Captivated by the Millionaire

Jess slowly put the frame back exactly in the spot it had been before pushing the drawer slowly shut. The pad and pen would have to stay there, too. She wouldn’t want Jordan to realize she’d used them and hence seen the picture.

She’d drawn on paper towels before when inspiration had struck at odd times. She could do so again.

Their seats were even better than he’d expected. Jordan had no intention of telling her, but he told Jess a bit of a fib yesterday. He hadn’t actually called in a favor. He’d instead gotten a hold of a friend with long-standing connections in the New York theater world and asked him for the best seats he could secure at such short notice. The friend had definitely come through. He and Jess had a dream spot with a clear view of the entire stage.

Sitting next to her now, Jess’s excitement was almost palpable. He felt an odd thrill at being able to do that for her.

How many times had he been to a show and barely paid attention? There was always something on his mind—either a business matter or some other responsibility he was preoccupied with. But today’s matinee felt different. Jess’s enthusiasm about being here seemed to be rubbing off on him.

“The local theater productions I’ve attended don’t quite compare to this venue,” she said softly. Her eyes gazed around the auditorium, taking in every detail.

“It’s all about scale, I guess.”

“It’s breathtaking.”

Hopefully, she was about to enjoy an experience she’d remember for a good long while. He may have been to countless shows himself. But something told him this particular time would serve to provide him with rather a fond memory, as well.

“I wish the kids could see all this,” Jess said on a sigh.

Why was he not surprised? Here she was about to experience something she’d always wanted to do, pulsing with excitement, and she was thinking of her pupils.

He’d never met anyone like her.

She continued, “Some of them were so into putting our little play together, quite the little thespians. Seeing all this would knock their socks off.”

He didn’t get a chance to respond as the lights started to flicker.

“It’s starting,” she said in a breathless whisper just as the lights began to dim and the musicians started to play. A tall, slim woman dressed completely in black began narrating the beginning of the story. When the curtain finally drew open, an auction scene started to play out on the stage.

Jess was literally sitting on the edge of her seat. Jordan realized he was paying as much attention to her reactions as he was to the drama unfolding onstage.

The scene ended and the lights dimmed once more but a chandelier between the stage and audience began to slowly light up. The orchestra started up again. Jordan knew what was about to happen. This was actually one of the plays he’d attended in the past, about four years ago, if he was remembering correctly. Jess was staring intently at the hanging chandelier. Suddenly, it dropped several feet before stopping about a dozen feet above their heads. The theatrical effect earned a collective gasp from the audience.

Jess jumped in her seat and let out a sharp cry. Then she clutched at his biceps. Her unexpected touch sent a jolt of electricity through his arm and straight into his chest. He didn’t give himself a chance to overthink it, just placed his hand over hers and wrapped his fingers around her soft, smooth skin.

She didn’t try to pull away. He wasn’t sure he would have let her.

* * *

The sun had dimmed somewhat by the time they left the theater and stepped back outside. But it was still strong enough to cause a bit of a visual shock after sitting in the dark for close to two hours. Or maybe Jess’s eyes were stinging as a result of the phenomena she’d just experienced. The drama, the music, the audience reactions. She’d enjoyed every minute of it.

“What’d you think?” Jordan asked her as they stepped outside the heavy glass doors along with the rest of the crowd.

“I don’t have the words, Jordan.”

Then she did the only thing she could think of; she threw her arms around his neck in an embrace. It was simply meant to thank him. She’d truly been at a loss for the right words to do so. But the hug instantaneously turned to something else.