by Carina Adams
I pointed to the one Ruffles had been zipping earlier. “Is that Vi’s?”
“Yep.”
“What’s taking her so long?”
Myra lifted a shoulder. “I didn’t see her.”
“Violet, you done with your bag?” She didn’t answer, so I yelled louder. “I’m apparently taking out the royal highnesses’ shit. Want me to take yours to the truck, too?” Nothing. “Vi!”
Ruffles chose that moment to bound down the stairs, her own duffle not closed, and half packed clothes dragged behind her. She’d changed out of her costume and into jeans and a hoodie, but she hadn’t washed her face or taken down her hair.
“Violet’s not up there.”
Myra turned on the couch, the news a shock to her, too.
“She has to be,” I argued and motioned around the studio-style room to make a point. There was no where else she could be.
Cady shook her head.
“Where is she?” I tried, and failed, to keep the worry from my voice. This wasn’t Violet’s first rodeo. She was more than familiar with the rules and she would never leave the designated area without a guard. When Ruffles didn’t answer, I stepped closer to her. “Do you know where she went?”
Ruffles swallowed roughly and looked at Myra before she answered me. “She needed some air.”
“Air?” My mind whirled. “Was she with Andy?”
Ruffles shook her head.
Fuck me. Vi had left the damn cottage alone. “You stay put,” I snarled, moving a finger between the two of them.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to search far. Vi appeared on the other side of my truck, back from fuck knows where, Rome right behind her.
“Look what I found alone in the dark.”
“What in the fuck are you doing?” I almost shouted.
“I need a minute, okay?” Her voice was thick with emotion, the same way it sounded after she’d been crying.
I grabbed her shoulders and inspected her. If one of those dirt bags had so much as looked at her sideways, I’d fucking kill him. “What’s wrong?”
“I—,” She pushed a hand to her stomach and let out a frustrated sigh. “Nothing. I’m fine. Just overtired.”
Of course she was. She’d worked overtime all week to get Ruffles ready. Before she could protest, I scooped her up and carried her inside where I deposited her in an overstuffed chair and checked her over. I couldn’t yell at her if she was hurt, but as long as she appeared to be okay, she'd get an earful.
Satisfied she was indeed in one piece, I stepped back, arms crossed over my chest. I wanted to throttle her. “What in the fuck were you thinking?”
I didn’t miss the way Vi’s eyes darted toward Cady in panic. Or how she swallowed before getting control of her emotions. “I’m exhausted, all right? I needed to wake up. I was only gone for a minute or two.”
“You don’t leave without me or Rome. It’s dangerous.”
She forced a laugh, much more high pitched than her usual contagious giggle. “Dangerous? Those guys are a bunch of pussies.”
“You may think that, but they’re drunk and horny and not used to the word no. If a group like that to finds you wandering alone..."
She scoffed. “Please. They’re friends with Andy. We’ve been here enough times to know they're harmless.”
Harmless? Violet was brilliant. I didn’t recognize the idiot who’d taken up residence in my friend’s body. I stepped forward, not sure what I was going to do, but Rome stopped me.
“Myra, you and Vi go get in Reid’s truck. He’ll be right out.”
The two were out of their seats and gone before I had a chance to stop them, Ruffles hot on their heels.
“Not you,” Roman reached out and grabbed Cady’s arm, halting her escape. I hated his hands on her. She blew out a breath and turned to us. “Why didn’t you tell me Violet wasn’t here? Partners don’t keep secrets from each other. Ever.”
Her words from earlier hit me. She’d thought I was someone else when I’d walked in the door. She’d known Vi had snuck out.
To her credit, she met Roman’s cold stare. “I had no idea that was a rule. I won’t forget in the future.”
“Where’d she go?”
Cady pushed her shoulders back and clenched her jaw as her eyes narrowed on him slightly. “I was in here. How would I know?”
“Take the girls home. Clearly it’s been a long week and they need sleep.” Roman instructed me. “Ruffles and I will get everything cleaned up and bring the rest. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I nodded in understanding, but my eyes never left the woman by his side. The last thing I wanted to do was leave her alone with Rome. The two of them were like oil and vinegar.
She was supposed to be in my bed before the night was over. It fucking hurt to leave her behind. Until Violet was home safe, she was my responsibility. I had to trust Rome to take care of Ruffles.
I focused all my attention on her. “You did good out there tonight.” Her serious frown disappeared, replaced by a shy grin. “Rain check, beautiful?”
Her features pinched in confusion. “For what?”
“I was going to rock your world.”
She laughed, a warm, happy sound. “Sure you were.”
I paused on the porch to look back. Ruffles was shaking her head like I was the craziest person she’d ever met, but at least she was smiling. Roman, on the other hand, was not impressed. His body was stiff and there was a clear tick in his jaw.
“Drive safe with my girl in that piece of shit,” I commanded. “I know where you live.”
Roman’s SUV was practically brand new, but it wasn't about the car. My words were more than a warning. I was staking a claim. His eyes narrowed on mine and I knew he’d understood. Ruffles was mine.
Ten
Roman
Cocky son of a bitch didn’t begin to describe Reid. I scrubbed my hands over my face in an attempt to force the exhaustion away. I didn’t have the patience to deal with inconsequential shit.
It wasn’t like I wanted to drive all the way home with only the pain in the ass that was Cady to keep me awake. Especially after dealing with the dickheads that were my cousins and their guests. But, something was going on with Violet and Reid needed to get her out of there.
I glanced at the girl beside me. Usually Reid and I found the same type of women attractive. Ruffles was as far as you could get from the long legged, kind hearted, soft-spoken beauties that turned us on. She did nothing for me.
I didn’t understand where his head was, but he clearly wasn’t seeing what a mess she was, from her hair to her clothes, to the attitude she constantly shoved in my direction. Cady wasn’t hot. She was a stubborn brat with penis envy who never did what she was told.
As I sneered down at her, I realized she’d finally changed her clothes. Not that her ratty, torn jeans and stained hooded sweatshirt were an upgrade. In fact, the rags looked completely out of place with her stage makeup and hair done.
Her cluelessness, or carelessness, irked me.
“I need to go to the main house and finalize some things.”
“Okay.” She pursed her lips, looking around the room. “I’ll crash on the couch until you’re ready.”
“No. You’re coming with me.”
“Why?”
“Because if I can’t trust Violet to follow the damn rules, I’m not taking my chances with you.”
“I’m not going to leave,” Cady rolled her eyes as if the idea was absurd. “Scouts honor.”
“You were a Girl Scout?” There was no way in hell.
“Nope.”
I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go.” I pointed toward the door, making her groan.
“Ugh. Whatever.”
The walk back to the main house was much quieter than it had been during the other trips. Alastair had probably moved the party to the great room now that the girls were done. Without the music and drunken laughter, I could hear crickets sing. And every once in a while, a barn o
wl called out.
The walkway lights between the buildings had been turned off, which left only the moon and my memory to guide us. From here, the sky stretched for as far as the eye could see. It gave me an inner peace I hadn’t experienced in months.
Once, not long ago, we’d spent hours lying in the field, staring up at the sky - Brooke, Reid, and me. We’d shared our hopes and dreams and made foolish plans. Everything then had been so simple and easy. I’d known what I wanted.
The memory of those forgotten nights, back when life made sense, left a sour taste in my mouth. I missed the kids we’d been and the innocence we’d had, almost as much as I missed my fiancé. I’d give anything to go back.
“It’s gorgeous here.”
Annoyed at the intrusion, and that Cady was there instead of the people I wanted to be around, I nodded. Pissed off at everything.
“This is really your cousin’s place?”
The question startled me. I’d just assumed she’d known, or that someone had told her where we were. Thankfully she continued without waiting for me to answer.
“I met him earlier. Andy? He seemed nice.”
I didn’t know what in the fuck she wanted me to say. Andy was nice, but he was also an idiot. He never took anything seriously. His whole world was one big fucking playground.
I didn’t understand this chick at all. She had Reid practically pissing on her leg, something most women would kill for, yet she wanted to know about my goofball of a cousin. It didn’t add up.
Unless you brought money into the equation. She’d probably gotten just enough of the house and the men inside to see dollar signs. The MacGregor millions were a far cry from a dancer’s salary.
“It’s actually a family estate. My grandparents own it.” If she heard the bite in my tone she didn’t react.
“Seriously? You got to grow up here?”
“Summers, yeah. My cousin Alastair is set to inherit it all.”
“Bummer.”
Of course she’d be disappointed. She’d lost her meal ticket before she’d ever gotten him.
“You’re stronger than I am.”
“What?”
She threw her arms open. “This is the place childhood dreams are made of. It’s sad to think it’s not going to your entire family. There’s too much space here for just one person. It should be filled with laughter and life, tons of kids running around.”
“You sound like my grandmother.”
“Then, she’s a smart woman.” She chuckled to herself as we stepped onto the patio. “So, what does Andy do?”
The bitterness I’d forgot a moment before hit me like a tidal wave. “Little out of your league, isn’t he? It’s not like the two of you belong to the same social circle.”
She didn’t miss the message that time. Not offended, she laughed. “Oh, my God, no!” We’d stopped walking so she could compose herself. “Shit. That’s hilarious.” She cleared her throat. “I’m sure he’s really nice,” she started cautiously, as if not wanting to offend me, “but Andy really isn’t my type.”
I called bullshit.
Andy was the golden boy. He was always laughing because he didn’t have any real life stresses. His mother came from money and his trust fund was large enough to last him three lifetimes. And, other than the red hair, he had the MacGregor genes. Andy was everyone’s type.
“Because he’s got a dick?”
That started another wave of obnoxious giggles. Finally, she waved a hand in the air, as if to say she was fine. I disagreed. She was a lunatic.
“I’m not a lesbian.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “God, it’s hilarious you think that. Wait until I tell Frankie. She’ll do that scowling, ‘I told you so’ face. Is it the clothes?” She tugged on her sweatshirt. “I look like I’m butch, right?” She sighed. “Nah. Surprisingly, I’d rather suck dick than eat pussy.” She barely got the sentence out, the same words I’d thrown at her earlier, before she was laughing again.
It wasn’t that funny. Jesus.
I tipped my head back and looked at the sky as I prayed for patience. I’d known she wasn’t, yet part of me had hoped she was. It would make life easier.
“Why all the questions about Andrew?”
“Violet.” She shrugged. “I worry about my friends. It’s a nasty habit I can’t seem to drop. I’m overprotective.”
“Nothing wrong with that.” I ushered her through the door in front of me. “Sometimes our friends are the ones who see the truth long before we do.”
“Preach it,” she nodded. “Should I worry?”
“About Andy? Nah. They’re playing around. They’ve been like that for years.”
She didn’t look like she believed me, but didn’t say anything else when she noticed the topic of conversation on the other side of the room, large trash bag in hand as he cleaned up the remnants of the party. I lowered my voice so only she could hear me. “Vi can handle herself. If for some reason she can’t, Reid will step in.”
“He’s pretty intense, isn’t he? Even when he’s joking around.”
Intense was an understatement. Reid had an opinion about everything. He lived to the extreme, either all in or all out. When he set his sights on something, he did whatever it took to get it. For a fleeting moment, I questioned if I should warn her she was in over her head.
Andy spoke before I could. “Thought you’d be gone by now. Change your mind about staying?”
“We need to talk.”
He dropped the bag. “Good. I need a break.” He picked up a decanter. “And a drink.”
My eyes roamed around the room that resembled a frat house more than the typically tidy space. I was too tired to deal with the disaster the guys had left. “Kitchen?”
“Fuck, yes.”
I started to follow him out when Cady lifted the forgotten trash bag. “What are you doing?”
Looking at me like I had two heads, she lapped her lips and took a deep breath. “This is a trash bag.” She informed me in her best teacher’s voice. “It’s where you place discarded items when you have no more use for them. Like this.” She bent over and picked up a red Solo cup before making a big production of dropping it into the open bag. “See? It’s really quite simple. It’s what normal people do when they’re done with something.”
“I know what you’re doing, wise ass. Why in the fuck are you doing it?”
“It needs to be done.”
“You get paid to dance, not clean.”
“Not today I don’t.” She lifted one hand in exasperation. “Today I apparently get paid to sit on my ass. At least this is more fun.”
When I didn’t move, she shooed me away with her hands. “Go. Do what you need to do so we can get on the road.”
“I didn’t bring you down here so you could play housekeeper.”
Her eyes bore into mine in silent challenge, the same way they had in the coffee shop the day I’d met her. “Shame. I bet I could pull off a naughty French maid.” A single fingertip tapped her chin. “Randy could make a kick-ass costume. Maybe then you’d let me do my damn job.”
My teeth ground together. She was the most infuriating thing I’d ever dealt with. Considering my family and friends, and life over the last year in general, that was saying something.
“Cute. Really,” I narrowed my eyes. “If I’m in the kitchen, I won’t have eyes on you in here.”
“Ah, yes. Because I’m obviously going to steal something,” she scoffed, aggravated. “Dick.”
“Jesus, you are insufferable.”
“Aww. Coming from you, that’s a compliment.”
“It’s my job to have your back.” I ground out, expecting her to bitch about the fact that dancing was hers.
“There’s no one here!” She shouted, surprising me. “They’re all gone. What are you protecting me from? The scary dolls in the cabinet?”
I didn’t need to look at my Gran’s display shelf to know what Cady was talking about. The porcelain babies had always given me
the creeps. I was too infuriated to play along.
“Fine.” In two long strides I was in front of her, snatching the white plastic from her fingers. “We’ll clean the room first.”
Her face softened. “You’re exhausted. I can do this while you go do whatever you need to.”
“Just once, can you shut up and do what you’re told?”
“News flash, asshat, I will never do what I’m told. Ask nicely. Give a suggestion. Maybe I’ll listen. You want someone to obey you, get a dog.”
“I totally call bullshit on that no fucking your co-worker rule,” Andrew, the idiot, interjected. He’d leaned a shoulder against the door frame and seemed to be enjoying the argument. “If you two aren’t bumping uglies yet, you will be soon.”
“Yeah, no.” Cady chortled.
“You say that now,” he teased, “then you’ll be humping like bunnies.”
I threw a cup at him. “Shut up and get your drunk ass in here to help.”
“Fine,” he grumbled, “then we’re having a drink.”
Somehow, one drink turned into many, and almost three hours later, Cady and I were still at the kitchen table, talking about everything and nothing at all with Andy. When we’d polished off the second bottle of Jack, I looked at my watch, but the hands were too blurry to differentiate.
“Shit. What time is it?”
Cady grabbed my wrist and turned it so she could see. “Whoa. That’s really nice.”
“It’s a TAG,” my useless shit of a cousin informed her with a smug grin. “Brooke bought it for him as an engagement present. Fucker still wears it, but I can guarantee she doesn’t wear his ring.”
“What time is it?” I asked again as I flipped him off.
Cady bent over, the tip of her nose touching my sleeve. “Two.” She looked up at me, eyes unfocused from the shots I’d insisted she take. “Is it really that late?”
“Or that early.” Andy pointed out. “You missed last call with the crew.”
We always went out drinking after a gig. It was tradition. I didn’t bother to tell him Reid had gone straight home after Violet’s little stunt.
“Wait.” He sat back looking at Cady with narrowed eyes. “Are you even old enough to drink?”
