Let me just say I am really hating how the Word insert button never works. I thought since there doesn't seem to be much activity on here I'd post the next chapter for those of you who are interested. And yes my writers block is over for the moment. ENJOY!

Chapter 12

Her sister's sure, skilled hands were brushing out her hair reminding Jude of when they were kids before adolescence had separated their closeness. Victoria would be working on dinner as Jude and Sadie sat at the kitchen table, Sadie trying out a new hairstyle on her little sister. Sadie's voice broke Jude's reverie and she blinked in surprise, catching her sister's face in the mirror.

"This is kind of last minute isn't it?" Sadie asked casually, although she was dying to grill her sister. Sadie knew how closemouthed Jude could be about her personal life and she would have to proceed with caution if she wanted to get details out of her. What was really going on between Jude and Tom Quincy? Jude had said they weren't sleeping together anymore and that they were trying to be friends, but Sadie knew there was something she was leaving out.

"He asked me and I said yes." Jude said simply. She was not ready to explain what had happened last night, not that she quite knew how to. Whatever they were doing wasn't that easily defined, although it did feel right somehow.

"Didn't he have a date? He said it was mandatory he bring someone right?" Jude froze and then turned to look at her sister, puzzlement written in her face.

"He never said anything…" Jude turned back to face the mirror, a frown on her full lips now. It had never occurred to her to ask, she so full of being in his company last night. The sisters both knew that it was unlikely Tommy had waited this long to find someone to go with.

"Maybe his date cancelled on him. I'm sure it's nothing Jude." Sadie tried to smooth away her worries as she clipped up the curls to either side of Jude's head, leading it to cascade down in a golden tumble, and at the same time highlighting her slender neck.

Jude was slipping on her borrowed dress, not wanting to wrinkle it by putting it on too early, when Tommy arrived. Sadie opened the door to a charming easy smile from the man who had once been a poster on her wall. Her composure was shot as she stared at the decidedly too yummy ex-boybander.

"Hey. Sadie right? It's good to finally meet you." She nodded mutely, standing there for a long moment before remembering to invite him in.

"Um you too." Jude emerged from the small bedroom slowly, her feet still unsure in the strappy high heeled sandals Sadie had lent her. She wore a bold red dress with a low cut V-neckline, and empire waist accentuated by a band of silver sequins that ran below her breasts. On Sadie it would have been skin tight, but on Jude it skimmed her slender form in all the right places. His imagination was no match for the vision before him. She looked sexy and elegant all at once and he couldn't tear his eyes away.

"I take my thanks in the form of Prada." Sadie said to Tommy; their tension filled silence finally getting to her. Tommy turned his devastating grin on her and she forgot to breathe. Although the smile was purposefully magnetic there was no heat in his eyes; that was reserved for Jude alone.

"I'll remember that." And then his attention focused back on Jude who watched him just as boldly. The way the gorgeous man now looked at her baby sister made her wonder if he really could be in love with her and then she wondered how Jude had managed to stay away from his bed for this long.

Jude colored under his intense scrutiny and her hand went reflexively to the complex style Sadie had put her hair in.

"Is there something wrong? Do I look okay?" She felt out of her comfort zone dressed so elegantly, not knowing how good she looked in the satin gown.

"Wow." Was all he could say and she smiled a little, reassured by the heat in his eyes.

"You too." He had on a pin striped suit in such a dark shade of blue it almost looked black. It was obviously tailor made to accommodate his wide shoulders, fitting his frame perfectly. At that moment Sadie who was usually the center of attention, felt for the first time like a third wheel. It was like they had forgotten she was even in the same room with them. There was this crazy intensity pulsing between them that Sadie had never seen Jude have with anyone, not even Jamie, especially not with Jamie.

"Uh Jude can I talk to you for a minute?" Sadie interrupted their moment, trying hard not to be affected by the intensity they both emitted. She pulled a reluctant Jude back into the bedroom. Tommy watched her retreating figure, seeing for the first time that the dress was backless except for one strap that ran low across her spine. He wasn't sure at that moment how he was going to survive the night.

.　

"What?" Jude asked Sadie distractedly, her eyes aimed at the door towards where he was.

"What's going on between you two? Really? What is tonight?" Jude turned to face Sadie and chose to answer the last question because it seemed easiest.

"I guess it's a date?"

"A date? Do I have to remind you you're still married?! And you're dating him?"

"Sadie…" Jude looked hurt at her sister's harsh words and Sadie sighed.

"It's not just hormonal is it?" It took Jude a long moment to comprehend what Sadie meant. "You've never had that. A guy you've really connected with--sexually." Jude stared at Sadie in baffled astonishment, embarrassed and confused. She shook her head and looked pensive.

"I don't know what it is Sadie. I just know I like being with him, a lot."

"Sorry…I'm just worried Jude." Jude nodded, knowing Sadie had tried her best to fill the role their mother had left behind. And she had taken advantage of it more than once, so how could she complain now?

"I can take care of myself, but thanks. I'd hug you, but you'd probably kill me for wrinkling your dress." They both smiled in amusement.

"Jude just---be careful." Jude grinned and looked down at her still flat stomach.

"How much more trouble can I get into Sades?" Jude said a little wryly. That was definitely the end of their little talk as they laughed.

.

Jude and Sadie left the bedroom seeing Tommy still standing in the same spot, his head looking around curiously. He smiled again when he saw her, his attention fixed on her slender form.

"Ready?" Jude nodded and Sadie handed her the borrowed purse. Jude walked up to him and he leaned down to show his appreciation of her beauty his hand going to her bare back when Sadie spoke up.

"Don't touch her lips, you'll ruin her makeup." Tommy straightened up and grinned, not in the least bit upset about her statement.

"Is that my only limitation? No lips?" Sadie felt the blow of his sexuality even though it wasn't really aimed at her. "I think I can work with that." She wondered yet again how her sister had managed to not sleep with him when they lived together. Jude was a stronger woman than she, apparently. "I almost forgot--I have something for you." Jude glanced at him quizzically as he drew a flat rectangular box out of the small gift bag he had brought with him. "It's a loan actually." Yet again Sadie felt like a bystander as the two people drew themselves into their own bubble. Pretty Woman flashbacks invaded her mind as Tommy held out the jewelry case, opening it for Jude's inspection. Sadie sucked in a breath, taking in the obviously expensive ruby and diamond set in his hands consisting of a necklace, bracelet and matching earrings. Why was he trying so hard to charm Jude Sadie could not fathom, if that was indeed what he was trying to do. She didn't understand what Tommy Quincy wanted from her sister and it made her wary.

Sadie didn't really believe Jude had ever truly been in love before and there was a small knot of unease in her stomach as she watched the two of them staring, saying nothing out loud and yet saying so much in silence. He looked like he wanted to devour her little sister whole and there was no blush on her sister's cheeks to indicate she was anything but receptive. Tommy screamed experience and easy charm; was her not so experienced sister really equipped to deal with a man like him? Obviously the sex worked for them…But the rest of their very real issues---Were they even going to acknowledge them? Maybe Sadie had never been very protective of Jude growing up, but after their parents had split she had found herself looking out for her little sister, so this although exciting as all hell and slightly unreal, was setting alarm bells off in her highly efficient brain.

A shiver ran through Jude as his palms grazed the bared skin of her shoulders as he helped her put on the necklace. Her hands went to her ears to remove the borrowed earrings, handing them back to Sadie who reached out for them automatically. She forced a smile back on her face, knowing Jude did not deserve her doubts, at least right now.

"I wish we didn't have to go tonight." he whispered against her hair as he breathed in the perfume Sadie had told her to use. "You look amazing." His breath tickled her ear and she shivered although the night was balmy and warm, especially for Toronto. They stood in the elevator her hand in his and his lips a fraction too close to the bare skin of her shoulder for comfort.

"But you have to." Jude reminded him needlessly, simply trying to fill the air with something besides their awareness of one another. Tommy groaned a little in complaint before his lips pressed down on her skin. Jude closed her eyes, every nerve ending pulsing from that single touch. Luckily for her, the elevator dinged and opened onto the lobby before she could react.

This was supposed to be the fairytale, wasn't it? Wearing a beautiful gown and asked to the ball by Prince Charming. Well okay if Prince Charming was into leather jackets and copious amounts of hair gel … And maybe if the screaming red dress wasn't quite so low cut to show what little cleavage she had and…well if she weren't still married to someone else. Jude wasn't exactly the maidenly princess--And she had never been into fairytales growing up. So why was there a slight frisson of anticipation or was that terror running up her spine, as she clung to Tommy's arm? She recognized faces that more often than not graced the cover of the tabloids Sadie enjoyed reading, and even the ones she did not recognize were either gorgeous and emitting an air of power and authority. As they entered the ballroom it was evident that there were attractive women in abundance, and not a few eyed Tommy with interest while equally glaring at Jude. She wondered once again what she was doing here. He seemed to sense her uncharacteristic hesitation and leaned his lips against her sweet smelling hair.

"Relax. They're just people." Strangely she felt calmer as he took her hand in his, squeezing gently before pulling her deeper into the throng.

There was one soul in this decked out ballroom that had been waiting for Tommy Quincy to appear; more so she wanted to see who he had brought along. Her interest was very much personal even though she were she asked she would say it was mere curiosity. Of course Tommy had not be one of the early arrivals, showing up fashionably late and she blinked in surprise to see he was holding the hand of a slender blond. Handholding was definitely not an intimacy she had expected to see. Usually it was a beautiful woman, clinging to his arm and he showing just enough halfhearted interest to keep her from complaining. Tommy didn't usually date them for their brain power, so most of them hardly ever noticed his attention was never completely focused on them.

"Cara what're you so intent on?" He had called her that from the moment they had met and she had known right then he was the one. He had told her it was Italian for 'beloved' and she had believed him when he said it to her. Malcolm followed her gaze, but could not make out the object of her focus. She looked a little startled having barely acknowledged her fiancé had come back with her chocolate martini. She smiled when he handed her the drink.

"Tommy's new girlfriend." She elaborated and he found the other man easily, now that he knew whom he was looking for.

"Should I be worried you're showing so much interest in your ex?" She shook her head and put her hand on his chest.

"Never." Their eyes locked and Tommy was forgotten, at least for the moment.

.

This had to be the best night ever! The woman on his arm was so hot, she made him want to drool. How cool would he look when he told his band that he had gotten a chance at this smokin' older woman. And she was a freaking model! Okay so older woman was stretching it she was only 23 and he 20, but still! He had been more than a little surprised when she had called him this morning and asked if he would be attending this party. They had met briefly when she had come into G-Major to audition for a video and she had been, not exactly cold, reserved maybe? But he had thought at the time she was only interested in Tommy. He had practically tripped over his own tongue to ask if she was interested in attending and then she had agreed sweetly. Vincent Spiederman barely noticed his date tensing beside him, her gaze caught on the new arrivals by the door. And then he did notice and his eyes widened because he recognized the couple--both of them.