“Open up, you motherfucker!” I shouted, trying to yank the door open, but the asshole had locked it.
“Fuck off, asswipe.” With me still clinging to the door handle, he peeled off the curb, leaving me in a cloud of dust.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. He was out of sight before I could memorize his license plate number. Memorizing anything had never been my forte and was one of the reasons I could never be an actor. With rage bubbling in my blood, I spun around and caught Krizia running toward her Mercedes parked at the end of the street. Adrenaline mixed with my rage. She was not going to get away. No fucking way. Not without explaining what she was doing with Dee’s piece of shit future ex. And telling me what she knew about him.
Jet-propelling myself, I caught up with her as she was opening her car door and rammed into her, slamming the door shut with the force of my body. Flipping her around, I pinned her against the car with both my hands and hipbones.
“Let go of me, Drake! You’re hurting me,” she yelled, futilely trying to writhe herself free. She was no match for my strength. Or my fury.
“What the hell were you doing with that motherfucker?”
“What did it look like?”
I held her fiercely in my gaze. Rage pulsed through me. I knew the answer. Just as I’d always suspected, Krizia was a drug addict.
“That’s right. I was blowing him. Why blow my money when I could blow him for some extra coke.”
“What do you know about him?” I made a conscientious decision not to tell her about his relationship to Dee or about his criminal past.
“Nothing except for his first name.”
“Bullshit. You must have his phone number.”
“He calls me from an undisclosed number. We make an arrangement. We meet. I get my shit. And that’s it.”
“I don’t fucking believe you.”
“Jesus, Drake. Do you seriously think I get involved with my dealers? They’re good for one thing. Getting me what I need. Now, let go of me.”
My anger succumbing to frustration, I pushed off from her and forced myself to take a deep breath to stop myself from kicking her car door or bashing the roof with my fist. Or tossing her aside.
Free of me, she slipped off her glasses and knitted cap, then shook loose her mane of red hair. She was undeniably stunning but as toxic as they come.
Her poisonous green eyes met mine. “So, are you going to tell your daddy about my little habit?”
I narrowed my gaze at her. With my father’s pending billionaire dollar takeover, this wasn’t the time to shake things up. Moreover, knowing Krizia’s twisted mind and the way she could spin a story, there was a good chance she’d incriminate me and make my dad think I was doing drugs. Just what “Mr. Family Guy” Gunther Saxton, who was also her client, would need to hear to call the whole deal off. Right now, I needed Krizia on my side and for reasons beyond the deal. Maybe she could lead me to Kyle.
“Listen, Krizia. I’ll make a deal with you. I’ll keep my mouth shut, but if you learn anything more about that asshat, let me know.”
“Fine, but fat chance I’ll be seeing him again. Thank you for ‘blowing’ my deal.” With a huff, she got into her car and sped off.
As her car faded into the distance, my mind switched channels. A very real fear set in. Maybe the motherfucker was on his way to Dee’s house. She didn’t live far.
Fuck. He had a big head start on me. I sprinted across the street to my car. Buckling myself in, I floored it and then speed-dialed her. It went straight to her voicemail. Fuck. Why wasn’t she picking up? More games? Weaving in and out of the traffic on Sunset, I tried again. Fuck. Again, no answer. This time I left her a message to make sure the house was locked and to call me right away. I waited five minutes to hear back from her. But nada. Crazed, I called her again and again, but call after call, no answer. Panic set in. My heart beating like a jackhammer, I prayed nothing had happened to Dee. Or her Mighty Girl.
CHAPTER 28
Dee
Tyson sound asleep, I took a quick shower and made myself some tea. Shrouded in a terrycloth robe, I settled onto the couch and nursed my hot beverage. I couldn’t get Drake’s proposition out of my head. He wanted me to be his pretend girlfriend. The more I thought about it, the more it enraged me. He was using me though I wasn’t sure for what purpose. Whatever the reason I didn’t like it one bit. In fact, maybe I wouldn’t even go through with it. Taking another sip of my tea, I wished my sister were home. I needed a sounding board because when it came to Drake it felt like someone stabbed me in the brain. I couldn’t think straight. I’d be lying if I said he didn’t affect me. He did on every level, playing with my heart, my body, and my mind. And the epicenter of carnal lust, my soul.
As I set my mug down on the coffee table, a loud pounding at the door startled me. My heartbeat accelerated and every nerve in my body stood on edge. Oh, God! Kyle?
“Dee, are you there? Fucking open up!”
I heaved a sigh of relief. It was Drake. But as soon as I exhaled, my relief morphed into anger. What was he doing here? I thought I made it loud and clear to stay away. Tightening the belt of my robe, I headed to the front door and unlocked it.
“Dee, are you okay?” The words spilled out of his mouth.
I studied him. He looked totally disheveled, worry etched deep on his face.
“I’m fine. Why are you here?”
The expression on his face softened a little. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone? I called you a dozen times.”
“I heard it ringing, but it was in the trunk.”
“What about five minutes ago?”
“I was in the shower.”
His eyes roamed down my body. I was suddenly very conscious of the fact that I was stark naked beneath my robe.
“Tell me what’s going on.”
“It’s fucking Kyle. I ran into him right after In-N-Out.”
My heart dropped to my stomach. “Oh my God. Are you okay? Did he hurt you?”
“I’m fine. I was worried he was going to come here and harm you and Mighty.”
“Oh, Drake!”
“Thank fucking God, the two of you are okay.”
Before I could take my next breath, he hauled me into his strong arms and all the anger I harbored melted away. His beating heart sang in my ears. One arm still roped around me, he stroked my damp hair before tenderly kissing my scalp.
“Jesus, Dee, I couldn’t live if something happened to you or Ty.”
“We’re good; we’re good,” I repeated softly, realizing how much we meant to him. “Come on in. Would you like some tea?”
Cradling my face in his large hands, he chuckled. That sexy sparkle in his eyes returned. “A whiskey would be more like it, but for you, I’ll settle.”
Five minutes later, we were stretched out on the couch both drinking tea, me spooned against his body. In between sips, he nuzzled my neck.
“What are you wearing beneath your robe?” he breathed against me.
A coy smile, which he couldn’t see since my back was to him, curled on my lips. “Use your imagination.”
“Mmmm.” I could hear the smile in his voice. “You’re such a tease.”
“I’m just pretending.”
Without warning, his hand slipped under my robe and crawled between my legs. I jolted, almost spilling my tea.
“Jesus, Dee. You’re so fucking wet for me. This is pretending?”
He continued to caress my sensitive slick folds, my wet heat dripping down my inner thighs. The bundle of nerves between my legs buzzed with electricity as he rubbed his thumb over it. Closing my eyes, I arched my head back as I moaned with ecstasy. Oh God, what was he doing to me?
Then, suddenly, the sound of the front door opening clicked in my ears. My eyes popped open and I straightened up. Drake heard it too.
“Fuck.” He jumped to his feet and grabbed the lamp on the end table, yanki
ng the electrical cord out of the wall socket.
“What are you doing?”
“Stay right here,” he whispered as my heart pounded with fear.
Stealthily, with the base of the lamp in his hand, he tiptoed to the front door. I thought my heart would leap out of my chest as the door swung open. And then my eyes grew as wide as saucers.
“Jesus,” mumbled Drake.
“Drake, what the heck are you doing with that lamp in your hand?”
Lulu! As Drake lowered his arm, I let out a sigh of relief. “We thought you were Kyle.”
Lulu’s brows jumped to her forehead. “Dee-Dee, what are you talking about? Kyle’s in jail.”
Drake shot me a puzzled look. “She doesn’t know?”
I looked my confused sister straight in the eye. “Lou, he’s out. He’s here in LA.”
Her jaw dropped to the floor. “What?”
“C’mon, Lou. We need to talk.”
Several cups of tea later, my sister knew everything that happened last week.
“Jesus, Dee-Dee. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you.”
Lulu rolled her eyes at me. “The fucking scumbag could have killed you. And Drake too.”
Drake’s face darkened. “It’s the other way around. I could have killed him.”
Still in her workout clothes, Lulu sat back in her chair and met his angry gaze. “I wish you had.”
Calming down, Drake filled Lulu in on his recent encounter with Kyle. Though he didn’t go into much detail, I learned that Kyle was dealing drugs again. Which meant he was probably shooting up heroin or doing crystal meth.
“I’m worried about your safety. And Ty’s too. He knows where you live.”
“We’re moving out at the end of the month.”
Drake’s lips pressed into a thin line. “That’s not soon enough.”
“What do you propose?” asked my sister, her tone challenging.
“That I stay here until you move.”
Before either my sister or I could reply, Drake’s cell phone rang. He pulled it out of his jeans pocket and gazed at the caller ID screen.
“Shit. It’s my father. He’s calling from Germany. I have to take this.”
My eyes stayed on him as he spoke to his father. The tense expression on his face worried me.
“Seriously?” He paused for a beat. “Fine. I’ll be there.” Then he ended the call.
“What’s the matter?” I asked.
“I have to go to fucking Germany. Gunther Saxton wants me to give a presentation of our development slate to his investors.”
“I’ll help you get it together in the morning,” I offered, my mind jumping to the Mighty Girl cartoon, something we hadn’t really discussed.
Drake looked at me glumly. “That’s not going to be possible. I have a plane to catch in three hours.”
“Gah! Is there anything I can do to help?” I asked while my sister took our depleted mugs into the kitchen.
Drake thought for a moment. “Yes. Forward all the recent photos and videos you took of Tyson in her red cape, and anything else you may have, to our art department so I’ll have something to show them by the time I land.”
He stood up and then helped me to my feet. Facing me, he cupped his hands on my shoulders. Our eyes locked.
“I hate leaving you, Dee.” He took a fortifying breath. “I’m going to ask Brock to look after all of you when I’m gone. Maybe he can arrange for some surveillance.”
I nodded like one of those bobble head dolls Ty collected. His warm breath heated my cheeks and his touch was making my bones melt.
“When will you be back?”
“Saturday. In time for the gala.”
I forced a small smile. “Do you still want me to be your pretend girlfriend?”
“No, D-baby.”
My heart sunk as he flicked my nose.
“I don’t want you to pretend. I want you to be my real girlfriend.”
And with that, his mouth consumed mine in a passionate kiss that I wanted to never end.
CHAPTER 29
Dee
The week with Drake away in Germany went by quickly. Though there was a nine-hour time difference, we managed to talk several times a day. A lot of our conversations were about Mighty Girl. In his absence, I had taken the lead on the development, my artistic background making it easy for me to communicate with the character and storyboard artists as well as the animators, who were whipping up a short CGI sizzle reel to convey the look and feel of the series. I had to say I was totally awed by how they captured Ty’s likeness and sassiness just from the photos and videos I’d provided. I was also awed by the speed at which the Hanson Entertainment creative team worked. Drake brought in Jaime Zander’s agency ZAP! to work with the Hanson team to create the promo script with input from Peanuts executive, Jennifer Burns, and by Wednesday, I was back at the recording studio with Tyson to record her lines. My little Mighty Girl nailed it, and I couldn’t be prouder or more excited, especially after I heard that the reel was received with a standing ovation by both his father and Gunther. When Drake got back from Germany, he was going to negotiate our deal. He mentioned royalties, an executive producer fee, and back end participation, but I had no idea what all those things meant.
And then there were the other phone calls, the ones from his hotel room…his bed. The caring ones making sure that Ty, Lulu and I were all safe and sound. And the toe-curling ones that shot hot tingles to my core and wet heat between my legs. Drake had only one rule: we couldn’t text or send personal emails. He was too afraid that Gunther’s Gestapo-like aids would intercept them. Any evidence of our sexual intimacy or talk about Kyle could jeopardize his father’s deal.
Saturday came before I knew it. At seven a.m., a phone call woke me up. Drake. He was at the Munich airport, about to board his father’s private plane, and would be at my house by six. After he said goodbye, I was too wound up to stay in bed. Attending tonight’s black tie gala at his parents’ house had my stomach in knots. I was super nervous about meeting both his father and Gunther. How was I supposed to behave? What should I talk about? And most worrisome of all, what was I supposed to wear? I wasn’t exactly the kind of girl who had a closet full of evening gowns. In fact, I didn’t own one and I hadn’t had time to go shopping during the week. Maybe Lulu had something I could borrow, but chances of one of her dresses fitting me were slim. We had totally different body types. Lulu was tall and lanky with legs that went on for miles while I was average in height and what one would call curvy. Maybe later today, when my little sleepyhead woke up, we’d go shopping—find a thrift store or resale shop and get lucky with a slinky gown and some strappy heels. It would be great if Lulu could come along as she had a great eye and great taste, but Saturday was her busiest day with clients. As I padded around the kitchen making a pot of much needed coffee and contemplating the day ahead, the doorbell rang. Who could be here so early in the morning? My heartbeat quickened at the thought it might be Kyle, but I took comfort in remembering that the drugged out former musician was never up at this early hour.
Heading to the door, I peeked through the peephole and smiled with relief. It was my sister Lulu, her hands full—a cardboard tray with two coffees in one hand and a small bag in the other. Unlocking the door, I swung it open.
“Hi,” I said softly, not wanting to wake up Ty. “What are you doing here? I thought you had a client this morning.”
She stepped inside. “I did, but while I was driving to her house, she called me to cancel because she had menstrual cramps. So I headed over to Donut King and picked up some coffee and donuts. I don’t have another client till ten.”
“Thanks,” I said, grabbing one of the coffees and following Lulu to the couch where we sat down, sitting cross-legged facing each other. The way we used to as kids when we played cards.
“Have a donut.” Lulu handed me the bag. Inside were three donuts—two of them glazed and the other a p
ink frosted one with rainbow sprinkles. “The pink sprinkled one is for Ty,” she said as I curled my fingers around one of the glazed ones.
“That is so sweet of you. She’ll love it. That’s her favorite.”
Smiling, Lulu bit into her donut. “Holy cow. These are good. The next best thing to sex.”
I gulped down my yummy biteful. “I wouldn’t know.”
Lulu rolled her eyes at me. “C’mon, sis. Don’t tell me you and Drake haven’t slept together.”
I shook my head. “We haven’t even gone out on a real date.”
Lulu tore off a piece of her donut. “What the heck are you waiting for? Your vagina is going to dry up and crumble.”
Lulu had a way with words. She could always make me laugh. Rather than telling her that he made me as wet as Niagara Falls whenever he was with me, I iterated all my excuses… that it was difficult with Ty around…that I was still technically married…that I’d been hurt once, both physically and emotionally. I didn’t want to get hurt again.
“Dee-Dee, you’ve got to move past Kyle. Drake’s a great guy and he’s crazy about you.”
“How do you know?”
“He told Brock.”
My brows shot up. “He talked to Brock about me?”
Lulu rolled her eyes again. “Duh. Brock’s his best friend. Guys talk about more than just sports and the number of times they’ve gotten laid.” She stuffed the glazed chunk into her mouth. “And he’s crazy about Tyson too.”
I couldn’t deny that. Everything he did made Tyson’s world brighter. Around him, my precious baby was a like a mega-watt light bulb.
I took a sip of my steaming coffee and then set the cup down on the coffee table. Planting my elbows on my thighs, I sunk my head between my hands and sulked.
“But, Lou. There’s still the availability issue. Maybe that’s why he likes our relationship. He’s a player; he doesn’t want commitment. He can justifiably walk away anytime because I’m still married.”
“Bullshit. He’s not walking away. He asked Brock to look into facilitating your divorce. Brock will represent you.”
Baby Daddy: A Sexy STANDALONE Romantic Comedy Page 16
