* * *
Audrey
I sense Blake walk up behind me, even before the guys at my table go wide-eyed. I don’t like this connection we’re developing. Or, rather, I do, and that’s the problem. Some sweet words can’t take away all the pain I’ve felt for the past 20 years.
“Hi guys, do you mind if I join you? I’m Blake, by the way.”
“We know who you are,” Jimmy tells him with a scowl. “And we remember what you did to Audrey.”
“So that’s a ‘no’ then? I guess I’ll just stand.”
He places his hands on my shoulders in a proprietary way, and I have to force myself not to lean back into him. If I thought the guys’ eyes were already wide, it’s nothing compared to now, as he strokes my shoulders like it’s nothing new. Jimmy’s eyes meet mine, and he looks like he’s about to go nuclear on Blake’s ass. Or at least send a nuclear bomb his way.
“Blake, why don’t you go back and sit with your friends?” I ask, trying to avoid a disaster.
“I’d rather sit with yours.”
“You never did anything but laugh at us in high school, and now you want to sit with us? And you’re acting like you’re into Audrey again. This is just too fucked up.”
“I’m truly sorry for how I treated all of you. I was young and stupid. That’s no excuse, but it’s all I’ve got. As for Audrey, I’m not pretending. I want her, and thankfully, she’s agreed to give me a chance to prove that I’ve changed.”
“Seriously, Aud?”
“Yes. We’re together. I believe he’s not the asshole he was in high school. He might be a different kind of asshole now, but I’m willing to give him a chance to prove himself.”
“He destroyed you.”
“Almost. He almost destroyed me. You guys helped me stay together, and I’ll be forever grateful for that. You know how much you mean to me. I need you to trust me on this.”
“We’ve always got you back. You know that. I just don’t want to have to pick up the pieces again.”
“I’m not that girl anymore.”
“Yes you are. You just hide it better.” Jimmy looks up at Blake, “The men you see at this table are some of the most powerful in the world.”
“I’m well aware.”
“Then you should also be aware of the fact that not one of us would hesitate to end you. Maybe we can’t fight you, but we can end your life as you know it.”
“Message received.”
“And not needed. If he messes with me, I’ll take care of him myself,” I tell them.
“Now that we’re all clear on how I’m not going to survive the fallout if I fuck things up with Audrey, can I please sit down?”
“Yes, you can,” I tell him, nodding to a seat across the table.
He doesn’t hesitate to sit down over there, even though it’s next to Jimmy. The next two hours pass rather quickly. Blake engages all of the guys in conversation, really listening when they mention the things in some of his movies that aren’t realistic. He takes out his phone, and makes notes on the suggestions they give him, promising to do his best to try and make things more accurate in his future projects. I know he’s won them over when even Jimmy exchanges numbers with him.
“Thank you,” I tell him when we’re in the car.
“For what?”
“Spending so much time with my friends. It was really great of you to do that.”
“I liked it. I like them.”
And I like him. A lot. Maybe even more than I did all those years ago. He’s really funny, and sincere, and yeah…I’m in way over my head on this mission. And before it’s even really begun.
I know I shouldn’t, but I let him walk me to my door. When he leans down to kiss me, I am very aware that leaning into him is wrong. And when his mouth is still on mine as we enter the apartment, I’m afraid I’ll be second-guessing my choices tomorrow. I don’t stop him, though. Tomorrow hasn’t come yet, and I’m loving every slide of his tongue against mine.
When his mouth moves to my throat, and his hands slide inside the top I’m wearing, I arch into him. It feels so good, too good. I don’t want it to stop, and that’s when I realize that it has to. I have to stop this—him—if I have any chance of surviving him this time around.
“Blake, stop,” I say pushing against his chest.
He immediately moves away from me, his eyes still hot and hungry. “Sorry. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have…God, I’m so sorry.”
“What are you sorry for?” I ask, needing the answer, but dreading it, too. If he says he’s sorry for kissing me, I may just die right here on the spot.
He searches my eyes before answering. “You think I’m sorry that I kissed you. I am, but not because I did it. I’ve wanted to kiss you all night. I’m just sorry I took it further than you were ready for tonight.”
“I liked it too much.” No, I loved it.
“One day, I’ll convince you that liking it isn’t a problem. For tonight, I’ll just ask if I can sit here a moment.”
I reach out, and move his hair back from his forehead. “Of course.” I try to run my fingers through his hair some more, but he grabs my wrist, stopping me.
“Please don’t. I can’t walk right now, and if you keep touching me, I may never be able to again.”
I look down, and see him straining against the front of his pants. I never checked out his package as a teenager. His ass? Oh, hell yeah. But I wouldn’t have known what to do with his cock. Now I would. I do, and I can’t help but lick my lips as I stare.
“Not helping, Audrey.”
“You’ve been staring at my tits all night. I should be allowed a few minutes of staring at what you’re packing.”
“You had your tits on display. You wanted us all to look.”
“True. You’re not exactly hiding what you’ve got right now, either.”
“You did that. You.”
“I know. You just sit here and think about…oh, I don’t know…maybe the shower I’m about to take,” I tell him with a laugh, as I walk towards my bedroom. I strip off my shirt, and smirk at him over my shoulder. “Just let yourself out once you can.”
“You’re going to kill me.”
I don’t answer, because it’s a distinct possibility. If he’s just messing with me again, I probably will kill him. Or at least hurt him a little. I hope he’s not playing me this time, because I really want that cock, and he’s going to have to prove himself a little more before I allow myself to have it.
Chapter 3
Blake
There’s nothing like cock-blocking yourself, and that’s exactly what I did last night. Well, truthfully, it was “teenage me” stopping “adult me” from getting the action, but it’s still my fault. Those few minutes of Heaven I had with Audrey were better than full nights I’ve spent with other women, and we didn’t even fuck. I mean I hand fucked myself once I got back to my place, and honestly, I came harder just thinking about Audrey than I have with the other women I’ve let into my bed for the last year.
Right now, I’ve got to be professional. An employer, and a dad. My daughter trumps my blue balls all day, every day, and she’s the reason Audrey’s pulling up my driveway. I take another drink of the ice water I poured myself when the guard at the gate called up, and will my Johnson to behave. At least while Jeanne’s around.
“Audrey’s here, Dad.”
“I know,” I say, turning to my girl with a smile.
“Well, come on. We have to meet her at the door.”
“Wanda will do that.”
I watch as her face falls, and my stomach drops along with it. “She’s my friend. I wanted to open the door for her.”
I hear the unspoken words, even if she doesn’t say them. She’s never had a friend over. At least not one who came here just for her. Kids whose parents wanted something from me or Misha came to see her, but Audrey is the first one to come here just for Jeanne. Even if it’s a job, she’s not here for anyone but Jeanne.
“Let�
��s try and catch her,” I say.
We make it to the door just as my house manager, Wanda, starts to open it. “No.” Jeanne yells, running forward to push it closed. Right in Audrey’s face.
Jeanne realizes what she just did, and looks stricken. I want to tell her it’s okay, but it’s not. I mean, damn. My kid just slammed the door in Audrey’s face. While I’m still at a loss, the doorbell rings. Jeanne looks at me, and I shrug.
She nods and opens the door. “Hi, Audrey.”
“Hey, Jeanne. Did you finish your book? Powerless, right?”
“Yeah. It was awesome. I can’t believe you remembered.”
“Of course I remembered. We’re friends, right?”
“I’m sorry I closed the door on you,” Jeanne tells her, looking down. My daughter is so painfully shy that she says and does things that make her seem younger than she is. While I don’t want her to grow up too fast, I hope for the day that she can be comfortable in her own skin to act her age.
“It’s okay. I was excited to see you, too.”
“Do you want to see the house?”
“Sure.”
I watch as my shy, sweet daughter takes Audrey’s hand and leads her towards her wing of the house. They’re talking and laughing, and I’m at a loss for words. I’ve never seen Jeanne so relaxed with someone she’s just met.
“I like her,” Wanda tells me.
“Yeah, me too.”
“Does she like you, though?” she asks, because she knows the truth about why Audrey’s here.
“I think so, but she doesn’t want to. I was pretty brutal to her when we were in high school.”
Her eyes narrow. “Misha too?”
“Yeah.”
“Why am I not surprised? The most intelligent thing I’ve ever seen you do is leave that witch.”
“She’s Jeanne’s mother. I wouldn’t have her if it wasn’t for Misha.”
“And she doesn’t want her. Unless it’s to try and win you back. That girl deserves better.”
“You’ll get no argument from me.”
“Then get your behind up those stairs and join the tour. Because ‘better’ is in this house right now.”
She doesn’t need to scold me twice. I’m up the stairs, and searching for them in seconds. This damn house is too big. Misha and my agent said I needed it to maintain my star image. Especially since I insisted on being here in La Jolla instead of L.A. No one needs all of this room, though. It’s pretentious, and unnecessary, and I really need to look at downsizing.
I finally find them in my wing of the house. Audrey is standing inside of my office, looking into my bedroom. I don’t see Jeanne, so I’m guessing she’s already inside. I smirk a little as I walk up behind Audrey. The joke’s on me when she spins suddenly, pinning me with a glare.
“Trying to sneak up on me?”
“I was just going to tell you that there’s no reason for you to be out here,” I say, holding up my hands.
“I’m not going in your bedroom.”
“Well, since you’re sleeping in there, that’s going to make things a little difficult for you.”
“What? I’m not sleeping in there.”
“Other than Wanda, my staff changes. I hire college students, and day labor for most of the upkeep here. I can’t let them all know this is fake.”
“I didn’t agree to sleeping with you.”
“My bed is really big, if you haven’t noticed. We can each take a side.”
“You know what they say about men who need big beds. Overcompensating much?”
“You’re welcome to find out anytime you want.”
“I’m not going to be another notch for you. I’m better than that.”
I back her up until she’s up against the wall, and place my hands on either side of her. “You shouldn’t believe everything you read. Yes, I have an image. One I hate, but part of being famous is playing the game. And that’s just what it is, a game. I haven’t slept with even a third of the women I’ve been photographed with, and I’ve never brought a woman here. Misha was in that room, but never on that bed. Jesse and I burned the damn bed we slept on one night when I got drunk. Then I redecorated. Other than Wanda and Jeanne, no other women have been in there since then.”
“I like her—Jeanne, I mean.”
“What’s not to like? I mean, other than closing the door on you earlier.”
“She can’t help it. Treating me badly is in her genes. She probably had a voodoo doll of me instead of a Barbie when she was younger.”
I can’t help it. I lean in and take her lips. She stays still for a few seconds, and then she grabs my hair, pulling me closer to her. I move my hands to her back, holding her close as we kiss like we’ve been doing it for years, instead of just two days. I already know that she likes when I nibble on her bottom lip, and she knows I like it when she pulls my hair. It’s never been like this with anyone else, Misha included.
“Audrey…oh!”
I immediately step back from Audrey and smile at Jeanne. “Hi, honey.”
“I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You didn’t. Are you ready to show me the rest of the house?” Audrey asks, letting her know she’s more important than me. I really, really want to be important to Audrey, but I also appreciate her putting Jeanne first, and trying to ease her embarrassment at finding us kissing.
“Are you sure? You can hang out with my dad if you want.”
“Your dad’s not going anywhere. I can hang out with him later. Right now, I want to finish my tour with you.”
“Okay. We should go look at the pool, and stuff.”
“Lead the way.”
I watch them walk away, and can’t help but smile. Both at Audrey wanting to spend time with Jeanne, and also because she said we could hang out later. Now I just need to think up something for us to do that will blow her away. The date to end all dates. Time for Google.
* * *
Audrey
“You like my dad, huh?”
“I’m not sure.”
“You were kissing him.”
“I was, but kissing isn’t the same as liking.”
“Did he really stand you up for your prom?”
“I’m not sure we should talk about this.”
“Boys don’t look at me.”
“’Boys’ or a specific boy?”
“One boy,” she says with a sigh. “I asked him to dance with me at our last school dance. He did, but I know he thinks I’m too nerdy for him.”
“Boys can be stupid. Luckily, men are starting to realize that nerdy girls are hot.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You met Ainsley the other day. Her fiancé is Zack Taylor, who’s one of the hottest football players you’ll ever meet. Our friend, Isa, is a certified genius, and she’s with Jake, who every woman in Virginia wants. Then there’s Darcy. She’s a hardcore gamer, and her guy, Brayden, gave up his kingdom to be with her.”
“And then there’s you.”
“No one’s given up a crown for me, but yes, I do get a good amount of attention. The men I date have to be as interested in my brain as my body, or they’re gone really fast.”
“Are all of your friends nerds? Is that a spy requirement?”
“No,” I tell her with a laugh. “I have glamorous friends, and kick-ass friends, too. We’re all different, and that’s what makes us such a great team. We all complement each other’s strengths, and help each other out with our weaknesses.”
“Is my dad one of your weaknesses?”
“I’m afraid that he is.”
“I think he appreciates your brain now.”
I decide that I need to give her at least a little bit of the truth. “I’m not going to give you the details about what your dad—and mom—did to me in high school. I will tell you that he was the first boy I was ever in love with, and he hurt me very badly. I want to trust the man that he is now, but a part of me just can’t.”
“I think I m
ay love Roger. I’ve never said that out loud, but I think you’ll understand.”
My heart cracks just a little for her. “I do understand,” I tell her, putting my arm around her.
“I don’t want to change who I am, but I want him to realize that there’s more to me than my brain.”
“Definitely don’t change, but if you want, I can ask my friend Stella to come out here, and take you shopping. You dress fashionably, but I’m not sure it’s ‘you.’ Stella will know exactly what clothes will make you more comfortable.”
“She’d do that?”
“Sure. I’ll call her now.”
“Thank you.”
Stella readily agrees to fly out right away. She loves having a new person to dress, and with her boyfriend Kace on tour with his band Storyside, she also needs a distraction. We all told her to go with him, that we’d take on extra missions for her, and her assistant Kevin could handle buying us new clothes if we needed them, but she didn’t want to shirk her duties. Helping Jeanne will give her something to focus on that’s not a certain hot young singer who would fly home in a second if she said she needed him.
I’d be lying if I said that I don’t want someone like that. A guy who puts me above everything else in his life. I’ve kissed a bunch of frogs, and I’m not really looking for a prince. Just a nice, normal guy who will respect me, and fuck me senseless. Is that really too much to ask for?
“Is the tour finished?” Blake asks, sitting down at the patio table with us.
“Yeah. We’re going shopping once Audrey’s friend, Stella, gets here.”
“You hate to shop.”
“I know, but Audrey says Stella can find me some cool clothes that make me feel like myself.”
“She can,” I say. “Stella is amazing, and she’ll make sure Jeanne’s comfortable.”
“Can I meet up with you for dinner?”
“Can we got to Noodles & Co.?” Jeanne asks, looking excited.
“If that’s okay with Audrey and Stella,” he says, pulling out his wallet.
Playing in SECRET (Corrigan & Co. Book 9) Page 3
