But now knowing that she's out with Julian and his hands could be all over her body—in that dress she was wearing—that dress she looked fucking irresistible in...
Shit!
My dick grows and strains against the zipper. What the hell is going on with me lately?
I adjust myself and throw my beer back, then stand to get another one. Trying everything to wipe away the image of Meadow in that fucking dress and how good her legs looked.
And stop picturing them wrapped around me.
Shower! I need a shower!
A fucking cold one!
She's still not back when I get out, and I'm not feeling any less antsy either. I run my fingers through my damp hair and pour myself a shot of Jack.
It shouldn't be driving me this insane. Julian isn't that bad, but he isn't good enough for her.
Nobody ever will be.
Nobody can be Wes.
I throw back the shot and let it burn back the bitterness bubbling in my throat.
The time ticks by. I pace and flip through channels as I wait for her to come home. Finally, a bit before eleven I hear the rumble of what sounds like Julian’s old, sixty-five mustang pull up. I go to the window and peek out the blinds just in time to see them walk up to the door. I growl, watching her reaching out to touch his arm. My fist almost goes through the glass when I see Julian kiss her. No longer wanting to watch, I make my way to the couch, trying to reign in my temper. My arm covers my face. I really do need to figure out what the fuck is going on with me.
Chapter Five
Meadow
Julian pulls into an empty parking spot outside my house. The night had been fun, and though this date was fake, Julian went out of his way to make it real. He took me to dinner at this fancy restaurant with no prices on the menus and let me order whatever I wanted. We talked and he hung on my every word. Then he paid. Before the movie, we took a stroll around the lake and talked some more. Just when I thought Julian might have never been my type, tonight I might have been swayed, that’s if I hadn't already given my heart to Dexter. I may have been trying to tie down Julian to be a one-woman man.
He gets out of the car and opens the door for me. “Such a gentleman,” I giggle when he offers me his hand.
“I try.” He winks, pulls me up, and walks me to the door.
“Thank you for doing this again.” I rest my hand on Julian’s shoulder.
“It's no problem. I’d do anything to help you guys, and if I can fuck with Dexter at the same time, even better.” He chuckles.
“I only hope it works.”
“Well, considering his head was about to explode back at the office, I’d say the chances are pretty good.”
“Yeah, he was pretty worked up.” I grin, remembering the smoke coming out of his ears.
“I should kill him for the damn spoiler.” Julian’s eyes glance over my shoulder and a small smirk crosses his lips before they come landing to the corner of my mouth.
My eyes go wide at the surprise kiss. “What the hell?” I whisper and Julian flicks his finger behind me.
“He’s watching the show.” He steps back and my head spins around in time to see the blinds rattle, and I grin. One date and he’s putty in my hands. I’m overly gleeful. I should’ve done this months ago.
“I should get inside then. I'll talk to you tomorrow?”
“Yep. See you, Meadow.”
With one last quick hug, I find myself skipping to the front door. Picturing the jealous loon picking me up in his arms, kissing me all over and declaring his love for me finally.
Again. And sober.
Okay, I'm a bit of a spaz and using my overactive imagination, but I've always been a dreamer.
Let me have my moment.
I walk into the house and throw my purse onto the counter. The television is blaring Jimmy Fallon as I inch in closer to the living room. I find Dex with his arms splayed out on the back of the couch and his feet propped up on the coffee table. He doesn't look my way as I sit next to him, and my fantasy is instantly ruined.
“Hey.” I nudge him grabbing his attention and wanting the excuse to touch him.
“Oh hey, back so soon?” he says, pretending to act all surprised to see me.
I roll my eyes, tempted to beat him with the remote. “Yeah, were you waiting up?”
“Pssh, noo.” He exaggerates the no for way too long. He's such a terrible liar, which makes me feel a little better knowing he was doing just that.
“Oh, really? I thought maybe you were because you're usually in bed by eleven on a work night.”
“Well, Blake Lively is on Jimmy Fallon tonight, so I wanted to watch.”
“We have a DVR, you know.”
“She's better looking live.” He gives me a lopsided grin.
“You're so full of shit.” I giggle and lay my head on his shoulder.
We sit in silence as Jimmy Fallon does his Thank You Notes, but the peaceful air is broken up during the commercial break by Dexter's bitter grumble. “I'm surprised you didn't bring him inside.” My head flies off him and the air around us grows tense.
“Excuse me? What kind of girl do you think I am?” I snap, and my eyes narrow, feeling a bit insulted that he would think I would just give it up.
“I don't know. I figured he would kind of push or at least try.”
“He was the perfect gentleman, and I don't put out on the first date.”
Just reckless one night stands with my best friend that he forgets.
“Is there going to be a second?”
Looks like there's gonna have to be because you are breaking away from the vision Dex, I muse inwardly. I've always known him to be hard-headed, but this is ridiculous.
I can practically see the steam shooting from his ears and his visions of cutting Julian up into pieces like a Looney Toon character, yet he won't open his mouth.
Could this really all be because of Wes, or is there more?
“Yes, there will be a second date.” I finally answer his question. “I had fun despite the end of the movie being ruined.” I bump his shoulder to lighten the mood again. There's nothing I hate more than confrontation, so I'm pleased when he loosens up and I get a laugh out of him.
“Sorry, but not really.”
“Whatever, jerkface.” I stand and smooth out my dress.
“Jerkface?” He snorts. “I don't think you’ve called me that since middle school.”
“Well, since your acting like a middle schooler, the name fits. I'm going to bed. Night.” I round the couch, but I don't make it far before he grabs my arm, spinning me back around. “What are you doing?”
“I wanted to tell you that you do look amazing tonight, Meadow.”
My mouth pops open, taken by surprise by his words, and the sheer honesty and sweetness of them. “Thanks, Dex.”
“You know, just in case he didn't tell you.”
“He did, but it's nice to hear it from you too.” I lean over and kiss his cheek.
He releases my arm, and I move towards the steps for my room. I hear the television click off and seconds later Dex is next to me going upstairs.
“I saw my parents this evening and gave them the catering list. We should probably get together this week and maybe start working on our speeches.”
“You mean you want me to write yours for you?” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“No, but definitely maybe make suggestions and then proofread it.”
“Sure, maybe tomorrow after work?”
“Then it’s a date.” He winks, giving me a tap on my butt.
“A date? Then you better be buying me dinner first, sir.” I huff and walk away to my room.
I'm sitting at my desk going over the final preparations for the McKinley Honorary Ball when Kayleigh Hamilton, the biggest thorn in my side, plops her nasty ass on the corner of my desk.
“Hey, M,” she purrs sugary-sweet and I roll my eyes. I hate when she calls me M. She thinks it's cute, but it's another way for h
er to undermine me and show she doesn't take me seriously.
Why would she? She's always had everything handed to her. I, on the other hand, have been working my butt off since my junior year of college for Hanson Event Planners, interning and training to get to where I am now.
“Did you need something?”
She shrugs and picks up the silver frame from my desk holding a picture of Dexter and me. It's one of my favorite pictures taken at Roxann’s during karaoke night. We were up on stage singing our favorite song, Queen's “You're my Best Friend.” Totally cliché for us, but at least it wasn't some Journey song.
“So, when do I get to meet the famous Dexter?”
Hopefully never.
“I don’t know.”
“He's cute. Is he single?” Her finger traces over Dexter's face and I snatch the picture back from her and set it back on my desk.
“If there wasn't anything, I need to get back to these orders for the centerpieces, and then you need to go call the DJ and make sure he got the playlist as I told you.”
“Oh, I canceled him.” She shrugs again and smooths out the edges of her brown hair.
My anger flares and I'm about to pummel her to the floor.
“Excuse me? You did what? We have three days until this ball, and you canceled the DJ?” I seethe, gripping the edge of my desk.
“Yeah. I figured a live band would be much more of a hit.”
“The McKinley’s didn't want a live band, Kayleigh.”
“They'll change their mind when they hear The Honey Layers. They're one of the best local bands in Sacramento.”
“I don’t care if you got Maroon 5, it's not what the McKinley’s wanted. They had a specific playlist. It's your job to see that you get what they wanted.” My vision reddens with how angry I am. I seriously think I'm going to kill her. Snap her like a twig. Now I have another thing added to the pile of shit I have to do. I don't have time for this.
“It'll be fine, M. The Honey Layers said they can play most of the songs.”
“Yeah most, not all,” I snarl. “And the ballroom isn't set up for live entertainment.” I slam my hand on my desk, sending a few of my papers flying.
“Is everything okay here, ladies?” Mr. Hanson comes into view and I'm seconds away from throwing Kayleigh under the bus when she rises off my desk and plasters on her fake ruby-red smile.
“Everything is fine, Uncle. Meadow got a live band for the benefit in three days and forgot about not having a setup. But we’ll get it worked out. Right, M?”
My jaw drops to the ground, not believing she fucking did that. No, I do believe it. Now I'm going to pay for what she did.
“A live band? What happened with the DJ?” Mr. Hanson looks to me for answers. My mouth opens, ready to give up his little princess when Kayleigh steps in front of him again talking for me.
“Well, Meadow thought a live band would be a lot more beneficial and hip.”
“What?”
Did she just say hip? I would never say hip.
“Hip?” Mr. Hanson looks at me curiously.
“No, that's not what I said.” I stand gaping, lost for words, trying to backpedal out of this mess.
He steps away from his psycho niece and grabs my shoulders. “Meadow, you're one of my best. If you think this is the way to go, I'm trusting you. I really hope you know what you’re doing. The McKinley's are one of our biggest clients.”
“I know, Mr. Hanson. I have it all under control.”
I'll have it under control after I throw your niece into the Sacramento River.
“Good. Now, Kayleigh can I see you in my office. I want to show you how to go over some proposals and contracts.”
“Sure. Talk to you later, M.” She gives me a sly smile and a mini wave before walking off, leaving me with a huge mess to clean up.
One day Meadow, you'll speak up for yourself no matter what the outcome is at the end. Or how uncomfortable it makes you.
One day.
“Ahh!” I scream, once the front door slams and I throw my purse to the counter.
“Rough day?” Dexter chuckles, sitting at the breakfast bar with his sketches spread out in front of him, a pencil behind each ear, and one in his hand.
“The fucking worst,” I growl. I storm into the kitchen and go straight for the wine.
“What happened?” He throws down his pencil and rounds the breakfast bar as I pop the cork on the Château Coutet. I need the good stuff tonight to help me chill.
“Kayleigh. She fucked me over with this huge event I've been working on.” I pour myself a large glass of wine and knock it back, trying to keep my tears at bay. The stress and anger I've been holding onto all day to keep myself presentable and level headed have now boiled over. I slam the glass down and go to refill it when Dex reaches out to stop me.
“Whoa, slow down there, killer. Before you drown, tell me the rest.”
My hands land on the counter and I bow my head, my hair haloing around my face. Dexter's arm is around my shoulder pulling me to his side and his lips press to the top of my head.
“She canceled the DJ, hired a live band, which wasn't what our client wanted, and then told Hanson it was all my idea with me standing right there. I froze, not knowing how to tell him that his niece was a lying bitch.” I sniff, wiping the falling tears from my cheeks.
I feel like such a wuss for not being able to stand up for myself, but I also risked looking like an idiot. It's like I'm finding myself in that predicament a lot lately.
“I spent the rest of the day trying to fix it. I got the DJ back and called the McKinley’s and somehow talked them into a live band for between bids, but I don't know how it's going to play out.” I run my hands through my hair as I throw my head back and scream.
Dex laughs and pulls me into his chest. “Let it out, Meow.”
I giggle. It's rare that he calls me Meow out loud these days, but it never fails to make me smile even at times like this. I grip his shirt and bury my face in his chest and yell, letting out more of my built up frustration.
“Again,” Dex encourages and I scream again, to the point my throat scratches and my face heats. But it's a sweet release and I can feel some of the tension roll off my shoulders.
Finally, once I've let it all out, Dex lifts my chin, his thumb rubs the side of my cheek.
“I wonder what the next thing she might try to do. And if she takes over, hell, will I even have a job? It sucks so much because I busted my ass to get where I am in this company. And she just walks in…”
“I know. I know it's not fair. You were practically Hanson's puppet till he hired you as a senior event coordinator. But the man adores you. Maybe you should collect proof of what she's doing.”
“Maybe. I feel like it would be my luck it would blow up in my face.”
“Don't say that.” He runs his thumb across my lips and I instinctively pucker against it. The air crackles between us and my breath hitches, but it's all ruined when my phone rings in my back pocket.
His hand falls from my face and I instantly miss the contact.
“I should get that, in case its work…” I frown not wanting to step out of his hold. He lets me go and I pull my phone from my back pocket. The name on the screen isn't who I was expecting and probably not who I need right now.
“It's Julian,” I mumble. “I’ll call him back.”
“No, take it. We can talk later,” he grunts and moves back to the breakfast bar. My phone rings one last time before going to voicemail as Dex roughly collect his papers off the table.
“Dex?” I step towards him. “What's going on with you?”
“Nothing. I'm sure you’d much rather talk to your boyfriend, anyway.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose, knowing this is not the way I was wanting the jealousy route to go—to bitterness. “I want to talk to you.”
His eyes close as he grips the mess of papers in front of him. When they open back up there's a hint of hurt and sadness that flash in t
hem. “We can talk when you’re done. Then we can go through our speeches.”
“Alright.” My hands slap the side of my legs as I watch him head up the stairs. I make myself another glass of wine. A large glass of wine and carry it to my room.
I dial Julian back and he answers after the second ring. “Hey, Meadow.”
“Hey, Julian, what's going on?”
“I didn't hear from you about what happened the other night after you went inside. Did it work?” He laughs. “I was out of the office today, so I didn't get to see Dexter's reaction and there was no text from you, so I thought maybe it was good news.”
“Oh, no. It was a bust. Well, not a total bust. I think he's jealous, but I'm not sure he knows why he is.”
“So, does that mean we have a second date?”
“If you're sure you want to.”
“Yeah, we just won't tell Dex what movie we are seeing first. When do you want to do it?”
“Can I call you tomorrow about it? Today has been rough.” I sigh.
“I'm sorry. Is everything okay?” he asks sincerely, and as grateful as I am for him caring about me, the one I want to talk to is pouting in the room next to mine.
“It will be...after a couple of glasses of wine and some sleep,” I say and fall back onto my bed.
“Well, this might be fake dating, but I'm here if you need to talk as friends, Meadow.”
Damn, if that doesn’t steal my heart. I’m tempted to vent to him, but I shake it off.
“I know, Julian. Thanks.”
“Anytime, Meadow. We’ll talk tomorrow then. Maybe the second time will be the charm to make Dexter’s head finally blow.” He laughs heartily.
“One can only hope.”
Because I don’t know how much more I can take before it’s my heart that’s the one that blows.
Chapter Six
Dexter
I never thought when I met Julian St. James out of college, thanks to my Uncle Frank, he of all people, would have the nerve to come after Meadow. Ever since I found out that he'd asked out my best friend, the question ‘why her,’ has been circling through my mind. He's known her for the last three years and never shown a single interest in her besides friendship. Julian would show off his many conquests around her to the point Meadow thought he was a fuckboy. Hell, she's the one that told me Julian only hired his Secretary, Amber, so he could maybe try to fuck her. Yet, here she is going out with him.
The Love Plan Page 6
