“Why the hell was she tormenting us with lawsuits and that crazy blog? Did she tell you?”
“She said she was just bored. My guess is she’s lonely and bitter, too.”
“Excuse me for not throwing her a pity party,” Blake said. “How long have you had this kind of leverage over her?”
“I’d been keeping tabs on her since she started working for me all those years ago.” Jay leaned back in his chair, a heaviness settling over his chest.
“That was your first mistake: hiring her to begin with.”
“She has a brilliant mind.”
Blake scoffed. “Yeah, too bad she’s chosen to use it for evil.”
Jay unlocked his desk drawer and pulled out an old photo of the three roommates taken at a Cubs game back when they were in college. “Aren’t you curious about how she looks? Whether or not she’s okay?”
His friend was silent for a few beats on the other end of the line before finally answering. “Honestly, no. Like you said, she has a brilliant mind. She could have chosen a different life.”
“She was something to us both at one time,” Jay said as he fingered the picture. “Hell, you were gonna marry her.”
“Dammit, Mac! Yes, I loved her. Past tense.” Blake sighed. “She was using me—us—to support her addiction to gambling. I’m not going to pine over a woman like that. It’s been thirteen years. I’ve moved on. Stop letting her tug at that soft spot you try to hide behind your heartless business demeanor. She’ll just use and abuse whatever kindness you offer her. Hell, I don’t know why you haven’t already turned her over to the Feds.”
Jay tossed the picture back into the desk drawer. “Too late for that. She was packed up and out of the hotel in less than thirty minutes. According to my sources, she was on her way to Hong Kong this afternoon.”
“Once again, she’s dodged a bullet, thanks in part to you tracking her down. If she has any sense at all, she’ll lay low, enjoy her ill-gained spoils, and leave us the hell alone.”
“Wherever she lands, I just hope she can straighten her life out.” Jay didn’t bother mentioning his reservations that Delaney would leave the two of them alone.
Blake swore. “There you go caring about her again. She’s not worth your time. Delaney is no better than the crazy chick who sent you a Dear John letter from Italy. You wouldn’t give her a second chance, would you?”
Jay’s chest grew heavier.
“You loved her,” Blake continued. “But she was using you just like Delaney was using me. No way you’d keep forgiving that girl like you seem to be doing with Delaney. Get a grip, Mac. Remember who the enemy is here. Neither of those two women deserves even a piece of your heart.”
A sweat broke out on Jay’s forehead at his friend’s words. He wasn’t sure he liked Bridgett being compared to Delaney and that thought bothered him. “She’ll never love you.” Delaney’s words echoed in his head. He tried to tell himself that it didn’t matter—except Jay was starting to wonder if he could separate his heart from his crotch that easily. Jay still physically desired Bridgett. Big-time. The only thing that kept him from returning to the vineyard earlier that afternoon was Delaney’s nagging comments. But her words shouldn’t bother him at all, because he didn’t want Bridgett’s love.
Damn it! A painful pinching began at the base of his neck and Jay reached around to rub it away. They were good together. As long as he kept things purely physical and ignored the part about her betrayal. So why was he suddenly having so much trouble with that last part? Jay released an explosive litany of obscenities.
“Yeah,” Blake said. “That’s exactly how I feel about the opposite sex right now, Mac. We need to go hang gliding over a volcano or maybe wingsuit flying. I guarantee the high you get from either is better than sex.”
Jay seriously doubted Blake’s claim, but he didn’t feel like debating his friend right now. Not when thoughts of Bridgett did strange things to his body—and not just the area around his zipper. “I’ll have to take your word for that one, Blake. Neither one of those activities is high on my to-do list right now. I’ve got to host a party for a bunch of sponsors tomorrow evening and then we’re dodging women with placards at a game on Sunday.”
“You get a rain check this weekend, Mac, but only because you outsmarted Delaney at her own game. I promised my sister I’d come out to Baltimore to see the baby soon. Let’s make plans to grab a beer and some crabs when I’m there.”
“Sure,” Jay said. He looked forward to seeing his friend again, but he worried about keeping the truth about Bridgett from him. Blake would think he was a chump for hooking up with her again, and that bothered Jay almost as much as Delaney’s words.
It was after nine o’clock by the time he arrived back at the vineyard. Linc and Charlie were playing cards in the great room, but there was no sign of Bridgett or his mother.
“Hey, boss,” Linc said. He stood up halfway but Jay waved him back down to his chair. The two had been laughing loudly when Jay walked in and the sound of Charlie’s enjoyment of anything was music to his ears.
“Everything okay?” Linc looked at him expectantly.
“It is now.” Jay walked over and kissed his sister on the top of her head. “How was your day? I’m glad to see that my house is standing after a day of you and Mom under the same roof.”
Charlie snorted. “Mom can’t get to me. But she did make Bridgett cry.”
Jay halted on his way to the liquor cabinet at the other end of the room. “What?”
Charlie shrugged as she laid a card down on the table in front of her. “The last time I saw her, Bridgett was hiking the stairs two at a time with tears streaming down her face. She hasn’t left her room since.” His sister glanced over at him, a mulish look on her face. “Just so you know, whatever it is, I’m siding with Bridgett on this one. I like her. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you. No matter what our dear mother might think.”
Gray spots were floating in front of Jay’s eyes. “Where is she?”
“I told you, she’s in her room,” Charlie said.
“Not Bridgett. Mom.”
“She was using her computer in your office earlier,” Linc offered when Charlie shrugged again.
Jay was stalking toward his office before Linc finished his sentence. His mother didn’t bother looking up from her laptop when he entered.
“I thought I told you that my relationship with Bridgett was none of your business,” he said without any preamble.
She tapped out a few more keystrokes before glancing over her readers at him. “Is that what you two have? A relationship?”
“Damn it, Mom. Whatever we have doesn’t affect you.”
He watched as she swallowed harshly before powering off her computer and quietly closing it. With a sigh, she pushed her glasses on top of her head and stood. “You’re wrong, Jay. Everything you do affects me. Everything your sister does affects me. I’ll be the first to admit I stand at the total other end of the spectrum of helicopter parents; that I’ve fallen short in many areas of parenting. But not in my love for you both. Never in my desire to see you both happy. Settling for a woman who you can never trust with your love won’t make you happy.” She swallowed harshly again. “Trust me on this one. But in my case, I did it for you. And I got Charlie out of the deal. Not that she’ll ever appreciate me, but that’s okay. I’d fight just as hard for her happiness, too.”
Jay couldn’t get any words to form in his throat. He knew his mother’s marriage to Lloyd hadn’t been a fairy tale. She’d immersed herself in her work, though, making her appear happy enough. But he was no longer looking at that time period through the lens of a young boy. His mother’s comments made him as conflicted as both Delaney’s and Blake’s had earlier.
She stopped beside him, gently reaching up and brushing back his hair off his forehead. “One day, God willing, you’l
l be a parent. And you’ll know this feeling that I have for both you and your sister. You’ll want to battle your children’s demons, right their wrongs, and fight tooth and nail for their happiness. I want you to have happiness in your life. Happiness like your father and I had. And I won’t give up fighting for it. Neither should you.” She kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll see you at lunch tomorrow for our family talk.”
He stood there mute as his mother quietly walked out of his office. Eventually Jay made his way around to his desk chair, where he sunk down and dropped his head into his hands. He still wanted Bridgett, damn it. His physical need for her was powerful. But the rusty organ deep within his chest kept clenching at the thought of possessing her body only. Fool that he was, apparently he wanted more from the last woman he should trust.
Linc wandered in as Jay was unlocking the safe. “We have an added guest for the sponsorship party tomorrow night,” he announced.
“If it’s the father of Charlie’s baby, go ahead and shoot me now.”
“No, but that actually might be the lesser of two evils,” his assistant said sheepishly. “I just got a text from NFL headquarters. The commissioner wants the details so that he can stop by and have a few words with you.”
Jay swore silently. The man likely wanted to appear proactive in front of some of the league’s bigger advertisers with a public dressing-down of Jay over the Blaze’s current legal situation. Women’s rights groups had been hounding the NFL to make someone the scapegoat in all their cheerleader class action cases by sanctioning a team owner. Apparently, that owner was to be Jay.
With luck, Delaney would heed his warning and all the nonsense surrounding the class action suit would die down. Unfortunately, not soon enough to avoid a visit from the commissioner tomorrow evening, which meant he’d have to suck it up and endure whatever posturing the guy wanted to do before the assembled sponsors. Jay sighed as he transferred the contents of his briefcase into the safe. “When he’s here, have him sample the new pinot and arrange to send a case to his wife. She loves the stuff.” Hopefully the gesture would take some of the steam out of the blowhard.
Linc chuckled. “Sure thing, boss. The team arrived at the hotel about an hour ago. Mr. Osbourne says everyone is settling in. There were a few women protesting in the lobby, but they left peacefully with a few autographed balls. Mr. Osbourne said the team is scheduled to practice at the junior college twice tomorrow if you want to stop by.”
The eager smile Linc shot him told Jay his assistant wanted to “stop by” the Blaze practice. The kid likely deserved it after having to spend the day in the House of Estrogen. An afternoon spent on the sidelines would be a welcome diversion for Jay, as well, given the week he’d been having.
“Change my lunch with my mother and sister to a late brunch and we’ll go to the afternoon practice,” he said.
“Got it. Is there anything else you need before I turn in?”
Jay shook his head, his eyes suddenly focusing on a yellowed envelope at the back of the safe. He waited until he heard Linc’s retreating footsteps before he pulled the letter out of the safe. Sliding back into his desk chair, he flipped the envelope between his fingers, wondering why he hadn’t burned the damn thing years ago. He’d kept it as a reminder to be careful who he trusted with his heart, but every time he read the letter he was only reminded that his heart no longer existed. Bridgett’s words had seen to that.
I always thought that being in love with someone would mean I would do anything for them.
One look at her letter and the feelings that had been rumbling around in his chest all afternoon quieted. He shoved it into the breast pocket of his suit. Emotions had no place in his life anymore. Jay wanted Bridgett, and he made it a point to always get what he wanted. He’d just keep the letter close as a reminder that what they had would only ever be physical.
By the time he got to the door of the guest room his body was primed and ready for further negotiations over their relationship. But when he tried the door handle, it was locked. Jay swore as he shoved his fingers through his hair. He was seriously considering finding Josie and getting the key but he didn’t want Bridgett that way. Jay had promised to treat her with respect at all times in their relationship and he’d honor his word now. Even if it meant he’d be spending the next half hour in a cold shower.
Twenty
Bridgett wrapped the towel around her wet hair and stepped out of the bathroom to find Jay reclining on her unmade bed, his back against the headboard and the morning sun shining on his bare feet. He looked delicious in his faded jeans and khaki button-down. His hair was damp as if he, too, had just come from the shower. She pulled the fluffy robe more tightly around her body so Jay wouldn’t detect the slight tremor that came over her at the thought of him naked and wet.
He glanced up from the text he was sending, letting his gaze slowly drift over her body from head to toe. Bridgett couldn’t hide her shiver this time; the hunger in his eyes was so intense. Jay gave her one of his knowing smiles and nodded toward the beautiful teapot she’d coveted the other day. “I brought you some scones to go with your tea.”
She should have known he wouldn’t allow her to stay locked in her room for long. Bridgett had been relieved that he hadn’t barged in last night—he obviously had the means. As much as her body had craved comfort after her altercation with his mother, she realized she was becoming too vulnerable to Jay’s touch—much less everything else about him. It was time to put something more substantial between them than a locked door.
“The women’s rights groups are circling their wagons today,” she said as she poured. “I’m going to meet with Mimi to discuss how to use the media to defuse the protest they’ve got staged for tomorrow’s game. There’s a room at the B and B and I’ve already made arrangements to move there.”
“No.”
Bridgett wasn’t surprised at the vehemence in his voice. “You’re my client, not my keeper, Jay.”
“You promised to stay through the weekend. Not that you’ve ever been very good at keeping your promises.”
The teacup rattled on the plate, she set it down with such force. She hated how he had manipulated their story to make it look like she was at fault for everything. The accusations his mother had thrown at her the day before were untrue and they both knew it. “I never made you any promises, Jay. You might want to remember that when you’re telling your mother about me.”
Jay swore violently as he rose from the mattress and stalked over to where she was standing. “Is that what this is about? My mother? Ignore her. She won’t ever be a part of our relationship.”
“We don’t have a relationship,” she cried out. “Not anymore.”
They stared at each for a moment, Bridgett fighting with her body to keep it from leaning into his, until her cell phone buzzed, shattering the tense silence. She tried to step around him to grab her phone, but he blocked her way.
“Ignore it. It’s just Brody being a pain in the ass. He texted or called five times while you were in the shower.”
Bridgett let out a huff as she shoved at Jay’s chest. “Now you’re reading my personal messages?” She grabbed the phone and, sure enough, it was a text from her brother demanding that she call him back. She fired off a response telling him she’d call him later before tossing the phone onto the bed.
Turning to Jay, she tried for her best courtroom voice. “I consented to remain in Napa this weekend to help with your defense surrounding this lawsuit. As such, I’m going to work with Mimi to mitigate the PR damage from the blogger and the women’s groups. I can do that just as easily from a B and B as I can here.”
Jay’s mouth formed a mulish line. “You ‘consented’ to sleep in my bed.”
Bridgett sucked in a deep breath, trying to muster the strength she needed to walk away from him again. “I can’t keep doing that.”
“Can’t? Or won’t?”
he demanded.
Tears suddenly clogged her throat making it difficult to speak. “Do the semantics really matter? We can’t go back to who we were. Not with everything that’s happened between us.”
“I know.” His arms wrapped around her, pulling her against his hard body. “But we can still have this,” he said before his lips captured hers in a deep, drugging kiss.
Bridgett wasn’t proud that she couldn’t resist this man. She’d contemplate that deep character flaw later. Right now she was exploring the smooth muscles of his back with her fingers as her mouth welcomed the invasion of his tongue. He groaned when her hips pressed restlessly against his tight zipper. Within seconds, his jeans were on the floor along with her robe and his shirt.
His body covered hers on the bed, not wasting any time with preliminaries, which was fine with Bridgett. She wanted him inside her urgently, to the point that she was contradicting her earlier statements by begging him to hurry and take her. Jay complied, burying himself deep inside her with one powerful stroke. Then they were moving as one, just as they always did, their rhythm instinctive and fluid. No words were necessary, just the raw power of their bodies finding release.
Bridgett sighed heavily as she came in a rush, her limbs going weak with contentment. Jay growled something unintelligible as he followed her over the edge, his body sinking into hers on the mattress. Stillness settled over the room, both of them working to get their breathing—and their racing heartbeats—under control. Bridgett tried to commit to memory the feeling of completeness that was pulsing through her. She’d never had the same sensation with any other man and she doubted she ever would. The thought made tears sting the backs of her eyes. But it didn’t dampen her resolve to walk away from him.
Jay touched his forehead to hers. “This works,” he whispered. “This is good. Damn good.”
But not good enough. Bridgett kept her thoughts to herself, though. They wouldn’t help in her argument with him. He’d vowed never to give her anything more than physical pleasure. Her body may be in sated bliss, but she knew now that her heart—and her head—wanted more. “‘This’ doesn’t change things,” she told him. “I’m still going to the B and B.”
Sleeping With the Enemy Page 24
