Now she found it had vastly improved, although still Spartan in its decor. She and everyone else who worked here had known some limited amount of renovation was under way, but they hadn't realized it was aimed at turning the suite into a livable environment for the new owner. As she remembered, the suite consisted of a sitting room, a bedroom, and a private bath - quite a luxury, for few rooms in the Miner's Point Hotel could boast such a twentieth-century amenity at the turn-of-the-century, when it was built.

The Oriental carpet, original to the hotel, had been cleaned. When she saw its jewel-like tones she knelt to stroke her hand across the surface, flattened by wear. "This is lovely," she said, looking up at Jax. "I'm so glad it could be salvaged."

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Lovely things should always be salvaged, if there's any way at all it can be done."

Brenda gave him an uncertain smile before rising to look around with keen interest. A round table, draped in lacy layers of snowy white, stood near a bow window, rays of sunshine slanting across its surface. Two place settings of sparkling crystal and china were already in place, as was a glass bud vase holding a graceful, apricot-colored rose. There was nothing else in the room, except for a small horsehair-covered settee and a chair, with cracked leather upholstery, set near a mantle fireplace.

He waited until her glance skittered past the door leading to the bedroom before asking, "Would you care to see the rest of it?"

She caught her breath but tried to respond as casually as he. "Of course... I would love to see the rest of the suite, but not now. We have work to do, after all. Another time."

He nodded, one corner of his well-shaped mouth tilting up. "Whatever you say. Another time... you can count on it."

A light rapping on the door behind them announced the arrival of their lunch. One of the waiters from the restaurant wheeled in his cart with a flourish. "I think you'll find everything to your satisfaction," he told Jax. He deposited a silver wine bucket on a stand, which he moved to an inconspicuous spot near one chair. "Only the finest and freshest, as you requested, sir."

"I'm sure it will do," Jax agreed, sounding almost bored. After the waiter had withdrawn, Jax pulled out a chair and nodded at Brenda. "May I?"

Feeling helpless, she allowed him to seat her, then watched him take his own place and drop a snowy linen napkin into his lap.

"Wine?" He lifted the bottle from the bucket.

She shook her head resolutely. "I never have wine with lunch. It makes me sleepy."

He poured wine into two glasses and placed one before her. "If you get sleepy this afternoon, you're more than welcome to take a nap up here in my suite. Besides, I love watching you sleep... One of the most beautiful, hypnotic sights I've ever seen," he added honestly. "I remember holding you in my arms, after we'd made love, watching you sleep with such a peaceful expression on your face… Do you know you always smile in your sleep?" he asked Brenda huskily, as he was temporarily lost in his memories of their time on the Immortal.

But he wasn't the only one who couldn't forget. Taken aback by Jax words, Brenda could only shake her head. "No," she said slowly, her voice cracking slightly. This was exactly what she'd been afraid of. Jax was bringing up memories that she had long forgotten or, in her case, buried.

It's ironic that he'd mentioned watching her sleep. Watching Jasper Jacks sleep was also one of her favorite pastimes. She could look at that beautiful face for hours without blinking an eye, taking in every curve and chiseled contour. She remembered waking up one night and finding Jax cradling her lovingly in his arms, holding her close to his heart, so gently, like she was an glass angel he was afraid would shatter.

That memory still brought tears to her eyes. But she wouldn't do this to herself. This was not the time for some trip down memory lane – not now; not ever. She could feel herself getting lost in him again, drowning in those powerful memories… the look in his eyes… the smile on his face. "Jax, I thought we already went through this... I can't, I won't-"

But he quickly interrupted her, "I know, I know... No more trips down memory lane. I'm sorry. I just got a little caught up in the moment, that's all." He lifted his fragile, crystal glass. "Cheers," he said, still wondering what had just happened to him.

Still she hesitated. "Really – there are a few wines I like."

"And this is one of them - Chardonnay. Did you think I'd forgotten?"

She was beginning to suspect he might remember everything as clearly as she did. In that case… "Cheers," she offered. Touching her glass lightly to his, she drank.

He seemed satisfied. "I took the liberty of ordering for us both," he said, although that was obvious. "I hope you enjoy your salad."

It was one of the most beautiful salads she'd ever seen – certainly far superior to the bag of veggies she kept in the hotel refrigerator for quick lunches. Displayed in an elegant crystal bowl, this salad boasted a variety of greens topped with tiny asparagus - again, her favorite - plus strips of roasted chicken accompanied by toasty, golden-brown breadsticks.

Her first bite was not a disappointment. "It tastes as good as it looks," she admitted. "Thanks... but you really didn't need to go through all this trouble," she said, her hands indicating the lavish lunch he'd ordered.

"You're worth a certain amount of trouble," he said, laughing slightly. He spoke as if he, too, were commenting on the food. "Dessert will also be special."

Her antenna immediately went up. If he thought she was going to be the dessert… "Yes?"

His smile radiated innocence. "Strawberries. Fresh, sweet strawberries."

She closed her eyes, remembering another time they’d shared strawberries... and wine... and apricot-colored roses. "So tell me what you have in mind for this historical preservation project," she choked. "After all, you invited me here for a reason."

"Oh, yes," he agreed softly. "I certainly did...."

***************

Brenda found lunch an absolutely excruciating affair. The food was delicious and her companion didn’t say a single word that she could take amiss, yet she found it impossible to concentrate on the conversation. Jax somehow managed to turn the simple act of eating into a sensual display that had her catching her breath, especially at the sight of a sweet, ripe, juicy strawberry disappearing into an equally sweet mouth.

Only the barest outline of his proposal sank in: that he hoped to use photographs, and antiques, and brass information plates, engraved in turn-of-the-century style, to entice guests to enter into the spirit of those times.

"Of course, we can also use multimedia, if we decide it's appropriate," he said, leaning back in his chair. "But I'm not too sure about that aspect. Would it be better to stick to the technology of the period? Or should we pull out all the stops and use everything civilization has come up with since?" He cocked his head quizzically. "What do you think, Brenda?"

His question flustered her, since she'd been concentrating on him and not on what he was saying. "W-why, I don't know."

"Does that mean you have to think about it?"

She leapt at the out he'd conveniently provided. "Exactly." She dropped her napkin on the table and quickly stood up. "It's been a lovely lunch – really it has – but now I've got to get back to work." She had to get out of here; her mind was starting to play tricks on her.

He stood, too. "Not so fast. You haven't seen the rest of the suite."

She edged toward the door. "Some other time, all right?"

But Jax saw right through her excuses. He could see the desperation in her eyes. "What are you so afraid of, Brenda?" he asked bluntly.

Everything, her heart practically screamed. What wasn't she afraid of? She was afraid of him... of how he made her feel.

~~~~~~~~~

Please don't say I love you, those words touch me much too deeply and they make my core tremble
Don't think you realize the power you have over me
And please don't look at me like that
It just makes me want to make you near me always
And please don't kiss me so sweet, it makes me crave a thousand kisses to follow
And please don't touch me like that, makes every other embrace seem pale and shallow
Please don't come so close
It just makes me want to make you near me always

Please don't send me flowers, they only whisper the sweet things you'd say
Don't try to understand me, your hands already know too much anyway
It just makes me want to make you near me always

And when you look in my eyes, please know my heart is in your hands
It's nothing that I understand, but when in your arms, you have complete power over me
So be gentle if you please 'cause your hands are in my hair, but my heart is in your teeth, baby
And it makes me want to make you near me always
Your hands are in my hair, but my heart is in your teeth, baby
And it makes me want to make you near me always

I want to be near you always
I want to be near you always
I want to be near you always

~~~~~~~~


"I'm not afraid of anything!" Brenda assured him, struggling back into her old character almost frantically.

"You're afraid of me....of us" He looked down at her steadily and Brenda tried to stay cool, but she was losing this battle and she knew it.

"I'm not!" Even to her own ears the denial sounded weak.

His tone gentled, "You look so at home here, Brenda. I loved seeing you smile and how happy you were. You seem completely comfortable in period costume." He touched her elbow lightly, but with purpose.

"I love wearing these clothes," she said nervously. She smoothed her dark skirt and took a breath – so deep that the lacy ruffles across her chest rose, trembling. "All except the shoes." She poked a pointed, kidskin-covered toe from beneath her hem.

He looked startled. "I should have remembered your penchant for going barefoot. You can take your shoes off when you're with me. Sit down and I'll help you."

"Oh no! …Umm… it's okay." She backed away from him, appalled at the hot rise of color she felt in her cheeks.

He followed slowly, but with determination. "In fact, when you're with me, you can take off anything you like."

She bumped into the door and reached around to scramble for the knob with one hand. "There's not a single thing I want to take off, down to, and including, my shoes. I told you that this is a business relationship and nothing more. You can have any woman you want...."

"But I want you, I lo—… Look, Brenda, you can keep telling yourself that this is merely business and someday you might actually believe it, but there is something between us. It's been there from day one, and it's not going to go away just because you want it to. I thought I was over you, but that mindset got shot straight to hell when I took one look at you a few days ago. You're simply unforgettable, Brenda. Everything you do, seduces me."

~~~~~~~~~~~


Everything you are
Everything you'll be
Touches the current of love
So deep in me
Every sigh in the night
Every tear that you cry
Seduces me

All that I am
All that I'll be
Means nothing at all
If you can't be with me
Your most innocent kiss
Or your sweetest caress
Seduces me

I don't care about tomorrow
I've given up on yesterday
Here and now is all that matters
Right here with you is where I'll stay

Everything in this world
Every voice in the night
Every little thing of beauty
Comes shining thru in your eyes
And all that is you becomes part of me too
'Cause all you do seduces me

And if I should die tomorrow
I'd go down with a smile on my face
I thank God I've ever known you
I fall down on my knees
For all the love we've made

Every sigh in the night
Every tear that you cry
Seduces me Seduces me
All that you do ..... Seduces me

~~~~~~~~~~~~

He slowly brought down his face to hers, blotting out the room, and the place, and even the century. Pressed between the closed door and his iron-hard chest, Brenda had nowhere to run... and when his lips touched hers, she knew she didn't want to run at all. He tasted of strawberries and Chardonnay, of memories and regrets. She found herself clinging to him; her arms around his neck and her eyes tightly closed.

He trailed kisses across her ear. "Now might be the perfect time to show you the other room," he murmured, his warm breath stirring the tendrils of dark hair escaping from the bun atop her head.

"The-?" Her eyes blinked and realization set in. "I can't do this!" She gave him a shove, moving out of his arms.

He allowed her to push him away. He was smiling. "Well?" he challenged, a devilish glint in his blue eyes. "Are you saying that you didn't want me just now? That you didn't tremble in my arms when I kissed you?" He reached out, softly caressing her cheek. "Look at you, Brenda… you're positively glowing"

"How can I get this through your head?" At last she found the doorknob and her hand closed over it. "I'm not going to tumble into your bed at the drop of a hat."

"You did once."

"I was young and foolish then!"

He arched one brow. "How young?"

She'd gone to great lengths to mislead him about that. Perhaps this was the time for the truth. She lifted her chin and stared into his eyes. "I was twenty."

That rocked him, but then she saw another thought forming in his head. "Twenty... and a virgin. Damn it! You were a virgin. You denied it, and I let you, because I didn't want it to be true, but-"

Trying to fight back tears, she yanked open the door. "That's over and done with. Forget it, Jax. It wasn't important then, and it's not important now."

"Oh no?" His voice pursued her to the stairway. "That's what you think, Brenda Barrett!"

This was just the beginning.