Chapter 5
Skye's townhouse
Skye ran her hands along the hips of her soft pink silk floorlength gown. It was very simply cut. Spaghetti straps at the shoulder, V neckline, and an A line that fell into folds at her feet. She checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. She knew that she looked fabulous. So why was it that she didn't have men flocking to her door? Was her personality that much of a turnoff? Tears threatened to come to her eyes. No, that wasn't it, at least she didn't think it was. Jax had liked her personality, as well as her looks. He had seemed to like everything about her. But he still hadn't wanted her. He wanted Carly. He was going to marry Carly today. Skye frowned as she remembered Sonny's harsh words a few weeks ago. Carly was everything Skye was not. Well, she hoped Sonny was right. Jax deserved nothing but the best, and if Carly was it, then Skye wanted him to be happy. She squared her shoulders and willed the tears away. She grabbed her purse and walked out the door. It was a beautiful day for a wedding.
Benson-Jacks reception
Skye glided into the reception area and found her table. She sat down with a sigh of relief. She had made it through the ceremony by pasting a bright smile on her face. Now she just had to make it through the reception and she would be home free. As more guests came in, she realized that she was sitting at a table with other corporate executives with whom Jax did business. Good. She could talk shop and avoid dwelling on the happy couple. She glanced up and saw Sonny enter the room with Michael in his arms. The little boy was laughing, and Sonny was talking animatedly. They sat down at a table near the front, next to Bobbie Spencer and her date, Mike Corbin. Skye turned her attention back to the folks at her table.
Later, Skye was at the bar, ordering a ginger ale, when she sensed a small presence. She looked down and saw Michael staring up at her. It suddenly struck her that this little boy was her nephew. She was related to him, and yet she would never know him. She squatted down to his eye level, as best she could in her dress. "What can I do for you?" She asked with a smile. "I wanna Coke," he said without hesitation. "Could you ask that man if I can have a Coke, please?" Her smile widened. "I would be glad to." She turned to the barman. "This young gentleman would like a Coke." The bar man nodded and fetched a glass. He handed her the Coke, and she offered it to Michael. The little boy hesitated, then shook his head. Skye frowned. "This isnt what you wanted?" Michael shrugged. "Its what I wanted, but I'm not supposed to take anything from strangers." Skye smiled. "Well, if we introduce ourselves, then we aren't strangers any more. My name is Skye." She held out her free hand for him to shake. He took it. "My name is Michael. But you can call me Mikey. Thanks for the Coke." Then he took the glass, and ran off. She laughed and shook her head. She wished he had stayed longer. But it seemed typical that men were always running away from her.
She saw that Michael had run over to Sonny. The boy whispered something in his ear, and Sonny looked up and stared directly at Skye. Great, she thought. Now he's gonna think I'm trying to get to the kid. He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, then stood up and walked over to her. Skye steeled herself, determined that she wouldn't make a scene at Jax's wedding. He stopped in front of her, perusing her from head to toe. She felt the heat suffuse her skin. Damn him, she thought. "I assume," he began, in that casual, almost purring tone of his, "that with your background and education you know a variety of dances?" Skye was startled by the unexpected subject matter. "Well, yes…yes I do." He cocked his head. "Would the tango be one of them?" She stared at him wide eyed, like he was a science experiment that had come out completely different than the original hypothesis. She finally found her voice. "Yes, I know how to do the tango quite well." Sonny smiled, not at all betraying his thoughts. "Would you like to prove it?" He held out his hand. For the first time she became aware that music was playing, and that there were couples out on the dance floor. The band was indeed playing a tango.
Skye stared at his hand, wondering why in the world he wanted to dance, and why in the world she wanted to accept. Deciding that the best way to find out his motives was to dance with the man, she put her hand in his. His smile widened, if that was possible, and he led her out onto the floor. When he pulled her into his arms, she realized that it was a mistake to be so close to him. But then the steps of the dance occupied her mind, since it had been a long time since she performed then. After awhile, she got the hang of it again, and was able to concentrate on Sonny. "So spill it, Sonny. Why did you ask me to dance?" Sonny flashed her a smile, and dipped her. "Maybe I've decided that with my ex-wife getting married, I should move on to someone else." Skye couldn't help the trill of laughter that escaped her. The next step had them advancing, cheek to cheek. "Why don't you try that on someone who was born yesterday." Sonny smirked as they turned and went in the other direction. "Oh, I see. I need an ulterior motive. Well, how about…I want to make Carly jealous." Skye narrowed her eyes, then shook her head. "That doesn't seem to be your style. Besides, you would have chosen someone you were actually attracted to. No, I think there's more to this." Sonny looked amused as he pulled her into a lean. "So what you're saying is, my motive needs to be more sinister for you to believe it. Lets see…oh, I think I've got it. You'll like this one. Since AJ is romancing my sister, Courtney…I am getting back at him by romancing his sister." Skye tried to concentrate, but his hand on her waist and breath on her cheek were very distracting. "I'm not an idiot, Sonny. You could drive a truck through the holes in that plan." The song ended, and Sonny dipped her once more. Her head was thrown back, and his lips were resting against her neck. She wasn't sure, but she thought she felt him inhaling her scent.
They straightened out and she stepped back a bit to get some personal space. He looked into her eyes, suddenly very serious. "Here is the truth, Skye. I wanted to dance with you because you are probably the only person in this room who might be feeling even remotely the same pain that I am feeling right now." He looked over at the head table, where Jax and Carly had their heads bent, and were whispering to each other. Skye went very still for a moment. "Damn it, Sonny," she whispered, "how could you do this to me?" Sonny looked back at her and frowned. "What are you talking about?" Skye fought the tears. "I tried so hard not to let this wedding affect me. Now you've ruined everything." She left Sonny standing there, and walked over to her table to grab her purse. She went to the ladies room to calm herself. She had needed every shred of composure she could produce in order to make it through Jax's wedding without losing it. Dancing with Sonny had frazzled her beyond repair. She wondered if that had been his desire.
She left the ladies room and started to head for the door. She had almost reached it, when Jax stepped in front of her. "You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" Skye attempted a laugh. "Oh, I didn't think you would notice. You have so many people to meet and greet that I didn't want to disturb you. I mean, a great-aunt who came from halfway around the world to see you is more important than one of your employees that you'll see in a couple of weeks." Jax smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "All my guests are important to me, Skye. And I did want to speak with you about something urgent." She looked up at him, startled. "What is it?" He looked around, then spoke in a low tone. "One of my other companies is having some trouble with a foreign subsidiary. Since I'm about to go on my honeymoon, I don't have time to deal with this myself. I was so impressed by how you handled that problem at ELQ a month ago, that I figured you were perfect for the job." Her interest was sparked. "What job?" He smiled at her enthusiasm. "I put a report on your desk outlining the situation. If you go to Rome for me and clean up this mess, I will make it very worth your while." Skye's eyes widened. "Rome? You want me to go to Italy?" Jax laughed. "All expenses paid. Will you do it for me?" Skye grinned. "Well, if you're going to pull my arm like that, I guess I have no choice. Of course I will. Don't give it another thought." Jax hugged her, then kissed her on the cheek. They said their goodbyes, and Skye left the reception hall. Well, she thought, if I'm going to mourn the loss of an almost-lover, may as well mourn in Rome.
Skye's townhouse
Skye ran her hands along the hips of her soft pink silk floorlength gown. It was very simply cut. Spaghetti straps at the shoulder, V neckline, and an A line that fell into folds at her feet. She checked her hair and makeup in the mirror. She knew that she looked fabulous. So why was it that she didn't have men flocking to her door? Was her personality that much of a turnoff? Tears threatened to come to her eyes. No, that wasn't it, at least she didn't think it was. Jax had liked her personality, as well as her looks. He had seemed to like everything about her. But he still hadn't wanted her. He wanted Carly. He was going to marry Carly today. Skye frowned as she remembered Sonny's harsh words a few weeks ago. Carly was everything Skye was not. Well, she hoped Sonny was right. Jax deserved nothing but the best, and if Carly was it, then Skye wanted him to be happy. She squared her shoulders and willed the tears away. She grabbed her purse and walked out the door. It was a beautiful day for a wedding.
Benson-Jacks reception
Skye glided into the reception area and found her table. She sat down with a sigh of relief. She had made it through the ceremony by pasting a bright smile on her face. Now she just had to make it through the reception and she would be home free. As more guests came in, she realized that she was sitting at a table with other corporate executives with whom Jax did business. Good. She could talk shop and avoid dwelling on the happy couple. She glanced up and saw Sonny enter the room with Michael in his arms. The little boy was laughing, and Sonny was talking animatedly. They sat down at a table near the front, next to Bobbie Spencer and her date, Mike Corbin. Skye turned her attention back to the folks at her table.
Later, Skye was at the bar, ordering a ginger ale, when she sensed a small presence. She looked down and saw Michael staring up at her. It suddenly struck her that this little boy was her nephew. She was related to him, and yet she would never know him. She squatted down to his eye level, as best she could in her dress. "What can I do for you?" She asked with a smile. "I wanna Coke," he said without hesitation. "Could you ask that man if I can have a Coke, please?" Her smile widened. "I would be glad to." She turned to the barman. "This young gentleman would like a Coke." The bar man nodded and fetched a glass. He handed her the Coke, and she offered it to Michael. The little boy hesitated, then shook his head. Skye frowned. "This isnt what you wanted?" Michael shrugged. "Its what I wanted, but I'm not supposed to take anything from strangers." Skye smiled. "Well, if we introduce ourselves, then we aren't strangers any more. My name is Skye." She held out her free hand for him to shake. He took it. "My name is Michael. But you can call me Mikey. Thanks for the Coke." Then he took the glass, and ran off. She laughed and shook her head. She wished he had stayed longer. But it seemed typical that men were always running away from her.
She saw that Michael had run over to Sonny. The boy whispered something in his ear, and Sonny looked up and stared directly at Skye. Great, she thought. Now he's gonna think I'm trying to get to the kid. He stared at her thoughtfully for a moment, then stood up and walked over to her. Skye steeled herself, determined that she wouldn't make a scene at Jax's wedding. He stopped in front of her, perusing her from head to toe. She felt the heat suffuse her skin. Damn him, she thought. "I assume," he began, in that casual, almost purring tone of his, "that with your background and education you know a variety of dances?" Skye was startled by the unexpected subject matter. "Well, yes…yes I do." He cocked his head. "Would the tango be one of them?" She stared at him wide eyed, like he was a science experiment that had come out completely different than the original hypothesis. She finally found her voice. "Yes, I know how to do the tango quite well." Sonny smiled, not at all betraying his thoughts. "Would you like to prove it?" He held out his hand. For the first time she became aware that music was playing, and that there were couples out on the dance floor. The band was indeed playing a tango.
Skye stared at his hand, wondering why in the world he wanted to dance, and why in the world she wanted to accept. Deciding that the best way to find out his motives was to dance with the man, she put her hand in his. His smile widened, if that was possible, and he led her out onto the floor. When he pulled her into his arms, she realized that it was a mistake to be so close to him. But then the steps of the dance occupied her mind, since it had been a long time since she performed then. After awhile, she got the hang of it again, and was able to concentrate on Sonny. "So spill it, Sonny. Why did you ask me to dance?" Sonny flashed her a smile, and dipped her. "Maybe I've decided that with my ex-wife getting married, I should move on to someone else." Skye couldn't help the trill of laughter that escaped her. The next step had them advancing, cheek to cheek. "Why don't you try that on someone who was born yesterday." Sonny smirked as they turned and went in the other direction. "Oh, I see. I need an ulterior motive. Well, how about…I want to make Carly jealous." Skye narrowed her eyes, then shook her head. "That doesn't seem to be your style. Besides, you would have chosen someone you were actually attracted to. No, I think there's more to this." Sonny looked amused as he pulled her into a lean. "So what you're saying is, my motive needs to be more sinister for you to believe it. Lets see…oh, I think I've got it. You'll like this one. Since AJ is romancing my sister, Courtney…I am getting back at him by romancing his sister." Skye tried to concentrate, but his hand on her waist and breath on her cheek were very distracting. "I'm not an idiot, Sonny. You could drive a truck through the holes in that plan." The song ended, and Sonny dipped her once more. Her head was thrown back, and his lips were resting against her neck. She wasn't sure, but she thought she felt him inhaling her scent.
They straightened out and she stepped back a bit to get some personal space. He looked into her eyes, suddenly very serious. "Here is the truth, Skye. I wanted to dance with you because you are probably the only person in this room who might be feeling even remotely the same pain that I am feeling right now." He looked over at the head table, where Jax and Carly had their heads bent, and were whispering to each other. Skye went very still for a moment. "Damn it, Sonny," she whispered, "how could you do this to me?" Sonny looked back at her and frowned. "What are you talking about?" Skye fought the tears. "I tried so hard not to let this wedding affect me. Now you've ruined everything." She left Sonny standing there, and walked over to her table to grab her purse. She went to the ladies room to calm herself. She had needed every shred of composure she could produce in order to make it through Jax's wedding without losing it. Dancing with Sonny had frazzled her beyond repair. She wondered if that had been his desire.
She left the ladies room and started to head for the door. She had almost reached it, when Jax stepped in front of her. "You weren't going to leave without saying goodbye, were you?" Skye attempted a laugh. "Oh, I didn't think you would notice. You have so many people to meet and greet that I didn't want to disturb you. I mean, a great-aunt who came from halfway around the world to see you is more important than one of your employees that you'll see in a couple of weeks." Jax smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "All my guests are important to me, Skye. And I did want to speak with you about something urgent." She looked up at him, startled. "What is it?" He looked around, then spoke in a low tone. "One of my other companies is having some trouble with a foreign subsidiary. Since I'm about to go on my honeymoon, I don't have time to deal with this myself. I was so impressed by how you handled that problem at ELQ a month ago, that I figured you were perfect for the job." Her interest was sparked. "What job?" He smiled at her enthusiasm. "I put a report on your desk outlining the situation. If you go to Rome for me and clean up this mess, I will make it very worth your while." Skye's eyes widened. "Rome? You want me to go to Italy?" Jax laughed. "All expenses paid. Will you do it for me?" Skye grinned. "Well, if you're going to pull my arm like that, I guess I have no choice. Of course I will. Don't give it another thought." Jax hugged her, then kissed her on the cheek. They said their goodbyes, and Skye left the reception hall. Well, she thought, if I'm going to mourn the loss of an almost-lover, may as well mourn in Rome.
