“Thank you.” I slid them onto the table.
She flicked her fingers. “Don’t worry about it. Just me looking after my client’s interests.” She winked.
I forced a laugh. For some reason, I couldn’t shake my disquiet.
Rhonda smoothed down her straight, knee-length skirt and swiveled to face me head on. “I’ll get to the point. I’m concerned about Sean.”
“O-kay.” My forehead wrinkled. “To be honest, I’m surprised by that. Things seem to be going very well for him at the moment.”
Rhonda pulled in a breath and held it for a beat too long before letting it go and pasting on a smile I didn’t buy for a microsecond.
“Listen, Sean and I have a really positive working relationship, and I don’t want to do anything to upset that.”
“That’s good.” Nerves skittered through my belly. Where the hell was she going with this?
“My main concern is making sure Sean’s career is a success.”
“Well, that is your job.” I would normally be much more open and friendly with a visitor, but the underlying hostility oozing off this woman was making it impossible.
“Listen, sugar, I get that he’s infatuated with you. I think that’s really sweet and all, but I’d ask you to be cautious. Sean doesn’t need any bad publicity.”
My eyebrows rose and I forced a smile, swallowing back the flurry of words I wanted to unleash. She thought I was bad publicity for him? Hello blatant insult!
I swallowed, lifting my chin and forcing a serene smile. “Sean wants to keep things quiet, so you don’t need to worry about that.”
“Yes, I know, but he has been spending quite a few nights here recently. How’s that keeping things quiet?” She eyed the ring on my finger, her brow arching as she reached for my hand and studied the sapphires.
“He parks around the block.” I snatched my hand back and tucked it under my leg.
“Oh, well then.” Her chuckle was hard. “I’m glad he’s taking my advice. I just hope you will too.”
“And what advice do you have for me?” It was hard to get the words out.
She gave me a patronizing smile, her head tipping to the side. “Sean’s career is just taking off. This show is sending him in a new direction, giving him a new face, if you will. It’s his chance to put the whole Abigail debacle behind him and really surge forward...become an A-lister, like he deserves to be.”
“If that’s what he wants, I hope he makes it.”
“Oh he will make it...as long as nothing gets in his way. He really doesn’t need any distractions right now.”
I felt the snap inside me; it turned my gaze hard. I sent a silent warning firing across the coffee table.
“If you think I’m going to break up with Sean because you want me to, you can think again. He’s a big boy; he can make his own decisions. If he doesn’t want to be with me anymore, then so be it, but like hell I’m gonna let you come into my house and manipulate this situation to work in your favor. He’s not a puppet, and he’s allowed to love whoever he wants.”
Her back pinged straight, her hard gaze matching mine head-on. “He doesn’t need some prissy little girlfriend complaining about his life behind the scenes, putting demands on him and forcing him into a corner.”
Is that what she thought I was doing? I pulled in a sharp breath through my nose.
“There are certain things we need to push to give him the best chance at public success.”
“What kinds of things?” My eyes narrowed.
She pursed her lips and ran a finger over her left eyebrow. “All I’m asking, Miss Pritchett, is that you don’t get in the way of Sean’s career. He’s a very talented man, and he deserves all the positive exposure he can get...and he certainly doesn’t need some nobody whispering in his ear, demanding that he flaunt her to the world. I know he told you what Travis said to him, and if I’m honest, I’m highly annoyed that you would try to pressure him to say anything on your behalf. Fight your own damn battles, Miss Pritchett, but leave my client out of it.”
My eyes bulged, my mouth dropping open at her harsh tone.
“It’d be a different story if I was dealing with a hot celebrity, but Morgan, you’re a nobody...and how is that going to move Sean into the elite? We don’t want Married to Who-the-hell-is-that-chick on his IMDb page. You get me?”
An arctic breeze rushed up my throat, drying out all my fiery words. Before I could even form a rebuttal, she stood and walked for the door.
“I want you to have a careful think about Sean’s future. It’s Christmas break now.” She waved her hand around the apartment. “Hide away in here if you need to, spend every day in bed together if that’s what it takes to get him out of your system, but come the New Year, I really expect you to pull back. I have plans for this talented man, and they don’t include you. Don’t jeopardize his entire future out of selfish desire, please. If you love him, you’ll walk away.”
The door clicked shut behind her, and I sat frozen on the couch.
What the fuck just happened?
I felt like I was waking up from a nightmare.
Who the hell did she think she was? Did Sean even know she’d come?
The doorbell rang.
What? Had she not finished?
I lurched from my seat, charging toward the door and ripping it open.
“What!”
Sean flinched, his dark eyebrows bunching into a frown.
My shoulders sagged. “Sorry, I thought you were someone else.”
“Who?” His blue eyes rounded.
I tsked and walked back to the couch, letting him close the door behind us. I was surprised he hadn’t seen her leaving. She must have scuttled away pretty damn fast.
“Baby, what’s wrong?”
Slumping down, I leaned my elbows onto my knees and flicked the box of chocolates toward him. “Rhonda came to give me a gift.”
“Really?” He sat down beside me, running his large hand up my back. His touch made everything instantly better. “That was nice of her.”
“Yeah, really nice.” My eyebrows rose to match my sharp sarcasm.
He gave me a sidelong glance, accompanied with a funny smirk.
I sighed. “She came by to tell me to stop pressuring you.”
“Pressuring me?”
“Yeah, I think she’s annoyed by how much time we’re spending together and that we’re not being careful enough. Did you tell her what I said to you in the office the other week...about standing up to Travis?”
He shrugged. “I tell her everything.”
“I wish you wouldn’t.”
He frowned.
“Now she’s treating me like the bad guy. Like I’m somehow trying to ruin your career.”
“She’s just stressin’. She does that.”
“She doesn’t want us together, Sean.” I swiveled to face him, my knee pressing into his.
“That’s not her decision.”
“I know that! Do you?”
He frowned at me, looking slightly pissed that I was questioning him.
I dropped my gaze, running a finger up the bridge of my nose and pressing it into my forehead.
“Look, Rhonda and I have always worked closely together and I trust her. She saved my career after the Abigail thing.”
I pressed my lips together and gave a stiff nod. I was so sick of hearing about the Abigail thing. I hated the way he made his manager out to be some superhero savior. So she’d done a good job. That’s great! Let’s move on now!
“Hey.” He gently squeezed the back of my neck. “I’m not letting her, or Travis, dictate who I spend my time with. Yes, we have to keep this under wraps. I’m not saying I love it, but we’re making it work, right?” He kissed my shoulder. “Right?”
I sniffed out a snicker. “Yeah.” I nodded.
“The most important thing is that we’re together. That’s all that matters.”
“But she...she was pretty clear that I’m not the girl for
you.” I swallowed, daring to look at him. I knew how much she meant to Sean.
“I’ll talk to her, okay? I’m sure she didn’t mean to come across the way she did.”
“Sean—”
He stopped me with an index finger on my lips. “Hey, it’ll be okay. I’ll make it clear that you’re my girl. She’s just trying to look out for me. That’s all. She’s never let me down before.”
“But—”
“And she’s not stopping me from inviting my girl to Christmas dinner.”
“Christmas dinner?” I perked up.
“Yeah, Mama wants to meet you.”
“You told her about me?”
“Kip kind of let slip and now she’s doggin’ me about it.”
I threw him a droll look, which he laughed off easily.
“Come on, baby, you know the truth is I really want her to meet my girl.”
I tipped my head, unable to help my cynical tone. “Are you sure?”
“One hundred percent.”
My eyes narrowed. He matched my expression before pulling a funny face. It was an effort not to break into a smile. I fought my traitorous lips.
“When is it? I’ll have to fit it around my family thing.”
“Bring your family with you.”
“Really?”
“Of course.” He nodded. “The more the merrier. It’ll just add to the chaos.” He winked.
My lips lifted with a little grin that quickly faded. “Are you sure Rhonda won’t mind?”
“I trust my family. They won’t breathe a word to anyone. Rhonda has nothing to worry about.”
I wanted to say more. I wanted to give him a word-for-word recount of my conversation with his bitchy manager, but the soft look in his eyes shut me up.
This was the one afternoon we had together this week, and I didn’t want to screw it up with fighting. I just wanted to wrap myself in his arms and pretend the outside world didn’t exist.
Things were what they were. I had to accept them and take what I could get. I was a pro at doing that.
Sean ran the back of his finger gently down my face. “You know it breaks my heart when you look so sad. Come on, baby, where’s my smile?”
I gave in and his pearly-white teeth appeared, making my smile grow.
His big lips came for me, sucking on my bottom lip before trailing over my chin and down my neck. I wriggled my hand under his shirt, closing my eyes and relishing that “getting lost” feeling I lived for.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
SEAN
I waited for the shower to click on before reaching for my phone. Tucking the sheet around my waist, I sat up in bed and pressed Rhonda’s name on my contact list.
“Hey, Sean, what’s up?”
I glanced at the bathroom door and swallowed. “Did you pop by Morgan’s place today?”
“I certainly did.” She sounded bright and chipper. “I wanted to drop off a little present for her.”
I grinned. “That was nice of you.”
“I thought you’d appreciate it.”
Pulling in a breath, I hesitated over my wording, but Morgan had been so upset when I first arrived, I needed to get this straight. “Hey, did you say anything to her?”
“We had a little chat.”
“About what?”
“You know, your career. We talked about how important it was that you guys are really careful over this winter break. We don’t want any paparazzi seeing you together.”
“You didn’t tell her that she wasn’t the girl for me, did you?”
“What? No! Of course not. I’d never say that to her.”
I scratched my collarbone. “She kind of got the impression you did.”
“Look, I’m not going to say I wasn’t firm with my warning. I’m still annoyed with her that she tried to get you to stand up to Travis. She knows what’s at stake.”
“I’ve already told you, she was just mad. She didn’t actually mean it.”
“Yes, but still, you shouldn’t have to feel that pressure.”
“I love her, Rhonda. She’s my girl, and she’s allowed to be herself around me.”
Rhonda paused. I could picture her licking her lips and pushing her glasses up her nose. “Of course she’s your girl, and you are an amazing boyfriend. I know how much you care about each other. You just have to be careful. I’m trying to protect your relationship.”
“By telling her we shouldn’t be together?”
“I didn’t say that! Sean, I think she misinterpreted what I was trying to tell her. You know I would never go behind your back like that.”
“Yeah.” I sighed, rubbing a hand over my face. “Yeah, I know. But listen, can you do me a favor? Next time you want a serious talk with her, include me in it.”
“Of course, I’m sorry I didn’t this time. I honestly didn’t think she’d take my warning in such a negative light. I was just trying to be helpful.”
“I know, I know; you’re just trying to look out for me.”
“That I am, Mr. Jaxon.”
I grinned. “Well, you have a good Christmas.”
“You too. Say hi to your family for me.”
I touched the screen, glad I’d called, and popped the phone back onto the nightstand. I’d been feeling uneasy since I’d arrived, wondering what Rhonda could have said to get Morgan so riled up. I knew she could be quite forceful sometimes, and what’s the bet my girl rose to meet her warnings head-on. I grinned at Morgan’s feistiness. It was damn sexy.
The bathroom door opened, and Morgan appeared in nothing but a towel. Her wet hair was brushed straight, but I could see the wide curls forming as it dried. Water dripped off the ends and landed on the curve of her breasts, disappearing beneath her towel. My gaze skimmed down her curvy form.
She caught my appreciative smile, her cheeks rising with color.
“So, what do you want to do for dinner?” She moved to her underwear drawer and pulled out a pair of black panties.
I tipped my head, my body responding in an instant. Throwing off the sheet, I stood so she could see the effect she had on me.
Her gaze traveled over me, a sexy smirk forming on her lips as I moved toward her.
“I was thinkin’ we should eat in tonight.” I hooked my finger into her towel and yanked it free before gently pulling her against me. Our bodies slapped together, and I relished her smooth skin against mine. I bent down to nibble her earlobe as my hands danced over her curves. “In fact, I was thinking we should probably stay right here until Christmas.” With a grin, I lightly pushed her onto the bed.
She fell with a giggle, propping her chin onto her hand and nipping her lower lip. Her brown eyes smoldered with longing as I hovered over her, my tongue trailing up from her navel and curving over her silky breast.
Her sigh was sweet and euphoric, her head tipping back as she whispered, “Sounds good to me.”
*****
“Okay.” Morgan nodded. “So we’ll just meet you there then. Do you know where it is?” She nodded again.
I stood at the door watching her jiggle into her black pumps and smooth down her fitted dress. She looked damn fine. Too damn fine to be taking to a Jackson Christmas dinner, that was for sure. She ran her hand down the back of her hair, which she’d straightened. The bracelet I’d given her when she woke up this morning slid down her forearm. I grinned, recapturing her reaction to it.
I stretched my neck, adjusting the collar of the shirt she’d bought me. She said it’d been near impossible to find me a gift, but in the end she’d done pretty well. A shirt, my favorite bottle of wine, and a jar of chocolate sauce...which she said we could use tonight. My insides stirred just thinking about it. I adjusted my pants and reached for my keys.
Morgan heard the keys jingle and gave me a nod.
“Okay, Dad, I’ll see you guys there.” Her fast clips toward me stopped. “She what? When! I don’t believe it... No, Dad, it’s not okay.” She closed her eyes and sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I know... Oka
y.” She frowned. “You too. ’Bye.”
She hung up the phone with a short curse.
“Everything all right?”
“Jody bailed,” she snapped, touching her screen and lifting the phone to her ear. She took three paces across the room before spinning and walking back toward me. “Yeah, hi, it’s me. Can you please call me and tell me what the hell is going on? You don’t just bail on your family last minute. Dad’s really disappointed, not that he’d ever let you see that. How could you be so selfish, Jody? You better have a good explanation for this. And if you don’t call me back before the end of the day, so help me I am driving down there to yell at you in person.”
I pressed my lips together, hampering my chuckle as she hung up the phone.
She spun to face me. “What!”
My shoulders shook in spite of my efforts. “You sound like my mama.”
Her narrow-eyed glare shut me up. “Don’t even.” She pointed at me, but I could see the gleam in her eye. She was fighting a smile.
I gave her a wink and pulled the door open. “We’ll talk about it in the car. I’ll see you in a minute.”
Five minutes later, she slammed into my Camaro and buckled her seatbelt. Her moves were fast and efficient accompanied with huffs and sighs. I pulled away from the curb of the empty street just a block from Morgan’s place. I hadn’t parked in that spot before, but it was a good one. I’d have to use it again sometime.
With caution, I slowly reached for my girl, running my hand over her thigh. “You want to talk about it?”
“I just don’t get why she’s pulling away. She’s always let me in before. It hurts. I really hate it.”
“I know.” I gave her a glum smile. “Do you want to drive to Arizona?”
“No! I want to spend my time with you. I finally have you without work getting in the way. The last thing I want to do is a road trip out of state to check up on my petulant little sister.”
I grinned, glad she didn’t want to leave me, but my smile didn’t last. Her face was tense, her shoulders tight. I wanted to make it better, take away her stress. At least we were heading into the Jackson tornado. She wouldn’t have a spare second to dwell on her sister with that force swirling around her.
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