I opened the door, and there he was—Jack, looking at me as if I held the stars in my eyes. His hair neatly trimmed, the absence of his usual five o'clock shadow making his features even more striking."God, Amanda, you are beautiful," he breathed, pulling me close by the waist. His eyes, deep and full of emotion, met mine. There was a single rose in his hand, and he brought it between us. I took it from him and locked eyes with him."Thank you," I whispered, my face heating up at his intense gaze.When we got down from the stairs, there was no one in sight, and I breathed a sigh of relief.I shivered as the cold bit through my skin. Jack quickly pulled off his jacket and draped it around my shoulders."I really should have thought about the cold when I bought the dress," he said, rubbing his hand at the back of his neck. I took his cheek in my hand and ran my thumb across it."No, it's perfect. I love it, Jack, thank you," I said all in a breath, and his eyes softened. He took my hand
Christmas.I rolled over to the side of the bed, and my breath hitched at the thought of the holiday. My left hand dangled on the edge, and my eyes zoomed to the bag that was on the floor.I quietly took the sheet off my body and walked over to the bag. A smile spread on my lips as I hurriedly put it on, entered the bathroom, and brushed my teeth. I quickly walked over to Jack, who stirred in the bed, and crawled over his legs that were covered by the blanket.His eyes opened, and I bit my lip as they moved over the thin piece of clothing that covered me. What I had on was a simple seductive one-piece ensemble in red and white lace, paired with white stockings covered in Christmas patterns."Good morning," I breathed out, and his eyes moved to meet mine."Jesus Christ, Amanda," he whispered, resting his upper body on his elbow. I leaned forward with a small smile playing on my lips."Merry Christmas, baby."I could feel him swelling underneath me, and my legs curled at the thought of
I walked into the kitchen and instantly smelled the delicious Christmas food. Surprisingly, the room was busy with people preparing for the holiday. Bertha, of all people, stood near the counter, sipping on a glass of juice. As our eyes met, she put down her drink and began to walk towards me.I released a sigh as I already knew what was to come. My body tensed, and my eyes widened as her arms wrapped around me. "Merry Christmas, Amanda," she said, a grin on her face."Wh-?"I looked at her in confusion, my eyebrows furrowed as I wondered what she was trying to get at. Bertha never liked me, so why was she being nice to me now?"Would you look at that," Charlotte walked over to us with a smile. My face softened at how happy she looked. "My daughter-in-law is finally getting along." She placed her hand on her chest and looked at us happily.Before I could say anything, Bertha's phone rang, and she excused herself. I raised a brow as I watched her walk away, skeptical of what she was pl
"Annie!" My little sister rushed into my arms, and I held her tight. "I miss you," we both said and laughed. When I looked up, Mom was standing behind Charlie with her eyes fixed on the mansion. I walked over to Charlie, who was grinning at me and wiggling his eyebrows.I laughed and hugged him tight. "I miss you so much, Charlie," he whispered in my ear. "Missed you too."Mom only spared me a glance and turned to Jack, who was watching us. She smiled brightly and stretched her hand to him."It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Reynolds." He smiled at her, and she waved her hand. "Oh no. Just call me Mary-Ellen.""Of course," he said with a grin that would melt any woman's heart. But definitely not hers."Please come in," he added, taking one of the bags from the truck and into the mansion. Charlotte's heels clicked as she walked to us. "Oh my," she smiled, walking faster."I am so glad you were able to make it!" She clapped her hands. She wrapped her arms around my mom, shocking her. "
Sweaty bodies, cheap perfumes. Fuck, I missed this. I took a swig of my drink, gulping it down in one go, and my head instantly began to spin as my hips moved with the beats of the song.I laughed with Bertha as we held each other and danced. "My legs are killing me! Let's take a break!" she yelled over the loud music, and I nodded, stumbling our way to the bar."Who knew it'd be so fun with you when you aren't being such a bitch!" I giggled, and she laughed. "Yeah, well, you could also be a bitch at times," she shrugged, and we both laughed."Handsome!" Bertha called to the bartender, and he smiled at her. "Two more shots of vodka!"I placed my head on the table and groaned. "Fuck. I'm so drunk right now.""Let's have one last drink and go home," Bertha laughed, and I raised my head to her. "Fine!" I groaned, took the drink from her, and downed it."I'm going to head to the bathroom real quick, then we will be on our way!"I waved her off as she walked away and ran my hands through m
I rested my back on the door and took a shaky breath. My eyes moved to the bathroom door, and the sound of running water could be heard. I trudged my way to it and pulled the door open.Jack's back was turned to me, and I waited a few heartbeats before moving closer to him.I got into the shower, my clothes getting soaked, but that was the least of my concern. I wrapped my arms around his torso and placed the side of my cheeks on his back.I sniffed, my lips smacking hard against each other, and my eyes pressed closed. "Why did you leave?" he asked, and I snapped my eyes open."I—I don't know... I guess I just needed a reason to be angry," I whispered, and he turned around. My hands left his body while his palm cupped my cheeks."I was scared, Amanda. I thought something happened to you," he whispered, placing his temple on mine. I closed my eyes as my lips shook.Something did happen. I just couldn't remember what.I wrapped my fingers around his neck and opened my eyes. "I know. I a
“What did you do?” I gritted my teeth as I met Bertha at the hallway. She turned to me, eyes swollen and rushed to hug me. I stumbled back and frowned then pushed her away.I scoffed and shook my head. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” “It’s not what you think, Amanda! I swear. When I came back to the bar you were already gone!”I chuckled, my eyes glaring daggers into her head. “You drugged me.”“W-what? What are you talking about, Amanda,” She frowned moving forward while I took some steps back. “I should have known everything you were saying about leaving Jack for me was bull shit. You wanted me to cheat so he would leave me”Bertha stared at me for a few seconds before a low chuckle escaped her lips. She wiped the tears that had formed around her eyes. “Like I said, Amanda. I didn’t do shit.” She stepped forward and pointed her fingers at me.“Don’t blame me for what you did. You spent the night out with God knows who and you’re trying to pin it on me?” She scoffed and
Jack's POVMy eyes couldn't move from the paper that was peeking out of Amanda's bag. My eyes moved to the door, then to the bag, and I quickly took it. I couldn't shake off the feeling of Amanda being with someone else. I turned the paper over and read what was written on it.My hands tightened, crumpling the paper as I read the words over and over again. I took in a deep breath, got up, put the paper in the back of my pocket, and walked out of the room. I paused as I watched Amanda walk into her sister's room, and with my brows furrowed, I walked down the stairs."Oh perfect!"I turned my head to see Mom waving at me. "Jack, come here," she said, walking towards the couch and sitting down with her legs crossed over the other.She brought out a list, filled with names, and I frowned. "I was thinking about having a party for New Year's Eve. You know, we could all count down as we go into a new year, and these are the names of people I'm inviting," she said in a breath, and I looked ov
Amanda’s POV:Ethan.My gaze moved from each man as I wondered what the hell was going on. “Jack?” I called, and slowly, his eyes were now on me. I took steps away from the man—Ethan—and stood next to Jack.“Is something wrong?” I asked, placing my hand on his bicep. “Do you know him?”“We’ve had a brief encounter.” I turned to see Ethan walking towards us. He stretched his hand towards Jack. “It’s nice to see you again, Jack,” he added with a smile on his lips.Jack’s brows furrowed a little before he took Ethan’s hand. “What are you doing here?” Jack asked him suspiciously. “You never mentioned to me that you would be coming to my family’s party when we met,” he said, and Ethan chuckled.“Well, I didn’t know that you were Mrs. Hawke’s son. I got an invite to the New Year’s Eve party just this afternoon, and since I was going to be in town for a while, I decided it wouldn’t be a bad idea if I attended a party,” he said, and then his eyes turned to me. “And I guess it really wasn’t a
---**Amanda’s POV:**As soon as I got downstairs, I was surprised to see the mansion already filled with guests, even though it was still early. My eyes met Charlotte’s, and she waved me over.“Oh dear, you look wonderful!” she complimented me, and I smiled at her.“And so do you,” I replied, walking next to her.“I wasn’t expecting this many people,” I muttered, looking at the guests scattered in every corner of the rooms.“Oh, these aren’t all of the guests. I am still expecting a few more,” she whispered. I nodded, already distracted when I spotted Charlie going up the stairs with Liam.“Can you excuse me for a moment, Charlotte? I need to check on something,” I smiled at her. She waved her hand dismissively, and I clutched my purse tightly, following behind them. As soon as I reached the balcony and spotted them, I took a deep breath and cleared my throat.Charlie jumped back as soon as he saw me, while Liam only gave me a dismissive glance.“Charlie?” I called, taking a step clo
**Amanda’s POV**There was a party. Tonight. The only reasonable dress that I had was the one Jack got me for our date. All that was left were just jackets, trousers, and shirts. I took in a deep breath and ran my fingers through my hair. Now this was something else that I had to worry about. There was a knock on the door, and I frowned and dropped the shirt that was in my hand on the bed.I walked to the door and pulled it open, and standing before me was Charlotte. I sucked in a breath, and a smile played on my lips. “Hi!” I chirped and stepped backward, letting Charlotte in the room.“Oh, Amanda! We live in the same house, but I hardly ever see you,” she said while I chuckled awkwardly.Her eyes moved to the pile of clothes that were on the bed and back to me. “Would you like to go shopping with me, Amanda?”*****I couldn’t say no. I mean, I tried, but Charlotte definitely didn’t let me. She said we needed some “we” time, so I agreed. We both walked around the mall as we looked fo
Jack's POVMy eyes couldn't move from the paper that was peeking out of Amanda's bag. My eyes moved to the door, then to the bag, and I quickly took it. I couldn't shake off the feeling of Amanda being with someone else. I turned the paper over and read what was written on it.My hands tightened, crumpling the paper as I read the words over and over again. I took in a deep breath, got up, put the paper in the back of my pocket, and walked out of the room. I paused as I watched Amanda walk into her sister's room, and with my brows furrowed, I walked down the stairs."Oh perfect!"I turned my head to see Mom waving at me. "Jack, come here," she said, walking towards the couch and sitting down with her legs crossed over the other.She brought out a list, filled with names, and I frowned. "I was thinking about having a party for New Year's Eve. You know, we could all count down as we go into a new year, and these are the names of people I'm inviting," she said in a breath, and I looked ov
“What did you do?” I gritted my teeth as I met Bertha at the hallway. She turned to me, eyes swollen and rushed to hug me. I stumbled back and frowned then pushed her away.I scoffed and shook my head. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” “It’s not what you think, Amanda! I swear. When I came back to the bar you were already gone!”I chuckled, my eyes glaring daggers into her head. “You drugged me.”“W-what? What are you talking about, Amanda,” She frowned moving forward while I took some steps back. “I should have known everything you were saying about leaving Jack for me was bull shit. You wanted me to cheat so he would leave me”Bertha stared at me for a few seconds before a low chuckle escaped her lips. She wiped the tears that had formed around her eyes. “Like I said, Amanda. I didn’t do shit.” She stepped forward and pointed her fingers at me.“Don’t blame me for what you did. You spent the night out with God knows who and you’re trying to pin it on me?” She scoffed and
I rested my back on the door and took a shaky breath. My eyes moved to the bathroom door, and the sound of running water could be heard. I trudged my way to it and pulled the door open.Jack's back was turned to me, and I waited a few heartbeats before moving closer to him.I got into the shower, my clothes getting soaked, but that was the least of my concern. I wrapped my arms around his torso and placed the side of my cheeks on his back.I sniffed, my lips smacking hard against each other, and my eyes pressed closed. "Why did you leave?" he asked, and I snapped my eyes open."I—I don't know... I guess I just needed a reason to be angry," I whispered, and he turned around. My hands left his body while his palm cupped my cheeks."I was scared, Amanda. I thought something happened to you," he whispered, placing his temple on mine. I closed my eyes as my lips shook.Something did happen. I just couldn't remember what.I wrapped my fingers around his neck and opened my eyes. "I know. I a
Sweaty bodies, cheap perfumes. Fuck, I missed this. I took a swig of my drink, gulping it down in one go, and my head instantly began to spin as my hips moved with the beats of the song.I laughed with Bertha as we held each other and danced. "My legs are killing me! Let's take a break!" she yelled over the loud music, and I nodded, stumbling our way to the bar."Who knew it'd be so fun with you when you aren't being such a bitch!" I giggled, and she laughed. "Yeah, well, you could also be a bitch at times," she shrugged, and we both laughed."Handsome!" Bertha called to the bartender, and he smiled at her. "Two more shots of vodka!"I placed my head on the table and groaned. "Fuck. I'm so drunk right now.""Let's have one last drink and go home," Bertha laughed, and I raised my head to her. "Fine!" I groaned, took the drink from her, and downed it."I'm going to head to the bathroom real quick, then we will be on our way!"I waved her off as she walked away and ran my hands through m
"Annie!" My little sister rushed into my arms, and I held her tight. "I miss you," we both said and laughed. When I looked up, Mom was standing behind Charlie with her eyes fixed on the mansion. I walked over to Charlie, who was grinning at me and wiggling his eyebrows.I laughed and hugged him tight. "I miss you so much, Charlie," he whispered in my ear. "Missed you too."Mom only spared me a glance and turned to Jack, who was watching us. She smiled brightly and stretched her hand to him."It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Reynolds." He smiled at her, and she waved her hand. "Oh no. Just call me Mary-Ellen.""Of course," he said with a grin that would melt any woman's heart. But definitely not hers."Please come in," he added, taking one of the bags from the truck and into the mansion. Charlotte's heels clicked as she walked to us. "Oh my," she smiled, walking faster."I am so glad you were able to make it!" She clapped her hands. She wrapped her arms around my mom, shocking her. "
I walked into the kitchen and instantly smelled the delicious Christmas food. Surprisingly, the room was busy with people preparing for the holiday. Bertha, of all people, stood near the counter, sipping on a glass of juice. As our eyes met, she put down her drink and began to walk towards me.I released a sigh as I already knew what was to come. My body tensed, and my eyes widened as her arms wrapped around me. "Merry Christmas, Amanda," she said, a grin on her face."Wh-?"I looked at her in confusion, my eyebrows furrowed as I wondered what she was trying to get at. Bertha never liked me, so why was she being nice to me now?"Would you look at that," Charlotte walked over to us with a smile. My face softened at how happy she looked. "My daughter-in-law is finally getting along." She placed her hand on her chest and looked at us happily.Before I could say anything, Bertha's phone rang, and she excused herself. I raised a brow as I watched her walk away, skeptical of what she was pl