Fallen

Chapter Twenty One

"When's Jackson getting here?" Danielle asked.

I glanced up at the clock as I wiped at the table. "Any minute now."

She squealed. "This is so exciting!"

I laughed and placed the chairs on the table top. "Can you finish up here so I can get ready?"

"Of course."

I shut the back-room door behind me and rummaged in my bag for my dress and wedges. As I tugged them on, I heard the bell above the café door ring outside the room. I quickly got myself ready, checked my hair in the small mirror on the wall and swung the door open. Jackson was sat up on the wooden surface between two booths chatting with Danielle. He was chewing gum and, as soon as he saw me emerge from the back room, he jumped down and wore a wicked grin.

"You look great," he said.

I took in his own appearance He wore a dark denim-style jacket with golden buttons and a low-cut white vest underneath. His trousers complimented his slim waist and long legs. I noticed a chain around his neck where a gold cross rested against his chest. "So do you."

He winked. "Ready to go?"

I looked over at Danielle. She smiled. "I'll finish up here, don't worry." 

"Thanks, Dee."

Jackson put his arm around me and led me towards the door, but we were stopped by Mark bounding into the place. He looked at Jackson and then at me, wiggling his eyebrows.

"Hey guys, off somewhere?"

I nodded, but Jackson spoke up first.

"I'm here to take this beautiful woman for a drink."

I blushed.

Mark stepped to the side and held the door open for us. "Well, I certainly won't stop you. Have a good time, kids."

I thanked him before saying goodbye to them both. Jackson kept his arm tight around me until we got into his Range Rover. I put my seatbelt on and glanced at Jackson to see him already looking at me.

"I'm glad you agreed to see me again. The other night was...something else."

I felt my cheeks burn red. "So where are you taking me?"

"It's a surprise," he murmured, leaning close into me. His lips curl into a smile before he kissed me. I could tell he knew what he was doing. He reached up to rest his large hand just under my jaw until his fingers softly closed around my neck, but he didn't squeeze. The new sensation was exciting and made me whimper into his mouth. I could have stayed like this for longer, but Jackson eventually parted from me. Without realising, I leaned forward in pursuit of his mouth, making Jackson grin.

"Are you ready to go?" he asked.

I nodded frantically.

"Then let's go."

*****

Jackson opened the glass door for me and when I stepped in my jaw practically hit the ground. The bar he had brought me to looked exquisite. A white marble floor stretched out across the stylish room. I stared at the gold-coloured bar with a glass surface and hundreds of bottles behind the smartly dressed bartenders in waistcoats and bowties. We were greeted by a beautiful woman in a low-cut bodycon dress that ended just above her knees. She showed us her bright smile and led us to a small table with royal purple felt chairs. Once we were sat, my gaze drifted up the golden pillar beside me. That was when I noticed the ceiling. It was covered completely with gold-framed mirrors. Low hanging pendent lights hung just above our heads. This was certainly somewhere I'd never been before.