by JA Low
No. He’s not talking about me, is he?
My phone vibrates, scaring me.
Shit! I drop it.
The screen flashes Sebastien’s name.
“Hey,” I answer, a little breathless.
“I’m not interrupting anything, am I?” His accent adds a silky, sexual undertone to his question.
“Nope. Just surprised you called me, that’s all.”
“Thought it might be easier than text messaging.” I can hear the grin in his tone.
“I don’t do phone sex,” I blurt out somewhat nervously.
Sebastien chuckles down the phone line. “Okay, good to know.”
“I mean that’s what you were calling for, isn’t it?” My face feels like it’s on fire with embarrassment. “I mean your text sort of… well, you know…”
“What?” he asks, and I can hear the laughter in his tone at my foot in mouth.
“Just flirty.”
“I’m Spanish, everything sounds flirty.” He chuckles.
Oh. Well, that deflated my ego rather quickly.
Right. Yes, I’m reading way too much into this.
“Good. That’s what I thought.” An awesome recovery there, Quinn.
“Quinn,” he says my name pulling me from my thoughts. “I was flirting with you,” he tells me honestly.
Oh.
“I like flirting with you. I can’t seem to stop myself,” he confesses.
Oh.
“Okay.” Not too sure what else to say.
“But…” Of course, there’s a but. “I don’t want my flirting to get in the way of your new life.”
Huh.
“I think you should try everything you can with this new beginning you have been given.”
Okay, then.
“And that means other men.” I choke on my breath. “You’ve been stuck with someone for most of your adult life. Now is the time to explore what you really want.”
“And you think that’s sleeping around with a heap of men?”
Is he drunk? He doesn’t know me at all!
“If it helps you work out what you want in life, then yes. I would never judge you for that. How do you know what you want when you have never experienced it?” Sebastien explains to me.
How very European of him.
“You think I haven’t experienced life?” My tone is rather defensive.
“Do you think you’ve explored it?” He throws the question right back at me.
“Have you?”
The line goes quiet for a bit.
“I like you, Quinn.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “I didn’t think I would from our first meeting, but you’re growing on me.”
“Gee, thanks.”
Sebastien laughs throatily. “I also like flirting with you,” he confesses, making my cheeks burn. “But I worry that due to your lack of, um … experience, that you might misinterpret my flirtation as something more.”
Quickly my lust turns to anger. “Wow. You really do have tickets on yourself, don’t you?” Anger bubbles through my veins, making me pull out my high-pitched Southern drawl. “Sebastien Sanchez kissed me. That must mean we are soulmates. Be still my beating heart. Quick, Momma, call the priest, I found the man I’m going to marry. Is that how naïve you think I am?”
“No. I just didn’t want to lead you on, that’s all,” he tries to explain himself.
“Please, I know exactly what kind of man you are. You have huge commitment issues from your past. Plus, you get distracted by any shiny thing who passes you by. That’s not the kind of man I’m looking for. Maybe for a good time, but most certainly not for a long time,” I tell him.
“Right, well, I’m glad we have that sorted, then,” he adds a little gruffly.
“Me, too. Don’t want to confuse the ditzy blonde, do we.”
“Quinn, I didn’t mean to offend you,” he tries to apologize.
“One can only be offended if they cared in the first place. Goodnight.” And with that parting message, I hang up on him.
Urgh, he’s so frustrating.
Is this what life’s like in the single world?
Well, take it from me, it sucks.
Maybe Lettie’s offer of buying me a gigolo is looking more and more attractive.
11
Sebastien
The phone call with Quinn the other night did not go according to plan. For some stupid reason, I keep offending her. Maybe it’s getting lost in translation? I thought I had a rather good grasp of the English language, but it appears maybe not.
What I was trying to explain to her, obviously not very well, was that whatever chemistry there is between us, and there does seem to be some, if we started anything, even if it was a fling, I know she’d want to be monogamous. Whereas, I’m after an open relationship.
I mean I’m not even after a relationship.
If someone was able to offer Quinn something else, she would turn it down. She’s a loyal woman, and that’s admirable, but she’s just left a crazy controlling partner who she has been with since high school. She doesn’t know what she wants because Chad never allowed her to explore because of his controlling ways.
I’m not going to step in her way at a chance of her finding out who she really is. Maybe I do have tickets on myself like Quinn said, thinking like that. This woman has got my mind all twisted up for some reason, or maybe it’s just LA.
I’ve just finished my last meeting with the network before I head to Spain next week, and I can’t wait to go home. Can’t wait to smell the fresh air. Eat fantastic food. See my friends. My family.
“Hey, sexy,” Derrick Jones greets me. He’s one of the Dirty Texas crew and one of Hollywood’s premium sought-after stylists. He’s also an old friend I know through my sister, Yvette, who’s a fashion designer in Paris.
“Hey.” Standing up, I kiss his cheeks.
“You look a million miles away.” He grins, sitting down.
“Just thinking about going home next week,” I tell him.
Derrick gives me a pout.
“Boo. That sucks. Now, who the hell am I going to flirt with? Guess Christian is going to get all my attention again.” Derrick waves his hand around in the air.
Christian Taylor, from Dirty Texas, is his best friend and married to his other best friend, Vanessa. I’m going to miss this crazy guy and the entire group.
“Oh my God, I’ve just had the most fabulous idea.” Slamming his hand down on the table, he shakes the cutlery, and a fork falls to the floor. “We need to organize a going-away party for you.”
“No.” Shaking my head because knowing Derrick he will make it into something bigger than is required.
“Yes. We can’t let you go back to Spain without a farewell. Why don’t you bring that gorgeous new co-star with you? The girls and I are obsessed with Quinn Miller and Farmhouse Reno.” He claps excitedly.
“Yeah… don’t think that would be a good idea,” I tell him, mainly because Quinn isn’t talking to me.
“Oh, is it because she’s upset about her breakup with Chad?” Derrick pushes. “I mean Chad is hot, and he could get it anytime he wants, but we are all Team Quinn when it comes to the breakup. Something isn’t adding up about that breakup. In my line of work, you hear the whispers and gossip, and word on the street is Chad was cheating on Quinn for a really long time.” Derrick ponders, then he stops and stares at me. “Don’t tell me you and she are like a thing?”
“What, no.” Derrick is too perceptive.
His eyes narrow on me. “I can see it, though,” he adds.
“You don’t even know her,” I state.
“Yet…” he tells me. “Having a farewell party would be a perfect way to meet her. I mean if she’s going to be a part of our gang, we should really thoroughly vet her.”
“Why would she be part of the gang? We’re not dating.” Trying to keep up with Derrick’s train of thought some days is confusing.
“Yet!” he states as if it’s a given.
“I’ve seen the photos in the gossip pages.” He eyes me suspiciously. “Walking the red carpet, hand in hand.” He raises his brow at me.
“That’s because she was freaking out about running into Chad,” I explain.
He nods his head as if he’s following, but I know he’s not. “And what? You were just being chivalrous?”
“Yes.”
“So, have you kissed her?” His question catches me off guard, and so I slip up.
“Yes, but it wasn’t like…” Shit! I see a huge smile form on his face. “It’s not what you think,” I try and assure him.
“I know, it’s hard being a gentleman sometimes.” Derrick grins.
“She’s a good girl,” I argue. “She doesn’t deserve this kind of gossip about her. I mean, I know I have a reputation, but she doesn’t deserve one, too.” His eyes widen with surprise over my defending of Quinn’s honor.
“Now, we do have to meet her. Please,” Derrick whines.
“She’s busy. I doubt she’ll be able to come.”
Derrick waves my concern away. “Come on, who wouldn’t want to meet Dirty Texas?” He grins.
He does have a point, I guess. My only saving grace is the band members are all happily married, so there isn’t a chance she would run off with one of them.
“Fine, I’ll ask.” Giving in to him, Derrick claps excitedly at my answer.
“I promise we will all be on our bestest behavior.”
Yeah, I highly doubt that.
Later that night, I send off a text message to Quinn.
Sebastien: How you doing?
I send the text, and thirty minutes later, no reply.
Sebastien: Dirty Texas wants to throw me a going-away party, and they want you to come.
The little dots undulate under my message.
Quinn: You know Dirty Texas?
Okay, well, that’s a start.
Sebastien: Yes. Known them for years.
The dots appear, then disappear, and then move again.
Quinn: So, you’re telling me Dirty Texas knows who I am? And they invited me to your going-away party that they are throwing.
Sebastien: Their wives are huge fans.
Quinn: Fine. I’m doing it for the wives, not for you.
Okay. Well, I’d call that a semi-win for me.
Sebastien: I’ll text you the details when I get them.
Sebastien: How have you been?
She never replies.
12
Quinn
“Thanks for picking me up,” I say as Sebastien holds the door to his car open for me.
“No problem,” he replies while closing the door, then running around and jumping in beside me.
It’s been a while since our disaster of a phone call.
He still looks good.
Sebastien’s dressed in dark denim jeans, a white-collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up showing off his tanned forearms. The same ones that tense as he shifts gears.
Hold it together, Quinn.
“How have you been?” Sebastien is the first to break the silence. “You all ready for your move?” He doesn’t take his eyes off the road as he speaks.
“Yep. All good. Ready to go.” I nervously play with my skirt, and once again, silence falls between us.
“I’m sorry, Quinn.” He turns and looks over at me as we’ve stopped at a red light. “That phone call the other night didn’t go the way I had planned.”
I let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry for being a moody bitch. The problem is you made some interesting points.”
“Did I?” He smiles. Jerk. “Like what?” He turns, looking at me with a grin.
“About figuring out what I want from life.” His eyebrows rise. “I’ve never really thought about it before. Just followed the path I guess Chad had us on, and now…” I look out the window, watching the traffic pass us by trailing off.
“Now, the world is your oyster,” Sebastien finishes.
“As cliché as that sounds, yes.” Folding my arms in front of me, I sigh.
“It’s not cliché,” Sebastien tells me. “It’s great. You have a clean slate.”
He’s right, but I’m not about to tell him that. The man’s ego is out of control.
“I’m looking forward to the experience. I’ve never traveled to Europe before. Chad never wanted to. So, we never did.” I’ve been googling the hell out of what to do and see while I’m over there. Maybe I might stay on and explore a little more if I like it.
“I think you’re going to fall in love with the place.” He turns and gives me a panty-melting smile.
It doesn’t take us long to arrive at the home of Dirty Texas guitarist, Evan and Sienna Wyld and their family.
“I should warn you…” Sebastien parks the car but doesn’t move to get out, “… my friends have no boundaries.”
What does that mean?
“They are going to ask you inappropriate questions which you do not have to answer, okay?” I nod my head, becoming a little worried. “They are good people, just nosey.” He grins. “Ready?”
“Not so sure now after that glowing reference of your friends.” He chuckles, and we get out of the car. We don’t even get to knock on their large door before it’s yanked open, and a tall, gorgeous man rushes out toward me. He picks me up and swings me around. What the hell?
“Oh my God, I love you so much,” he squeals while spinning me around. Eventually, he puts me down on my feet. “Love your hair.” He grins.
“This is Derrick Jones. Celebrity stylist, gossip queen, and personal-space invader,” Sebastien introduces us.
“We only tolerate him for his looks, not his jokes.” Derrick places an arm around my shoulders and ushers me inside the home.
Stepping through the Hollywood home, there are kids running around everywhere. It’s a circus. Then we pass a couple of members of Dirty Texas.
Oh. My. God!
“Welcome to my home,” Evan Wyld introduces himself while kissing my cheeks. Teenage me is totally fangirling. “My wife loves you. She’s made me sit through pretty much every single episode of your show,” he groans happily.
Oh, wow, this is surreal.
“Go on through to your super fans,” he jokes.
Derrick leads me outside, where there are a couple of gorgeous women sitting around a fire pit drinking cocktails.
“Look who it is,” Derrick yells at the three women.
They all look up and squeal. Then they all jump up from where they’re sitting and rush toward me. Each one of them talking a million miles a minute as they hug me and introduce themselves. This is a little overwhelming.
“Evening, girls,” Sebastien greets them all.
“Hey, Seb,” they say.
“The boys are in the man cave. Why don’t you join them,” states Evan’s wife, Sienna.
“You going to be okay?” Sebastien asks.
“Of course, she is,” Derrick answers for me. “Now, run along.” He dismisses Sebastien, which makes me laugh. I’ve never seen this side of him before. I’m so used to people fawning over Sebastien. It’s really weird seeing his friends ignoring him.
“I’ll be fine,” I tell him.
He nods, pushing his hands into his pockets and walks toward a separate house, where I’m assuming is the man cave. I watch him for a couple more moments.
“His ass looks amazing in those jeans, don’t you think?” Derrick asks me, pulling me from that literal thought.
“I… well…” I am totally flustered by his comment.
“Leave her alone, D,” a dark-haired woman tells him off. Vanessa, I think she said her name was. She’s married to Christian Taylor, the other guitarist in the band. “You will have plenty of time to grill her about Sebastien later.”
I am introduced to everyone.
“Would you like a drink?” Isla, a gorgeous blonde asks me. She’s married to Finn Connolly, the drummer in the
band. She hands me the margarita pitcher.
“Come, sit by the fire. We have food coming,” Sienna tells us. I follow their leads and sit with them.
“Stacey and Olivia are so upset they’re missing this,” Vanessa adds.
“Liv is in England for work, and Stace is in Australia for work, too,” she explains. “They are obsessed with you as well,” she adds while giving me a friendly smile.
“Thanks so much.” Felling a little overwhelmed, I take a sip of my cocktail. Holy hell, that’s strong, but I like it.
“I can’t hold it in any longer…” Derrick bounces in his seat. “I just needed to tell you we are all Team Quinn in this house,” he reassures me.
I choose to choke on my drink at his comment. “You don’t need to pick sides,” I tell him diplomatically.
They all look at each other.
“Girl, please,” Derrick starts. “I’ve heard some whispers around town that Chad Bailey is not the Southern gentleman he portrays on the television.”
Oh, I think I might be looking a little like a deer caught in headlights right now.
“You’ll have to excuse him. He knows no boundaries,” Sienna tells me. “Just so you know… most of us here have had our personal lives splashed across the tabloids for the critics to pick over. So, we get it.” She gives me a reassuring smile.
“Okay, maybe we can circle back to this after a couple more margaritas. But tell us, what’s going on between you and Sebastien?” Derricks ask.
“Derrick,” the girls all hiss at their boundary-jumping friend.
“Nothing,” I tell them. “We are co-stars.”
Derrick’s eyes narrow in on me like he wants to say more but thinks better of it.
“Are you excited about going to Spain?” Isla asks.
“Yeah, I’ve never been to Europe before.”
“Has Sebastien shown you the vineyard?” Vanessa asks.
“It looks so charming. I’m excited to get there and see it up close.”
“We are dying to see what you’re going to do with it. It’s going to be amazing whatever you do,” Sienna adds, her words becoming a little slower the further her glass empties.