by J. S. Cooper
“Your friend is crazy,” I whispered in her ear and she grinned at me before hitting me in the arm.
“Be nice,” she whispered back. “Leeza, get off the bed and let’s go downstairs.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” She jumped up and I noticed that she looked sad.
“Is everything okay, Leeza?” Lucky arched her eyebrows.
“Yeah. I’m just a bit down.” She pouted her lips and I reluctantly decided to ask her why.
“What’s wrong? Is there anything we can do?”
“I’m just sad ’cause Evan, you know, your friend Evan? Well, he dumped me.” She batted her eyelashes at me. “I’m a little sad. I thought he was interested in me.”
“Sex doesn’t equal interest, Leeza,” Lucky chided her friend and continued on. “You didn’t even really know him. And don’t get me started on that crap you said about Zane and how he was a stalker.”
“That’s what Evan told me!” Leeza cried out. “He told me I should let you know.” She pouted again as she looked at me. “How was I to know? I barely know him. You barely know him.”
“I know him a lot better than you do. Do you think I’m an idiot?” Lucky’s voice was taut.
“Well, you did just come here on a whim.”
“I don’t expect you to understand, Leeza, but I don’t want you trying to sabotage my relationship. You’re one of my best friends, and that won’t change, but I’m not the same girl, anymore. I changed a long time ago.”
“What did you do to her?” Leeza turned around and pointed at me. “Did you turn my best friend against me?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, coldly, irritated and annoyed. The last thing I needed was for this to become a volatile situation. I didn’t know what Evan was planning, but if he was as involved with this drug trafficking as I thought he was, and it went as deep as the FBI said it did, then Lucky was in some real danger with Leeza around.
“Leeza, let’s go downstairs.” Lucky grabbed her friend’s arm.
I put my hand up. “Wait.” I walked over to Leeza and gave her a big smile- a big, fake smile. I really wanted to interrogate her about what she knew, but I knew it wouldn’t be smart. “Maybe we got off to a bad start, Leeza. Hi, I’m Zane.” I offered her my hand. “I’m Lucky’s boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” Her jaw dropped open. “I thought you guys were just sleeping together.”
“Leeza!” Lucky’s voice was angry. “Let’s go get a drink.”
“Lucky, you go downstairs. I want a quick word with her.” I smiled gently and waited until I heard her going down the stairs to speak to her friend. “You listen, and you listen good. I don’t know what game you’re playing, and I don’t know if you realize just how much trouble Evan is and what sort of trouble you’re dragging Lucky into, but you better believe that I’m on to you and what you’re doing. If I find out you have betrayed Lucky in any way, I will make sure you never see her again.”
Leeza stood there with her mouth hanging open and I saw some saliva escape from her mouth. She looked at me in shock and I thought my words really struck a chord. There was no way I was going to allow her to jeopardize Lucky’s safety or the case against Braydon and Evan. I gave her one last, hard stare, and stood by the open door, ushering her out of the room.
As I got ready for my dinner date with Angelique, the nerves in my stomach threatened to bring me to my knees. Angelique and I had a connection, and I couldn’t let it go. I had been excited about this night and this moment for a few months. Our relationship together hinged on this moment, and as much as I loved Lucky, I couldn’t let this go. I couldn’t let Angelique go. Not now when we had come this far.
Chapter 8
Lucky
“Take good care of them, Leo,” Zane whispered urgently to his friend, and it was all I could do to not roll my eyes.
Zane had been acting weird ever since we picked Leeza up, and I wasn’t sure why they had that near-fight in the bedroom earlier. Both of them were acting a bit weird, and I wondered if there was some history there that I didn’t know about. I laughed to myself at my thoughts. There was no way Leeza would have slept with him and not told me, and I knew that Zane would have been honest with me about it, as well. We were a team now. We told each other everything.
“You never told me Leonardo was so gorgeous,” Leeza gushed to me and played with her blonde hair. “Do you think I have a shot with him?” She flattened her short, black skirt and ogled Leo. Leeza’s mood had improved since Leo had arrived, but I could tell she didn’t like Zane at all. “He’s a creep” had been her exact words to me.
“I think he may be seeing someone,” I lied. I didn’t know how to tell Leeza to slow down with the guys. It was a conversation we’d had before, but she had gotten mad at me and called me a “Holier-than-thou, born-again nun.” I had tried to tell her that her sentence didn’t really make sense, and that I was only thinking about her best interests, but she had shot me down.
“If he ain’t married, he’s available.” Leeza grinned at me and walked over to Leo and Zane. “Why, Leo, I’m happy to see that L.A. has some good looking men.”
Zane looked up at me and rolled his eyes at her comment, and I stifled a laugh. I couldn’t stop myself from staring at him in his dark, grey suit and tie. He looked so handsome and debonair, and his hair was shining and his eyes were sparkling. I wasn’t sure exactly what business meeting he was going to, but it was obviously an important one.
I walked over to him and linked my arm through his. “You look very handsome tonight,” I whispered into his ear while breathing in his delicious, manly scent.
“Thank you, my dear.” He looked me over from the top of my head to the tips of my toes and licked his lips. “You look beautiful. I’m jealous that you’ve never gotten this dressed up for me.”
“Well, you could come to dinner with us instead.” I kissed him and he grabbed me around the waist and kissed me back.
“I wish.” He took a deep breath. “I promise that, tomorrow, it will be you and me, and a nice dinner out, wherever you want.”
“I’d like that.”
“And we’ll both get dressed up.”
“Will you wear a tux?”
“A tux?” He groaned and caught me laughing. “I’ll wear a tux if you wear a prom dress.”
“Prom dress?” I shivered. “A big pink frilly mess?”
“It doesn’t have to be pink; it can be a black frilly mess.”
“Or a purple one, I suppose.”
“What am I supposed to do when you guys go acting like high school kids?” Leeza’s voice was sharp and I looked at her bitter face.
I wasn’t sure what to say to my friend. I wasn’t sure why she wasn’t happy for me. Maybe it was because I was the girl that never had the best relationships. I was always the one that Leeza could look at and say well, “Lucky’s relationship is worse than mine.” We had bonded over our bad relationships the first two years of college, and she had understood my need to take a break from that scene after my parents had died. But she had never understood why I never went back to the partying scene. I suppose she didn’t think it was fair that I now had a hunky boyfriend and she still had no one. But that still wasn’t an excuse to be a bitch.
“You can do whatever …” Zane started, and Leo interrupted him.
“You can come with me to a comedy show if you think you’d like that.” Leo winked at me and I smiled at him, gratefully. I took in his appearance and I could see why Leeza was acting giddy around him. With his sun-kissed blond hair, and sky-blue eyes, he was as handsome as any movie star.
“Oh, that would be great. It’s so nice that there are still some gentlemen left in the world.” Leeza batted her eyelashes up at Leo and I could see her preening up at him.
I turned my face away as I saw her stick her chest out at Leo. Oh boy, this was going to be a long night.
“Thanks for that, Leo.” Zane pat Leo on the shoulder. “I’m gl
ad you’re willing to take one for the team.”
“Zane.” I poked him in the stomach. “Be nice.”
“I am.” He looked at me with an innocent face.
“Don’t you have a business meeting, Zane?” Leeza’s voice was loud. “Shouldn’t you be on your way? I’d hate for you to be late. Seeing as you’re so dressed up and all.”
“Leeza.” My voice was tight.
“Well, I don’t know anyone who has a business meeting at night and looks like he is on his way to the church to get married.”
“Leeza.” I bit my lip. “Stop it.” I looked over at Zane and I could see a murderous look in his eyes. I knew he was about to lose it.
“Can’t I voice what we’re all thinking?” She shook her head. “I’m not trying to say it behind his back. I think it’s rude and disrespectful that he is going out on my first night in town. What meeting is that important? Evan said you were a bit of a prick, and I understand why he said that.”
There was an awkward silence in the room after her words and I felt my blood boiling. “Leeza, come with me.” I grabbed her arm and dragged her into the kitchen. “What is your problem? Why are you being so rude and obnoxious?”
“I just wanted to voice my opinion, Lucky. Don’t you think he’s a little too smooth? I don’t trust him.”
“Well I do trust him, and I won’t have you berating and accusing him like that, again. He’s my boyfriend, Leeza. You may not understand our relationship, but, frankly, it’s none of your business.”
“I’m your best friend, Lucky.” Leeza looked at me with wide eyes. “It’s always my business.”
“What’s going on?” I took hold of her hand. “What’s wrong with you, Leeza?”
“I’m sorry, Lucky.” Tears flooded her eyes. “I’m just really upset and hurt.”
“About what?” I looked at her in confusion. “Because I’m with Zane?”
“No, no.” She started crying. “I really liked Evan, and everything was going great. At least, I thought it was. Then, he just broke up with me. Like I meant nothing to him. Out of nowhere.”
“He sounds like a jerk, Leeza. But that doesn’t mean Zane is.”
“He’ll break your heart, Lucky. That’s what those guys do. They aren’t made for girls like us. They don’t want a long-term relationship. They just want to screw us.”
“Zane is different.” My voice was soft, but firm. “I love him, Leeza, and he loves me. And yeah, he’s not perfect. He has issues, and sometimes it’s really hard, but I know, that at the end of the day, he loves me. He shows it in many different ways. And I know he trusts me and respects me. And maybe this won’t be the last relationship I’m ever in. Maybe something will happen and we’ll break up, but that will be because that’s life. Nothing’s guaranteed. But as sure as I’m standing here in front of you, I’m sure of Zane. Don’t you get it, Leeza? He’s the one. He’s my one. He’s my soul mate.”
“You don’t know him well enough to know all that.” She continued crying and looked at me with a worried expression. “Look, I’ll admit that I’m slightly jealous, but something about him just seems off and I don’t want you to get hurt. Not after last time. I was so worried, Lucky. Your parents had died and you were devastated by that, and then, well, you know. You were heartbroken. I don’t want to see you like that ever again.”
“Zane wouldn’t do that to me.” I hugged her to me. “I love you for being concerned, but Zane wouldn’t do that to me.”
“I’ve made a fool of myself, haven’t I?” She wiped her eyes. “What’s Leo going to think of me now?”
“Oh, Leeza,” I laughed. “He’s going to think you’re a spirited woman and a concerned friend.”
“I’d rather he think I was hot.” She fingered through her hair. “I’m going to go back upstairs and redo my makeup, okay?”
“Okay.” I followed her into the living room, and watched as she ran up the stairs, before I spoke to Zane and Leo. “She’s a bit emotional because her ex-boyfriend dumped her.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say Evan was her boyfriend.” Zane’s voice was dry.
I gave him a warning look. “Be nice.”
“Your friend is a bitch.”
“Zane!”
“Sorry. Your friend has issues.”
“Zane,” I admonished him, but couldn’t stop the smile from spreading on my face. “She’s had a hard time lately, and she was worried about me. Let’s cut her some slack. I’ve asked her to be nicer.”
“Good luck, Leo.” Zane laughed as he patted his friend on the shoulder. “Better you than me.”
“Thanks, Zane, you owe me,” Leo drawled and I could see the laughter in his eyes.
“Don’t forget to keep an eye out for Lucky. I want you to make sure she is protected at all times.” Zane’s voice turned serious.
“I’m right here, Zane.” I glared at him. “And I can hear you.”
“Take care of my girl, and no funny business.”
“Zane.” I blushed at his words and Leo shook his head.
“I love you, Lucky.” Zane reached down and pulled me to him, kissing me hard. His hands grabbed my ass, and as he brought me into him, I melted against his chest. “I’m sorry I can’t be with you tonight, but I want you to have fun.”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” I pulled away from him, slightly, and looked into his darkened eyes. “There’s something going down with Braydon tonight, isn’t there?”
Zane was silent for a moment as he studied my face. He kissed me lightly on the nose and shook his head. “Of course not. I just have some business partners from Japan who want to meet. I would have taken you, but it’s customary, in Japanese culture, for business dinners to be just for the men.”
“I see.” My heart skipped a beat for reasons unknown, and I grabbed hold of his hand. “Just be home as quickly as possible.”
“Of course, my dear. Of course.” He kissed me again and looked back at Leo. “Thanks for doing this, man.”
“No problem. Lucky and I will have fun tonight.” Leo grinned at me. “We’ll keep Leeza sane.”
“I’ll have to remind myself to think of you as a friend and not a bodyguard,” I teased him and he laughed.
“Don’t blame me, blame your man.”
“I’ll take all the blame.” Zane held his hands up. “I just want to make sure my lady love is safe.”
“I’ll be safe!” I exclaimed.
Zane was really overprotective, and while it thrilled me that he obviously cared about me a lot, it was starting to get old. I didn’t really understand what he thought Braydon was going to do to me. But I understood that he needed to be in control, or to at least feel like he was. I had hoped to be able to make him realize that he couldn’t blame himself for Noah’s death, or his mother’s leaving. I had hoped that his mother would somehow come back into his life and help mend a piece of his heart that I would never be able to reach, but after that phone call, I didn’t think that was ever going to happen. My throat caught as I thought about the call with his mother. I couldn’t believe how uncaring she had been. I never wanted Zane to find out about the call. I didn’t want him to have to go through that pain and rejection again.
“Lucky, darling, I’m going out now.” Zane squeezed my hand and I looked up at him all flustered.
“Sorry, I spaced out.”
“Have a good night. Keep the bed warm for me.”
“I will.”
“Maybe you can do another dance for me, tonight.”
“Zane,” I chided him, embarrassed that he was talking about my lap dance in front of Leo.
“What?” He grinned and gave me one long, hard kiss before walking to the door. “Have a great night, guys.”
***
“Now this is a restaurant.” Leeza sailed into Providence Restaurant in front of us with her eyes smiling in delight and anticipation. “So this is Hollywood?”
“Actually, we’re on Melrose Place, and this is known as
Mid-Wilshire,” Leo interjected, and smiled at me.
“I love Hollywood, I want to move here.” Leeza grinned at me, the tears from earlier firmly behind her.
“Uh huh.” I prayed to God that she wasn’t hoping to live with Zane and me.
“What do you think, Leo? Looking for a roommate?” She touched his arm and smiled into his eyes.
“I, uh,” Leo mumbled, and I think that was the first time I’d seen him at a loss for words.
“Come on, Leeza.” I grabbed her arm and we followed our hostess to our table. “Wow, look at the lights.” I pointed to the sconce lights on the wall of the dining room and admired all the orchids. “Thanks for bringing us here, Leo, this place is amazing.” I turned around to thank him and we shared a secret smile.
We sat at the table and my eyes nearly popped open when I saw the prices on the menu. The restaurant was expensive, a lot more than I had ever spent on food before. Maybe even more than I spend at the grocery store in a month.
“Don’t worry about the prices, girls. Zane’s taking care of it.”
“He should be,” Leeza said snidely. I could tell she was peeved that Zane had left before she had been able to come back downstairs and apologize.
“I hope you girls like seafood.” Leo played diplomat and I nodded. I was overwhelmed with all the choices. “I suggest we all start with the 1978 Madeira, and I recommend the Kobe beef with bone marrow if you’re not a huge fan of seafood. If you like seafood, you can’t go wrong with any of the entrees.”
“Sounds delicious.” I placed the menu back on the table. “Will you excuse me while I go to the restroom to wash my hands, please?”
“Sure.”
I got up from the table and tried not to gape when I saw Robin Williams sitting with someone in the corner of the restaurant. I walked into the bathroom and washed my hands, quickly, before heading back to the table.
“Lucky.”
I heard his voice and froze. I looked over at the table I was walking past and saw Braydon Eagle sitting there with a cute redhead.
“Hi Braydon.” I nodded and attempted a smile.
