Tangled Beauty

by K. L. Middleton

  “Aren’t you?’

  “If it gets me what I want,” I teased. “Otherwise I’m a real prick.”

  She smiled. “Oh, really?’

  “Why do you think I’m being so nice to you? Obviously, I wanted something.”

  She stopped cutting and took a step back. “I…um…”

  I chuckled, enjoying the way I kept making her cheeks turn pink. “A haircut.”

  She smirked. “Well, I guess being nice does pay off.”

  “So, what are your plans until the party?” I asked as she concentrated intently on the front of my hair.

  “We’re doing a little shopping and then I’m not really sure,” she said.

  My cell phone started chirping and she stopped cutting.

  “Don’t worry about it,” I said. “It can wait.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “So, tell me a little about yourself,” I said, as she resumed cutting. “Where are you from?”

  “Well, I grew up in Stanton, that’s where my parents still live.”

  “Are your parents normal or fucked up like mine?”

  She laughed. “Fucked up?”

  “I guess Jesse didn’t tell you?”

  “Well, he mentioned they were difficult.”

  “That’s an understatement.”

  “Well, they’ve been pleasant to me, so far.”

  “Good. Just be careful around Jack.”

  “Why?”

  “Let’s just say, he doesn’t always remember he’s married.”

  “Oh. That’s not cool.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “Poor Mimi.”

  I stared out towards the ocean, thinking about how many times I’d wanted to pound the shit out of Jack. Once, when I was in my early twenties, I almost did. Unfortunately, Mimi had treated me like the asshole that night. She had stepped between us and had actually told me to mind my own business. “She’s known for years but…”

  “Lives with it.”

  “Unfortunately.”

  She was silent for a while and then said, “I had a ‘Jack’ in my life once. One time was more than enough for me.”

  “He cheated on you?”

  She looked me in the eyes. “Yeah, and it hurts like bloody hell. That’s why I’m not going to give my heart away again, not that easily.”

  The message was clear and I started feeling like an asshole. Although my current situation was complicated, I was still engaged and had no right to flirt with her. Not until I got my shit together and figured out what I really wanted. But, it wasn’t easy, every time I looked into those pools of green, I was captivated.

  “I don’t blame you. Giving yourself to someone should never be done, lightly,” I said.

  So, what in the hell was I doing with Sela?

  “I’m not in a hurry, anyway.”

  “So, I take it Jesse isn’t the one?”

  She gave me a lopsided grin. “Like I said, we’re just having fun.”

  “How old are you?” I asked.

  “Twenty-four.”

  “Well, there you go, you have plenty of time.”

  “That’s what I keep telling myself.”

  My phone started chirping, again.

  “You should probably answer that,” she said, bending down to clean up some of the hair on the ground. “I’m finished, anyway.”

  I ran a hand across my head. “Okay, thanks.”

  She smiled up at me. “Don’t thank me until you’ve looked in the mirror.”

  “I’m sure it looks great,” I said standing up. I walked into the bedroom and looked at my reflection in the dresser mirror.

  “What do you think?” she asked, coming up behind me.

  I ran my hands through it and nodded. “It looks awesome. Just like I knew it would.”

  “Good,” she beamed.

  I turned to her. “So, what do I owe you?”

  She looked up at me and shook her head. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”

  I stared down into her sparkling green eyes and swallowed hard. Why was she having such an effect on me? I was used to women flirting, even throwing themselves at me, and had no problem resisting.

  But this girl?

  Fuck, I wanted to pull her into my arms, taste those beautiful lips. But I knew it was wrong and she’d be completely horrified.

  Sighing, I said. “How about I offer you my services?”

  Her eyes widened. “Your services?”

  “You ever need any legal advice,” I said, pulling out my wallet. “Call me. Here’s my card.”

  She nodded. “Okay, thanks. Although, no offense, I hope I never have to use this.”

  I chuckled and slipped my Tee-shirt back over my head. “None taken. Maybe we could just have lunch, sometime?”

  Sinclair smiled. “If I ever make it out to New York, I’ll look you up.”

  “Good.”

  My phone chirped again and I pulled it out of my pocket.

  Sela.

  “Well, thanks again for the cut,” I said, walking towards the door. Sela was going to be pissed that I hadn’t answered her calls, although, she hadn’t left me a message either. It couldn’t have been that important.

  “No problem. I suppose I should go find Jesse,” she said, behind me.

  I turned to look at her one last time and my eyes were instantly rewarded. The ceiling fan was obviously having an effect on Sinclair’s nipples, because they were poking through the front of her tank-top, which was still slightly damp. I wondered what shade of pink they were and the head of my cock began pulsating in my jeans.

  Jesus.

  “See you later,” I said, in a husky voice.

  She reached up and lightly brushed a piece of hair from my cheek. “There, that’s better,” she murmured.

  There it was again, that look in her sexy green eyes. Like she was dying of thirst and I was the last bottle of Fiji on the face of the earth. Or maybe I was the one dying and she was the last bottle of ice-cold beer.

  She licked her lips and before I could stop myself, I decided to live.

  Chapter Eleven

  Sinclair

  When his lips captured mine, I moaned and slid my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. His mouth was hot and demanding and when our tongues met, my legs turned to jelly.

  His hands went around my waist and then down to my ass, pulling me against his pelvis. When I felt Reed’s excitement poking me through his jeans, I had an incredible urge to tear them off and climb aboard, I wanted him so bad. Instead, I reached one of my hands down and rubbed the outside of his zipper, relishing in the hard maleness of him straining to get out.

  He groaned against my mouth and slid his fingers around the curve of my ass, then down the crevice until he was lightly touching the junction between my legs through my shorts. I almost came right then and there as I gasped in pleasure.

  Holy hell, did I want this guy.

  As his other hand reached up and touched my breast, I pushed him away.

  “Reed,” I said, breathless. “You’re engaged!”

  He stepped back and ran a hand over his face. “I know, fuck…I’m sorry.”

  “You’d better leave,” I said, adjusting my shorts.

  He nodded. “I’m sorry. I…”

  “Let’s just forget this happened,” I said, forcing a smile.

  He stared at me, like he had more to say but just couldn’t find the words. If he didn’t leave now, however, I knew that neither of us would be talking.

  I lowered my eyes. “Reed, just please…leave.”

  “Okay,” he replied, turning away.

  I closed the door behind him and leaned against it, wondering what the hell had just happened. Obviously, it was wrong but that didn’t stop me from wanting more of it.

  You’re not messing up someone’s relationship, I told myself. Who cares if his fiancé is a royal bitch- nobody deserves to get cheated on.

  Sighing, I changed my clothes and went to go find Jesse.
r />   ***

  Reed

  After that scene with Sinclair, I knew there was no way that I was ready for marriage. I decided that after the anniversary party, I would lock up all my breakables and talk to Sela. For now, however, I decided it would be best to stay away from Sinclair and be a little more attentive towards Sela.

  I owed her that.

  With a sense of relief, I went in search of Sela and found her in a miniscule, pink bikini, lounging next to the outdoor pool.

  “Where have you been?” she asked, frigidly.

  “Can’t you tell?” I asked, spreading my arms apart and turning around.

  She wrinkled her nose. “Is that her idea of a haircut?”

  “What’s wrong with it?” I asked, knowing perfectly well that the only thing wrong was the fact that Sinclair had given it to me.

  “It’s fine,” she said. “If you like it, that’s all that matters.”

  I frowned. “It’s a good, solid trim and it looks the same as it usually does when I have it done. In fact,” I said, running a hand through my hair. “I think she did a better job than my last stylist.”

  She stretched her arms, pushing out her breasts. “It’s fine,” she said. “I’ll still let you in my bed.”

  I grinned. “You will, huh?”

  “Oh, look,” she said, looking beyond me. “Jack’s coming to join us.”

  I turned to see him closing the patio door, wearing a white robe and holding, what appeared to be, a large Bloody Mary.

  “Hey kids,” he said, smiling, brightly as he moved towards us..

  “Jack,” I said.

  “Good morning,” said Sela. “Oh, that looks so refreshing,” she said, motioning towards his cocktail.

  He stopped and stared down at Sela. “You want it? I can have Gretchen whip up another one. I told her to keep them coming, anyway.”

  Sela removed her sunglasses and batted her lashes. “Oh, I couldn’t take yours.”

  “Of course you could, my dear,” he said, handing it to her. “I insist.”

  “Oh, thank you Mr. Eddington,” she gushed, acting like a flirty, little school girl.

  Jack smiled. “You’re practically my daughter, now,” he said. “Our house is your house.”

  “Oh, thanks ‘daddy’,” she giggled.

  “See, I like the sound of that, already,” he said, running a finger over his mustache.

  “So,” I interrupted, feeling a little pissed off at the way the asshole was gawking at Sela’s body. “Get a good night’s sleep Jack?”

  He removed his robe, revealing skinny limbs and a fleshy belly. “Marvelous,” he said, rubbing his hands together. “In fact, I’m so refreshed that I’ve decided to do some laps in the pool, this morning, before they start preparing the house for tonight’s party.”

  “Good idea,” I said.

  He swung his arms around, stretching them out, and then dove into the deep end of the water.

  I turned to Sela. “So, I’ll be back in a couple of hours,” I said. “I have some errands to run. Unless, you’d like to tag along?”

  She took a sip of her drink and then set it down next to her. “No, I think I’ll just hang out at the pool for a few hours,” she said, pulling at her bikini bottoms. “Work on this tan.”

  “Okay, call me if you need anything,” I said, bending down and kissing her on the cheek.

  “Okay,” she said, grabbing her tanning oil, “could you do me a favor and put some of this on my back, first?”

  “Sure.”

  She turned over onto her stomach and untied her bikini top.

  I poured some oil into my palms and proceeded to rub it over her shoulders and down her back. As she sighed in approval, I thought of Sinclair, wishing it was her skin that I was running my hands over.

  “If you’d like to continue this inside,” purred Sela. “I’ll let you oil my front, too.”

  I stood up and chuckled. “Wish I could, but I need to pickup Jack and Mimi’s gift.”

  “Okay. Maybe later?”

  “If there’s time,” I said, looking at my watch.

  “If there’s time?” she repeated, raising her eyebrows.

  “Don’t worry,” I said, sensing a tantrum brewing. “I’m sure there will be.”

  “Hurry back, then,” she said, grabbing her iPod.

  I glanced towards Jack who was still engrossed in his laps, then walked back towards the house, wondering which was more unsettling- leaving Sela alone with Jack or my new obsession with Sinclair.

  Chapter Twelve

  Sinclair

  “That’s the one,” nodded Jesse, a look of approval on his face. “That dress is sinful, it’s over the top, it fucking rocks. In fact, I think it could end some perfectly stable marriages.”

  I turned towards him and pulled at the front. “You don’t think it’s too revealing?”

  He glanced at my very exposed cleavage. “Oh, no… you’ll be over-dressed to some people’s standards at tonight’s soiree. Remember, there will be musicians, actors, and more skanky, anorexic models.”

  I stared at myself in the mirror at this swanky, upscale, dress store called Dolce’s. The average outfit cost well over one thousand dollars and the red, chiffon gown I currently had on, was triple that price. I had to admit, however, I liked how it hugged my body and the way my leg peaked out from the slit on the side.

  “You sure you want to pay this much?” I asked, looking at the tag again.

  He stood up and put his arm around me. “Yes, sweetie,” he whispered in my ear. “I only ask that you let me borrow it from you, someday.”

  My eyebrows shot up.

  He put his hands on his hips. “Don’t look at me like that, Sin. You know I’d rock that dress.”

  “I’m sure but…I never knew you…”

  He smiled, wickedly. “Oh there are many things you don’t know, sweetheart.”

  I giggled. “Oh, you are wild and dirty, aren’t you?”

  He let out a playful growl. “You have no freakin’ idea.”

  ***

  We purchased the dress along with a pair of sexy black heels and then went out for lunch at a cozy restaurant along Huntington Beach.

  “So, what do you think of my family, so far?” asked Jesse after finishing a peanut-butter-and-banana-Panini sandwich.

  “Well, your mom is definitely old fashioned and set in her ways,” I said. “Which I can see why you wouldn’t want to tell her you’re gay.”

  He laughed. “Could you imagine? She’d lock herself in her room with a bottle of valium and never come out.”

  I chuckled. “Definitely. But, what about your dad? I mean, he must work with a lot of gay people. I’m sure he’d be much more understanding.”

  Jesse sighed. “You’d think, huh? The fact is that I’ve heard him bash gays, minorities, and women with small breasts. He’s a total dickhead and frankly, I’m ashamed he’s blood-related.”

  “That’s too bad,” I said.

  “Not only that, he’s cheated on my mother more times than I can count. She’s a prude and annoying as hell most of the time, but she doesn’t deserve to get shit on by him.”

  “I heard about that,” I said, taking a last bite of my salad. “It’s a shame.”

  “Reed, told you?”

  I nodded and took a sip of my Chardonnay. “It’s too bad. Why doesn’t she just leave him?”

  “That is the question, isn’t it?” interrupted a deep voice behind me.

  “What- did Sela let you out of your cage?” laughed Jesse.

  He smirked. “No, she forgot to lock it.”

  “Sit down,” said Jesse. “Join us.”

  Reed sat down next to me. When his leg brushed mine, my skin felt like it was on fire.

  “Thanks, I saw your car outside as I was driving back to the house,” he said. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything?”

  “No, not at all,” said Jesse, pulling out his phone, which was ringing. He looked at it and then at me.
“It’s Alex. Please, excuse me for a minute. I’m going to take this outside.”

  “Sure,” I said.

  The waitress showed up just as Jesse walked away. Reed ordered a beer and a bacon cheeseburger with fries and then moved across from me.

  “What, do I smell funny?” I joked.

  He grinned. “Not at all. I just don’t trust myself sitting close to you.”

  I blushed and took another sip of wine.

  “Hey,” he said, reaching out to touch my hand. “I’m sorry about this morning. I mean, I am and I’m not.”

  I pulled my hand away from his. “You should be. What about Sela?”

  He sat back and rubbed his chin. “You’re right, it was shitty.”

  “Yes. Well, I’m really sorry too,” I said, looking out the window. “I should have pushed you away, sooner.”

  “I’m hard to resist,” he chuckled.

  I shook my head and laughed. “Right…”

  “Seriously, though,” he said, “lets’ just pretend that it never happened.”

  I nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

  “Sinclair, I just want you to know something, though,” he said, looking into my eyes. “I’m not normally that guy.”

  “That guy?”

  “The kind who fucks around. What happened back in your room, it wasn’t right and it probably shouldn’t have happened but…”

  I blinked, waiting for him to continue. “What?”

  With a seductive curve of his lips he said, “It was pretty fucking amazing.”

  Hell yeah, and thinking about it made me squirmy. The way he was undressing me with his eyes didn’t help matters, either.

  “It was,” I whispered.

  We stared at each other in silence and then the waitress brought him his beer.

  “So, excited about the party tonight?” I asked, trying to change the subject.

  He smiled humorlessly. “Not really. I hate hobnobbing with the rich and famous. Most of them are so shallow and plastic.”

  Which sounded like his fiancé,

  “Not your thing, huh?” I asked.

  “Don’t get me wrong, it’s interesting to sit along the sidelines and watch the game when you’re not a player.”