“Are you excited or are you nervous?” Tasha asked. “Why aren’t you saying anything? I can’t wait to see you in action, but I’d be a nervous wreck if I had to speak in front of all those people. They have you plastered all over the invite, and I bet the after-party will be awesome too.”
“It’ll be fun, I hope. Maybe it’ll be the distraction I need. I should focus on my professional life for a change.”
“That’s a fantastic idea, and in light of that, I have one rule for tonight: Ivan is not to be thought about, spoken about, or even mentioned.” Tasha slurred his name distastefully. “I don’t want you moping over that text he sent you like you did all day yesterday. Remember what we talked about at Bianca? You fix you. Get your groove back. This is a big night for you—a big deal. You need to be in top form. Besides, it’s his loss for blowing you off. He doesn’t even have the decency to call you back? A fucking text message? Asshole.”
Jaden rolled her eyes and snickered.
“I saw that.” Tasha tugged at her friend’s hair. “Not one word about him, got it?”
“Ouch!” Jaden laughed, feigning pain. “Okay, I get the point. No more Ivan talk tonight.”
“Besides—” Tasha lowered her voice to an almost-whisper “—from what Micky told me last night—Aw, shit!”
Jaden felt a stab of anxiety. “What did he tell you?”
“Damn it, Micky is gonna kill me. You know he doesn’t want to be in the middle of this.”
“I’m going to kill you if you don’t finish what you started,” Jaden threatened. She turned in her seat to look at Tasha. “Tell me.”
“Please don’t say anything. Micky would kill me if he found out I told you, and I’m sure Ivan would have a few unsavory words for him.” She took a deep breath and exhaled loudly. “Micky had lunch with him the other day, and Ivan finally talked about you. He vented about everything. Micky didn’t tell me all the details, but the gist of it is that Ivan still loves you and wants to talk to you. But don’t you dare say anything!”
Perplexed and a little angry that Tasha hadn’t told her sooner, Jaden felt a warm rush of emotion spring up in her chest and flood her cheeks. “What did he say exactly? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me!”
“I don’t know, really. And anyway I wasn’t supposed to tell you. Micky didn’t tell me a whole lot. He just kind of skimmed over the conversation.” Tasha gave her a half-hearted smile. “I think he knew I might slip up. That man knows me better than I know myself.”
“That’s all the detail you got out of an entire lunch conversation? That he may or may not call me?”
“Well, Micky said Ivan let it all out, and he thinks that he’s going to cave and call you.”
“I’m calling Micky right now.”
Tasha grabbed Jaden’s hand as she reached for the phone. “Oh, no you don’t. I’ll never hear the end of it if he finds out I told you. And anyway, it doesn’t matter. You’ve done all you can. You’re focusing on yourself now, remember? Just relax and give it a day or two. I’m sure Ivan will call when he’s ready.”
Jaden drew in a breath and prepared to protest, but what was the point? Instead she turned in her seat so Tasha could finish her hair, but her mind had trouble returning to tonight’s event. “What the hell am I going to do now?”
“Stop being such a drama queen,” Tasha teased, twisting another curl. “Forget that this conversation took place and carry on with your evening.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Second, you’re going to slip your pretty little ass into that outrageously expensive dress the studio sent over, and you’re going to enjoy the evening.”
“Well, I don’t—”
“And then,” Tasha said, cutting her off, “we’re going to celebrate at the after-party for a job well done. We haven’t been out on the town in ages, and I know you’re going to love this new club.”
“God, I hope so. Maybe Ivan will—”
“Hey!” Tasha screeched. “No mention of him, remember?”
“Fine,” Jaden conceded. Just knowing Ivan was at least thinking about calling lifted a huge weight from her shoulders. Perhaps she could enjoy the evening, or at least lose herself in her work. It had been far too long since she’d had any fun. “They gave me a VIP table and unlimited complimentary champagne. I’m sure we can do some damage with that.”
“That’s what I’m talkin’ about!” Tasha said with a laugh. “Okay, all done. I just have to finish my makeup, and I’ll be ready to go. You’d better get dressed.”
Jaden stood up and eyed the teal dress that hung from the back of the bedroom door.
“That’s what they want you to wear?” Tasha asked, eyes wide for the eyelash curler.
“Yep. Doesn’t seem like enough fabric to me. I might as well get a pair of fishnet stockings and hooker heels to go with it.”
“Sex sells, girl. Work it,” Tasha said with a smirk. “You’ll make it classy, I’m sure. And it’s Miami. They just didn’t want you to get too hot! Who knows, you might even get lucky tonight.”
Jaden laughed and rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s what I need. A seedy hook-up.”
“I think getting laid might be the best thing for you.”
Jaden pulled the dress off the hanger and unzipped it. “I can see the appeal, but come on, really? I’m not going on the prowl at this network party.”
“Why not?”
Jaden stepped into her dress and gave Tasha a look. “Well, letting my personal and professional lives collide has not been the best move for me in the past. And I’m going to let the veil of mourning the love of my life slip here, in Miami Beach of all places? Why should I risk certain gossip, which would spread like wildfire, mind you, for a one-night stand?”
Tasha turned in her chair. “Do you remember what happened the last time you hooked up with a guy?”
“Of course I do.” Jaden looked away and wrestled into her dress.
“And what was that?”
She stopped her shimmying and gave Tasha a death glare. “What the hell, Tash? Are you serious?”
“I didn’t mean— Shit.” Tasha rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Not that time. The time before.”
“I met I—”
“Ah! Don’t say his name, remember?” She pointed a makeup brush at Jaden. “You got a whole lot more than lucky that night. Let’s focus on that, shall we? Who’s to say it can’t happen again?”
Jaden let out a sigh and tugged at the tight dress. She turned her back to Tasha and pointed to her back for a zipper assist. “I love your optimism, Tash, but I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I think it’s the best idea.”
She gasped as Tasha yanked up the zipper. “I’m sure you do.”
“Just promise me if you meet someone you like that it’s not out of the question.”
She’s got a point.
No fucking way.
“Stop it!” Jaden shouted, effectively shutting down both the meddlesome voices she’d worked so hard to exorcise from her head and Tasha at the same time. “I’m not promising anything. I have three goals tonight: get through this evening with my pride intact, maybe earn a little more industry credibility by being a goddamn professional, and come home with a teeny bit of self-respect. If I do that I’ll be way ahead of where I ended up after my last work-related event. Getting laid is not on my list of shit to do right now.”
Tasha smiled and turned back to the mirror. “That’s a to-do list I can get behind.”
Jaden moved to stand next to Tasha as she checked out her hair and makeup one last time. “Good. Thanks for the help with my hair. Kat would approve! And remind me of my to-do list later, okay?”
“In case you meet some hot guy?”
“No, you little shit.” Jaden laughed and yanked on a tendril of Tasha’s hair. “In case I forget and turn into a drunk, weepy mess, wracked with guilt and insecurity after too much tequila.”
Chapter 14
“Sympathy fo
r the Devil”
“I CAN’T TELL WHICH ONE OF YOU IS MORE EXCITED,” Micky said as he drove the two giggling ladies north on Collins Avenue. “You’d think you’d never been to one of these things before.”
“This is so exciting! For you…I’m so excited for you, I mean,” Tasha gushed.
Jaden smiled. “I’m glad you’re coming with me. It’s been a while since I had a good date to one of these!”
Micky looked at Jaden through the rearview mirror. “So, are you ready to make your official debut as Ms. Miami Beach? You’re running the show tonight, right?”
“I’m still not sure about this whole Ms. Miami Beach thing, but it seems I am sort of in charge tonight. I’ll be doing a lot of talking anyway.” She laughed and hoped she didn’t seem nervous, which she was. “A night on the town is exactly what I need right now,” she added.
The Jeep rolled up to the curb in front of the hotel. Burly security guards, menacing PR reps, and a plethora of photographers flanked both sides of the red carpet, waiting for the next big-money image to stroll by. A little closer to the doors, women in gowns and men in tuxedos smiled prettily for the cameras.
“Ooh, I might be underdressed,” Micky quipped as he gestured to his shorts and wrinkled T-shirt. He leaned over and kissed Tasha. “Tear it up, girl!”
A stab of pain shot through Jaden’s heart as her friend blushed and smiled. She wasn’t jealous of what her friends had, of course, but she did regret what she’d so stupidly lost. Once upon a time Ivan used to kiss her like that, and she could still scarcely believe she’d never feel his lips on hers again. But she remembered her promise to Tasha and swept those thoughts from her mind.
“Call me if you guys need a ride home!” Micky said.
“Will do,” Tasha called over her shoulder as they slid out of the car.
“I love you, baby.”
“Love you too.” Tasha leaned back in to give Micky another kiss goodbye.
After he pulled away to weave through the crowded parking lot and back to the street, they took a moment to smooth their dresses and admire one another. “You look hot, Tasha!” Jaden announced as she produced a laminated guest pass from her clutch and handed it over.
“Umm…thanks,” Tasha said, eyeing the crowd up ahead. “Obviously you do too. And not just because I did your hair.”
“C’mon. You’ll be just fine,” Jaden told her as they headed toward the doors. Flashes exploded against the night sky as they approached, and photographers vied to get a clear shot. Jaden maneuvered Tasha past two massive security guards and around an overeager photographer, then stepped onto the plush red carpet. She gave her friend’s hand a squeeze, took a deep breath, braced herself for her first real Miami appearance as the headliner, not a plus one. From her humble beginnings as a chef just in from Colorado to the host of her own TV show, she’d come a long way. The thought was both daunting and invigorating.
“Jaden! Ms. Thorne!” a voice called from the crowd.
Jaden turned to find a frazzled woman pushing toward them, wearing a plain gray dress and an earpiece. She offered her hand. “I’m Judy, and I’ve been assigned to work with you tonight.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Judy,” Jaden replied, shaking the woman’s hand. “This is my friend Tasha.”
“It’s a pleasure.” Judy nodded. “Okay, so I need you to do a quick photo op, then we’ll get you inside.”
“Okay.”
Judy ushered the two women to the gigantic banner full of sponsor and charity logos alongside the all too familiar network logo. Tasha stood off to the side as Jaden took her place in front of the banner. From the corner of her eye, she watched as Tasha lost herself in the bright lights and commotion. Jaden remembered how overwhelmed she’d been at her first network event. Nothing a drink or two won’t fix! She smiled to herself as the cameras began to click.
When the flashes had faded, Jaden stepped down from the platform and rejoined her friend. “Just smile and look sexy.”
“You mean there’s more?” Tasha asked, eyes wide.
“The worst is over.” Jaden linked arms with Tasha and together they walked toward the ballroom. “Let’s get a drink.”
Judy, who had somehow snuck past them, appeared at the entrance to the ballroom. She held up a hand to stop them even as she spoke into her headset. “She’s already done…He’s here? Now?”
Jaden listened intently. Something about the tone of the woman’s voice caused goose bumps to rise on her forearms.
“Mr. Gibbs requested it? Are you sure? Okay…” She listened for another minute before turning her attention back to Jaden. “Ms. Thorne, I hate to ask, but we need you to take a few more pictures. Mr. Gibbs has arranged for a special guest to be here, and he’s just arrived. He would like you to take a photo with him.”
“Not a problem,” Jaden replied, relaxing her shoulders. Ahh, it was definitely a work night. But she’d survived the first photo op, so a few more pictures weren’t a big deal, were they?
“Can you come with me, please?”
“Of course.” She turned to face Tasha. “Go ahead without me, and I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll get us a drink.” Tasha nodded bravely.
“You read my mind,” Jaden replied as a cold hand encircled her wrist and swept her back outside.
“All right, they’re here. Let’s get you back out there for your shot.” Judy somehow magically parted the crowd and urged her to the platform.
Blinded by hundreds of flashes, Jaden caught barely a glimpse of the person who stood smiling for them. Something about his profile seemed familiar, and then it hit her like a ton of bricks. She struggled to make her face neutral as he turned and looked at her—not just in her direction, but directly at her. What the fuck is going on here?
Judy tugged at Jaden’s hand. “Come along, darling. Time is wasting. We’ve got to get you inside as soon as we can.”
A wicked glint lit up Damian’s eyes as Jaden joined him on the step and repeat. “Let’s hear it for tonight’s host and my former partner in crime—one of Miami’s top ten hottest celebrities, the lovely and beautiful Ms. Jaden Thorne!”
That son of a bitch! Jaden was no stranger to being put on the spot, but this was too much. Kevin hadn’t felt this was a relevant detail to share with her? What the hell was Damian even doing in Miami? Asshole.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” she growled through gritted teeth.
“Such foul language from a talented mouth. I’m sure you can find better things to do with it than curse at me,” Damian whispered.
Jaden shuddered. “You have no right to be here.”
“I heard you were single.”
“I heard you got beat up by a girl.”
Damian turned his head sharply to look at her.
“What?” Jaden asked innocently. A megawatt smile was plastered on her face as she turned to meet his stare, but her body trembled with hatred. “You do remember what happened the last time you pulled this shit, don’t you?”
“Relax. I’m here for the PR. That’s it.” His cocky voice matched his cocky smirk. He cinched his arm tighter around her waist and pulled her closer as he whispered, “Thanks for that, and thanks for this…”
“One Hot Kitchen, and one hot host!” he yelled to the crowd, and before Jaden knew what was happening, he’d scooped her body against his and planted a kiss that gave the cameras the shot they’d been waiting for. The more she struggled, the closer he held her to his chest, cementing the kiss and earning them a round of applause from the onlookers.
At last he removed his lips from hers. “Thanks for the front page, Jade.”
It took every ounce of her energy to contain the sheer rage that pumped through her system, but on the red carpet in front of the press, what else could she do? Jaden just stood there, shocked and stunned, as she watched him slither away into her party, in her town. He’d fucked her again. Thank God Ivan hadn’t been here to witness that. But it didn’t matter mu
ch. There’d been plenty of pictures and at least a few of them were probably up on the Internet already.
Gathering the sanity and dignity she had left, Jaden did her best to disappear. She headed for the bar, for Tasha, and perhaps a bottle of tequila.
Finding her friend, who was busy chatting away, she snatched the drink right out of her hand and slugged it down like a cold glass of water on a hot summer’s day. But it wasn’t. The liquid traced a scorching path down her throat and settled in her stomach.
“Good lord, Jaden, that was a glass of chilled tequila I was going to pour into shots. What’s wrong with you?”
Trying to shake the sensation of burning alcohol from her throat, Jaden nodded in the direction of Damian, who was now smiling and nodding his way through the crowd.
“Holy shit!” Tasha looked from Damian to Jaden and back again. “Are you okay?”
“Let’s just make it through this, okay?” All her excitement and hope for the evening had dissipated. Now she’d be reminded of her failings all night. “Fuck it. Give me another shot.”
Chapter 15
“Sounds of Silence”
SINCE HE’D TURNED THE CORNER and made the commitment to begin putting to rest the months of avoidance and turmoil he’d wrestled with post-Jaden, Ivan found that the sounds, smells, and tastes around him, which had been muted for months, had slowly begun to regain their luster. Take right now, for instance. The late-night air around him vibrated with electricity as he breathed in his surroundings: an A-list Miami Beach nightclub. After a long day at work he’d selected a spot in the middle of the lounge so he could absorb every bit of the energy. For the first time in months he felt clean of the addiction that had plagued him, and as he chatted with the waitresses, bartender, and fellow patrons sitting around him, he had no hidden agenda. The freak was silent as months of hidden sorrow and angst began to thaw and melt away.
The Winemaker's Dinner: Dessert (The Winemaker's Feast) Page 7
