by Calinda B
Sweet Jesus. She grabbed his hand and guided his fingers back down her leg to a safer place.
He chuckled. “So, what do you two do? Zoé tells me you’re into garden design?”
“Yes,” Tanya said. “We have our own nursery. We specialize in native design for high end clients. The ones with money.”
Jace nodded, smiling politely.
He’s bored stiff with my safe friends, Zoé thought.
A pretty waitress with glossy red hair and too perky boobs sashayed over and brightened. “Jace Savage! Long time no see, love!”
Jace flicked a glance at her, recognition forming on his face. “Darlene! Good to see you! How you been?”
“Great. I’ve missed hanging out.” She rested her fingertips on the table, showing everyone her boob job.
Yeah, yeah, we see them. Zoé felt fifteen kinds of mad, as jealousy swarmed like bees around her heart. He’s mine.
Jace glanced at her. He tugged on Zoé’s leg, pulling her closer. He leaned in next to her ear and whispered, “Stop tripping.”
Darlene had eyes for him. “I’d love to take a ride on the yacht again.”
Zoé scoffed. The yacht. Right. That’s what you call it.
“You’ll have to talk to Billy. He and I are on the outs. I’m spending all my free time with my girl, Zoé.” He withdrew his hand from under the table and wrapped it around Zoé’s shoulders.
Darlene’s demeanor turned icy cold.
“I see.” She flashed Zoé a plastic smile.
Zoé flashed one right back. “Nice to meet you. I’m Zoé Dubois.”
And he’s mine, bitch, she wanted to add. Or, am I only fooling myself?
Darlene nodded, turning her attention to the group.
“What can I get you all?” she asked. She pointed to Jace. “I know what this one will have. Snake Bite, right?”
“Yep,” Jace said. “One for my girl, too.”
“Does it kill?” Zoé said. “Can we use it on her?”
Darlene narrowed her eyes and glared at Zoé.
Zoé flashed Jace a chill-filled smile. Inside, she compacted herself into a little ball. Darlene’s stunning. I’m not. I’m safe, ordinary, un-fun and boring. And I excel at picking guys who only want me for sex. She glanced toward the door.
“Pull the claws back, babe,” Jace hissed in her ear. “Now. You’re going to love the Snake Bite I’m going to give you.” He pushed aside her hair, putting his nose into Zoé’s neck, and let his teeth graze her skin.
Bolstered by his affection, Zoé melted into the fake leather covering the booth. Oh. My. God. She nudged him away before her body began to incinerate.
Darlene flounced away, clearly peeved.
Tanya and Tony gawked at them.
“Hey, come back. We didn’t finish our order,” Jace called.
The waitress whirled and stalked back to their table.
“Tony? Tanya?” Jace said, clearly enjoying the effect he had on Zoé.
“A light beer for me and wine for Tanya,” Tony said.
Tanya glanced at him wistfully.
So much for appreciating safe, Zoé thought. She tried to wiggle away from Jace in a show of solidarity with her good friend.
“Where are you going?” he said. “Get over here.”
A few minutes later, Darlene returned, with their drinks on a tray. She made no eye contact with Jace or with Zoé as she set them on the table. Before she left, she gave one last melancholy look in Jace’s direction.
“Cheers, everyone,” Jace said, lifting his glass high.
They tapped glasses and sipped their drinks.
Jace tipped his head back and tossed the liquid in his mouth. He lifted his head, shook it, and smacked his lips.
“Damn that’s good. Down the hatch, baby,” he urged Zoé. He nudged the shot glass in her direction.
Glancing at him, she thought, you need to cut loose to stand a chance with him. Let go. Be wild. Do what Denis would do. She lifted the glass to her lips and poured the Snake Bite in her mouth, coughing when the whiskey hit her throat.
“Wow,” she said, when she’d gotten herself under control. “What’s in that?”
“Yukon Canadian whiskey and lime juice. It’s a man’s drink.” Jace laughed. “And the man’s woman’s drink. Want another?”
“Maybe in a bit. My head’s already spinning.”
A dance worthy tune spilled from the speakers.
“Oh, I love this song!” Zoé exclaimed. She turned to Jace with a grin. “Care to dance, stud? Assuming you can.”
“Oh, I can dance, girl, just you watch.” He urged her from the booth and placed his hand on her back to guide her to the dance floor. His body moved with grace, as his feet alternated between a cha-cha, a chasse, and a hip grinding move that made her cheeks flame. He put his hand around her waist, guiding her effortlessly.
Her eyes widened.
“Wow, you really can dance,” she said, as he maneuvered her body in twirls and two steps across the dance floor. “You’re quite graceful.”
“I like to move.” He held up his hand and instilled a pirouette in her.
“We dance well together,” she added, enjoying this new side of him.
“That’s because our bodies know how to fuck one another,” he said, guiding her backwards, dipping her low.
A small gasp escaped her lips. Lusty fireworks exploded in her belly.
He drew her into him, placing one leg between her thighs. “But there’s always room for practice. Lots and lots and lots.”
He laughed, and twirled her in two revolutions.
Once the song ended, Zoé said, “I’ve got to head to the loo. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
“Can I come?”
“No, you most definitely cannot.” She batted his hand away and headed toward the ladies’ room.
On her way, she passed Darlene.
The redhead didn’t acknowledge her. She stuck her boobs out, however, as if taunting Zoé with her sex appeal.
Zoé started to chide herself. I’ll never measure up to the women Jace likes. She glanced down the hall.
Jace stood talking to someone—a woman. He looked handsome, at ease and confident.
She pulled open the bathroom door, wondering if she should beg off the night with a headache. Then, she could go home and hide. Jace could enjoy himself with Darlene or whomever he was currently talking to.
As she sat inside the stall, the door to the bathroom crashed open and two women entered, laughing, their heels clicking on the tile floor.
“Oopsie,” one of them said.
“Anyone in here?” the other called in a slurred voice.
Their voices sounded familiar. Jasmine? Billy’s latest? And…what was her name? Simone? Without thinking, Zoé quickly drew her feet up on the toilet seat.
“Guess not,” the other one said.
Zoé kept her breathing to a minimum.
“So, when are we leaving for this surprise trip Billy has planned?”
Billy?
“After the trial. He’s having his yacht detailed at Jenner’s…by Jace.” The word emerged on a snake-like hiss. “Damn, that man is fine. I’d sure like to see what hangs in his trousers.” Water splashed into the sink, followed by paper towel dispenser sounds. “Darlene’s already done him. She said he’s a love god. Sex incarnate. Says the man knows how to fuck.”
The redheaded waitress. I knew it! Zoé’s eyes widened.
The two women tittered with laughter.
Her gut began to burn as the green-eyed monster stomped on her good mood. She pressed her fingertips into her temples while the alcohol fuzzed her brain.
“Who’s Darlene?”
“The waitress who served us our drinks, silly.”
“She’s something. Did you see her boobs? Fake. They probably feel like basketballs.”
A hollow clicking, like plastic being tapped on porcelain, echoed through the bathroom, followed by a long sniff. And another.
<
br /> Zoé hunched on the toilet seat. This is what the cool people do. They party and fuck. While I play designated driver or “that responsible girl.”
“Your turn, Simone. We can finish this off. Billy will hook us up with more.”
“So how long do you think the trial will take?”
“I don’t know. Billy says it will be swift and merciless. He says he has a secret weapon to use against Jace. Something to do with his sister. That boy got hisself into some trouble, big time, a couple of years ago, mm hmm. At least that’s what Billy says. He didn’t tell me the details. Do you know Billy’s going to walk away with seven figures? Says he’ll share it all with me.”
What kind of trouble? What now? Zoé huddled in the bathroom stall. Her nose began to drip as tears threatened to pour from her eyes. I’m such an idiot for falling in love with him! She quietly wiped her nose with her hand. He doesn’t want me. I’m nothing.
“You’re lucky, Jaz.”
More plastic tapping and scraping against porcelain sounds. Another sniff.
“Maybe Jace will come around when he’s tired of that new girl. He never stays in one place that long. And anyway…he’s just sampling the wares with her. That’s what I heard, anyway.”
Sampling the wares? I’m in love with someone who’s sampling me? The tears battered her eyes. She blinked wildly to get them to stay put.
“Do you know Kate?” Jasmine asked.
Kate? Zoé’s heart began to beat against her inside, like a wild thing, desperate to get free.
“No, who’s she?”
“Kate Bethlehem. Some fashionista hoe. She spends her time downtown in Seattle, shopping for clothes, when she’s not getting busy with Jace in Port Townsend. That’s the one who’s stringing him along. She’s got her hooks in deep. I met her on Billy’s yacht yesterday. She told me she had him the other night and he was an animal. Fucked her all night long, and boy, it was intense. He’ll never be done with her. Those two are, like…boom-boom, baby!”
I did it again, I did it again. Another guy who’s using me. This is too much. I can’t do this. She dropped her feet to the floor.
Jasmine and Simone gasped.
“Someone’s in here! Shit!”
Zoé yanked open the stall door and made her way to the sink.
“Don’t worry, girls. It’s just your boy Billy’s leftovers.” She stood at the mirror, washing her hands, and patting her hair, pleased by their shocked stares. “What are you looking at?”
They both snapped their mouths shut like dogs with biscuits.
“He’s only using you to get back with Kate,” Jasmine said, a mean smile forming on her face. “Those two have a long, long history.”
“Oh, yeah? Then why’s he acting so crazy about me?” she said, her heart climbing into her throat. She grew frantic inside. She wanted to hurt Jace before she got in too deep.
“It’s a setup. Don’t you get it? The crazier he seems to be about you, the madder Kate gets, the more she wants him. Those two are like a forest fire. That’s what Billy says, anyway. You seem a little naïve when it comes to dating politics, sugar.”
Simone smirked. “Yeah, what do you think? That you’re in some Disney cartoon and you’ve just met your prince?”
Zoé felt like her consciousness was going to catapult out of the room and leave her body behind.
“Jace Savage is no Prince Charming,” Jasmine said. “He’s a bad, bad boy with a wicked hot reputation. We all want him. Kate’s got him. We’re hoping she’ll share.”
Oh, my God, oh, my God, oh, my God! Zoé’s mind began to whirl. Once more I’m being used! One guy’s leftovers and another guy’s sample.
A driving hurricane of emotions hammered at her, making her completely insane.
I thought I loved this guy! I thought he might love me back. Her breath chuffed shallow and rapid in her chest, making her dizzy. Don’t do this. Don’t fall into this trap —again.
She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. Something crazy clawed at her to break free…take a chance…let loose for once and stop being so predictable. Denis lived life to the fullest. He didn’t say no. I’m done being a boring nice girl who gets used by men.
She hesitated. I hate drugs. The choices Denis made had been deadly. Am I making awful choices? Indecision strangled her. This moment could change everything. She could finally cut loose and be free. Free and wild, like a Savage.
“Honey, are you okay?” Jasmine asked her, head cocked to the side, a smirk on her face.
“Fuck Jace Savage,” Zoé said, surprised at her chilling tone. “Got any more of that?” she asked, indicating the white powder remains on the counter.
Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted. “Sure, sugar, want a bump?”
“I’d love to.” Terror flooded Zoé. I can’t do this. I’ve never done this. What am I about to do? The thought of Jace and Kate all “boom-boom” and forest fire hot while he was supposedly with her obliterated any reason or good sense she might possess. “Well?”
She tapped her foot impatiently.
Jasmine reached in her purse and pulled out a small baggie. She carefully poured some onto the porcelain, and, using the edge of a credit card, scraped it into a neat line. “Here you go.”
Zoé hesitated.
“What, you don’t know how to snort coke?” Simone laughed. “Want me to show you?”
“Of course I know how.” Zoé huffed. I’ve watched enough TV. She pulled a crisp dollar bill out of her pocket, rolled it up, placed it at the end of the line, and sniffed. As she inhaled, it felt like someone shoved a sand blaster up her nose. Her head jerked back and she blinked a million miles a minute. “I’d like another.”
Jasmine gave her head a quick toss.
“Yeah, right.” She and Simone snickered. “I think we’ve got a virgin on our hands, Simone. What else you got in your purse?”
“Let me check,” Simone said. “Give her another bump while I dig.”
Jasmine lined up another hit, licking the edge of the card when she finished.
Zoé filled her other nostril. For a moment, she felt completely disoriented. Then, this incredible, happy euphoria kicked in like the whoosh of riding a roller coaster.
“Damn,” she said.
“All I’ve got is some Fentanyl,” Simone said.
“Perfect,” Jasmine said, a smirk on her face. “Give some to Snow White, here.”
Simone pulled the blister pack free from her purse. She peeled back the foil with one manicured nail. “Open up, Snow.”
Zoé opened wide and stuck out her tongue.
Simone dropped the tablet in her mouth. “Leave this under your tongue until it dissolves. It might make you sick to your stomach. It might not. Everyone’s different. But combined with the gutter glitter up your nose, it should start to make you feel really, really good.”
The two women peered at Zoé for a few minutes, watching her.
Zoé’s head started to swim, feeling alternately buzzed and happy, and swirling, about to puke her guts out.
“I don’t…I…” she started to say, before realizing she had no clue what she wanted to communicate.
“She’s a virgin, all right,” Jasmine said, laughing. “Jace will take care of you. He’s helped many a virgin through her first trip.”
“Has he now?” Her eyes blazed.
“Oh, yeah, baby, you’re not his first time…at anything. Your boy toy has a reputation. Have fun. Go. Shoo.”
The words launched into her like a bazooka, ripping apart her insides. She staggered out of the tiny room feeling like whoever had gone in there looking like her, had not emerged. Some new, crazy girl had taken her place.
Jace stood in the hallway corridor. He raised two shot glasses of Snake Bite, a smile forming on his godlike face. His expression froze when he saw her.
“Perfect.” Zoé grabbed one of the shot glasses from his hand, tossing the fire water down her throat. She coughed and sputtered. Her body felt all jittery, fucked
up, and strange. “Were you ever going to tell me the trouble you got into with your sister, Jace? Were you? Or how you fucked Kate the other night, all night long? Is that why you couldn’t stay with me?”
His mouth fell open.
“What? Who told you that?” He studied her face, intently. Then he reached over and brushed his thumb along her nostril. He pulled it back and stared at it, like it belonged to an alien. He drew his thumb along his tongue. His eyes became deadly slits. “What did you do in there?”
“It doesn’t matter. What matters is I keep finding out about you from people and sources other than you. I’m done. I can’t do this.” She brushed past him.
“Baby! Wait! I can explain!”
She whirled around to face him. “No more!”
She quickly backed away.
He dropped his shot glass on the floor. The alcohol spattered the walls. Then, he lunged for her.
She held up her hand in dismissal. “Explanation time’s already expired, stud.” She turned and sprinted to the booth.
Tanya stared at her, her mouth hanging open.
“Sorry, guys, I’ve got a terrible headache. Something I ate didn’t agree with me. I’ve got to head home.”
“Oh, no,” Tanya said. “Do you want me to drive you home?”
“No, I’ll be fine. Just make sure he doesn’t follow me.” She turned and stomped out the front door, her heart jackhammering and doing the jitterbug in her chest.
“Baby,” Jace said, lunging after her. “Stop. We can work this out. Talk to me.”
Cold fury kept her feet walking toward her vehicle. She blipped the unlock button on her key fob, and then reached for the door handle to the Jeep, prying it open.
Jace slammed the door shut, startling her. “You don’t get to walk away from me, Zoé.”
She whirled to face him. “Yes, Jace, I get to do whatever I want. You don’t get to lie to me. We’re done.”
She jabbed her finger into his solid chest. She felt powerful. Immense. Ginormous. Wonderful.
“I’ve never lied to you. Not once.”
“That’s because you never told me anything.” A weird, hysterical laugh left her throat.