Chapter 2

With difficulty the pair made their way through the crowd, trying to find the people they had to say goodnight to. Bailey was still at the bar, tossing back scotch and Jack stood slightly back as Samantha bid her boss goodnight and said she was leaving with a friend. Once they were away, Jack put his arm around her again, they spotted a small break in the crowd and made their way to a less crowded area to search for John and Angel. Jack looked around to make certain no one was looking and pulled Samantha up against him and leaned his back against a marble column. She tilted her head and drew his lips to hers and rubbed teasingly against his hardness. Samantha felt more more aroused by this man in a few minutes than she'd ever felt in her life. Both were panting, caught up in the moment when a voice intruded.

"What are you doing?" Miriam Newquay demanded.

"Mother, this really isn't the time-"

"No it isn't!" she interrupted him. "This is unacceptable conduct in public."

"We were just about to leave Mother," he said then held his hand up as she opened her mouth. "And if you push at me, I'll have the Commerces removed first thing in the morning from the show."

"Very well. Good night, Jack," Miriam muttered stiffly.

"Sorry about that," he apologized to Samantha.

"It's all right, she reminds me of my mother-in-law." Then she added seeing Jack's raised eyebrow, "Former, I'm a widow."

"Let's finish saying goodnight to people and get out of here," he breathed against her neck, trailing kisses.

Samantha scanned the crowd and spotted John and Angel, "There they are over by the painting with the roses on it."

They walked to the painting and by the time they'd waded through the throng of guests, John and Angel had moved.

"Why don't we wait here for a moment and if they come back I'll say goodnight, if not, then we'll just leave," she suggested.

"Of course," he agreed.

They stood in front of the painting for several moments, appreciating it's beauty and subtly trying to caress each other. After a few minutes, Jack coaxed her behind a column that was a couple feet away and pushed her against it. Again his lips sought hers and she whimpered with need. Both were completely caught up in the sensual spell of one another, as he allowed his hand to briefly brush her breast.

"God I want you Samantha," he whispered sibilantly as his tongue caressed her throat.

"And I want you Jack," she murmured in his ear as she traced his earlobe with her tongue.

Suddenly it dawned on her, she hadn't told him her name and his mother had called him 'Jack.' Samantha pulled away slightly and looked up at him. It couldn't be, could it? Jack of All Trades couldn't be the charming and sexy stranger! A slightly nervous look crossed his face and her fears were silently confirmed in his eyes. She stepped back, uncertain of herself and what to do. He slowly moved towards her.

"Samantha," he implored in front of the Commerces painting.

Her eyes darted from the painting of her doppleganger to him. Sam felt sick and angry that he had known all along. At the same time, she felt disappointed having to end the evening. God, she thought. The sexiest man she'd ever met was the man she was supposed to hate. This really was the worst day of her life. Jack grabbed her in a last ditch effort, just a the sound of shots and broken glass rang through the air.

A number of waiters and some non-descript men in formal wear, whipped out guns and began to fire into the crowd. One man was quite near Jack and Samantha, raised his gun to fire. Realizing the man was intent on firing the gun, Jack placed himself in front of Samantha to shield her as best he could. With a deafening sound the gun fired and the bullet whizzed through the air. It tore through Jack's back and out his front and into Samantha, blood from both spattered onto the priceless painting behind them. For a moment their eyes met and the pair clutched one another as they collapsed to the ground. Shouts, screams and gunshots rang throughout the room. The wounded pair held hands and stared at one another as darkness began to overtake them...