Page 78 of A Perfect Fit

Hilary clears her throat. “So, how did you guys meet?” she asks, her gaze darting between me and Jackson.

“High school,” Jackson responds, placing a hand around my waist.

Hilary bites her lip. “I guess you are kind of cute together.”

“Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Wonderland Marketing Awards!” an enthusiastic voice booms through the microphone. “Please take your seats. We will commence the event shortly.”

Jackson reaches for my hand, and somehow, it feels effortless, like it’s happened countless times prior to tonight. “We’re at table number seven.”

“Amazing.” I beam as we walk ahead. “Seven’s actually my favorite number.”

He turns to me with a knowing smirk. “Is it?”

“Lucky number seven,” I muse. “Maybe it’ll help tonight with your company’s award nomination.”

“I don’t need a lucky charm when I already have you next to me.”

Forget about butterflies. There might as well be a whole damn zoo in my stomach now.

“You really know how to make a girl’s heart flutter, huh?”

Jackson stops in his tracks. “Maybe only yours.”

Definitely a whole zoo.

My eyes inadvertently linger on Hilary, who’s standing a few feet away and staring at us with a blank expression on her face. She notices me staring and averts her gaze elsewhere.

Don’t focus on her, I tell myself.

Jackson and I arrive at our table, and I spot a small place card with my name in a beautiful cursive font. Jackson’s place card is next to mine.

“This is so pretty.” Grabbing my phone out of my purse, I take a photo and turn to Jackson. “Can I have yours, too?”

He hands me his card. “Of course.”

I place our cards together and take another photo. “Just for the memories,” I declare, placing my phone away. “Maybe one day, we’ll look back on this and …”

My voice trails off when I notice Jackson staring at me, an unreadable expression on his face. The fluttery feeling in my stomach intensifies tenfold.

“What?” I probe.

“Nothing.” He shakes his head and rubs the back of his neck.

Is the always-cocky-and-confident Jackson Carter actually shy right now?

“Hey, guys!” Hilary smiles as she plops herself down in the seat opposite Jackson. “Someone offered to swap seats with me.”

I grimace while Jackson’s jaw locks, a sign that he hopefully isn’t eager about Hilary’s close proximity either.

Others at our table start arriving and take their seats, too, and we go through a round of introductions.

The gala host begins her opening address, and I direct my attention to the stage. I have my little surprise for Jackson planned for after the event, but aside from that, the only thing I can do is support him through the rest of the night.

Chapter Twenty-One

ISABELLE

Icut a piece of steak and put it into my mouth, listening to the CEO on the stage, who’s giving a speech about the power of leadership in business. But I keep spacing out, my mind elsewhere.