D’Artagnan walked up, and I gave him a wide smile, but it ended fast. He forced a smile and kissed me on my cheek. He walked away, not saying a word. I tried to watch where he went, but the crowd blocked my view.
O approached next, and I pulled her into a quick hug and whispered in her ear. “What’s wrong with D’Artagnan?
“He’s not happy about the reunion.” She pulled back, faking a wide smile for the wondering eyes.
“You look amazing,” she chimed. I pulled her in for another hug. “I need to talk to him,” I demanded. She nodded and was gone.
The next set of guests was approaching me, so I pulled out my phone to send D’Artagnan a quick text. Then I remembered I didn’t have his number in my phone; it was in my Blackberry on the counter at the condo.
“What’s wrong?” Chelle asked.
“I need to talk to D’Artagnan.” I answered with a frown.
“Why?” Jyme asked from behind me. I froze, and Chelle’s eyes got as wide as mine felt.
“You need to open your presents,” Chelle said and tugged me away from Jyme as we headed towards the gift table.
I ended up with six IPods, the new Lady GaGa CD, the new Rihanna CD, the new Shakira CD, the new Adam Lambert CD, the new Michael Crichton novel, the Gone with the Wind; 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray, The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition Blu-ray, two Kindles, a bottle of Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana, a pair of Ugg boots, a digital camera, a new Blu-ray, a one hundred dollar Visa gift card, and a two hundred dollar Visa gift card.
As I finished opening the pile of gifts, a waiter came out with a bell and announced that lunch would now be served. Everyone went to the tables and found their nametags. Jyme and Chelle were next to me. There was an empty seat next to Jyme until Mrs. JJ came in from a hidden sidewall and sat down.
I gripped Chelle’s thigh under the table, and she followed my eyes before turning to me and pretending to unsnag something on my shoulder.
“Where did she come from?” Chelle asked.
“I don’t know. Did she just get here?”
“No, but I haven’t seen her for at least an hour.” Chelle pulled back from me, and then we both felt the burning stare from Jyme.
He slid over and leaned into my ear. “What’s wrong?” he whispered.
“Nothing.”
“Do you not want my mother here?”
I looked at him and saw the hurt in his eyes. “I never said that,” I whispered.
His phone buzzed and his attention shifted. I looked at all of the people at my table and I realized I didn’t recognize four of them. I wondered who these mystery guests were at my birthday party. Jyme must have really been strict with the dress code for today. The women all wore black cocktail dresses and the men black suits and black ties. Jyme was the only man wearing a red tie. With the way this room was decorated, I wondered what the invitations looked like.
“Did he send out invitations?” I asked Chelle.
“He was not sure how this was going,” she thumbed towards Jyme and me. “So he had the invitations made up and asked everyone to RSVP to me and Ayashe just in case it didn’t work out.”
“Oh,” I said.
“And no one could bring a guest. It was single invite only, and he stressed that.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know. He never said. There’s a guy back there at the side entrance for this room that has the list and the names of each guest.” She jerked her head behind us.
I looked back there and saw nothing.
“There’s a secret wall,” she continued.
I nodded, and just then, the servers came out with trays. We first had a bowl of potato soup, then a dinner salad, then our main courses: steak, salmon, or lobster. Sitting in front of me was a lobster tail and a steak.
“Why does everyone have something different?” I whispered to Chelle.
“It was in the invitations.”
“Oh, my God.”
She nodded. “Oh, how did last night go?” she asked with a serious look now.
I was really shocked that Chelle of all people was okay with Jyme and me getting back together.
“Are you alright with all of this?” I tossed my hand to the side gesturing at the party. She took in a deep breath and then she stared at me.
“He swore to me that he would never hurt you, ever again. And I believe him because he loves you so much and you him.”
I beamed at her, and she beamed right back at me. We both started giggling.
Ayashe leaned over, practically sitting in Chelle’s lap. “What are you two bitches over her snickering about?”
Chelle whispered to Ayashe, and her eyes shot up at me. She mouthed, “how was it?”
I gave her a wide smile, and we all started giggling. Jyme’s hand suddenly was creeping up my inner thigh, and he was caressing the seat of my panties. I turned to look at him and he kneeled down under the table pretending to pick up his napkin. I opened my legs wide for him and he sneaked around the seat of my panties and slipped one quick finger into Juicy, and then just like that, it was gone. When I looked over, he was sucking on that same finger.
My mouth fell open, and I shifted in my chair. I looked at him, but he wouldn’t meet my eyes. He sat there as if nothing had even happened. The sneaky devil. I realized then that he must want some attention, so I decided to give it to him.
“Where’s the food from? It’s so good.” I asked.
He grinned and turned to me. “Palisade.”
“You will definitely have to take me there.”
“Anytime.” He kissed my forehead.
The two main doors opened, and three servers wheeled in a giant form in the shape of a volcano. At the top, there were sparklers. Everyone stood to their feet and sang Happy Birthday to me. Jyme held his hand out and guided me to the volcano. I blew out the sparklers. Everyone clapped and cheered. I noticed the little round cupcake shapes that made the volcano looked familiar. “The CONFESSIONAL” I tugged at Jyme. Jyme had taken me to “The Confessional” on the dessert portion of our first date. It was fabulous, and now there was a mountain of cheesecake.
I hugged Jyme tight and looked up at him.
“Thank you so much this is the best Valen-Birthday ever.”
After everyone ate their dessert, people started leaving. I didn’t want the party to end, but it was still daylight outside, and it was Valentine’s Day. I looked at my phone and it read, 4:00 p.m. Everyone gave hugs and kisses when they left.
O walked up to me. I looked behind her and still no D’Artagnan. I pulled her into me.
“He left Cricket. He said he couldn’t watch this train wreck.” She pulled away and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”
I gave her a small smile.
“He told me to tell you that he’ll see you on Wednesday.”
“Why Wednesday?” I asked. She cut her eye over at Jyme. He was watching our every movement. “He said to enjoy your birthday to the fullest,” she chimed.
“Okay, I’ll see you guys on Wednesday then.”
She squeezed my hand, and then she was gone. A couple walked up to me next, and Jyme stepped over to us. He put one arm around my waist and gave them his full attention. He spoke to them in his native language, and I just stood there and smiled. I noticed Mrs. JJ, Loon, Kanoke, Sheen, and Ayashe all staring at us. The man shook my hand; then the woman gave me a hug. They nodded at Jyme and then left. Jyme never introduced them to me. He did this same thing with the next two couples. They walked up; I smiled; and he spoke to them in that language and then they left.
When the strangers were all gone, I looked up at him and frowned. He noticed my face and said, “Later.” Then, he was gone. He went to talk to Mrs. JJ, and I wondered if I should leave and go back to the room.
Ayashe and Chelle said they were going out with Sheen and Kanoke to some lounge in the city. I yawned and told them to have a good time for me.
“Oh, you’re going to have a blast tonight.” Ayashe grinne
d.
“What?” I asked.
“You’ll see.”
Then they, too, were gone. I stood there at the entrance while Mrs. JJ and Jyme stood in the corner of the room talking. Neither one of them even noticed that I was the only one left in the room now. I would have gone back to the room, but I didn’t have a key. I thought of something and walked out to the front desk.
There was a cute, blonde-haired woman behind it.
“Hello,” I said.
“Yes, ma’am, how may I help you?” she asked.
I explained to her that I was the birthday girl, and she knew what party I was with. I told her that I left the key in the room, and she gave me another key then handed me a package. I knew it was Jyme’s and not mine, but I took it anyway, planning to put it in the room.
I walked over to the elevators and was just about to get on when someone caught my arm and tugged a little too hard. I pulled back, and one of my slits on arm sleeve ripped all the way down. I looked up, and it was Loon.
“What the hell, Loon?” I snapped.
“Jyme’s looking for you,” he said, not giving my now ripped dress another glance.
“I’m going upstairs; if he’s looking for me, he knows where to find me.” Loon pressed a button on his phone and said, “She is at the elevator.” Then, he turned back to me. “Don’t move.”
I stood there waiting, and Jyme came from around the corner. He held his hand out for me, and I stood there looking at it. I was not budging until he started talking. He mumbled something to Loon, who quickly disappeared.
Mrs. JJ came around the corner. She walked up to me squeezed my shoulders a little too tightly and gave me a kiss on my cheek before she walked out the front door. I rolled my eyes long and hard at her.
“This thing with you two has to stop.” he scolded me
I stood there as if I was a statue; I was not talking or budging until I got some answers. Jyme ran his hand over his head as if looking for his hair.
“They were some very important people that I was trying to impress.”
I stood there and crossed my arms with my eyebrows raised.
He pulled me closer to him and away from the elevator. I only budged a little because he gave me a little info.
“I’m trying to start up some businesses, and I need their support,” he said.
I started tapping my foot on the marble floor.
“A casino,” he whispered. I frowned at him, and he let his eyes wander around us. “Later, please.” He looked down at his watch and said we needed to go. “Are you okay for two more hours in those shoes?”
“I’m a fucking lady; I can wear these shoes until my feet bleed.”
“I believe you.” He grinned wide, and then guided me out the front door. He helped me into the truck, and then I handed him the box that was at the front desk. “Where did you get this?” he asked in a panic.
“It was at the front desk. I went to get the key, and she told me we had a package.” Jyme yanked his phone out, dialed a number, and then pressed it to his ear. He spoke quickly in that native language again. Then he hung the phone up and shut my door. He walked toward the front of the truck and Loon met him. Jyme handed Loon the box, and then Loon went back in the direction he came from.
Jyme got into the truck, and I didn’t say a word. He sat there for a moment, and then he started the truck. I pulled the seat belt over me and locked it. Jyme pulled out his phone and made another call. He spoke in his language and glanced over at me.
When he hung up, I stared at him.
“I know I owe you a ton of explanations, but please just give me some time to get everything in order.
I nodded, and then he pulled out of the parking lot. We drove in silence for about two miles. Jyme’s mind was working, his eyes were so crazy, and his hands were clenched around the steering wheel.
“I love you,” he said.
If I ever had any doubts about whether he really loved me or not. That look in his eyes now confirmed everything.
After a few minutes’ drive, we arrived at the port. Jyme led me toward a small speedboat and stepped inside.
“I can’t swim,” I told him nervously.
“I can.”
“See the thing is, I don’t like small spaces, and this boat is hella tiny.”
“Cricket, get into the boat.”
I stepped back from him, clutching my small purse to my chest. “I don’t want to.”
“Cricket,” he soothed.
“I don’t want to.”
Jyme jumped out of the boat and pulled me to him. I cried into his chest. A couple of footsteps came up to us fast, and I gripped Jyme tighter.
“Lil Samson, is everything alright?” a man asked.
“Yes, it’s just my girlfriend doesn’t like boats.”
The man laughed.
“Well, hell. How does someone live in the Pacific Northwest and not like boats?” another man stated.
I glared around at him, and when he saw my face, he stopped laughing.
“I think you better shut the hell up, Chuck. Oh, pardon my French, ma’am.”
“I don’t like small boats.” I growled.
“Oh,” Chuck said.
“Well, take my boat. It’s slower than your speed racer, but it will get you where you need to go,” the other man said.
“You don’t mind?” Jyme asked.
“Shoot,” the man laughed. “I think you’re good for it.” Both men laughed now.
“Listen Miss. Lil Samson’s been driving since he was six,” the man told me.
“Five,” Jyme corrected.
They all looked at me, and I nodded. Jyme kissed my forehead and pulled away from me. He stepped back into the small boat and shut it down. He stepped back on the dock and pulled out his wallet. He handed the man a hundred dollars and then told him he was renting his boat for one hour. Before the man could even protest, Jyme slipped another hundred out and said, “Well, we better make that two hours.” I saw the look in Jyme’s eyes, and he was thinking nasty thoughts. My toes tingled.
“Your money’s no good here,” the man protested.
“Take your wife out to an expensive Valentine’s Day dinner,” Jyme suggested.
“I’m taking her out to Grady’s already,” the man answered.
“Grady’s Fish Shack?” Jyme asked in disgust.
“And you know it,” the man said proudly.
“Take her to Palisade for a nice lobster dinner,” Jyme demanded, looking down at me and smiling. I smiled right back at him.
“The steak is really good, too,” I beamed.
“Well, I won’t be able to get reservations for tonight,” the man announced.
Jyme pulled out his phone and shoved the money into the man’s hand. Jyme spoke into the phone briefly.
“You have reservations for eight thirty,” Jyme told him.
“Well, shoot. Thank you, Lil Samson,” the man said.
He handed Jyme the keys and made plans for Jyme to return them. The men bid me farewell and were off. Jyme and I stepped into a boat that was obviously used for working, but it was clean and far bigger than Jyme’s. I felt much safer in it.
We entered into the dark waters. I stood behind Jyme with my arms wrapped around him. He was operating the boat, and it was the sexiest thing I’d ever seen.
“That song last night,” I shouted over the motor.
“What song?” he shouted back.
“At the bar, when you first came to me.”
“Yeah, what about it?”
“What’s it called?”
“They’re an English band.”
“What kind of music is it?”
“Folk rock.”
“What’s the name of the song?”
“White Blank Page.”
Jyme parked the boat at a beach. We walked down the dock and up a flight of stairs. He unlocked a side gate, and we got into a golf cart. My heart was racing from the excitement. I had no idea where we we
re going, and I didn’t care. We made it to a residential area, and he turned down a street with a huge gate. He punched a code in, and the gates opened. We rode down the street, and there was nothing but gates, more gates, and more gates.
At a dead end, Jyme pulled in front of the gate and punched another code in. The gates opened. In the driveway, we got out of the golf cart, and Jyme guided me to the door. He unlocked three locks. Inside, the house was pitch black. Jyme reached against the wall and flipped on the light. And what a light it was. I looked up, and there was nothing but ceiling.
Jyme pulled me further into the house. My shoes clacked against the hard wood floors. We walked past a stairwell, and Jyme looked at his phone and grinned wide. He was up to something, but I didn’t know what. We walked through a living room with a stone fireplace. We entered a kitchen with a brick oven. The room was wide open, and the back wall was nothing but windows, but I couldn’t see a thing because it was so dark. We walked over to a side room with French doors, obviously a dining room. We strolled into another hallway. There was a bathroom, a laundry room, and the door to the two-car garage.
We ended up right back at the entrance, and then we moved on to the second floor. He rushed me through three different bedrooms. I had a feeling there was a main event coming somewhere. He opened the only door we hadn’t been into yet. He pulled his phone out and hurried me over to the huge window, not bothering to turn on the lights. I faced the window and he stood behind me; and then the explosions started.
Chapter 10
The Safe House
The sky filled with a million sparkles, and my eyes widened. A ton of little balls exploded into the sky. I heard whistles and crackling sounds. Jyme brushed my hair to the opposite side of my neck and nuzzled his face in.
“Look.” I pointed out the window. “You’re going to miss it, and it’s amazing.”
“I know it is,” he answered, staring at me. I turned my face to his, and he kissed me. We watched the fireworks show for another five minutes or so.
Heels of Love (G Street Chronicles Presents From Love to Loathe Series) Page 15
