On Fire (Seduction Series Book 3)

by Emily Vincent

  I turned around and leaned back against the counter. “I guess I am.”

  “Men trouble?” she asked.

  I shrugged. “I guess you could say that.”

  She leaned in closer to me. “Just remember that you have all these men that would be willing to give you what you want and you don’t have to even mess with strings. You’ve got it made.” She winked at me, and I chuckled.

  “Uh…yeah, well, we both know that’s not going to happen.”

  She paused and looked at me. “What’s going on? You need some advice?” she asked.

  I wanted to laugh at that. I knew very well that Tina would be the last person I could get advice from. While she was nice and all, she wasn’t exactly the type that wanted to settle down. I shrugged. “It will all be fine, but thanks for asking.”

  Tina arched an eyebrow. “Didn’t I see you the other night with that hot businessman?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I don’t know how you could possibly have men trouble with a guy that looks as fine as he does.”

  In normal circumstances, I would have given her a hard time and told her to stop gawking at my man. However, I couldn’t do that. I was beyond freaked out about the situation. I just needed to believe that all would be okay. “It’s not that simple,” I replied.

  She shrugged. “Make it that simple,” she said. She smirked and then walked away. She didn’t have a clue, but it was what it was. I turned back around and I saw someone sit down at my table, so I forced a smile and went out there to get him a drink.

  “What can I get you doll?” I asked.

  He looked up and stared at me. It came with the job, so I didn’t think anything of it. “You’re a sweet little sexy thang aren’t you?” He chuckled and finally looked up at my eyes.

  I smirked. “Don’t recall you around in these parts? On vacation?” I asked.

  “Something like that,” was his simple reply. “Do you give men extra favors?” he asked.

  I smiled politely. “Sorry, but that’s not in the job description. I’m here to entertain.”

  He sat back in his chair and stared at me. “I’m ready for you to entertain me. I pay extra for individual attention.” He winked at me and by this point, I was boiling inside.

  “You might want to leave this club, go about ten feet and you’ll find a place that can get you exactly what you need.” I went to turn around, but he reached out and grabbed my arm, stopping me.

  “Come on…pretty please?”

  I shot him a look and yanked my arm away from him. “Touch me one more time and I’ll call security.”

  He slowly stood up. He towered over me, at least six inches. “Ten feet you say?” he asked.

  I nodded and spun on my heel. I started to make a quick getaway when I spotted Trevor’s mom at the bar. She was staring right at me. I groaned. That couldn’t be good. I approached her with caution. “Mrs. Marx,” I started. “What can I do for you?”

  She didn’t look pleased. “Does that happen often?” she asked, motioning towards where that guy was sitting a few seconds earlier.

  I quickly shook my head. “No…not exactly. I think he was already drunk before he got here,” I stated. I then stood there for a moment, wanting to ask the question again. “What are you doing here?” I asked.

  “We need to talk. Do you have a free moment?”

  I looked at my watch. I would have prolonged it if I could have. I get off in an hour. Will that work?”

  She nodded. “I’ll wait.”

  Nothing like making things too awkward. She walked over to a corner table and sat down. I thought it had to be way past her bedtime and I couldn’t help but wonder where her husband was and if Trevor had any idea about this late night visit. I had ten minutes before I was going to go out and dance, so I needed to see if I could get to the bottom of something.

  “Tina, will you watch my tables?” I asked. “I have to make a quick phone call.”

  “Sure thing!” She eyed me closely. “Everything alright?”

  I smiled. “It will be. Thanks!” I disappeared in the back room and hurried into my dressing room, where I left my phone. When I picked it up, I found that Trevor had already sent me a text.

  Trevor: Hey baby! Just wanted to let you know that I’m heading out for drinks with Dad. Call me when you get home. I love you!

  I stared at the message for a few minutes. He wouldn’t expect a call from me now, and I certainly didn’t want to wind up interrupting his drinks with his father, which was odd in itself, so I put the phone back down and went back out to the front of the club. His mother was still seated at the corner table, but now she had a drink in her hand.

  I groaned and turned away from her. The hour could go by super slow; I would be alright with that. The last thing I wanted to do was carry on a conversation with the one person that hated me the most.

  When I was doing the routine at the front of the club, I could see the disapproving look on his mother’s face. I didn’t even go all in like I typically would, but it was clear to me that she would never approve of my lifestyle.

  After I was done and it was time for me to clock out of my shift, I went and grabbed her. “Follow me,” I said. I heard the uneasiness and shaky tone in my voice. We got back to my dressing room, and I closed the door behind us. I turned around to face her. “I’m listening,” I said.

  There wasn’t even a hint of a smile on her lips. “You have to understand where my husband and I are coming from,” she started. “This has nothing to do with you or even you as a person, but there are standards that our son needs to set for himself. Unfortunately, you don’t live up to those standards.”

  It was like someone had taken a bucket full of ice water and threw it on me. I stared at her. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. I didn’t know what to say, but I did know that it was hatred she was spewing in my direction. I just stood there and took it.

  “Ever since he was a little boy, we had the idealistic woman that he would find and marry. You don’t fit that mold that we have put together.”

  I nodded slowly, but still just kept listening.

  “We feel that it’s best that things end before someone gets hurt.”

  At that point, I couldn’t just stand there; I had to speak up. “Someone like your son?” I asked.

  She nodded. “Precisely.”

  I turned away from her and started to pace. It was how I did my best thinking, and I definitely needed to think, before opening my mouth and saying something that would make it a million times worse. After a moment of thinking on it, I stopped and turned to face her. “So, this isn’t personal and it’s nothing against me, but you just think that I’m not good enough. Right?”

  She sighed. “Well, in a matter of words, yes,” she said. She then quickly replied before I had a chance to argue the point. “I’m not trying to be mean, really I’m not. I know that you think I’m some old lady that is just too protective of her son, but you have to understand that we’re well off and how do you think it would look if people saw you guys together. Not to even mention marriage…it wouldn’t sit well with many people.”

  “Like your friends?” I asked, suddenly feeling the urge to point out the obvious. She stood there for a moment, unmoving, so I continued. “With all due respect, ma’am, you’re concern is for you…not your son. We love each other and you don’t even care about that.”

  “I doubt you even know what it is you feel for him. Surely the fact that he has a fancy car and has a private jet has influenced your feelings.”

  I shook my head. “Actually, it hasn’t,” I said. “When I think of Trevor, I don’t think of dollar signs and maybe that confuses you. Maybe you can’t believe someone would actually love your son, without thinking about his net worth. I can assure you that I love your son for the man that he is. I have never loved anyone like I have loved him.”

  She huffed as I was talking, finally stating, “And you’ll find someone else to love,” she said.

  I shook
my head, mostly in disbelief that she could still hold such strong feelings, barely even acknowledging that her son has feelings. “He is a grown man and he can make up his mind of who he wants to date,” I said.

  She looked away from me like she wanted to argue that he was a grown man. When she looked back, her eyes had grown even darker. “You’re a beautiful girl, Krystal. I’m guessing that my son has solely latched onto that fact and has forgotten that he has a reputation to keep.”

  “Wow!” I shook my head. “You just don’t get it. Trevor wants with all his might for you and your husband to understand what he wants, but we are both adults and we can decide if we’re going to stay together. You are allowed to have your opinion, but don’t think for one minute that it’s going to sway how your son feels.”

  That was taken things a little too far. I could see that because she moved closer to me and her face brought on an angry tone. “Listen here, Missy,” she said. “You can honor our wishes, or not, but it’s not going to change our mind. We have the money to make your life a living hell and trust me…we will. So, you might just want to not mess with us. Understood?”

  I swallowed the lump that had grown in my throat. As much as I wanted to talk back to her, I knew that saying anything else right now, just might escalate the situation and I wasn’t going to push her, because it wouldn’t change anything. I was forced to just nod.

  She then put on a fake smile. “Good! Remember what I said and when you change your mind and decide that I’m right and you’re wrong, we’re staying at The Mirage.” She then pushed past me and opened the door, then left. I stood there for a moment. I felt the tears threatening to fall, but I was angry with myself for allowing that to happen. I closed the door behind her and got dressed in my everyday clothes, then got out of the dressing room and left the club.

  Once I was out to my car, I heard my phone ringing. I glanced at it to find Trevor’s picture on the screen. I closed my eyes and tossed the phone into the passenger seat. I couldn’t talk to him right now, not until I had a night to think things through. It was going to be a long night.

  The sound of banging on the door woke me up. I looked at my alarm clock to find that it was just after four o’clock. I climbed out of bed and groggily walked to the front door. I peeked out through the peephole and found Trevor at my door. I opened it up, and he turned around to stare at me.

  “Why the hell haven’t you answered your calls?” he asked. He barged into my apartment.

  “Hello to you too,” I mumbled.

  I shut the door behind him and turned around to look at him. His jaw was dropped. “I thought you were dead or something. Why would you do that to me? I told you to call me when you got home.”

  I shrugged, yawning, and then pinched my cheeks to try to wake up. “I forgot,” I said. It was a lie, but the memory of the visit with his mother came crashing back in. I needed to have that time to think, and while I didn’t exactly come up with any solutions, it did help me to know that I was just as confused as ever.

  “You forgot? You forgot to call me?” He crossed his arms in front of him. “So, the five voicemails I left for you and three texts…those didn’t help to trigger a memory?”

  “I turned my phone off,” I nonchalantly said.

  He tossed up his arms out of frustration. “Why would you do that?” he asked. “I was worried sick. I was two seconds from calling the cops and if you wouldn’t have answered your door, then I would have. I would have combed the hospitals too, so what’s going on?”

  I looked away from him. I didn’t know what to tell him. Sure I wanted to be honest, but I was feeling so much doubt inside of me over what we should do, that I just didn’t know. When he reached out and touched my arm, I nearly jumped from the simplest of touches.

  “Baby, what’s going on?” he asked.

  “It’s your mother,” I said.

  He groaned. “We’ve been through this. We’re not going to let them dictate our happiness. I told my father that too.”

  I turned and looked at him. “She visited me at work, did you know that?”

  He frowned. “What?” he asked.

  I nodded. I suddenly felt like I was standing there naked when it dawned on me that I only wore a red negligee. It would have been fine, had we not been in the conversation we were in. “Last night she stopped by. I was going to call you then, but you had left me a message and said you were out having drinks with your dad.”

  “What’d she want?” he asked.

  I tilted my head and gazed at him, wondering if he could honestly know. “What do you think she wanted? She wanted to tell me that I was ruining your life and that I needed to stop before they were forced to do something horrible. She basically said that they could ruin my life if I didn’t back out of yours.” I shrugged. “It got me to thinking that maybe none of this is worth it.”

  “Baby, you don’t mean that,” he said. He stepped closer to me, but I wasn’t so sure I didn’t mean it.

  I felt the tears in the corner of my eyes again as I had to fight them off. “Trevor, I love you. I do, but I don’t want them to wreak havoc on your life or mine.”

  “They’re not evil-minded,” he whispered. In his eyes, he was begging me to understand that. “We’ll talk to them together,” he said.

  I quickly shook my head. “It won’t change anything. Why not just give it up?”

  “Because you are worth more than just to give it all up. I will make this better. I promise you.”

  I grabbed his hand and walked him over to the couch. He followed like a puppy dog and we sat down on the couch. I turned to face him, keeping his hands in mine. “Listen to me,” I said. “When we were in New York, your parents were very adamant that they didn’t like the fact that I was with their son. If they would have been more supportive, then perhaps we wouldn’t have ended like we did.”

  “We ended because of the distance, not because of them,” he argued.

  I sighed and nodded. “Partly, you’re right, but let’s not diminish the fact that things were hard because we didn’t have their support. I love you Trevor and nothing is going to change that, but how can we survive them hating me?”

  He looked sad and I reached up and touched the bottom of his chin to direct his eyes back to me. “I hate this,” he softly stated.

  I nodded. “So do I, but you know I’m right. Answer me something,” I started. “Are you staying in Vegas just because of me?” I asked.

  His eyes narrowed and then he nodded. “I want us to start a life together and getting a house here was the first step. I am happy here because we’re together.”

  “Just because we’re together? Like if we were to break up, would you still stay?” I asked.

  His eyes widened. “Are you breaking up with me?” he asked.

  I hesitated, but I had so much angst going on in my mind. I reached out and caressed his cheek. “I don’t want to. I want us to be together, but I also don’t want you to have to choose between your parents and me. I don’t want you to choose sides.”

  “I would choose you every time,” he said.

  I snickered and looked away from him. As much as it pained me, I knew that, and that’s what made this a harder decision. I looked back at him. “I know you would. You have always been weighing heavily on my heart, and so this isn’t an easy decision. I just need some space to think about it.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” he said.

  I moved in and touched his lips with mine, kissing him softly, and feeling that the love would always be there. When I pulled away, I leaned into him and he wrapped his arm around me. “Just hold me for now,” I said. I closed my eyes and he pulled me closer to him. Just a few hours to be in his arms and then I would take the space I needed to have. I just didn’t want to let him go just yet.

  Chapter 9

  While the decision was hard to make, I woke up a few hours later and I knew what I needed to do. I looked over at him, and he was wide awake and watching me. I sat up,
and he moved his arm, groaning as he tried to get the feeling back.

  “Did you get any sleep?” I asked.

  He shrugged. “Maybe ten minutes, but I’m fine.”

  I was glad it was Saturday and he didn’t need to rush off to work. I turned around to face him and our eyes met. “While you weren’t sleeping, did you do any thinking?” I asked.

  He nodded. “Yeah, I thought about how I don’t want you to give up on us.”

  I shook my head. “Babe, I’m not giving up on us, because I believe that we’re worth it, as much as you do.”

  His eyes lit up and he sat up straighter. “So, you’re going to give up this insanity about worrying about pleasing my parents?” he asked.

  I snickered and shook my head. “Not quite!”

  “I’m going to take a few days, maybe a week, maybe two, and I’m going to think about things. Besides, I think you need that too.”

  “Don’t do this,” he pleaded.

  I moved in closer to him, cupping his chin in my palm. “It’s the right thing to do. It gives your parents some space too.”

  He rolled his eyes. “They’ll go back to New York and everything will be fine with them. This isn’t affecting them…it’s affecting us.”

  “Do you trust me?” I asked softly.

  “Of course I do,” he said.

  “Okay, then give us this time. This isn’t goodbye. If anything, this is going to strengthen our love for one another.”

  He laughed. “How so? We’re going to be apart from each other.”

  “They say that absence makes the heart grow fonder and we’re going to prove that theory. We’ll get through this, but we need to let your parents cool down.”

  “You mean my mother? Because I pretty much have my father convinced that I know what I’m doing.”

  I chuckled lightly. “Okay then…we need to let your mother cool down.”

  “She’s stubborn,” he said.

  I knew that was the truth. “I am too when I need to be. Just know that.”