In a lot of ways Charlotte was the same way. No wonder they all liked her. He could even see Shane relenting. No wonder Travis was so into her. She was Andy with a great rack and a hot ass. What’s not to like? And who knew behind that ladylike manner she’d presented to the world, she had a real wild side. Travis had his hands full. He took a sip of the French wine. Dear God, it was magnificent.
“This rack of lamb is good. I’m going to blow up Charlotte’s house so she has to stay with us.”
“Didn’t you do that to your French teacher’s house?” Malcolm took a sip of his wine.
“Car, but like, there were extenuating circumstances. And he wasn’t in the car at the time. If I didn’t pass French, I couldn’t go on tour with you. The sub just gave me an oral exam. Of course that was after Andy banged her.”
Vaughn’s face scrunched up. “That’s sick.”
Gavin snickered. “Nope, Ms. Campbell was a hottie and Andy went back for more.”
“So who gets her?” Vaughn asked.
Declan glared at him. No way was this scum magnet touching Charlotte. “Not you.”
“Why the fuck not?” Vaughn looked confused.
Really? Declan thought. “Travis doesn’t like you.”
“Of course not, he’s replacing his best friend.” Malcolm came to his rescue.
“No, you’re an ass.” Gavin didn’t feel like he had to be diplomatic.
Shane added. “Fuck you, she’s totally not into you.”
Declan said, getting his competition out of the way, “Shane’s out.”
Shane furrowed his brows. “Why?”
Declan made a face. “It just to fucked up if you sleep with her and her sister- in-law.”
Shane thought about it for a moment. “It is a little kissing cousins.”
Gavin raised his hand. “I’ll do it. Charlotte’s a honey.”
Jocelyn cleared her throat. “Why don’t you just rock-paper-scissors this?”
Declan nodded. “That is not a bad idea.”
Malcolm rubbed his forehead. “Has anyone thought to ask Travis what he wants?”
Three down. Now it just came down to him and Gavin. “Lady’s choice.”
Gavin stared at his brother. “What? Like you wouldn’t get a piece of Charlotte if it came up?”
Malcolm shook his head. “He’s really into her, hell no.”
Jocelyn sighed. “Glad to see one of you is acting like a grown up.”
Declan was surprised she even cared. “Jocelyn you never cared who we fucked before. Together or by ourselves. Why now?”
She lifted her wine glass. “I’m with Malcolm. He really likes her. I really like her.”
They all stared at her. Declan couldn’t believe she said anything about liking Charlotte. “You like her?”
“You never like anyone we bring home.” Shane added.
Jocelyn poured herself more wine. “She likes Travis, she acts like a guest here, she isn’t looking to replace me, and Travis started writing again about five minutes after she dropped into his life. Win-win as far as I’m concerned.”
Declan thought about it for a moment. Charlotte did seem to bring a good vibe to the house. “Maybe we all need a Charlotte.”
“Jocelyn, can you find me a Charlotte?” Gavin batted his eyelashes at Jocelyn.
She rolled her eyes. “Sweetheart, you do not want me picking out your fuck buddies. I’d find you all mini-me’s. And in the next year, you’d all be pussy whipped family men. And B.T.W. you have Gwyn, who I also like.”
Oh hell no, Declan thought. “I still say it should be me. I gave her money.”
Gavin turned to him. “You gave her money, too?”
That sweet Southern girl was a sneaky one. Declan admired her skill. “She got you too?
“For what?” Shane asked.
“A women’s shelter. Twenty-five G’s.”
Malcolm sighed. “She got me for thirty.”
Malcolm too, Declan thought? “How did she get thirty grand from you and what for?”
Malcolm looked a little self-conscious. “She caught me reading Voltaire in French. This house has an incredible library. After that, the dumb rock star act wasn’t going to work anymore. I gave her money for an adult literacy program.”
“Gavin?”
He shrugged his shoulders sheepishly. “iPads for gifted poor kids. She made me these things called pralines. They are like nut candy.”
That man had no willpower over his stomach, Declan thought.
Vaughn laughed at them. “You gave her money because she was nice to you? What kind of suckers are you?”
Declan felt better. She asked because she liked him. “Notice, Vaughn, she hasn’t hit you up, because she don’t like you.”
Shane took a pull of his beer. “I haven’t given her any money and I’m not planning on it.”
Declan felt like he had to defend Charlotte. “Until you got a chance to bone her hot sister-in-law, you basically ignored her.”
Shane sat back in his chair and didn’t look fazed at all. “I think she’s a rich girl playing at being bad and she’s going to take Travis on a ride. Unlike you Declan, I’m not helping my friend get screwed over by her.”
“What do you mean?” Jocelyn asked.
Shane pointed his beer bottle at Declan. “Did you know, Jocelyn, that Declan has done everything he can to help Charlotte and Travis get together?”
Jocelyn raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you’re nice to her? I thought it was because you wanted to fuck her.”
“She’s not my type. I just like her. And I think she’s good for him.” That wasn’t totally a lie. He’d fuck her if he got a chance, but he liked Charlotte just because she was nice and made him feel safe. Not that he would ever say it out loud.
Malcolm snorted. “Good for your career, you mean. He didn’t start writing again until he hooked up with Charlotte.”
“Am I always the selfish dick in your delusions?”
Malcolm nodded. “Let me think… yeah, you are.”
Maybe he deserved that. Declan lifted his glass and drained it. He stood and grabbed his bottle of wine. He didn’t bother saying good night as he headed upstairs. As he passed Travis’s bedroom he heard a husky giggle from Charlotte. Travis was lucky to have a woman who inspired him. It didn’t matter that she was only in his life for a while. He hoped that when Charlotte left it didn’t break him. Because he knew men didn’t recover from women like Charlotte. Shane hadn’t recovered from Olivia, and like Charlotte, she was the kind of woman you marry. Maybe he should have left well alone, but then Travis wouldn’t have this. And as much as he avoided decent women, because he was too afraid of what it would do to him, Travis needed Charlotte. He was really jealous of his friend. How fucked up was that?
Charlotte’s head was ringing. Her mouth felt as if the Sahara Desert just took up residence in there. God help her she was never going to drink again. She scowled at the coffeemaker, willing it to brew faster. But then again maybe she didn’t want to put anything in her stomach. What happened to her two glass limit? She didn’t remember a lot about last night, although she remembered playing naughty librarian with Travis. The toaster popped up her bagel and the strawberries were ready, but she couldn’t muster up the gumption to try food.
“A banana and a sports drink might help.”
She turned to find Shane standing in the doorway. For a big man, he moved quietly. His big shoulders took up almost the entire door frame. The short-sleeved black t-shirt revealed his muscled, tattooed arms. “You promise?”
He shrugged. “I’ve had my share of hangovers.”
She frowned and looked up at him. He towered over her. “This is my first.”
He was so tall and always seemed to be dressed in black. “Was that on your list on things to do?”
For a moment her mouth dropped open. “I told you about that?”
He nodded, pushing a lock of long blond hair off his face.
“I didn’t mentio
n my sister-in-law, did I?”
He seemed to try and hide a smile. “Oh yeah.”
Charlotte touched her forehead, her brain was ringing as she tried to remember what she’d said or done last night. “Dear God.”
He stuck his finger in the belt loops of his black jeans. “Will I get to meet her at your recital?”
“Did I invite just you or the entire band?”
A ghost of smile appeared on his lips. “We are saving the date.”
She bit her bottom lip. “So you’re coming?”
“Oh yeah.”
“I’m surprised.”
“Why?”
She swallowed the lump in her throat. Now was the time to make him like her. “You don’t like me. Or is it that you don’t like me with Travis?”
“I don’t know you well enough not to like you.”
That’s what she thought. “So you don’t like me with Travis?”
His blue eyes narrowed. “I think you are going to destroy him when you leave.”
She would never hurt him. And it was going to be the opposite –– he was going to get tired of her eventually and she hoped she wouldn’t be devastated when that happened. “I won’t hurt him.”
“So you’re not banging him just because he’s a rock star, or getting back at your daddy, or looking for some publicity?”
It might have started out about being with a rock star, but things changed. “I don’t care what he is. My father’s dead so the point is moot. Have you seen us in any of the newspapers, tabloids, or on television?”
He frowned. “I don’t trust ‘nice’ women.”
She vaguely remembered Jocelyn saying his heart had been broken. “Who was she?”
“Who?”
“The woman I remind you of? The one who hurt you?” She said it softly, not wanting to hurt him.
He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it. For a second she saw a flash of pain, then the anger returned. “She was a long time ago.”
Charlotte smiled gently. “Does time really matter?”
“I--”
Before he could say another word, Charlotte put her arms around his waist and hugged him. “If you want to talk, I’ll listen. It’s okay to be sad or angry.”
For a few seconds he stood stiff in her arms, but then his body relaxed. “Thank you,” he whispered.
She stepped back. “Would you like to have breakfast with me? I have a bagel and strawberries?” Like a true Southern girl, she offered comfort with food.
He actually blushed. “That would be nice.”
She quickly fixed him a bowl and a bagel and poured him some coffee. “You know if you want to meet Henry –– and I can’t believe I’m saying this –– before my recital, she’s going to be taking photos at a BBQ luncheon we’re having for the Blues Society volunteers.”
His eyebrows lifted. “You listen to the blues?”
Charlotte forced herself not to smile. She’d found some common ground. “I grew up on it. My grandmother is friends with most of the local talent. The luncheon is for some of our sponsors and volunteers.”
“What for?”
Slowly she reeled him in. She was going to make this man her friend. Because if they didn’t trust her, she couldn’t help them. “My family’s foundation does a lot of work with musicians who are trying to keep the music alive. Not only that, we provide aid for some of the older musicians who are struggling financially, and legal advice for getting royalties, things like that.”
“How much?”
As if she didn’t know. “I beg your pardon?”
“How much money do you need?”
Hook, line, and sinker. She and Shane were now going to be friends. Later, when she was alone, she was going to fist bump herself in victory. “As much as you would like to give. We’re planning a concert for next month. Hawkman Turner is headlin--”
His eyes widened and he looked like that kid let go in the candy store with carte-blanche. “You know Hawkman Turner?”
Since she was a little girl. He’d tried to teach her how to play the guitar when she was about six, but she was hopeless. “He’s an old friend of my Grandmother’s.”
“I want to come.”
Now was time to give him the prize. “If you like I’m sure he wouldn’t mind playing with you. I think Keith Richards might make it this year. I haven’t gotten him to confirm, but Carlos Santana and Jimmy Page will be there.”
His mouth trembled. “Fuck me.”
Who knew rock stars could be star-struck too? Before she could respond, her phone pinged. She picked it up and read the message from her assistant. “Not today.”
“What’s wrong?”
Her shoulders sagged. “The pipes in my office broke. I’d better go before the building is washed way.” She grabbed her purse.
“Charlotte?”
She stopped. “Yes, Shane?”
“Thank you.”
She smiled at him. Why she thought he’d be so hard to win over was beyond her. “No, thank you.”
The door to the bedroom opened and closed. Travis grabbed a white towel and wrapped it around his waist and poked his head out of the bathroom in time to see Charlotte sit on an overstuffed off white chair. “Bad day?”
“You have no idea.”
He came out of the bathroom with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. “Have you eaten?”
She lifted up a white bag with the name Big Daddy’s in big block red letters. “I needed comfort food.”
That made him curious. He just loved finding out these little facts about Charlotte. And most of the time they surprised him as much as they thrilled him. “What does Charlotte Lambert consider comfort food?”
“Ribs and peach cobbler.”
“I am intrigued.” Did his stomach just rumble? Well yeah, Charlotte didn’t make it home to make dinner and they were kinda of their own and … Wait a second, somehow they had become domesticated by her cooking.
“I brought enough for two. There is even hand churned vanilla ice cream in here. Corn on the cob and Cajun potato salad.”
“I am hungry.”
“You didn’t have to wait for me, it’s nearly nine o’clock.”
“I like eating with you and we just wrapped up a session a few minutes ago.” He took off her incredible sexy black pumps and began massaging one of her feet. Her foot flexed under his touch and she sighed. That little sound of ecstasy went straight to his cock. He should rub her feet more often, but then he wondered if he was developing a foot fetish? Shit he didn’t care, he basically just got off touching her. He could be holding her elbow. It would have to be a quick dinner.
“Are you going out with the guys?”
Not anymore he wasn’t. “Nope, just wanted to smell good for you.”
She leaned over and pressed her nose against his bare chest. “You smell better than the ribs.”
And there was the boner. God what this woman did for him. “Are you trying to seduce me?”
“I’ll put some barbeque sauce behind my ear.” She gave him a salacious smile.
His heart started racing and he was ready to forget about ribs. He just wanted to eat Charlotte. “Put it a few other places and you have a deal.”
She laughed.
“Get your plumbing fixed?”
Her shoulders sagged. “Yes, but I had to sign over my first born. Do you know how hard it is to get a plumber to come out on an emergency?”
He shook his head. He’d never called a plumber in his life. Not even when he was renovating houses. “No, I usually can fix it myself.”
“You are a god.”
That’s not the god he wanted to be. Sex god? Pussy god, now that would be the one. “Can I be a sex god? I don’t want to be the plumbing god.”
“You are the sex god and the god of handymen.”
“Double duty.”
“Feed me and then you can have your way with me.”
“Deal.” He stood. “And as pretty as you are in
that black and white dress, take it off while I run down and get some plates.”
“I’m sure Michael Kors didn’t intend for me to eat messy ribs in this dress.”
“I’ve always wanted to eat ribs with a hot naked chick.”
“Then don’t be long, the food is getting cold.”
He smiled. “Just as long as you’re not.” Travis hurried downstairs and nearly ran into Malcolm.
“You can’t go to the bar in a towel.”
He shook his head. Why would he want to drink with the boys when he could eat with her? “Charlotte’s home.”
“She get her plumbing fixed?”
“How did you know?”
“Shane.”
“If not, I’ll go take a look at it tomorrow.” He would like to be handy for her. Back in the room, Charlotte was on her phone, a frown on her face and her dress still on. Shit, no naked dinner. She hung up and sighed.
“Your pipes okay?”
“My escort for my cousin’s wedding canceled on me. He has to be in Washington D.C. for the next month.” She tossed her phone in her purse.
What the fuck? She was dangling some other guy on the line. “You have a date with another guy?”
“It’s not a date. Haverford was my plus one.”
What the hell was that? It sounded like a date. “What’s the difference between a date and a plus one?” He was actually getting angry.
“He was someone to dance with and not have to worry about him having an interest in me.” She seemed to be brushing aside his concern.
“Why isn’t he interested in you?”
“We don’t click, but he does know how to tango.”
“Why didn’t you ask me?”
“Because this was planned before I met you, and again, no romantic interest in him whatsoever.”
“I’ll take you.” Did that just come out of his mouth? Did he offer to meet her family? The garden party was one thing, but this would be Lambert central. How did he back the hell out of this and not look like an ass?
You Shook Me All Night Long (Scorned Lovers Book 1) Page 16
