by Holly Jaymes
“I knew it.” I shook my head. “You’re one of those types that believe what you read instead of the woman you’ve been sleeping with.” I leaned forward. “Tell me, did you think Lily was sleeping with Trask Holloway too? Did you assume the photo was real and not bother to ask her?”
Pax’s jaw tightened. “That’s not the same.”
“The hell it isn’t. The man in that photo works for me and as far as sleeping with someone goes, he’d rather sleep with you.” I shook my head in disgust. “Do you really think I’d be sleeping with you and then run off and sleep with someone else? Is that really what you think of me, Pax?” I was so angry, but those last words made me feel pain and tears welled in my eyes.
He jerked back.
I inhaled a deep breath because I wasn’t going to cry. Not over Pax Ryder. Not again. “Well, I realize your reputation is the most important thing here so you’ll be pleased to know that Galen, the man in the picture, has already put out a statement that makes these outlets look like idiots for pushing this story. He even hinted at a lawsuit. Hopefully, you and Dane will be able to salvage your pure-as-snow image.”
His jaw tightened again.
I turned to go to my room and then whirled back on him. “Oh, it goes without saying, but you can stay in your own room tonight and all the rest of the nights. And when Lily calls, there will be no problem telling her that you’re the last person I’d ever want to be with.”
I made it to my room and closed the door before the tears fell.
Chapter 18: Making Amends
Pax
My first thought when Victoria confronted me was that she had some nerve making me out to be the bad guy. That started to waiver when I realized she was right. I should have asked her about the meeting. I’d let my mind run to the worst-case scenario and assumed she was capable of the worst.
I was sitting at the table looking like a schmuck as I wondered if I should go talk to her, when my phone rang. I looked at the caller I.D. Fuck off. It was Dane. I considered ignoring it but he wouldn’t be ignored. He’d simply keep calling, so I picked up.
“It’s not a good time,” I said by way of answering.
“Listen, there’s a statement from Victoria’s camp. I don’t always put stock in that sort of thing, but in this case, I think it’s true.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose. “He works for her.”
“Right. So, you talked to her?”
“Sort of.” More like she put me in my place.
“Turns out this guy isn’t into women, so…the gossip mill got it wrong. Which is good for us.”
I scoffed. Good for him, maybe. Me? I’d just ruined a friendship. Victoria was right. I should have trusted her. At the very least, I should have asked about it.
“This kid of hers is smart. He also made the suggestion that you two were still in Vegas. I might have to hunt him down and hire him away from her. He knows PR.”
I scraped a hand over my face as the magnitude of my error settled over me. “Listen, Dane, I’ve gotta go.”
“Yeah, okay. I just wanted to let you know. Everything is good. It was all a crazy misunderstanding. We’re pushing the message he sent out and working to make those other outlets look bad.”
Of course. He’d also been willing to make Victoria look bad, which heightened my guilt.
I hung up and then cleared my plate as I worked to figure out how I could make this right with her. Of course I’d apologize, but I wondered if I’d irrevocably ruined our relationship. Not the sexual part, but the friendship. I could still see the look in her eyes. It wasn’t the anger that had me feeling like an utter dick, it was the pain. I’d hurt her deeply.
Fuck.
Taking a deep breath, I headed to her room. For a moment, I just listened outside the door. I could hear her crying and my heart cracked. I really was an asshole.
I knocked on the door. “Victoria?”
“This isn’t your room anymore.”
I leaned against the door. “I know. I want to say I’m sorry.”
She didn’t respond.
I rested my head on the door, knowing I was in a losing battle. “I was wrong not to talk to you or to ask you about the photos.”
“That’s what you’re sorry about?”
I sighed. “That and assuming you’d…” Cheat wasn’t the right word, was it? We were having a fling of sorts, but we hadn’t made any commitments. “Be with someone while you were with me.”
“Dane called, didn’t he? He probably made you come to apologize.”
“He called, but I’m here because I’m sorry.”
“After you learned the truth.”
She wasn’t wrong. Although I’d been second-guessing myself before that, now I knew the truth.
The door flew open and I nearly fell in. I gripped her shoulders to keep from knocking her over.
She jerked away. “Don’t touch me.”
“Sorry, I just…” I didn’t know what to say. Guilt was slashing my gut and I desperately wished I could find the right words to make it up to her. In the end, I could only apologize. “I’m sorry, Victoria.”
She moved away. Her back was turned as she looked out the window into the darkness. Light flurries fell and it might have been romantic if I hadn’t been such an idiot.
“Tell me what I can do to make this right,” I said.
She let out a derisive laugh. “There’s nothing you can do. You’ve shown me how you truly think of me.”
I closed my eyes, hating that she felt like I thought badly of her.
“No. I’ve shown you what a dick I am.”
She didn’t turn around, but her head swiveled around to where she could glance at me over her shoulder.
I took that as a good sign. I debated how much I should say to her. Did I tell her what was really going on with me and my feelings? After how I’d treated her, it seemed like I owed her that.
“I was jealous, Victoria.”
Her eyes closed and slowly she turned to look at me.
I held my hands out and surrendered my emotions. “He had his hands on you. His mouth…” I looked down as the memory of the jealous pain slashed through me again. Finally, I returned my gaze to her. “I wasn’t thinking. Or…my thought was to protect myself. I don’t know. What I do know is that I fucked it up.”
Taking a chance, I moved closer to her. I wanted to see into her lovely blue eyes. It was there I’d know if my plea was making a difference. “I know you’re a good person. I was blinded by my own anger and having a rumor like that out in the world. I won’t lie, I didn’t enjoy looking like I was lacking in the sex department. In less than a month into my marriage, my wife was off with another man.”
“So, this is about your ego?” Her tone was distant and I was sure now that I wasn’t going to win back her respect.
“A little,” I admitted. “But mostly, I hated the idea of another man touching you. That I wasn’t enough.”
She rolled her eyes. “So, you did think I was with him? That I’d do that?”
“I wasn’t thinking, that’s the problem, Victoria. I was reacting. It’s a statement about me, not you.” I blew out a breath. “I know I’ve ruined things between us and I hate it. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am and that I know you’re a good and decent person. I was wrong. So wrong and I’m sorry.”
I waited a moment for her to say something, but when she didn’t, I turned to leave the room.
“Why were you jealous?” Her words stopped me. “Because I’m supposed to be your wife? Because it hurts your image?” she asked.
“No. I was jealous because I don’t like sharing. I know this situation is crazy and our relationship is complicated by more than what happened in Vegas. But for now, I’m enjoying this time with you. You’ll think I’m a Neanderthal, but when I saw that picture, I wanted to rip his head off because, Victoria, right now, you’re mine. I know that probably makes you mad because no one owns you-oomph-”
I was cut o
ff by Victoria launching herself into my arms. It took me a moment to adjust, but when I realized she was pressed against me, I wrapped my arms around her and held on tight.
I dipped my head to her neck. “I’m so sorry, Victoria.” I trailed kisses along her neck and jaw, in between telling her I was sorry.
“This is crazy,” she said in a soft voice.
“I know. But let’s not worry about all the rest. Right now, it’s just you and me.”
She nodded as she leaned back and looked at me.
I hated the red in her eyes and remnants of tears. I did that, my guilty conscience said. “Let’s enjoy this time, whatever time we have. Can we?”
She nodded. “Yes. Okay.”
I smiled. “Thank you.” Taking a chance, I pressed my lips softly to hers. She didn’t bite me or push me away. Slowly I took the kiss deeper, sinking into her taste. I moved her to the bed, laying her back. I took my time, soothing her pain, bringing her pleasure. She rewarded me by letting me stay the night.
The next morning, I was up early. I checked in with Dane and then my manager, who I’d brought into this wacky situation when we’d left Vegas to come to Eden Lake. He’d seen the pictures too, but he did what I hadn’t and that was researched. He’d learned the man was Victoria’s marketing person and didn’t have a thing for women, so he hadn’t bothered to contact me. Instead, we talked about the tour we’d been planning for the summer.
When I was done with my business, I checked on Victoria. I’d kept her up late last night, so it wasn’t a surprise that she was still sleeping. I nearly got back in bed and woke her with my hands and lips, but instead decided to plan something fun. We were supposed to be hiding, but maybe we needed to get out. Victoria’s marketing guy suggested we were still in Vegas, so if we went out here in Eden Lake, we’d be outing our location. But perhaps we were feeling the effects of cabin fever and getting out was something we needed.
I found Allie’s number and called her.
“What’s your intentions with my sister?” Allie said when she picked up the phone.
“Ah…I was hoping you’d give me an idea of something we could do in Eden Lake that she’d enjoy but wouldn’t cause a media stir.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Skiing is out. Too many people. Even in snow gear, you’d probably be noticed.”
I wondered if being noticed might be helpful. It would counteract the photos from yesterday. The problem was, I didn’t ski.
“I don’t know how to ski.”
She made a tsk sound. “There’s ice skating, but that’s an enclosed place. Oh, how about snow tubing? Victoria loves that. It brings out the seven-year-old in her.”
I smiled, wondering what that looked like, desperately wanting to see it. “Where can we do that?”
“There’s a place up the road from Pine Rest. It's midweek, so it shouldn’t be too crowded. Most people go to the places by the big resorts. That one is more of a local place. I’ll text you the information.”
“Thank you, Allie.”
“If you hurt my sister, I’m going to cause you problems, Pax.”
“I understand.” If I hurt Victoria again, I’d feel like shit, so she didn’t need to threaten me.
When the link to the snow tubing place came in, I did quick research on what was needed and how to get there. Then I went back to the room. Victoria was out of bed and in the shower.
My dick perked up at the thought of her naked and wet. I shucked off my lounge pants and t-shirt and joined her, kissing her neck as I pulled her back against me.
“Sexy,” I whispered.
She made that humming sound that always got my libido revved up.
“Let’s go snow tubing today,” I said, gently biting her ear lobe.
“Snow tubing?” She turned her head, her blue eyes bright with excitement. “I love snow tubing.”
“Then let’s do it.”
“What about the media?” She turned in my arms.
“What about it?” I ran my hands down her back and squeezed her ass as I pulled her against me.
“I thought we were hiding.” Then the brightness in her eyes dimmed. “This is Dane’s idea, right? He thinks you need to counter the photos.”
She started to pull away, but I held her near.
“No.” Sure, any media attention on our outing would offset those photos and I’d considered that, but that wasn’t what had started all this. “This was my idea because I wanted to do something fun with you. Allie told me you liked snow tubing.”
She jerked back, her eyes studying me. “You called Allie?”
“I did.” I watched her, desperately wanting to kiss her, but felt like I needed to wait until we were past her concerns about my intentions. “She told me if I hurt you, she’d make trouble for me. I believe her.”
Victoria smiled. “I don’t know how she would. Allie is a sweet soul. But I love that she has my back.”
Guilt lanced through me again. “I hate that she needs to have your back because of me.”
“You’ve done a fair job of making it up to me.” Her smile was seductive as she pressed closer to me.
“Fair job?” I was fucking awesome in bed last night. But I knew what she was doing. “Well then, let’s see if I can move the rating from fair to good, shall we?” I pressed her body against the tile and did my best to make her feel good.
Chapter 19: Helpless in Love
Victoria
I tried to keep my distance when he came to my room last night. I really did. His accusations, and his belief that I had betrayed him, gutted me. But his guilt looked authentic. His apology felt sincere.
Victoria, right now, you’re mine.
Pax could have any woman in the world, even now. The truth was, his fans probably wouldn’t care if he’d done something silly like gotten married by mistake. It would probably give him more character. But he was here with me, even if it was to deal with any media fallout.
What really got me was his admission that he was jealous.
Victoria, right now, you’re mine.
It would be unwise of me to read too much into all that, but I was unable to resist him by that point.
Let’s not worry about all the rest. Right now, it’s just you and me. That was what I needed to focus on. The here and now. I could do that.
The next morning, I let him work to improve his rating from fair to good in the shower, which more accurately was spectacular to mind-blowing, and then we dressed for snowy outdoor fun.
He drove us to a place further on the outskirts than Pine Rest already was. I gave myself a mental reminder to thank Allie for her suggestion to him.
Pax, like me, wore a knit cap and glasses which hopefully would conceal his identity as he paid for the tube rentals.
“Ready?” he asked, handing me a tube.
“I’m so ready.”
He grinned. “That sounds like a challenge.”
“We can race down the hill.” Chances were, he’d beat me since he was heavier and physics was on his side.
“Even if I lose, I win, Victoria. Watching your ass go down the hill isn’t losing at all.”
We walked up the hill and when we reached the top, I pulled out my phone. “Should we take a selfie?”
“That’s not why we’re doing this.”
It was ridiculous how happy that made me feel. This wasn’t a stunt to maintain his image. Then I reminded myself that in fact this really was all about maintaining his image. We were in Eden Lake pretending to be on a honeymoon to preserve his image. But at this moment, he was just having fun.
Let’s not worry about all the rest. Right now, it’s just you and me.
“I know, but it couldn’t hurt,” I said, wanting to be sure I was doing my part. While I’d done nothing wrong in meeting with Galen, I could still help to put the misunderstanding back to rights in the media.
He nodded. “Okay. But don’t post it until later so we don’t risk people showing up here.”
Go
od point. He wrapped his arm around me as I held up my phone to snap the picture.
“Say cheese,” I said.
He leaned in and kissed my temple as I poked the button to take the picture. My insides went all warm at the sweet gesture.
We carried our tubes and set them each on a carved track on the hill.
“See you at the bottom, Maddox.” I used his real last name because that was who he was, not just so people wouldn’t be tipped off to his being here. I didn’t wait as I pushed off and started down. It was slow at first, but I quickly picked up speed. I loved how the cold slapped me in the face and how the wind whistled in my ears as I careened down the hill.
Pax slid by me, giving me a wave. I blew him a kiss. At the bottom, the hill leveled out and slightly tilted up to slow us down and help us stop.
“Holy fuck, that was awesome!” He jumped up. “Not quite as good as sex, but a near second.”
I laughed. It was great to see him so happy. The last time I’d ever seen him so relaxed and loose was six years ago in London.
We spent several hours walking up and sliding down the slope. As exercise, it was definitely more fun than the treadmill, although he was right, it wasn’t quite as good as sex. At least, sex with him.
When we finished, we turned in our tubes and he looped his arm around me as we went to the car.
“How have I never done this before?” he said. “Did you do stuff like this a lot growing up?”
I nodded. “Yes. I was fortunate to have a family with means and we did many fun things like this.” I felt bad for Pax and Lily. Their mother had the money to go on family adventures, as my dad would call them, but she was too focused on her own career. So, they always had the opportunity to travel the world, but never saw more than their hotel room or wherever their mother’s photoshoot was taking place.
He opened the passenger side of the car and helped me. Then he got in on the driver’s side. “I’m definitely going to have to do stuff like that more. Do you ski?”
