Meet my Villain... Jackson Avis

Have you ever created/read a character so deliciously devious that you couldn't help fall in love with him? I know I'm not supposed to love Jackson Avis from Passion's Pain. He isn't my hero. He's far from it. He's controlling, manipulative, powerful and knows how to get exactly what he wants. But still...

 

 

Jackson serves a major purpose in Passion's Pain. He helps Lilli, the heroine, discover her strength, and brings her to her true destiny. When Jackson stumbles upon her, she's lost, homeless and in need of some rescuing. Lilli is strong but because she's been dealt some rough blows, she's lost sight of who she is. Jackson is infatuated with her and wants to take care of her. There's a serious May/December thing going on here, but Jackson is hot and Lilli can't resist.

 

Here's a bit from their first encounter...

“What would you like?” She looked down at the pad she held and waited for his order.

“For you to have a seat.” He got up, pulled the chair out, and then motioned for her to sit.

“What? No, I can’t. I’m working.”

Jack looked around and noted it wasn’t that busy.

“I think you can sit for a few minutes.” He smiled. “Pat said you should give me what I want.”

“I-I don’t do that.” She shook her head. "Some of the other girls here do, but not me."

“I’m only asking you to sit and I rarely ask twice.” He felt a sense of relief knowing she didn't prostitute herself to the customers in this disgusting place. “Please.”

“Just for a few minutes.” She looked around the bar and then quickly took a seat.

“It’s nice to meet you, Lilli,” he said. “Do you have a last name?”

“I do.” She was too busy looking into his eyes that he thought maybe she forgot to finish answering.

Jack smiled and cleared his throat when he realized she was staring at him.

“Oh, it’s Daniels.”

“I see. What do you do besides work here, Lilli Daniels?”

“I work at the bookstore over at the community college,” she said. “I’m hoping to save enough money to take a few classes there in the fall.”

“It’s only January,” Jack said. “Why wait so long?”

“Classes are expensive.” She nervously fidgeted with the cocktail napkin sitting on the table. “So, what do you do?”

“I’m an attorney. I have my own practice in the city.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting. I’d like to study law someday, too.”

“A pretty ambitious goal.” He teased. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-two.”

Well, at least she's legal. But, for a girl working in a strip club trying to save money for school, she seemed awfully naïve. He briefly wondered if it was an act to get men to feel sorry for her. Maybe she knew exactly how to get a bigger tip out of her customers.

“Getting a bit of a late start with school, aren’t you?” Jack asked. “My son is about your age and he's in medical school.”

“My father’s not an attorney.” She ran her fingers through her hair and Jack immediately recognized she was uncomfortable when she mentioned her father. The lawyer in him needed to investigate a little further.

“What does your father do?”

“Are you ready to order?” she said. “I should be getting back to work.”

“Not just yet.” He wondered why she changed the subject so quickly. “I’m just curious as to what a girl like you is doing in a place like this.”

“Me, too.” She looked around the dark room. “I fell on some hard times and I’m just trying to get my life back together. It’s honest work.”

“What kind of hard times?” He was trying not to interrogate her, but he wanted to know more about her.

“I can tell you’re a lawyer.” Her full pink lips curved into a smile. Jackson wondered what it would feel like to have her mouth against his. She was probably soft and warm.

“It’s in my nature to ask questions.” He wanted to know more about this beauty.

“Do you always get your answers?”

“I always get everything I want.” He let his eyes wander down her body. She was flawless, but he shouldn't have been entertaining any possibilities at all. But then again, when did he ever let anything stop him from getting what he wanted?

Jack reached into his pocket, pulled out his business card, and handed it to her. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “I have to get back to the office now, but I’ve rather enjoyed your company. If Pat gives you a hard time, please give me a call. I’ll set him straight.” He knew he should leave her alone. He wasn't sure he’d be interested in getting involved with a girl in her situation, but he wasn’t ready to walk away. Not yet.

She glanced down at the card. “I went to high school with a Cameron Avis.”

“Did you date?” That would be far too amusing.

“Oh, God no.” She laughed. “He was a year older than me, popular, and would never give a girl like me a second glance. I was from the wrong side of the tracks.” She rolled her eyes.

“Hmm.” Jack began to get a clearer picture of who Lilli was.

“I was shy and kept to myself,” she said. “He was gorgeous, smart, and came from money. Definitely not my type."

“Really?” Jack grinned as he got up from the table. “It seems to me I’ll have to have a talk with my son about not recognizing a good thing when he sees it.”

“Oh.”

He saw the look of horror flood her face. “Take care, Lilli Daniels.” He threw a twenty down on the table before winking and walking toward the exit.

 

***

 

Passion's Pain is an unconventional romance. I've created a different kind of triangle. And while it is a romance at the core, it's also a journey of a young woman who finds her way in life. Lilli soon realizes Jackson isn't the man she thought he was, but he makes it impossible for her to leave. Jackson inadvertently pushes the object of his desire into the arms of the last man he would ever think to betray him...

 

One woman…two men. Who will
she choose? The father or the
son? Lilli Daniels is down on her luck. She's been homeless, hungry and alone for far too long. Everything changes when she meets an intriguing, older stranger.

Successful attorney Jackson Avis maintains complete control of every aspect in his life. When he sets eyes on Lilli he's captivated. He tempts her with a life  of privilege and security, introducing her to a world she never knew existed.

 

Complications arise when Jackson's son and aspiring doctor Cameron expresses
interest in his father's girlfriend. Lilli fights the attraction, but Cameron wants to give into his heart. He's the complete opposite of his manipulative father and stops at nothing to protect the woman he's falling in
love with.

Sometimes life leads you down one path only to bring you to your true destiny. Can Lilli figure out who her heart belongs to?

 

***

Passion's Pain is scheduled to release on September 26, 2012 with Secret Cravings Publishing.

 

Stay tuned for more excerpts...

 

Ella

 

Photo purchased from depositphotos.com