“Pleasure to meet you,” I murmured and held out my hand to her.
She hesitantly placed her dainty hand in mine and gave it a light shake. The moment our skin touched, I felt a zing of awareness shoot up my arm and a strange pull making me want to take her in my arms and mold our bodies together.
She frowned down at the contact before raising her eyes to mine. They were such a calming blue that I could have stared at them all day every day and never tire of it. “You can call me Rissa. Only Meredith, my aunt, and my mother are allowed to call me by my full name.”
I cocked my head to the side and gave her a bemused look. Clarissa was a beautiful name and fit her perfectly. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t prefer it.
“My full name is Clarissa Darling. Like the nineties show Clarissa Knows Best?” she explained. When it appeared as if I didn’t know what she was talking about, she continued, “Melissa Joan Hart?” I shook my head. “Really?”
“Really,” I assured her.
“Well you look enough like Tanner that no one should notice the difference.” She shook her head and smoothly changed the subject.
Belatedly her hand pulled away from mine, and I felt like chasing after it in order to feel the softness of her skin against mine again. She fit so perfectly with me. It made me wonder if everything about her would fit perfectly with me. Even the naughty parts.
“I think Clarissa is a beautiful name,” I informed her hoping my smile was panty melting not creepy. “Beautiful name for a beautiful girl.”
“Trust me when I say there is nothing beautiful or endearing about being teased and compared to that show.” She turned back to Meredith yet I couldn’t help but notice the way her lips curved at the ends as if she were holding a smile back from me. “We ready to rock or do you need me to do anything?”
“No, we’re good. Why are you so late?” Meredith asked her and a blush moved up Rissa’s neck and face.
“Scott.” One word but based on the look that crossed Meredith’s face it spoke volumes.
“Please don’t tell me you let that fucker charm his way back into your pants,” she said snidely in reaction. Even I was taken aback by her change in tone.
“No.” Rissa looked down and started straightening the already meticulously neat piles of swag, avoiding her cousin’s gaze.
“Clarissa,” Meredith warned.
“He didn’t all right!” Rissa snapped and turned to face off with her cousin. I was starting to feel uneasy about being a witness to this obviously personal conversation even though a small part of me was glad that this Scott person was no longer in Rissa’s pants.
I wondered if he was the putz from the sandwich shop. If he was, I was glad he was no longer warming her bed. She deserved better than him. It was just a bonus that it left room for me to make a move.
Meredith turned towards me. “Scott is Clarissa’s married ex-boyfriend.”
My heart dropped hearing that. Why would such a beautiful girl waste her time on a married piece of shit? She could have any guy she wanted. Hell, I was standing right in front of her and would give my left nut for just a chance to be with her.
“Meredith!” Clarissa cried out in indignation. Her fists clenched at her side and her body vibrated with tension.
“What? Is he not your ex? And is he not married?” She turned back towards me. “Scott had commitment issues in case you couldn’t tell. He wasn’t ready to leave his wife. Go figure.”
“Shut up! He doesn’t need to hear about my love life. Or lack thereof.”
“Fine. Just remember Scott’s a pig and doesn’t deserve any more of your time. If he was going to leave his wife he would have already.”
“I know. All right. Can we talk about something else? Please,” Rissa pleaded. That blush still covered her face, and I ached to take away her embarrassment.
“Yeah. Doors are opening in a minute anyways,” Meredith mumbled under her breath.
Rissa’s shoulders slumped in relief, and I couldn’t help but feel bad for her. No one liked to hear they made a poor judgment call, and it was clearly evident she didn’t want to talk about her idiot ex, especially in front of a stranger.
I still couldn’t figure out why she wasted her time, but it wasn’t my place to judge. Scott better hope I never ran into him or I might have to teach him a lesson or two about toying with a beautiful woman’s emotions.
I didn’t have much more time to dwell on Clarissa and her ex because suddenly the room began to fill with people and we were overwhelmed by a long line of women wanting to get books signed and pictures taken. My head was spinning with how quickly it all happened.
“Ben, come here,” Meredith whisper shouted at me. I ducked down so that she could speak in my ear. “You need to take your shirt off!”
“What?” I asked dumbly. I hadn’t agreed to that. Last night when I was caught up in the excitement of the show was one thing. Today, it just felt wrong.
“Look at Calvin and Jase. They have their shirts off. I need you to follow suit.” She gestured towards where my counterparts were surrounded by a group of women down the way.
“I’m not comfortable with that,” I told her in a firm voice.
“I’m surprised he has an issue with it,” Rissa’s sarcastic murmur came over the din of voices surrounding us. I didn’t get a chance to inquire what exactly she meant by that before Meredith pulled my attention back to her.
“Please, Ben. I need this event to go well.” Her green eyes held a bit of panic beneath the desperation in them.
I mulled it over a second before coming up with a compromise that could work for both of us. I wasn’t about to compromise my dignity. If Tanner wanted to walk around half naked and get pawed at that was his decision. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll take it off if and when a fan asks me to. Until then, this shirt is staying on.” I plucked at the tight blue material of my t-shirt.
“Fine.” She pressed her lips into a thin line and turned her attention back to the few people standing at her table.
After an hour of no requests for me to remove any clothing, I was beginning to think I was in the clear. Let me tell you something... Never start to think that way. That’s when you end up jinxing yourself.
“Hi,” a blonde with huge boobs said as she smacked her gum and twirled her hair.
“Hey,” I responded awkwardly thinking not for the first time that day that I wished it would over with already.
“Think we could get a picture with you holding up your shirt? I love a man with cut abs.” She blew a bubble and giggled when it popped on her face. I had to fight the roll of my eyes and the curse that struggled to break free.
I turned my attention from the blonde to her friend, who was also a blonde but with pink streaks through her tresses. She looked slightly embarrassed for her friend and gave me a tentative smile. “My sister tends to be a bit pushy. Tell her no if you want.”
“Faith,” the first girl pouted.
“Suzie,” the second girl said with a bit of an edge to her voice.
“No that’s fine,” I told them in an effort to move this along.
Faith stepped into my left side staying a respectable distance and not invading my personal space. Hoping to fend Suzie off a bit, I used my right hand to lift the bottom of my shirt, knowing my cocked arm would put some distance between us. Unfortunately, it didn’t work because she took the opportunity to rub her hand over my exposed abs while the other one dipped into the back pocket of my jeans and squeezed my ass. It felt like an eternity for the person wielding their camera to snap the shot.
“Okay that’s enough.” Just as Suzie’s hand started to wander to just below my belt buckle, Rissa stormed over to us and pulled a suction cupped Suzie from my side. Suzie sputtered in outrage as she and Rissa went toe to toe in front of me.
“What the hell do you think this is?” Rissa demanded to know.
“Chill. Ben and I were just getting to know each other better.” Suzie smirked cattily
at her opponent.
“This is a book signing and you’re causing a scene. Either leave or I’ll get security to escort you out.”
“It’s all right, Rissa,” Meredith broke in leaving a few fans standing at her table with jaws slack and mouths gaping. She pushed Rissa behind her back and faced off with Suzie. “Feeling up the models isn’t exactly kosher behavior at a signing. Ever hear of look but don’t touch? Do yourself a favor and leave while you still have some dignity left.”
“I’m really sorry,” Faith apologized. “We’re leaving.” She grabbed her sister’s hand and dragged her away from the growing crowd.
“Where were we?” Meredith breathed as she straightened her shoulders and started back towards the table.
“Not such a good idea to take off my clothes I guess,” I mumbled under my breath. Or so I thought it was until Meredith stopped and elbowed me in the gut. Hard.
“We’ll discuss this later,” she promised and settled in her chair, turning to someone with a book for her to sign—all smiles like nothing had even happened.
Rissa was a little slower to resume her position at the table. She looked like she was silently fuming still. A small part of me—the part that was a glutton for punishment—thought maybe just maybe it was because she was jealous. Why else would she react like a jealous girlfriend watching her boyfriend getting pawed at?
Thankfully the rest of the event passed by in a blur. There were no other incidents and most of the women were respectful and didn’t think my body was free fodder for them. Sure there were plenty of dirty comments and requests for rides later that night, but all-in-all it was bearable and dare I say pleasurable.
The only real awkward moments came from women calling me Rex after Meredith’s character and telling me how much they loved my rope work in her book Cowboy Showdown. It was awkward to say the least since the character was not only fictional but I wasn’t even the one who posed for the cover. I did, however, make a mental note to pick up a copy and find out just how extensive Rex’s knowledge of ropes was. Strictly for character research of course.
Taking my cue from Meredith and Rissa, I started to help box up the remaining items from the table and took the banner down.
I was surprised how wiped I was after the long day. Then again, I had drunk like a fish the night before so I shouldn’t be that surprised.
A groan threatened to leave my throat at the thought that I still had to deal with the after party. Meredith had assured me it wasn’t going to be anything like last night’s festivities, but I was still wary about attending.
“So,” I smoothly inserted into the silence as Rissa shoved books into a box.
She glanced up from her task and gave me a small smile. I smiled back and watched with some amusement when her eyes locked on my lips, and she bit her bottom one before giving a small shake of her head and turning back to her task.
“Crazy day, huh? Would you like to grab a...?” I put my hands in my back pockets and rocked back on my heels, encountering a piece of paper in the left pocket that wasn’t there before. “Hmm, what’s this?”
Rissa watched as I unfolded the paper. Written in bright pink ink was Suzie’s name and phone number with a heart next to it.
“Disgusting,” she mumbled with a repulsed look on her face and then proceeded to gather up her stuff in a huff.
“What is?”
“You... that!” she spat.
I shook my head not following her logic. “How can you say that? You don’t even know me.” Something I was hoping to rectify and soon.
She slammed her purse down on the table and spun around to face me. “I know all about men like you.”
“Men like me?” I even pointed to myself just to be sure.
“Yes. You’re a... a womanizer!” She drilled her finger into my chest to punctuate her words.
I laughed at that because really that was the farthest thing from my character—last night’s drunken antics notwithstanding. If anything, it described my brother.
“It’s not funny. I’m so sick and tired of good looking men who think they can get what they want when they want. That girl stuffed her number in your pocket. Is it the first one?”
I just shook my head in answer.
“Exactly and it won’t be the last one. And how long before you call one of them to see to your... your needs? Oh God, you probably already have a harem of women lined up to service you later.”
Wow she was really getting herself worked up over this. If I didn’t think she meant it, I would find it rather comical. Problem was, if she thought I was a womanizer then there was no way in hell I could get her to go out on a date with me.
“I hate to break it to you but I’m not that guy. Never have been and never will be.”
“Right,” she bit off sarcastically.
“I am right. Contrary to what you think, when I care about someone, I don’t even look at other women. I’m not all about notches on my bedpost. I’m about unconditional devotion.” I tried to dispel her notion. The disbelieving look on her face told me it wasn’t working.
“Don’t front. I know just what you are.” Her finger was pointed at me, forcefully punctuating each word.
I bit back the bark of laughter that almost burst from my lips. Did she just do what I think she did? My eyes danced with mirth when I asked her, “Did you just quote Britney Spears?”
She stuck her tongue out at me and crossed her arms underneath her pert breasts. God, what I wanted to do to those breasts. And what I wouldn’t mind her doing with that tongue. I considered telling her in hopes she’d give me what I wanted but didn’t want to give her any reason to believe I was lying about not being a cad.
My voice dipped low and I took a step closer, watching as her eyes widened and her pupils began to dilate. I was starting to think I had her right where I wanted her. “I’d much rather have you go with something like “Gimme More” if you’re going to quote her.”
Instead of playing into my hand, she socked me in the gut, none to gently. “You are such a jerk. You say you aren’t a player yet you’re standing here making these lame jokes and giving me those bedroom eyes. I saw you last night with those two sluts. I don’t do threesomes, nor am I looking to be your next conquest.”
My stomach dropped. Shit, this was just going to keep coming back to haunt me. I could feel it. I scrubbed my hands down my face in frustration. One drunken decision—or lack thereof—and my dream girl thought I was a pig.
“I didn’t see you at the party,” I lamely admitted instead of denying the predicament she most likely caught me in.
“You were too busy with two women’s tongues down your throat. Look, you seem like a nice enough guy and Meredith seems to like you. I’m just not looking for fun of any kind especially with a man-whore. You heard about Scott earlier, which is enough reason for me to stay away from anyone with your obvious reputation.”
“But…” I began to object only to get cut off.
“No buts. You seem cool, but I won’t do it, Ben. So what do you say? Friends?” She stuck her hand out, all business-like, leaving me no choice but to accept the terms she had just set.
“Friends,” I agreed all the while knowing damn well I was going to somehow find my way in with her.
FIVE
Meredith wasn’t lying when she said the after party was going to be lower key than the welcoming soiree, which made me extremely grateful. While I had a blast the night before, at that moment I needed something mellow and laid back, not another blowout.
The ballroom in the hotel had a handful of round tables set up on one side while people mingled on the other side around a bar—a bar I planned on staying far away from. Light music pumped through the speakers throughout the room, masking the murmurs of conversation all around. I assumed the laid back vibe of the place was a better way for readers to get a chance to know their favorite authors.
Spotting Rissa talking to an older woman on the opposite side of the room, I took a de
ep breath and headed in that direction. No time like the present to begin inserting myself into her life. In the two hours since the signing ended, I decided my plan was to let her think we were just friends until she had no choice but to realize we were more.
“Yo, Harris,” Jase greeted me as I passed him talking with Calvin.
“Hey.” I stopped to see what they were up to while still keeping Rissa in my sights.
“How was your first signing? Crazy right?” His cheeky grin told me he knew exactly what I had been in for and was loving every second of my discomfort.
“Something like that.” I rubbed the back of my neck and gave him a wry grin of my own. “It was more than I had imagined.”
“Saw you with Becky and Sharon last night, man. Nice,” Calvin chimed in with a fist bump aimed in my direction. Not wanting to offend him, I returned the gesture even though I was less than thrilled to celebrate my time with the two brunette beauties.
“How do you guys know them?” Dumb question probably. I wasn’t sure I even wanted details.
Both Jase and Calvin threw their heads back and laughed at my question. Something told me by their reaction I had dodged a bullet by leaving the women to satisfy themselves last night.
“How don’t we know them is the better question. Those girls get around. Come to most of the bigger signings. They’re like groupies.” Jase tipped back his beer as I took in the fact that I definitely saved my dick from rotting off last night.
I shuddered thinking about how close I was to throwing caution to the wind.
“Looks like they’re setting up your throne.” Jase gestured towards where a gold throne with red cushions was being constructed on a makeshift dais.
I let out an exaggerated groan and decided I was most definitely going to need at least a beer or two to make it through tonight. I did not want to sit up there in front of everyone while they all stared at me. It was a lot different than a four minute song on stage that was for sure.
“Come on. It’s no big deal. Sit up there for a few pictures. Let some girls give you a few drinks. Before you know it the night will be over,” Calvin told me.
Man Candy Page 5
