"Jack. At your service." The young man knelt on one knee with an almost devilish grin and brushed the woman's hand with his lips. Heather's shoulders straightened themselves and she let out a small sigh. "Jack, it is very nice to finally know your name."
"And it has been nice to meet you." More than you know, he added to himself. "I have heard small talk about you." He paused, waited for the question as he stood up to meet her gaze.
"Goodness, really? Whatever have you heard?" The lady asked, quite surprised.
"Passing comments, really," with an airy wave of his hand, "of a single woman with beauty in her face and in her wallet."
"Well, I should like to treat you sometime," Heather replied with a warm smile. She looked him over again, taking in the dark vest and light stubble around a handsome face. "Anything I can do to repay you for the courtesy and the wine back there." And she laughed as if she'd actually said something funny, and Jack laughed too. "You know," she began, "I do feel as if I know you more than I must."
"Even if I am more of a secretive person," Jack noted, and the devilish smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "I might think you feel a strong connection between us."
"Jack, don't tease me," Heather giggled, and hit him softly with the back of her hand.
With the daintiness of a gentleman and the speed of an assassin, Jack caught it before it could retreat back to her side. Heather looked up at him with a slightly bewildered expression. "Jack…"
"Allow me to get… closer to you, m'lady," Jack whispered, and softly he turned her towards him. Faint music from the bar they had left met his ears in the sudden silence. He twirled her around and pressed her close to him, her short dress rustling slightly as her back pressed against his front. She giggled, and looked at him over her shoulder. The streetlight illuminated the two dancers, alone on a dark street.
"Jack, I…"
His arms moved around her sides, wrapping her up like a gift.
"I…"
And this gift was ready to be delivered.
His lips brushed her cheek and at the same time, his embrace on her tightened.
Heather took a sharp breath and never let it out again.
"You've got blood on your knee," the man said without looking up. "Which does mean I am due to pay you, I suppose." He flicked his wrist and handed the younger man a check that was to be payed to Sean McLoughlin. Robert Yewett was emblazoned on the side.
"Thank you, sir," Jack said, sliding it neatly into an inside pocket in his suit. "Heather was easier to seduce than you implied."
"You get paid to seduce people," Mr Yewett pointed out sharply, and Jack laughed. "Go home, Sean. You've done me enough service today."
"Thank you, sir," he said, and went to leave.
"One more thing," the older man called, and Jack paused. "I heard someone talking about a mysterious Sean. I thought it might be one of your previous clients before Yew Hotels. You do go by the name Jack now, yes?"
"To most," Jack replied simply, and he bowed slightly before exiting the room.
