"…And I want to thank you all…everyone for coming out tonight to make the grand opening such a fabulous success!" Carly gushed. "But none of this would be possible without one person in particular," she began.

      Extending her hand to Jax, the smile on Carly's face was a near perfect reflection of his.

      "Ladies and gentlemen, family and friends, I give you the best partner anyone could ever hope for, Jasper Jacks!!"

      As thunderous applause erupted, with an ease borne from years of experience, he accepted it all. Finally, when the crowd quieted down, he spoke.

      "There's not much I can add to what Carly has said. And to be quite honest, I'm not going to. Because this is her night," he grinned.

      Reaching out, he drew Carly into an embrace.

      Again, there was applause. The crowd seemed to go wild when an impulsive Carly leaned up and kissed Jax on the lips. So caught up in the rush of the moment, Carly didn't register Jax's lack of response to her kiss, nor his body becoming so rigid one would have thought a steel column was implanted in his spine.