Jax, Brenda was annoyed to find herself at a loss for words. Oh for God’s sake he was only a man!

     “I like your costume,” she blurted out, her eyes locked on the remarkable looking, small gold medallion he wore around his neck so as to avoid contact with those gorgeous blue eyes of his. “Are you the phantom?”

     “No, that would be Justin’s role tonight,” Jax told her as he gazed at her. He thought her eyes were absolutely bewitching. A kaleidoscope of very dark greens and golds that swirled together to create a magnificent hazel and glittered like jewels even in the dim lighting of the ballroom. It put him in mind of the Lord Byron poem that went ‘She walks in beauty, like the night /Of cloudless climes and starry skies; /And all that's best of dark and bright/ Meet in her aspect and her eyes.’ What was this? He was waxing poetic on account of this girl? He must be drunk, he realized, until he remembered he hadn’t had anything to drink at all.

     “Did you really bring a harem home last summer?” she asked him, bringing him out of his nonsensical thoughts.

     “My sister talks too much.” he said.

     Like his brothers and his sister, Jax had a pleasing Australian accent. Very cultivated, slightly Americanized and highly pleasing to the ear. His father had a much heavier Aussie accent that was delightful, and his mother and the butler Niles had the British accents.

     “Well did you really do it?” Brenda persisted.

     “Of course I did.”

     “Why?” she asked.

     “Are you always this inquisitive with people you barely know?” he wanted to know.

     “Yes. So why did you bring home a harem?” she repeated.

     “Because,” he shrugged, “they all fit in the plane.”

     Brenda laughed. That was the kind of answer she might have given to such a question.

     “Where were they from?” she asked.

     “Baghdad,” he responded.

     “All fifteen of them?”

     He just smiled at her.

     “Are you really such a high maintenance lover that you need 15 women to occupy you?” she asked him.

     He raised an eyebrow. “What exactly is it that you think I did with them?” he asked her.

     She swallowed. “Umm . . . .”

     “And what exactly would a virginal school girl like you know about a high maintenance lover?” he added.

     “I’m not a girl,” she informed him, sensitive to this child thing. “I’m 19 years old.”

     “Oh. 19. Yes, truly ancient.” he murmured.

     “I’m not a girl,” she repeated more firmly.

     “Well I’m sure I got the virginal part right,” he said.

     “Why is it that men always find a way to somehow turn a conversation towards sex?” she asked him with a genuine curiosity that made him smile a little.

     “You say that as if you’ve had this vast experience with men which I suspect is not the case. And I wasn’t trying to turn the conversation towards the sexual at all,” he paused, “unless of course you want me to in which case I’ll be happy to oblige you.”

     “No! I really . . .that’s okay.”

     He grinned. “You know I can see the obvious innocence behind that brassy, know-it-all, seen-it-all, done-it-all rather intoxicating exterior of yours. You run a good game but you can’t fool me.”

     She wasn’t sure whether he’d just insulted her or complimented her. “I’m not trying to fool anybody. And what’s wrong with my exterior?” she asked frowning as she checked to see if her dress was crinkled or otherwise messed up.

     His smile was slow and sexy. “Not a damn thing, actually. Don’t take me so literally,” he said and she felt herself blush as his blue eyes took in every possible inch of her with a deliberate slowness that annoyed and thrilled her at the same time. “Now you see that? The way you’re blushing now, well that tells me that you are indeed eligible to wear white at your wedding. I’ll bet you’ve never even been kissed.”

     She gasped. “Yes I have!”

     “I’m not talking about by your mother.”

     She could not stop her laughter. His wit was rapid-fire, much like her own and it was fun trying to keep up with him.

     “Okay, that was very funny,” she confessed, still laughing a little, “but the truth is that you don’t know anything about me. And you certainly don’t know whose lips have been kissing mine,” she finished, trying to act far more worldly than she was.

     “Well I know that mine haven’t. A loss for us both, I’m sure,” he said gazing distractedly at her lips. “Moreso for you, though, I think,” he added with a wink.

     Brenda was momentarily speechless. She couldn’t think of a comeback for that one, just yet. All she could think about was that he was probably right. She remembered the awkward kisses she’d gotten from the few men who hadn’t been run off by her stepmother. There was Randy Jones who’s peck on her lips had been very forgettable, there was Louis McEvoy who’s sloppy, wet kiss had practically given her nightmares and then there was Tommy Aaron who had tried to stick his tongue in her mouth and had sent her screaming down the street in horror. If Jax only knew how right he was about her inexperience he would have a good laugh.

     “Have I left the young goddess speechless?” he asked, quirking a sexy blonde eyebrow.

     Goddess? He was calling her a goddess? Her mind was spinning

     “No,” she said quickly, “No, I just . . . I was wondering . . .” Oh what the heck was she going to say? She had to think of something clever and mature which wouldn’t give away her total lack of experience on this subject and bore him into ending their conversation.

     As she stalled and grasped for some witty comment, she didn’t realize just how intently he was gazing at her as if taking a mental photograph of her in his mind. He was annoyed to have to admit to himself that this overly inqusitive19 year old girl with the delightful personality, was unquestionably the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Her dark hair was swept up with spiraling tendrils as bangs and the tendrils kept falling gently into her eyes. Jax kept removing them which seemed a nuisance to him but was actually quite pleasant for her, although she tried to act as annoyed as he was by her misbehaving hair.

     He was flirting with her, she finally realized in delight. In fact, he had been flirting with her right from the start, hadn’t he?

     “You’re flirting with me!” she said, not realizing that she was speaking her excited thoughts out loud.

     Jax seemed totally unfazed by her happy little accusation. “So?” he said.

     She laughed. “Well what makes you think you can do that?” she asked him, feeling her confidence returning.

     “I’m afraid I don’t usually wait for permission,” he told her with a look that would have made her swoon had she been the frilly, swooning type like so many of the southern belles that Jax knew. He was glad to see that she was no swooner.

     She laughed again. “Oh I see. So you think you’re that good at it then?” she asked next.

     “So I’ve been told.”

     “By who? Your mother?” she giggled.

     Now it was his turn to laugh. “Touché,” he said softly. His mother was right about Brenda’s moxy, he decided. She had more than her share of it and was keeping up with him very well. “And,” he responded, “as a matter of fact, yes my mother has told me that. But if I had any doubts about my flirting ability they would have all been put to rest by that beautiful smile of yours, which I do believe I’m responsible for. I mean, you are practically glowing.”

     Glowing? She was??

     Her hazel eyes glittered in embarrassed surprise. “I am not! And I’d like to know what makes you think I even want you to flirt with me? What makes you think I even like it?”

     His wicked little smile zapped her unprepared heart and she felt a bit weak in the knees. He leaned closer to her and she thought she would die of panic as his lips moved towards her. They did not go near her lips however, but stopped just inches from her ear.

     “Don’t you?” he whispered and then with a suggestive raise of his blonde eyebrows he proceeded to walk away from her, leaving her standing there with a wildly racing heart, flushed, golden skin and a profound feeling of disappointment that he had not kissed her. She also felt like a complete idiot for thinking he was ever going to kiss her in the first place.

     Now she really knew why they called him the heartbreaker. Not only was he wickedly handsome enough to make a woman lose all of her good sense, but his charm was that of a master spell-weaver to be sure.

     “Okay,” she said to herself, taking a deep breath as she watched him walk away, “Round one definitely goes to you, Jax,” she conceded, wishing her heart would slow down already and her breathing would return to normal. What on earth had this man done to her in the space of their ten minute conversation that had her becoming unglued like this? It was awful! No, it was wonderful! No it was . . .oh, what was it?! She hoped she would never see him again, she decided, only to decide two seconds later what a lie that was.

     Jax watched her as she paced in a cute little circle looking delightfully flustered. He was certain that he had scared her to death and she would now avoid him like the plague for the rest of her stay.

     How wrong he was.