“I didn’t say you could speak yet. You better be making this worth it. You had better have the story of a lifetime. You had better have so much dirt on Devane that everyone will sit up and take notice. Because if you don’t, you can be assured that this whole trip will be just the beginning of your extended holiday into the unemployment line.” She took in a deep breath. “Now, you make speak.”
“I’m working on it, Carmen. So far I have alcoholic ex-girlfriend starts brawl, a kinky love triangle thing going, and…and sex in public places.” I winced as I said it.
I could hear Carmen humming. She always did that when she was thinking. “Okay, you’re off the hook for another day. But I want a rough draft into me by Monday. No later.”
“Okay, boss I’ll…”
Carmen hung up.
I flipped my phone closed and, with a heavy sigh, sat on the bed. I was in over my head. The story was not working out the way I hoped. So far, I hadn’t gotten anything dirty on Jonathan. Well, nothing dirty that didn’t involve me in some way. I couldn’t possibly write about that.
My phone shrilled. I flipped it open and grunted into it.
“What’s going on?” Serena demanded.
“Having a good time. Thanks for asking.”
“I’m not asking because you’re supposed to be on an assignment not a vacation.”
“Oh, right, I forgot.”
“I hear Carmen’s firing you.”
“No, not yet anyway. Got till Monday to redeem myself.” I fingered open my brown paper bag from the convention. I touched the leather whip I’d bought compulsively and dragged it out.
“Are you all right? You sound upset.”
I chuckled. “Upset? Why would I be upset?”
“Don’t tell me you’ve slept with him.”
“Okay, I won’t tell you.”
“Mak! What the hell is going through that head of yours? You’re prostituting yourself for a story. I never thought you’d ever go that far.”
“Listen, Serena. Have to go. Room service is at the door.”
“Mak, listen to me. Get out while you still can. This is going to backfire. I can feel it. You’re going to get hurt badly.”
“I’m cool, Serena. Really. I’ve made a few errors, but now I have it completely under control.” I ran the leather threads of the cat-o-nine-tails over my leg, quietly musing how they would feel on my flesh under Jonathan’s control.
“Mak, I know you. You have never been under control. Ever.”
“Got to go, Serena. I’ll call you later.” I flipped the phone closed before Serena could protest. I tossed it over my shoulder onto the bed. I hated when Serena was right. Therefore, I would ignore everything she had to say.
I got up, the nine tails still gripped in my hand, and wandered over to where my laptop sat open waiting for me. I glanced at the empty screen then shut the cover. I’d write something later after my date.
Tonight, I would definitely pump Jonathan for gritty details. I would don my journalist hat and see to getting the story. The story I came here for. Not the sordid tale that was being played out with my in the co-starring role. It was time I got serious and did my job.
I strolled into the bathroom with the instrument still dangling from my hand. I’d just go and have a shower to get ready for my date. And if I used the time to practice my doling out techniques, well, I was just preparing for the future. I never knew when I might have to flog someone.
At exactly ten o’clock, I stepped off the elevator and into the lobby. Heads turned my way as I strutted through. I purposely dressed for success. Or in my case, sexcess.
The dress I wore brought new meaning to ‘the little black dress’. It had spaghetti straps, cut low in the back, and just skimmed my knees with a flirty silk ruffle. I wore black strappy heels, sheer silk stockings, a discreet garter belt and no underwear. I didn’t want a panty line to ruin my elegant look.
My hair curled around my face seductively with a few strands purposely hung sexily over my eye. A man couldn’t resist tucking those loose strands away.
I’d also put makeup on my new bite marks. It reminded me of when I was in high school and had to hide the hickeys my boyfriend at the time liked to give me. I guess I was just a sucker for punishment in that regard.
Jonathan stood by the main doors, a dark sleek suit draped deliciously over his large frame, waiting for me. As he turned and his jaw tightened, I knew I had chosen well. I could almost see the desire flow off him like heat waves from black asphalt in the summer.
He smiled as I neared. He took my hand and brought it to his mouth. “You look beautiful.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
He brought my hand down and wrapped it around his arm. “Shall we?”
I nodded, unable to speak because of the lump that was forming in my throat. Little seeds of doubt and guilt were quickly wrapping their roots around me. Tying me up into a tangled mess. A mess I was uncertain I could ever escape from.
The restaurant was quaint but elegant. A little Italian eatery located over top of a new age shop. The outside wall was lined with floor to ceiling windows that opened out onto a romantic balcony. The maitre’d sat us at one of the tables on the balcony. The night was warm so I didn’t worry about having a wrap to cover my bare shoulders.
After being seated, Jonathan ordered us a bottle of red wine. The waiter ran off to get it, leaving us alone. We were the only couple seated outside.
“This is a nice place. Have you been here before?”
“Last time I was in town I discovered it. The owner is this very interesting seventy-year old Italian gentleman. He has seven sons and twenty eight grandchildren.”
“Wow. That’s a lot. How about you? Do you have siblings? Illegitimate children?”
Jonathan chuckled as the waiter appeared with the wine. Popping the cork, the waiter poured a small amount in a glass for Jonathan to taste. Jonathan took some in his mouth, held it there, and then swallowed it. He nodded to the waiter, who proceeded to fill both our glasses.
Jonathan picked his up and held it out to me. I did the same. We clinked glasses and each took a sip. The wine was glorious and sparkled in my mouth.
“One.”
I nearly spewed my next sip of wine. “Excuse me?”
“One sibling. Younger sister. No illegitimate children that I know of.” He grinned over top of his glass. “You? Any brothers or sisters?”
“Two brothers. Both older. Catered to my every whim and nicknamed me princess.” I mentally slapped myself in the head. I should not be the one divulging details. Especially not to someone I was planning to destroy.
“Ah.”
“Ah, what? You said it like you just realized the secret to the universe.”
“I think I just did.” He grinned again.
I felt my stomach do a flip. Actually more like a double somersault with a twist. Before I could react, the waiter came to take our order.
“Shall I order for us both?”
“Sure.
“We’ll have the Chicken Cacciatore with mushrooms.”
I watched him order. I watched every movement of his mouth and declared it the most sensual mouth I had ever seen. Full red lips with sexy dimples on the side. Yup, that’s what I’d order. The tastiest dish on the menu. I could dine on that for the rest of my life.
He turned his attention back to me and caught me with my head on my hand, staring at him with a lost dreamy look. I probably even had heart-shaped pupils.
“How long have you been a writer?”
The question knocked me back to earth, and I sat up in my seat. “Um, four years.”
“Did you always want to write?’
“Oh yeah. Right after high school I went into college to take journalism.” Oops! Wrong thing to say.
“Journalism? Really?” He paused with his glass half way to his mouth. “I wouldn’t have pegged you for wanting to be a reporter.”
“That’s what my professors said, to
o.” I laughed. “I failed all the courses. Just wasn’t my thing. So I took a creative writing course and voila. Here I am.”
“Would I have read anything of yours?”
“Quite possibly.”
I mentally wiped the sweat off my brow. Actually, I wasn’t just mentally perspiring. I could feel the sweat trickling down my back. Time to get the conversation back on him, I thought. And off me.
Just in time, the waiter brought us our food. We ate and small talked about cuisine, music, and other trivial subjects. But I did find out we shared some of the same tastes. In music and books. It was nice to be able to discuss stuff like that with a man of intelligence.
“How long have you run Devane Communications?”
“Only a year or so. I took over from my father.”
Yeah, more like stole according to the rumor mill.
“He’s sick, and needed me to take the reins. I wasn’t planning to take over so soon, but there you have it. Sometimes plans just fall through.”
My heart sank. I had no idea that his father had been sick, and by the look that crossed his face, the man was very sick.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know about your father.”
He shook his head. “Of course you didn’t. No one knows. We’ve kept it very quiet. The last thing I wanted was the media plastering the poor man’s health issues all over the place. He’s suffering enough.”
The breeze picked up and swept across my sweaty naked skin. I shivered slightly but not just from the cool wind.
“Are you cold?’
“No, no, not at all. The opposite actually.”
He smiled and took my hand in his. “Yes, I noticed that.” He turned my hand over and placed his on top. “Your palms are sweaty.”
“Yeah, I’m just a little nervous.”
“Nervous? Hmm, I didn’t think that was possible.” He bent down and nibbled on my wrist, his teeth scraping against my skin. Bolts of electricity shot up my arm and over my entire body.
I tried to pull my hand away. “Yes, okay. You make me nervous. Happy?”
He lifted his gaze to mine. “Then we’re even.”
I nearly swallowed my tongue as his electric blue gaze bore into me. I made him nervous? I made Romeo nervous? Was he feeding me a line? I didn’t think so. The man had already had his fair share, so it was not as if he needed to score.
Those little tendrils of doubt that had wrapped their way around my body began to wriggle and dig themselves in deeper. Could it be I was completely wrong about him? That he was not a womanizer. Not the swain I pegged him to be? That the whole scenario back in Toronto had been an honest mistake brought on by more than what was obvious? God, I hoped not. Because if that was true, then I was a very rotten person and an unethical journalist.
“So the woman from last night. She is one of many lost lovers throwing themselves at your feet? Upset because you tossed her out?”
Jonathan visibly bristled at my comment. He let my hand go and picked up his wine. “I don’t toss lovers away. Quite the opposite really. She dumped me. Publicly, I might add.”
“Really?”
“Yes. I can only think of one time when I actually broke up with a woman. All the other times I have been the dumpee.”
“I wonder why that is? Perhaps you focus too much on your business and not enough on your woman.”
He looked at me earnestly as if thinking over my comment. “You’re probably right. And maybe I just haven’t met a woman yet that can keep my focus.”
“So you just let these women hang around long enough being neglected so that they break up with you?”
“I suppose it works that way. I don’t want to hurt anyone. So I let them be the dumpers.”
“Maybe, if you tried being honest with these women. Let them know exactly what’s at stake and what you can and can’t give. Let them know who you truly are. Then maybe, no one would get hurt.”
He smiled over his wine glass. “I wouldn’t be too sure of that. The real me is a bit scary.”
When he said that, there was something in his gaze that made me swallow hard. It wasn’t as if his face had changed, because that would be impossible, but something had flashed across it. Something dark and dangerous.
I rubbed a hand over my belly. Nerves were making my insides quiver.
Jonathan’s eyes narrowed. “And Yvette, are you just as honest with the men you date?”
I coughed, almost spilling my wine. “Yes, of course.”
“And have you been completely honest with me?”
I stared at him. He was looking at my expectantly, his gaze burrowing into me, scrutinizing me. Did he know who I was? Had he recognized me somehow from the hotel or worse from the night in Toronto?
Maybe I should come clean. He was giving me the perfect opportunity to confess. Damage would be done. But it would be minimal, wouldn’t it? Yes, I had lied. Yes, I had given false pretenses and pretended to be someone I was not. And yes, he would hate me. And yes, I would lose my job. But I could walk away with some of my self worth still in tact. Couldn’t I?
“No.”
He sat back in his chair, obviously surprised by my answer.
“No, I haven’t been…”
“Jonathan?” Someone’s voice broke into their conversation.
We both turned to see David and two other men in suits crossing the restaurant toward our table.
Jonathan sighed and set his wineglass down with a clink.
David approached us with a wide dazzling smile. “I didn’t know you would be here.”
“Yes, you did.”
David’s smile dimmed a watt or two as he looked back at the two men and chuckled. “He’s right. But I couldn’t resist coming. The food here is simply amazing.”
“We’re looking forward to our meeting tomorrow, Jonathan.” The older man in the gray pin-striping commented.
“I am, too, William. I believe it will be most rewarding for both of our companies.”
The man nodded and smiled.
David looked down at me, disapproval clearly etched across his pinched face. He smiled. “And who is your lovely dining companion this evening, Jonathan?”
I stuck out my hand before Jonathan could speak. “Yvette Laurent. But you already knew that.”
David took my hand gingerly by the fingers and shook.
“Yvette is one of the rising literary stars I’m trying to sign on.” Jonathan smiled at me. “She’s very talented.”
I smiled back at him and batted my eyelashes.
“Yvette, this is William Johannason and Robert Wehner from J. W. and Associates, a law firm specializing in entertainment law. If you sign with me, they would also be on your literary team.”
I shook hands with both of them, smiling pleasantly. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“What do you write Ms. Laurent? Great literary works of art I imagine.” William chuckled.
“Sex.”
Jonathan coughed and nearly spat out the sip of wine he had just taken.
“Excuse me? I don’t think I heard you correctly,” William commented.
“I write about people fucking each other.”
The lawyers stared down at me, wide-eyed and clearly shocked.
“I’m sure David here has no idea what I’m talking about, but if I had said ‘I write about people fucking each other over’, well he would have had his hand up saying ‘pick me pick me. I know how to do that’.”
Everyone around the table stared at me, dumbfounded. David blushed crimson, and I could see the anger seething in his eyes. I couldn’t care less. I had enough of the arrogant ass. He was clearly vindictive and crass. And by the looks of the past few days, I didn’t think he was really on Jonathan’s side.
I wondered if he had ever been on his side, and if this entire rumor squashing was any help, or if it had inadvertently given rise to Jonathan’s bad reputation in the media.
Jonathan started to laugh. “I’m sorry, gentlemen. Yvette has a way wit
h words. She writes satire. Like Dave Berry, Michael Moore. Her words often get her into trouble.”
William and Robert relaxed a little, but they still looked unconvinced. They just nodded and excused themselves to go find their table. David still looked angry. He turned to Jonathan and leaned down toward him.
“Get rid of her. She’ll ruin everything for you.”
He didn’t whisper. I heard every word. I knew he had meant me to hear because after he said it, he turned and smiled at me.
I wanted to get up and kick David in the junk. I knew it wasn’t very mature, but the man reminded me of a playground bully. Someone that needed to get his.
David sniffed and walked away to join the others at their table across the restaurant.
Jonathan turned to me and shook his head. “I don’t appreciate your games, Yvette. I can’t afford to play them in my business. You could’ve ruined a potentially big merger for my company.”
“Relax, Jonathan. I didn’t. I think they were quite taken with me.” I put my head on my hands and pouted at him. “And I think David really really likes me. Maybe we should ask him to join us later. Bet he’d love that.”
Jonathan just stared at me, his brow wrinkled with disapproval.
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it. That publicist of yours is a condescending prick. As if he didn’t know, you were here with me. Maybe he deliberately brought those men here to embarrass you?”
Thankfully, the waiter took that moment to show up to take away our plates and hand Jonathan the long leather billfold with matching pen. Jonathan set the bill down and cleared his throat.
“Yes, I have thought of that.”
I leaned forward in my chair. “You have?”
“Many things have been becoming clear as of late. David’s behavior is just one of them. I apologize for him.”
“Don’t apologize, Jonathan. It’s not your fault he’s an ass. Is it?” I smiled.
Jonathan leaned forward in his chair. “I almost laughed out loud when you said what you said about him. You most definitely have a way with words.”
“I know. It’s a gift.”
We both laughed, and I sighed in relief. I didn’t want this to end. I didn’t want Jonathan to ‘get rid of me’. I was starting to see the man beneath the myth and was starting to like him. Feelings I had bottled up for fear of exposure started to bubble to the surface.
Love's First Bite: Bad Boys and Alpha Vampires Boxed Set (6 book bundle) Page 28
