Rock Star Romance Ultimate: Volume 1
Page 129
I felt Carter go rigid at my side.
“Renee,” he greeted the attractive brunette secretary.
She looked up from her monitor and came right to attention. “Good morning, Mr. Gilmore. Mrs. Dubois said to send you right in as soon as you arrived.”
I put my hand on my little buddy’s back and sized up Carter’s biological father. His appearance at this juncture wearing an expensive grey mélange Burberry suit wasn’t a coincidence. The whole thing was obviously an ambush.
I squeezed Carter’s shoulder. “Stay right here, Champ.”
His eyes wide, Carter pressed his lips tight together and nodded once.
“Hey, Dick,” I called out as I moved to intercept him. “Hold up.”
He turned on his Salvatore Ferragamo loafers, his eyes narrowing on me before sliding over my shoulder. “Hello, Carter.” His chin dipped. “I see your mother finally took you to get a haircut. It’s about time.”
What a fuckstick, I thought, pulse blaring in my ears. I was so primed to kick his ass, and had been since Bridget first told me about him that day in the Granville Marketplace. “Is that any way to treat your own son?”
Richard smirked. “What’s it to you, pretty boy?”
“The name’s Justin Jones.”
“And that should mean something to me why?” he asked snidely.
“No reason really, except that I made a promise to myself a while back, and now I intend to keep it.”
I heard the secretary gasp as I closed the gap between us. I shoved him back abruptly with both hands. He was bigger and bulkier than me, but I didn’t really care. I was pissed.
“Whoa,” he said straightening his tie, his mouth forming a smug smile. It was easy to see he was the type who got off on confrontational shit like this. Anger and adrenaline flared behind his blue gaze. He took a step toward me, but held up when the conference room doors suddenly swung open.
“Richard.” Evelyn sounded exasperated as she looked us both over. She waved him inside. “Get in here. We’ve been waiting on you.”
Gilmore gave me a dismissive snort and followed orders. Apparently stepmom had him by the short hairs.
I was ready to pursue our little discussion inside the conference room. I might well have, too, but just then Carter grabbed my hand, and I remembered my promise to Bridget earlier. I knew that Carter needed me right now more than she did. Besides, Maurice Trigg was already moving to close the doors.
“Stand down,” he warned, shaking his head. “Don’t you think I expected something like this?”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
* * *
Bridget
The bitch returned to her seat at the head of the glossy dark conference table, her lapdog in tow. She smiled smugly at me through blood red lipstick. I wasn’t sure what other nasty surprises she had in store, but Richard’s presence here certainly wasn’t just for show.
Maurice patted my hand. He didn’t seem to be worried, but my stomach was churning. I did my best to ignore it, squaring my shoulders, and trying to maintain a look of indifference.
Richard laid his large hands on the surface of the mahogany table and stared at me from his vantage across it. It made me ill to think that I’d once let those hands roam all over my body. Tall, tanned, and muscular, he was as absurdly handsome as ever. But behind those looks was a heart as black as Evelyn’s. After all, those same strong hands that had once caressed me had shaken me hard enough to rattle my teeth the night before Carter and I had fled to Vancouver.
“Shall we begin, then?” The latches on Maurice’s briefcase clicked open and he withdrew a stack of documents. “Evelyn, I need you to sign a few papers. It’s really just a formality. The terms of the trust are quiet clear.”
“I won’t be signing anything.” Evelyn’s tone was icy, devoid of emotion, and full of authority. She accepted a stack of papers from one of her own attorneys and passed them along to Maurice.
He began to thumb through them, but she didn’t wait for him to respond.
“Bridget, you have a decision to make.” Her gaze bored into mine. “The company or your illegitimate spawn.”
I sucked in a breath. A wave of nausea washed over me at the thought of losing my precious son.
“You have to decide today. Right now. Because I promise you that if you fight me on this one, I’ll drag you both through the courts. When everyone finds out that you’re a slut and an addict, they’ll realize how unfit you are to be a mother, and Richard will easily win custody.” She rolled a pen across the table toward me, confident that I would cave in.
Once upon a time, not so long ago, I would’ve done it. I would’ve picked up that pen, signed those papers, and then slunk out of there like some beaten dog.
But I wasn’t that lost, frightened little creature that she remembered. I’d changed. I’d learned that I could make it on my own, even I’d had to crawl forward on my knees most of the way. I’d kicked a drug habit, escaped from an abusive relationship, and gotten a GED, a college education, and a paying job. I was a survivor. I had some of my Meemaw’s fighting spirit flowing through me. All it took for me to realize that was finding someone who brought it to the surface with his faith and love.
“No,” I told her softly. “No one’s taking Carter or anything else of mine from me.” I transferred my gaze to Richard. “You and I both know that your threat’s an empty one. You seem to forget that I was underage when I had Carter. If you try anything of the sort, I’ll immediately file statutory rape charges against you. I wonder how that will play out in family court?”
Richard visibly paled beneath his tan.
I marveled how I had once allowed him to rule me, to victimize me. Well, I wasn’t intimidated by him any longer. And now with one extermination out of the way, it was time to turn my attention to the other vermin in the room.
I could see the fear in her beady eyes as they met mine. She had good reason to be afraid. I was wide awake, finally, and I spit her poison right back at her.
“You shouldn’t have done this. But then that’s what you do. Destroy things. Like taking a little girl’s heart and surgically carving it from her chest. My admiration and love could so easily have been yours. All it would’ve taken was one kind word, but you didn’t have even that to spare did you? Not even after my father died.” My chin went up. “Well, what goes around, comes around, you heartless cow. You played your cards, now I’ll lay out mine. I promise you this, when Trigg and I are done with you, you won’t even mop floors at this company.”
I rolled the pen back to her. “I suggest you sign the paperwork we’ve given you. If I were you, which I thank God I’m not, I’d brush off my old acting resume’. You’ve run my father’s company into the ground long enough. I’m taking it back at midnight tonight. My first order of business in the morning will be to petition the board for your immediate dismissal. After this little blackmailing stunt of yours, I’m thinking you better grab a hold of that golden parachute of yours and pray that it opens when you jump.” I stood and put my hands on the table leaning toward her. “Because lady, you are going down with or without it.”
I kicked back my chair, my body vibrating with fury. I stormed to the doors and ripped them open. As soon as I stepped through, I saw Justin standing there.
He took one look at my face and both his brows lifted, disappearing into his tumbled hair. “Gave it to her that hard, huh?”
“Yeah.” I smiled triumphantly. “Bitch had it coming.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
* * *
Justin
Orlando sun glinting off the crystal clear chlorinated water, I squinted as I splashed Carter. Grinning, he gave it right back to me, his platinum hair plastered to his head, white zinc sunscreen spread across his cheeks like war paint. After a power brunch with Trigg, we still had a couple of hours to kill before we had to be at the airport. Since no one felt much like sleeping, I’d suggested a trip to the hotel pool to burn off our pent up energy.
“Ok.” Expressive eyes like his mom’s revealed his continued concern. I could relate as I still had quite a few of my own.
I swam across the width of the pool and pulled myself out, crossing to where Bridget lay sprawled out on a lounger. To the outside observer, we probably appeared to be just an ordinary family enjoying our vacation in Florida, but we were far from that. It had been a gut wrenching, anything but typical visit to the Sunshine State.
Bridget was wearing that same racer back swimsuit, the one that deemphasized her jaw dropping figure. I made a mental note to find her a new one when we got back home. Her hair up in a ponytail, she lifted her sunglasses and placed them up on her head as I approached. Her pinched expression turned to one of mock disapproval when I playfully shook out my wet hair over her.
“Justin,” she complained, blinking her blues at me.
“You look hot.” I winked.
I grinned. “Scoot over.” She shimmied to the side, making room for me. I allowed myself a moment to enjoy the view before I got down to the matter at hand.
“Where did you go before brunch anyway?” she asked glancing at the bruises on my knuckles, a small crease appearing between her brows.
“Nowhere important.” I’d never tell. I didn’t want to mess with her badass mojo. She’d taken care of things all on her own in that conference room, and I was so proud of her. But on the other hand there was no fucking way I was going to let that bastard get away without letting him know exactly where I stood in a way he’d not soon forget. “What happens next?”
“Hmm.” She frowned. I think she probably had it figured out, but she let it go and answered my question. “Even though Evelyn has no legal leg to stand on, that doesn’t mean she won’t decide to draw things out just to make things unpleasant for me. We’ll just have to wait and see, I guess.”
I nodded. “And Richard?”
“His personal attorney contacted Maurice right before brunch… surprisingly.” She lifted a brow. “He’s agreed to sign all of his parental rights away. It seems he’s more afraid of going to jail than he is of my stepmother.”
“What about you and Carter?” I’m sure my expression revealed that this was what was really worrying me. “Are you staying in Vancouver?”
“I don’t know.” Three words. Not the ones I really wanted to hear. My stomach knotted tighter, especially when I realized her eyes were troubled, too. She reached for my hand, and even though she’d been sitting on the pool deck out in the tropical sun for an hour, her hand was colder than mine. “I don’t want to uproot Carter again. Not till things are definite. It could take months for everything to play out.” She glanced down at our joined hands. “I’m actually hoping it takes a while. That way Carter can finish out the school year in Vancouver, and I can stay with you.” She peered up at me. “At least until you go on the tour.” A tear trickled out of her eye and slid down her cheek. She turned her head and swiped it away.
I pulled her onto my lap, and framed her pretty face, my eyes searching and cataloguing every beloved feature. “That’s what I want, too.” I kissed her hard to tell her just that, but made it quick. Carter was still in the pool. It wasn’t safe to get distracted. “We’ll talk tonight. When we get home. After Carter’s in bed, we’ll work it all out.”
“But how, Justin?” Her lip trembled. “You’ll be on tour before long, and I’ll have to come back here sooner or later. Maybe,” she bit her lip, “Maybe it’s best if…”
“No,” I cut her off. “Fuck, no.” I put my hands on her shoulders. “When are you going to stop letting things derail us?” I slid my hands down her arms, captured hers, and brought them to my chest, trapping them there. “This is a long term plan. I don’t want anyone else. Ever. Can you honestly tell me you feel differently?”
She shook her head, unshed tears balancing on the ends of her lashes.
“Then nothing’s coming between us. I won’t allow it.”
***
Bridget
I stared at him while he slept, his airline seat reclined beside mine, his long auburn lashes casting crescent shadows on his cheeks. His hair lay across his brow. His lips, those delicious lips, were slightly parted, and his breath was slow and even.
I loved him so much it hurt, like a gnawing hollowness deep inside my chest that only he had the power to fill. I was scared though, uneasy and on edge. He’d spoken so confidently at the pool.
I won’t allow it.
I’d been through too much in my life to believe it could be that easy. Some things just couldn’t be controlled. I’d eventually have to leave Vancouver. He’d have to stay. With his father’s illness, there was no other way. A cross country relationship with a rock star, three thousand miles separating us. It might be over between us sooner than I feared.
Suddenly, we hit a pocket of turbulence, and the plane jumped. Tray tables and dishes rattled. Carter shifted restlessly. He was on his side, his head lying on a pillow in my lap, his legs over Justin. I stroked his hair and he relaxed, snuggling in closer to me, arms tightening around on my waist.
If only I could just as easily calm the turmoil that raged inside of me. Tears burned in my throat. I should be on top of the world. My monetary concerns were over. I would soon be at the helm of my father’s company. My company. But I’d grown up with plenty, and I’d also done without. I knew well that money didn’t make you happy. Good people, friendships, and relationships could though, and love.
And I loved him. Recklessly so.
I continued to stare at him even as the plane started its descent. I pressed my lips together in an effort to hold my frayed emotions together. My eyes remained dry. I refused to give into bittersweet tears. I couldn’t change the way things were. I would just have to fill my heart up with enough memories to last me for later. Just to be practical. Just in case it didn’t work out. Just in case the bad times came again. Reality, I knew, had a crappy way of yanking the rug from beneath your feet.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
* * *
Justin
Duffles on my shoulders, my hand in the small of her delicate back, I guided Bridget and Carter to their door at the Sutton. It was three hours earlier than Florida, dinnertime by the clock, but we’d all been up basically for twenty-four hours straight. We were a feet dragging, bodies sagging, jet lagging mess.
“How was your flight?” Lace opened the door before I could even get the key card in the slot.
“Fine,” Bridget replied. “A little turbulence over the mountains before we landed, and the line at customs took forever.”
“Yeah, you came in at a really busy time of day.” She took Bridget’s hand and drew her forward. That’s when I noticed all the noise, the tv blaring, and the voices. I smelled the pizza before we made it to the living room. The whole band was there.
“Congratulations.” Bryan came over and kissed Bridget’s cheek.
I got tense, even though I knew the guy was totally into Lace. I didn’t like his lips being so close to Bridget’s mouth.
“Nothings’ completely for sure, yet,” Bridget cautioned.
“Your lawyer thinks it is. You told me yourself when you called,” Lace said.
“I hope you don’t mind the impromptu party,” Bryan exchanged a glance with his woman. “Lace thought it would be a good idea, but you guys look pretty tired.”
“Oh, stop.” Lace rolled her eyes. “There’ll be plenty of time for resting later. Take Carter to the kitchen and get him a non-caffeinated soda,” she told Bryan. “You,” she pointed at Bridget, “and you,” she pointed at me. “Come sit down and fill us in. I still can’t believe it,” she muttered after shooing Sager and King off the couch. Double L had no fear. The guys in Tempest, even the hulking Latino drummer deferred to her. She really would’ve been a more logical choice to lead the group after Warren left, if she had wanted the job.
; I tried to sit beside Bridget, but Lace wedged herself between us. “Oh, no. You’ve had her for the past twenty-four hours, it’s my turn JJ.” She turned to Bridget. “So just how fucking rich are you?” she asked brazenly.
“Lace,” Dizzy cautioned, palm to his head. “A little tact, maybe.”
“We’re best friends.” She waved off his concern. “Even before she became an heiress. Right, Rehab Sister?” She held out a fist to Bridget.
“Relax, Diz.” I was happy to see her dimpled smile appear as she tapped her knuckles to Lace’s. Bridget seemed more settled after our conversation at the pool, but she’d still been quieter than usual. And as Carter sagely pointed out, the only time she clammed up was when she was worried about something.
We had a lot to work out, I knew that. But I was confident we would. I only wished that there was something I could say, or something I could do that would convince her.
“So how much?” Lace persisted.
“I don’t know really.” Bridget laughed. “A lot, I guess. Enough.”
“Enough that you could buy your own record label?” King asked, dark eyes sparkling with humor.
“Probably.” She laughed again. “But why? Aren’t you happy with Black Cat?”
“He’s just mad ’cause the queen busted his balls today,” Sager explained.
“Really?” Lace’s brow rose.
The big Latino shrugged noncommittally.
“She noticed he was hung over.” Sager completely threw King under the bus, ignoring his best friend’s scowl. “Stuck it to him good. Told him he was wasting an opportunity to be a positive role model in the Latino community. Stuff like that.”