He sighed and began buttoning his shirt back up. “It’s not that funny. Wow. Way to cause some shrinkage, James.”
She slid across the lounge, reached out and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry for laughing. You just surprised me. I really do appreciate the offer. You are the best friend I could ever imagine and if I didn’t think it would make things awkward I’d be thrilled to be mounted by you. I’m so lucky to have you.” She pressed a smacking kiss against his cheek and pulled back to look into his vivid green eyes.
He pulled her tight again. “I would, you know. Do anything to make you feel better. Even touch your girly parts,” he whispered against her neck. “By the way, you scared the hell out of me earlier when you were freaking out. Promise me you’ll never lose your shit like that again, okay?” For once Clay sounded completely serious.
Jamie buried her face in his shirt for a moment, savoring his closeness and obvious concern. Their relationship wasn’t typical but she wouldn’t change a thing. Usually. She really was the most fortunate of women to have him in her life. “I can’t really promise that I won’t freak out anymore because I don’t know where all that came from. I guess I’ve been trying so hard to keep my emotions in check for so long that they finally exploded. When I saw you coming down the street I just panicked because I thought you were going to abandon me over the whole article thing.”
“Lack of sex. I’m telling you. It’s not natural. You had some kind of hormonal build up,” he said pulling back to look at her. “And just for the record, I will never abandon you. There’s nothing you’re capable of doing that would ever make me stop being your friend. You’re stuck with me. Life time sentence, baby.” He held out his hand and they shook on it.
“Oh Clay. I’m an idiot. I can’t believe I ever doubted you. You’re stuck with me too, by the way.” She squeezed him one more time and then shifted far enough away from him to grab her coffee. “Now, what should we do about Mr. Kevin Hall? I don’t know how it happened, but I think I really do care about him. A lot. And even if he is with Kerry, I still need to apologize and clear the air with him. Maybe even warn him about her.”
Clay shook his head in disbelief. “The infamous man-eater, Cinnamon Spice, has finally fallen for a guy. I never thought I’d see this sad day. I’m actually a little jealous.”
His tone was mocking but Jamie detected a disturbing note of something else mixed in with his usual humor. He almost sounded hurt. Was it possible that Clay was actually jealous? No, that was impossible. He was gay.
Then she thought about the weird way Clay had clung to her when Kevin had come into the store to flirt with Cathy. Had he felt threatened by Kevin, even then? But then why had he sent Kevin to White Rock? It didn’t make any sense. She was tempted to ask him about it but didn’t quite have the guts. She needed him too much to risk embarrassing her friend. Besides what good would it do? She adored Clay and he was totally gorgeous but she wasn’t attracted to him in that way. Now that she knew what it felt like to fall in love she didn’t want to settle for anything less. She just hoped she would find it again. Somehow she doubted she’d get that lucky but she would try. And next time she wouldn’t let it pass her by.
She reached over and squeezed Clay’s hand. “Don’t be jealous. He’s with someone, remember? I’m about to humiliate myself.”
Clay rubbed his hands together. “Yeah. I can’t wait for that part. You’re long overdue for a little humble pie, you know.”
“So much for Supportive Clay. I’ll miss him.” She said with a long-suffering sigh.
Clay grinned cheekily. “I’ll bring him back for a guest spot when the next guy breaks your heart, okay?”
“Deal. Just don’t offer to mount me again.”
“Sorry, but that’s going to be my go to move from now on. It certainly cheered you up in a hurry.”
Jamie smiled and felt her body relax for what seemed like the first time in months. She had Clay in her corner and that meant so much to her. Maybe together they could come up with a plan to save the store. And if not, she would find a new dream. Something less stressful and hopefully more fun. She just wasn’t cut out for this conservative corporate world. She needed to stop denying the wild and creative side of her personality and learn to embrace it again.
Right now, however, tracking Kevin down was her number one priority. Love Law #2 be damned. She was going to do what she should have done weeks ago – be totally honest with him. Even if he was in love with Kerry and she made an utter fool of herself he needed to know that she regretted the way she’d treated him.
She just hoped Kerry wouldn’t be around to witness her humiliation. That would be too much to bear.
Chapter Sixteen
Kevin banged his fist against the heavy door to Kerry’s hotel suite. When she didn’t answer immediately he stood impatiently, shifting from one large foot to the other as he waited. Thirty long seconds passed and he thought seriously about breaking the door down.
His hands were actually shaking he was so pissed off. Coming here was a huge mistake. He didn’t trust himself right now but Kerry had finally pushed him too far.
Ten minutes earlier he’d been sitting at his hotel desk down the hall, working on his new project when he’d decided to check The Vancouver Star website for any new Comments on Jamie’s Love Law #7. He’d read that particular entry last night when it had just been posted and he was curious about the public’s reaction. So far the response wasn’t good. Jamie had managed to offend just about everyone. Including him.
It was obvious to him who that particular entry was directed at. What he couldn’t figure out was why Jamie was so worked up now, eleven days since they’d last seen each other? It didn’t make sense. Until he saw the horribly long and critical Comment about Jamie’s store with Kerry’s profile picture attached. With growing dread he’d clicked on the link embedded in the Comment and watched as Jamie’s beautiful face appeared on his screen.
At first he’d paused the video, content to just drink in the sight of her. The lingerie pictures were gorgeous and sexy but they didn’t compare to her in the flesh. The light in her eyes and the animation in her movements were missing from the pin-ups. God, he missed her. How had he managed to stay away so long? Then he thought about the way she’d ran from his car in White Rock. She’d fled like he was diseased and it became obvious why he hadn’t approached her again. It was simple. She didn’t want him. The article demonstrated that quite vividly.
Disgusted with himself he played the rest of the video. It was obviously shot on a cell phone aimed at Jamie without her knowledge. He stared until his eyes felt strained but it was difficult to discern what was going on since most of Kerry’s dialogue was cut out. All he could really tell with absolute certainty was that Jamie was being goaded somehow.
He played it again. And again. Trying to catch the nuances, but it was impossible. The video was just too awful to make out what was going on between the two women. He turned up the volume to nearly deafening and played it again. There was Jamie, gorgeous but clearly irritated. It was a look he was familiar with. On the video she said, ‘Sorry to hear about your marriage not working out.’ Her voice was snide and not professional in the least.
Before the perspective shifted he was just able to make out Kerry’s faint voice in the background. ‘Kevin hasn’t told him yet.’
He played it again, thinking he’d heard it wrong. But no. That was Kerry’s voice and she was talking about him. Why the hell would she be talking about him with Jamie? And why was Kerry even bothering to sabotage Jamie like this? It made no sense. The women didn’t even know each other as far as he knew. He needed to get to the bottom of this and that meant talking to Kerry. No good had ever coming from talking to her but there was a first time for everything.
He was out of his chair before he knew it and rushing down the hall like a rampaging bull. He skidded to a stop in front of her door and rapped his closed fist against the wood several times. No response.<
br />
Just as he was about to give the door a good kick it cracked open a few inches and Kerry’s smug face appeared.
“Kevin,” she said coolly, not moving to invite him in. “What are you doing here? I thought you were done ‘playing games’ with me. Did you change your mind? Because I have a few games in mind if you’re interested.” Her words were flirtatious but her tone was emotionless, almost hollow.
“Kerry. Quit fucking around,” he said through gritted teeth. “And let me in.” The last place he wanted to be was in Kerry’s room with her but he didn’t have much choice. He needed to confront her and the hallway would only draw more unwanted attention to this conversation.
“Hmmm. I don’t think I like your tone. Maybe another time. When you’re feeling more polite,” she said playfully as she began to push the door closed in his face.
“Let me in or I swear to God I am going to find out who’s financing your stay here and tell him what you’ve been up to.” He was bluffing. He had no idea if she had a sugar daddy or not. But he did know exactly how expensive the executive suites at this particular hotel were and the odds of Kerry footing the bill herself were slim. So it only made sense that she must have a patron with more money than sense covering her expenses.
“Fine,” she said tersely, throwing the door open. “But I have a meeting in an hour so don’t expect much foreplay.” She began unzipping her white skirt slowly as she walked backward towards the massive bed, flashing her toned midriff and more than a little thong as she went.
“Jeez, Kerry. That’s not why I’m here,” Kevin growled. A month ago he would have been turned on by her display. Today, however, her attempt at seduction just seemed cold and more than a little pathetic. Did she actually think she could distract him so easily? Apparently so.
She stopped and put her hands on her exposed hips. “Then why are you here exactly? If it’s to apologize for kicking me out of your room last week, then please spare me. I can’t stomach it when you get all noble. It’s so tiresome.” She sighed, sat down on the end of the bed and began brushing out her long, silky hair while staring at her own reflection in the mirror attached to the bureau.
“Hardly. I’m here about your little online attack on Jamie. Why would you do that? You don’t even know her. If this is a jealousy thing, don’t bother. She’s told me in no uncertain terms that she’s not interested in me. So no need to get territorial.”
Kerry laughed and flicked her glaze at him. “Oh Kevin. You really are so full of yourself. Why would I care if you have a little crush on that cow? Those articles in your room just gave me a little inspiration is all.”
Kevin gritted his teeth and ignored the insult to Jamie. Defending her would only draw Kerry’s ire. If she suspected how much he truly cared about Jamie then there was no telling how she would react. It was best for her to believe there was nothing between them. “Inspiration? For what?”
She dropped the brush and turned towards him, suddenly animated with excitement. “Well, remember that reality show I mentioned?”
He nodded, vaguely recalling that she’d had some kind of audition.
“My agent suggested that I needed to show the producers exactly what I’m capable of. So I staged the whole thing to gain some notoriety and increase my public image. He said it was brilliant,” she said proudly.
Kevin blinked several times and then spoke very slowly. “Let me get this straight. Your agent encouraged you to sabotage an innocent woman on the off chance that some Hollywood dickheads might be interested in casting you in a stupid reality show? Sounds like a really worthwhile project.”
She gave him a dark look. “It’s not stupid. It’s called ‘Celebrity Exes’ and if I get cast on it then there’s the possibility that I could get my own spinoff. If I’m ruthless and controversial enough. Don’t you see? This is my big chance. I was born to do this.”
He shook his head in disbelief. “Wow. Ker. You’re unbelievable. Why not just get a real job?”
She stood up and pointed at him with one long, manicured finger. “Are you kidding? What do you imagine me doing exactly? Working at Starbucks? I don’t think so. Besides, I don’t have time for a job. This…” She gestured down at her body. “…Requires most of my time to maintain. Facials, personal trainers, hair treatments, massages, manicures and pedicures – all these things require time and money. In a few years I’ll need plastic surgery too. So who has time for work? Not me.”
Kevin rolled his eyes. “I hate to point this out but Dunc is hardly a celebrity. Don’t you have to actually be, I don’t know, the ex of a celebrity to be on this ridiculous show?”
“Duncan may not be famous but he is the heir to his grandmother’s condom empire. And I was married to a European Count for a few months last year. And then there’s you.”
“Me?” He nearly shouted. “I’m hardly a celebrity. And we never technically dated.”
“Maybe not,” she purred. “But we do have some history. And you are a fairly famous writer. That’s not as good as an actor or a singer, but it should be enough to qualify you as a celebrity.”
“Kerry. Seriously. Do you think I’m going to let you go on television and talk about our nonexistent relationship? You need your head examined.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have much choice. Everyone saw you come to my defense in that bar last week. And I do have some other evidence,” she said with an exaggerated wink and a small smile.
He just stared at her. “What evidence?”
She picked up her phone from the nearby bureau and began flipping through screens. “Now don’t bother trying to erase these pictures because they’ve already been uploaded to my cloud drive.” Proudly, she held out the phone and displayed a very suggestive picture of them on his hotel bed. She was naked, sitting astride his hips as she smiled sensually at the camera. She must have taken it while he was unconscious. The camera angle cut off the top half of his face but his broken nose, open mouth and bare chest were easily recognizable.
He pushed the camera back at her. “What the fuck? Kerry. You have officially lost your mind. What does that prove exactly? That we may or may not have slept together? You can’t even see my face.”
“Maybe not, but I’ll bet it’s enough to convince your little red-headed slut that we’ve been together recently. The broken nose and the time stamp are pretty convincing, don’t you think?”
Kevin went cold. He didn’t owe Jamie his fidelity. They had parted ways with the understanding that there was nothing between them. But he still had hope she would change her mind if he gave her some time to realize she had feelings for him. And if he could somehow prove he wasn’t the rutting man-whore she believed him to be. If Jamie suspected he’d slept with Kerry the night they’d gone to the movies together there was no way she would forgive him. Any chance he’d had to change her mind would be dashed in the flash of a camera phone.
Praying he could lie convincingly for once Kevin gave Kerry a bored look. “Ker. I already told you she’s not interested. What do I care if you show her a picture of me in a Tequila coma? Besides, do you really think she’ll be receptive to anything you show her after what you did to her online?”
“I was going to send it to her anonymously,” she said, holding his gaze as she walked towards him. “Her lame store has an even lamer website. There’s an email address there.” With a conspirator’s smile that somehow didn’t touch her eyes, she stepped into his personal space until she was pressed against him from thigh to chest.
He nearly recoiled at her touch. It was so tempting to put some distance between them but instead he relaxed against her. She couldn’t know how distasteful he found her now. His best bet was to allow at least some pretense at flirtation. She was much more likely to let down her guard if she thought she could seduce him. He raised one eyebrow and placed his big hands on her slight shoulders, massaging gently. “And you think she’d open an attachment from an anonymous source? Doubtful. Face it. You didn’t think this out very c
arefully, did you?”
She looked up at him through lowered lashes. “Whatever. Snail-mail will work just as well. In fact, a full colour print would probably be much more dramatic. It would show of your body much better, don’t you think?” She ran her hand down his abdomen until she reached his belt buckle. “Thanks for the suggestion, Lover.”
Despite his best intentions he felt his body responding to her close proximity. His cock hardened painfully and he closed his eyes at the sensation. Almost two weeks without sex was some kind of record for him and his dick was not happy with the dry spell.
His uncomfortable physical response to Kerry aside, he had no real desire to sleep with her. Intellectually and emotionally he was repulsed by her. Who knew such a thing was even possible? Until recently an erection equalled wanting to have sex. It was that simple. He’d never questioned it before. He’d thought perhaps the night he’d gotten his nose broken and he’d thrown Kerry out after a few kisses had been an aberration but it clearly wasn’t. He was finding it surprisingly easy to resist his body’s demand for sex. As pleasurable as it would be to use Kerry and slake his lust it wasn’t what he wanted anymore. He really only craved one woman.
God. He was so whipped.
“Kerry. Why don’t you just tell me what’s really going on here?” He asked as he gently removed her delicate hand from his belt and forced it behind her. He did the same with her other until he had both wrists secured at the small of her back in one of his large hands. She was now pressed tightly against him with her small breasts thrust up against his chest. She gave an experimental little wiggle to test his hold on her and seemed surprised to find that she was very effectively trapped.
She gave him a heated look. This time her interest seemed sincere. “Going on? Well, it feels like you’re getting ready to play Master. I’m a bit surprised. You’re usually not quite so forceful. But we can try it rough if you want. I can be your dutiful servant for a night.” She arched against him rubbing herself shamelessly against the front of his tented jeans.
The Love Laws Page 24