That Forbidden Love

Chapter 4

Jazmyn

Jazmyn stood before the bathroom mirror at Monroe city hall, finger picking through her newly twisted red locks while calming her nerves at the same time. It was nearly impossible to believe he was here, and she had to perform before him in the next couple of minutes.

Almost fu*king unbelievable.

Two days ago, when Madeline had informed them about an impromptu gig for a prominent personality’s surprise birthday party, she hadn’t in her wildest imagination thought it could be him. The handsome, mysterious Grinch from the bungee jumping party last week. Zack Whittaker; billioanire and CEO of HubMart chain of malls.

Fancy that.

She hadn’t the slightest idea the man whom she’d stood close enough to see the vivid azure blue of his eyes and catch a whiff of his delicious cologne last Saturday was one of Louisiana’s richest businessmen and an outstanding society figure.

Who apparently still got trolled and picked on by his younger brother!!!

Jazmyn chuckled as she remembered the events of that morning. They had been running late from the airport because Isaac had decided to make a last-minute detour somewhere in Louisville.

Impatient and eager to experience the unrestrained feeling of free-falling she’d taken over the wheels afterwards and driven like a fiend, despite assurances from an amused Isaac that the jump excitement still ran till evening.

She hadn’t cared. She preferred things being done immediately. Wasting time was pointless. She’d never been really good with patience after all.

At the first sight of him when they’d arrived at the park, her heart had gone straight into overdrive. A handsome finely chiseled specimen built like a mountain, she’d been unable to stop staring as the sun created a semi-halo around his golden blonde hair.

His face. Hell, his face had seemed like something straight from a Grecian movie. A strong patrician nose complimented finely chiseled jawline with a neat trim of beard and vivid, penetrating blue eyes; the color of a cloudless sky at early evening.

It had taken every self-control she possessed to avoid gawking like a schoolgirl.

The moment their eyes had met and held across the parking lot; Jazmyn had experienced an almost cataclysmic reaction. It had propelled her forward to ask the first question that came to her head, even though it hadn’t been necessary.

Isaac had sure given her grief for that one on their way home.

He had felt it too. The currents that had travelled through her body in those moments when their gaze had been locked.

He’d felt the burn in her blood as his eyes had ravaged hers even without a single word spoken. The thoughts in her head as he penetrated her with his eyes had been chaotic. An absolute disjointed riot that thankfully had been halted by his brother, Justin’s intervention.

Jazmyn had never felt such a strong reaction for any man in her entire life, as she’d felt that moment. It had seemed like the world had temporarily frozen and it had just been both of them standing there.

She’d been slightly disappointed to learn that he’d left, after her jump. Justin had told her he’d returned to New Orleans for an important meeting.

But that hadn’t been enough to stop her from being crabby on the entire ride back home to Isaac to her dismay. She’d really looked forward to speaking with him afterwards.

It had been strange that she had found it hard to keep him off her mind ever since, especially with her proverbial butterfly attention span. Stranger still that she found herself wishing their path would cross again, only to get a call from Madeline about the gig today. It was almost as if she’d wished for it to happen.

“Wishes and fantasies are for sissies.”

There is no such thing as miracles, pull your head out of the loony bin, Jazmyn Mope-a-lot.” A distant ugly memory that should have been better left in the archives sauntered into Jazmyn’s head. She squeezed them out and blocked the voice of the hateful woman who’d fostered her in middle school.

Well, wishes weren’t for sissies. Her entire life story, hard work and tenacity were enough proof of that.

Taking a huge gulp of breath, Jazmyn dismissed the triggering trail of thoughts and felt her smile returning as she imagined seeing Zack again. She and the band had arrived a few minutes ago and had snuck in through a different entryway to the backstage. She hadn’t gotten a small peek at him, or even his brother for that matter.

In the course of their conversation at the park, she’d found Justin a great deal of fun and learnt they had a lot in common. A light rap on the restroom door which was pushed opened immediately.

Madeline strolled in looking gorgeous as always in a champagne-colored dress that hugged her curves and complimented her lightly bronzed skin perfectly. “You guys are up in ten minutes, Jaz and your dress looks absolutely perfect. Can we go now?”

“Okay, mother,” Jazmyn teased and smoothed a hand over her sleeveless black bandage dress before following her out to join the guys. An unusual basket of nerves as they approached backstage, she hid it expertly by asking Madeline about her daughter’s dance recital that afternoon.

“Gina has called nonstop. I might be leaving before your number is over. First, I have to circle around, you know. The crowd is full of more potentials than you could ever imagine.”

The gleam in her agent’s eyes made Jazmyn laugh. “I can practically see the money wheel rolling in your head.”

“Money?” Madeline scoffed. “We are talking endorsement deals, record label signing and private shows like this one. You know those carry quite a punch. We are talking about an upgrade from nightly club and bar shows to bigger deals. Stay with me on this one, Jaz.”

Jazmyn understood her agent perfectly but really couldn’t relate to how she felt. She loved making music with all her heart; writing lyrics and sharing it with people who understood.

When it came to the grittier side of the game like promotions, finding shows, and the monetary aspect; she was like a fish out of water, and left it entirely to Madeline and Jean-Pierre.

“Kiddo.” Madeline stopped to face her. Jazmyn had always found the nick hilarious because the dark-haired woman was only two years older than her.

“This could be the big break. This gig. The room is teeming with some really big fish out there. You need to give this all you got. All of you,” she added as Isaac and Jean-Pierre joined them outside the door.

Jazmyn planned to do exactly just that. And not only because of the career advantages. She was performing before Zack Whittaker.

The man who’d prowled within the confines of her thoughts for five days straight. As much as she wanted to pretend not to care. And that it wasn’t that big of a deal. She really couldn’t. She cared very much what he’d think and if he’d like her sound.