by Ivy Harper
“Practice,” I said, following her. “I’ve been talking shit since I was young.”
“I can believe it,” she said, not bothering to look at me. “Are you planning on following me to my room?”
“Your room, but my house,” I said with no shame.
She stopped suddenly and turned around, giving me a curious look. “Were you waiting for me this entire time?”
My brain stalled.
“What? No.”
Shit, that wasn’t what I’d been planning to say.
Jazz looked me up and down, her eyes squinted. “Are you sure because you’re following me like one of my cousin’s nephews does her. He’ll usually follow her around like a little duck after she gets home from a long business trip.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, reaching out and flicking her forehead. “I’m just making sure you don’t pass out drunk on your way to your room.”
She lightly smacked my hand away. “I didn’t drink that much. I actually could go for more.”
I wanted to spend more time with her, so before I could think it over, I said, “Fine, go change and we can drink together.”
Her expression turned thoughtful.
“What are you thinking about now?” I asked.
“I’m thinking about whether or not it’s professional to drink with my VIP.” I swear this woman spent more time thinking about our regulations than anybody else who worked for JS Records.
“Aren’t you off? Just count it as having a drink with your co-worker after work. Besides, you’ve already drunk around me before.”
“Okay, I will. Let me go change.”
This time I didn’t follow her. I didn’t need her accusing me of being a fucking baby duck again.
When she joined me after changing, I pretended not to be disappointed. The woman should have read the mood and worn a slinky piece. Instead, she’d gone with an oversized black T-shirt and large gray sweats.
“I’m going to be honest. Your idea of sexy nightwear is horrible.”
Jazz rolled her eyes and walked past me. “Too bad I have no interest in being sexy.”
“Don’t worry, I can be sexy enough for both of us,” I said as I followed her. I wanted to be near her. The smell of her and sound of her voice drew me along like a puppy. Fuck it, call me a damn duck. “How was your night out?”
“No comment.”
She opened the fridge and took out a beer and slammed the door shut.
“Who did you go to meet?” I ignored the sting of jealousy I experienced thinking she may have met with a man.
She shot me a look. “Family.”
My lips twitched. “I’m guessing it wasn’t a fun family gathering.”
Turning around, she pressed the side of her beer top against the counter edge and hit it. The top flew off, hitting the floor with a pinging sound, while beer foam spilled out covering the floor and counter. She took a quick swig and then set the bottle down on the counter as she wiped her mouth.
“It’s not like I expected it to be a harmonious get together, but I remembered why I don’t like being around them. They make me remember things I don’t want to.”
I understood her more than she knew. “Well, at least now you can relax.”
She tossed me a look. “I’m not being professional at all.”
“We already talked about this.” I walked over to her side and picked up her beer. “Besides, there’s no point in saying anything about professionalism when you’ve already used my thirty-thousand-dollar kitchen counter to open your beer.”
She glanced from me to the counter. “God, you would point that out.”
I smirked. “Of course, but I’m a generous boss. If you give me something in exchange for your horrible treatment of my counter. I’ll let it go.”
“And what exactly do you want?”
I took a drink from her beer. “What do you think I want from you?”
“Sex.”
Laughing, I set her bottle down and leaned in close to her. I settled my chin on her shoulder and spoke into her ear. “That’s only one of the things I want from you. Can’t you think of anything else?”
Both of us wore surprised expressions when she released a deep throated moan. She cupped her hands over her ears as she turned and faced me, her eyes bright with lust and her face flushed.
“D… don’t do that,” she stuttered.
She eyed me as she took a step back. “Let’s hold off on me paying you back for the counter for now. I… I’m actually sort of hungry.”
Hungry? That was the last reason I’d expect her to use to avoid me. I straightened up and seriously thought over all my life choices. When had I come to the point where a woman would rather eat than fuck me?
“Tak?”
I looked down into her brown eyes and felt the plethora of words I wanted to say get stuck in my throat. I noticed the dark circles under her eyes and a bit of redness around the rim of them. I realized then, I didn’t know a lot about Jazz and that irritated me.
“If you’re going to cook, cook something for me as well.”
Her expression brightened and she laughed. “Sure, better yet how about you help me. Something needs to go along with this nasty ass beer of yours.”
Insulted, I playfully glared at her. “I’ll have you know Blue Moon is amazing.”
“Yeah, right.”
She walked over to the fridge and opened it. “How do you feel about mushrooms?”
I grimaced. “Am I supposed to have certain feelings about fungus?”
“So, mushrooms it is,” she said as she reached inside and pulled out a container of them and placed it on the counter behind her. “Now, how do you feel about chicken skewers?”
“Sounds good.”
I watched her get to work. Occasionally she’d ask me to grab things for her here and there. A few minutes had passed when I asked, “So why did you have to meet with your family?”
“My dad wanted to see me,” she said as she cut the onion in front of her.
“Your dad?” My brow creased. “I thought you lived with your uncle and aunt?”
“I did, but that was only for a short while after my mom passed away,” she said. Finished cutting the onion, she placed the knife aside. “My dad and I don’t really get along.”
“Well, I can relate. I think the last time I saw my father was when I was in elementary school.” He’d never bothered to show his face again since then.
She offered me a soft smile. “Looks like we have more in common than we thought.”
I returned her smile and walked over to her side. “Here, show me what you need me to do.”
* * *
***
* * *
“This is good,” I found myself saying a while later. As I smeared some more of the mushroom sauce Jazz made on the toast in my hand before taking another bite. Her eyes crinkled in the corners with pleasure at my compliment.
“Thank you.”
She cheerfully took another bite of her own food. We were sitting on the marble floor in front of the doors that led out to my veranda. A full moon hung, giving us a pretty nice view of the backyard and pool.
“I’m kind of impressed with myself. I didn’t expect it to turn out so well.” She reached for another chicken skewer on our shared plate.
“Neither did I,” I teased. “Where did you learn how to cook?”
“I’m going to pretend you thought I was a great cook. And I’ll have you know, I taught myself,” she said, reaching for her glass of white wine. “I’ll forgive you for your doubt in my skills because you brought out the good alcohol. I knew it was weird when I didn’t find a single bottle of wine or brandy in this place.”
“I don’t share well, especially not with the random people Kole might send here for business. Why should I share my good liquor with people that annoy me?”
“Aren’t you worried I’ll go searching for the rest of your stash?” she asked, giving me a mischievous look.
>
“You don’t have to search hard. It’s inside a safe in the basement. It requires a fingerprint and retina scan to open.”
“Are you serious?”
“If it’s mine, I protect it at all costs.”
Just how I would protect her from the piece of shit after me. I couldn’t remember when I’d started considering her as mine. I had a very small list of people I considered friends and an even smaller list of people I had the desire to get closer with.
I reached for my beer and took another long drink, trying to cool myself down as my thoughts turned to claiming Jazz. Yet I still felt the terrible urge to ruin this cute moment just for a taste of her lips. She finished her skewer with a pleased hum and gave me a cheeky look.
“Aren’t you lucky your bodyguard can toss annoying people on their ass and cook for you.”
Unable to hold back, I reached out and placed my hand behind her head. I leaned forward, ignoring the platter between us. I hovered my lips over hers.
“Aren’t you going to stop me?”
“Do you want me to?” she asked.
I didn’t pull back and she didn’t retreat. The space between us crackled with a heady tension. I wanted to selfishly take her lips and remove those baggy clothes from her body so I could explore it. Still, I didn’t make a single move to actually do it.
“Tak, are you going to kiss me or not?”
I pulled back. “No, I don’t think I will this time. We should change up the rules.”
Confusion colored her voice. “Rules? What are you talking about?”
I dropped my hand from the back of her head and stood. “I’ve decided I won’t kiss you. This time I want you to kiss me. I can’t always be the one making the first move.”
There was a beat of silence before she burst out into laughter. “You’re kidding, what makes you think I even want to kiss you?” she asked as she got to her feet and started gathering up our dishes.
“If you didn’t want my kisses, why did you let me take so many already?” I enjoyed the look of embarrassment she wore as she turned her back to me.
“Because I can’t knock my boss into next week,” she tossed over her shoulder.
“Don’t lie, we both know I’m good at making your knees weak.”
I ignored the loud snort she released before she disappeared into the kitchen. I grimaced the minute she was out of sight. I was hard as a rock and I’d just told the single woman I wanted to fuck I wouldn’t touch her until she made the first move.
I beat a hasty retreat to take a cold shower. Fucking around with Jazz was going to give me blue balls, but it was worth it.
Chapter 35
Talk Show
Jazz
* * *
I escorted Tak to the broadcasting studio the next day. He’d been scheduled to appear on a talk show to promote his band’s upcoming concert. The lights flashed as journalists and paparazzi attempted to get his picture, while fans who’d learned about his appearance screamed out their love from behind yellow barriers.
I felt a bit nostalgic for the days I spent doing the exact same thing. Once we entered the building, the noise and lights immediately came to an abrupt stop. Releasing a relieved sigh, I felt someone tap the back of my head and turned around. Tak looked down at me with a smug expression.
“You’re not feeling tired yet, are you? That was just a small piece of what happens when I come out.”
I rolled my eyes. “Yes, yes, I know you’re Mr. World Star.”
He clicked his tongue. Completely ignoring the people around us, he tugged on my right ear. “You’re being rude, Ms. Bodyguard. Shouldn’t you be nicer to me? Especially since I’m always so genuinely nice to you.”
If I noticed the naughty lilt to his voice, I was sure everyone else around us heard it. I took a deliberate step away and turned from him, spotting Chelsea who walked toward us with an unknown man by her side. Together with Tak and his entourage, we met them halfway.
“Tak, this is Steve Gross, the host of Radio 2.”
As usual, Chelsea got right down to business. I took this chance to fall back as she spoke with Tak about the show and what he needed to do as we walked upstairs to the dressing room. Listening to them, I allowed myself to enjoy Tak’s serious work face. Something I hadn’t seen a lot since I started this job. It was nice.
“Here is the script, just skim over it a bit. It’s not too rigid, but it gives you an idea of what we’ll be talking about,” Steve said as he handed over a rolled booklet to Tak.
“That’s good because I don’t like rigid shit. It makes me sensitive,” Tak said.
“Tak,” Chelsea chided, before she turned to Steve. “Don’t mind him.”
Steve laughed good naturedly. “It’s fine.” With that, he left us.
“Didn’t you say you were going to behave?” Chelsea turned to face Tak.
He gave her a confused look. “Wasn’t I? I think I’ve been acting pretty well.” He turned to me. “Jazz, what do you think, was I bad?”
The only reason I didn’t roll my eyes was because everyone looked at me. I held back the curse words tickling at the back of my throat, I should have known his seriousness would last only so long. “I’m just going to say yes to keep the peace.”
Lucky for me the two decided to take my answer and entered the dressing room together. I chose to stay outside and took a seat in one of the chairs that lined the hallway wall. That way I could keep an eye on who came and went.
There was also another reason. I needed to touch base with Dutch. Pulling out my phone, I dialed his number and patiently waited for him to pick up. The phone clicked as it was answered.
“Hey, have you found any trace of the guy who murdered Bradley yet?”
“Didn’t I tell you to keep a low profile?” Zeno’s voice held anger.
Pulling the phone away from my ear, I stared at it. The number I’d dialed was Dutch’s, but Zeno had answered. I could hear someone arguing in the background.
I took a deep breath and asked, “Why do you have Dutch’s phone?”
“Answer my question first. You’re following that singer again. Didn’t I tell you to leave him alone?”
“Yes, but I decided not to.” I tightened my hold on my phone in reaction to his low chuckle. “How’d you find out?”
“One of my informants saw you at the Bennington ball and followed you to his house. He acted like he was doing me a favor, but you and I both know he thought following you would give him some dirt to sell. Lucky for you, I bought the info and paid for him to keep his mouth shut. So, I suggest you give me one good reason why I shouldn’t come and pick your ass up right this minute.”
I bit my bottom lip. I very rarely went against my eldest cousin. Zeno had taught me how to survive off the grid so I could have some semblance of life away from my father’s influence when I was younger.
He understood more than anyone just how far my father was willing to go to have me under his control. He’d watched as I’d painfully weaned myself off the drug my father had the doctor put me on to keep me trapped in that dark depression.
“Because you know how important he is to me, he’s the reason I’m able to sit here and talk to you right now,” I said, giving a look around the hall.
I couldn’t leave, I’d have to wait for Tak to enter the studio before I could go somewhere private. Zeno made a frustrated sound.
“Jazz, come on. He doesn’t even remember you.”
“That’s okay, he doesn’t have to. It actually works out better for me if he doesn’t.” I spotted someone coming down the hall. “Look, I’ll call you back once I get somewhere more private. Tell Dutch to give me a heads-up if he finds something else. I really need to know who attacked me that night when I went to Bradley’s.”
“Wait.”
I hung up and stood to check to see who it was approaching. Seeing it was an intern that’d been sent to let us know Steve was ready, I knocked on the door. Chelsea opened it.
“They’re ready for him now.”
She nodded and called back to Tak. “It’s time.”
Chelsea faced forward and stepped out followed by Tak’s tall frame. I couldn’t help replaying Zeno’s words in my head. He was right.
Even though we’d lived next door to each other as children and we’d waited for the bus together as teens, there wasn’t even a sparkle of recognition in Tak’s eyes. Still, like I’d told Zeno, I was okay with that.
I didn’t want Tak to remember the little girl who’d watched him through the iron gate as he’d sat in the yard pulling grass. I don’t think he, or I, had many good memories of Bridge Lake.
“Hey, are you okay?” Tak asked, tapping me on my forehead.
I leaned away. “I’m fine. Just thinking about something.” Avoiding his probing stare, I walked ahead of him. “Let’s go.”
Once at the studio, I watched as Tak walked in. Seeing he was safely inside, I decided to take a bathroom break. I let Chelsea know before I left the control room.
She gave me an absentminded wave, her focus completely on Tak. I headed to the bathroom down the hall. I’d told Zeno I’d call him back, but I wasn’t in the mood to.
After our conversation, I couldn’t help asking myself if what I was doing would really help Tak. I could easily have handed all the evidence over to the proper authorities and let them deal with it, but the minute I thought this, my mind rebelled against it.
I didn’t want to hand Tak over to anyone else. I knew I was being selfish and foolish but being with Tak was one of the few things in life I’d desired. How could I just give up seeing and being teased by him every day? What was wrong with wanting to be the person who saved him?
Thinking this, I took my time in the bathroom. Once I’d finished, I decided to hang out in the waiting area. I could watch the live recording of Tak on the flat screens that decorated one of the walls. I checked my wristwatch, seeing about an hour had passed. The show itself only lasted an hour and a half.
Getting up, I headed back toward the recording studio.
