by cd
Martha's Vineyard - June 8, 1998
"Jasper!!"
The shrillness of that single cry brought Jasper Jacks out of his conversation with an acquaintance. He instinctively recognized the voice and out of reflex his eyes immediated darted in search of a hiding place.
It really wasn't respectable for a man who made his living in the most cutthroat circles of corporate raiding to run aaway from a meddlsome would-be matchmaker. But Elsabeth Thatton, one of the grande deames of New England society, was absolutely relentless. As the matriarch of the infamously prestigious and wealthy Thatton family, she was accustomed to getting her own way. For several months, that "way" had included plans to unite Jax with her granddaughter, Kalisa.
There wasn't truly anything to dislike about Kalisa. She was kind enough and likeable, when she wasn't allowing her famuly, particularly Elsabeth, to herd her along like a shepherd rounding up the flock. Unfortunately, those spurts of independence never lasted for long and Jax had difficulty finding her even remotely interesting because of that. He couldn't pretend to admire her passive behavior and when she spoke it was often to reiterate something one of her relatives had just proclaimed to be the gospel truth, regardless of whether the opinion was based on fact, or as was more often the case, pure fiction.
Noticing his reaction, his friend clapped him on the back. "Good luck." He pointed in the direction of the library. "And Godspeed."
Jax nodded his thanks gratefully before escaping into the sea of people milling in the common room. Elsabeth normally moved like lightning, but out of the corner of his eye, he noticed his friend waylaying her, probably with the latest prattle about some buried skeleton scandal.
He paused for breath once he reached the sanctuary of the library. What had possessed him to come to this party anyway? It was the same crowd; some of them dear friend, some back-stabbers. But his host and childhood chum Thao Grimaldi subscribed to the theory of mingling with one's enemy. If someone was prominent on the social or business scene, Thao made certain to issue an invitation to that person. Unfortunately, those invitations included types like Elsabeth.
Even so, his brother Jerry had practically forced him to come tonight with the threat of shredding the paperwork for an important merger unless Jax forced himself to socialize. Jerry viewed the even as an opportunity not only to break Jax out of his workaholic mode but to spy on the competition. Jax found the second motivation a waste of time; absolutely everyone else had the same goal, even at a celebration like tonight's.
One where the guest of honor hadn't even botherd to show up yet. Thao, never one to miss a chance to revel in good fortune - both his own and his friends' - was ecstatic when his friend Ana Saint's novel hit the best-seller list. He'd immediately rounded up the usual cast of players for his self-directed melodramas with the decree that they read her book and be prepared to gush. In an attempt to humor his friend, Jax began to comply with instructions, but would up placing the book aside after the first couple of pages.
Although he'd never met Ana Saint, he envied her one thing: her location. Wherever she was, he wanted to be there, too.
He continued through the French door od the library that led into the backyard. Thao ought to have some massive rosebushes that he could hide behind if the situation came to that.
But instead of finding something to duck under, he was brought up short by the sight in front of him. Long dark hair swept away to crown and accentuate a face upturned against the background beams of the moon in a striking contrast. Romeo had totally underestimated the effects of the pale silver glow; it wasn't envious, it embraced her lovingly. And when her head swiveled in his direction, a pair of clear, warm brown eyes locked with his, holding his gaze steadily.
Maybe there really were angels one earth.
A nonconformist angel, he immediately corrected himself. The skirt of her dress was bunche aorund her knees as she dangled her feet in the pool, stirring rippled the vibrated against the moonlit sheen of the water.
"There's room for one more." Her voice reached his ears softly.
He didn't need another invitation. He knelt down beside her on the ledge. "Are you hiding, too?"
"Too?" she echoed.
Jax smiled a little sheepishly. He'd forgotten she was a complete stranger. "I couldn't face Elsabeth." He knew his words probably wouldn't mean anything, but she seemed so inviting.
"Els - You mean Mrs. Thatton?" She threw her head back and laughed.
It was an infectious sound. For some reason, he knew he was smiling like a fool and he didn't even care. "You know her?"
She bobbed her head up and down, still chuckling. "I went to boarding school with Kalisa. I've never head anyone call her Elsabeth. The only thing I ever hear come out of anyone's mouth when they're around her is 'yes ma'am.'"
"Oh, that's not all. You forgot, 'Do tell Gilmore to bring the Rolls around.'"
"Or, 'Mrs. Thatton requires tea post-haste.'"
"And don't forget her matchmaking attempts." Jax shuddered with the knowledge that he was her intended victim. "She's like a deranged Emma - without any of the positive qualitie."
"Let's not insult Jane Austen."
"Let's not," he agreed. "You never answered my question." He noticed the way she was rubbing her hands along her bare arms. "Are you cold?" He started to shrug out of his tuxedo jacket.
"No." She stopped him with a smile. "Goosebumps. I guess that's part of your answer. I'm just trying to calm my nerves before I have to go in there and face every single person who wants to know who you are and what gives you the right to be here."
That was a situation Jax knew too well. "They're unnerving sometimes." He glanced sideways at her. "Not that I blame them for staring. I would be, too."
She swung her feet back over the ledge. "That's the nicest line I've heard in a long time. It's a lot better than asking whether my hair color is natural."
"Thanks - " He caught her gaze intently, "- but it's not a line."
"Then thank *you*."
He stood up and offered her a hand. "Maybe we could face the firing squad together."
She grasped his palm as she rose to her feet. "What about Elsabeth?"
"Favor for favor," Jax offered. "Seeing me with someone ought to deter her and every time you get nervous, you can practically break off my fingers like you are right now."
"Sorry." She began to release his hand, but Jax held tight.
"It's not necessary. Hopefully, Thao's mystery guest has arrived by now. I can't wait to meet her," Jax added thoughtfully.
"Why's that?"
"I don't know whether to laugh or shake my head at her. I couldn't get through the first two pages of her book,"
"Why not?" Her voice dropped.
Jax shook his head in amusement. "It was such drivel. I didn't realize Thao was into reading trash these days."
"Trash?" Jax thought he saw something flare in her eyes momentarily.
"Exactly. Emotional garbage." Jax tried to remember what was written on the back cover. "'Will Margaret be able to save her beloved Harrison from the throes of danger and return him to the arms of love?' It's not even original trash."
She dropped his hand abruptly. "How do you know if you haven't even read it. Maybe someday it'll be a classic. She's on the best-seller list; she must be doing something right."
"I think that's reaching a little." Jax couldn't agree with her, but he liked the challenge that rared in her gaze. "Jane Austen, she isn't."
"Well, what exactly did you hate so much about the book."
Jax considered her question. "I really couldn't say; it was all pretty forgettable. Oh, what about that insipid beginning where Margaret pushed Harrison in the duck pond even though they've just met. How realistic is that?"
"Why don't we find out?" Before Jax knew what was happening, he hit the water.
Although the wind was intially knocked out of him, he surfaced fairly quickly. With one hand, he wiped the water from his gaze. Was this woman an absolute psychopatj?
No, he decided. She was leaning over the pool, frantically searching the water. Obviously, she regretted her action. And that intrigued him. He swam towards her slowly.
She extended her hand. "I'm so sorry. I've never done anything like that before. Well, maybe once in third grade. But I just don't know what I was thinking. I wasn't at all." A mixture of contrition and concern filled her eyes as she leaned forward even further. Jax almost regretted what he was about to do.
Almost.
She shrieked as he pulled her in beside him. She came up sputtering, hair falling in her face. After she'd managed to swipe the mist from her gaze, she glowered at him. "You are exceptionally cruel!"
Jax raised an eyebrow at her. "And I suppose you just pushed me into the pool so I could cool off? How considerate of you!"
"You made me angry! And I apologized," she reminded him.
"I didn't ask for one." She started to moved away, but Jax held onto her waist, pulling her closer as they both bobbed in the chilly water swirling around them. She shivered slightly, and this time he ran his hands down her arms. "Why *were* you so angry?"
"Well, I take it back now. You didn't deserve it." She completely ignored his last question, but seemed to have forgotten her intention to get away from him.
"Is everything - " Thao bustled into the backyard with Elsabeth practically tripping over him when he stopped short. Elsabeth gasped loudly at the spectacle in front of her, but Thao never batted an eye.
He knelt down to take the woman's hand and assist her out as if this were an every day occurance. "I see you two have already met."
Jax hauled himself up over the side of the pool and looked at his friend expectantly. "Informally. We never did exchange names. Would you mind making the appropriate introductions, Thao."
"Certainly." Thao glanced from one to the other. "Jasper Jacks - " He paused to watch the woman wring the water out of her skirt before her continued, "meet our esteemed guest." He managed to keep a straight face despite the fact that the woman continued to drip the contents of his swimming pool all over him. "This is Brenda Barrett, also known as Ana Saint."
~*~
Author's note: I'm just experimenting with an idea and not really comfortable
posting a name right now.