by Cat Johnson
Aaron looked amused. “I meant I tried to brush off the dirt, but my shirt took the brunt of my wreck yesterday, and it shows in the amount of dirt ground into the shoulder.”
“Oh. That’s what you’d meant.”
Grinning, he shook his head. “You don’t pull any punches, do you, girl?”
“Not if I can help it.” She bit her tongue plenty of times in the course of her job, but in real life, Jill made it a policy to call it like she saw it. She pushed the menu toward him. “Choose and I’ll call it in.”
Sitting in the chair opposite Jill, he glanced down at the menu open on the table and then back up at her. “You sure this is okay?”
“I swear. We have an expense account for food when we travel. It’s expected.”
Even CeCe wasn’t such a bitch she wouldn’t feed her booty call. She’d want him to be well fueled in case she woke up horny.
After another hesitation, he nodded. “A’ight. Steak and eggs. Steak, medium rare. Eggs, over easy. White toast. And orange juice, please.”
He’d obviously gotten over his reluctance to order anything and was going all in. She could appreciate a man who enjoyed a good hearty breakfast. “Impressive.”
He laughed. “Why? What are you getting?”
She’d been looking to go healthy. Egg-white omelet maybe, or the yogurt and fruit, but after watching Aaron’s reckless abandon, Jill ditched that idea. “Eggs Benedict.”
He dipped his head. “Impressive, as well.”
Jill lifted one shoulder. “I figure that’s something I’ll never make for myself at home so…”
“Then it’s an excellent choice.” He smiled and her gaze dropped to the dimple in his chin. Jill imagined nibbling on it and had to yank her mind off that image.
Enough of that. She pulled the room phone closer, dialed for room service and placed the order while he watched. Feeling uncomfortable at the attention, Jill hung up and said, “They said half an hour.”
“A’ight. I won’t starve in the next thirty minutes—most like.” He grinned.
“I hope not. I’d hate to have to explain the body. I mean, I’m the best public relations exec in the company, but still.”
He laughed, and she couldn’t help focusing on his lips and then thinking about his lips on CeCe. Shaking off that image, she went on, “So you ride again today?”
“Yup. This afternoon. And actually, there’s a rider meeting before it, so I’m going to have to get after we eat. I should text Garret. See if he’s awake and can come get me.” He leaned back and pulled his cell out of his jeans pocket, staring down as he punched in the text.
“If he’s not awake, seriously, you can take the limo.”
“Let’s see about Garret and Chase first. I can’t call Skeeter and Riley. They’re driving the big stock trailer for this event.”
That elicited a burst of a laugh from Jill. “Sorry. It’s just I can only imagine what the management of the Mandarin, not to mention the valet, would think about that big Davis Stock trailer pulling up to the front door to pick you up.”
Aaron let out a snort. “Yeah. You’re probably right about that.” He raised those violet-blue eyes to her. “So what did I miss last night? And how’d you end up hooking up with a bunch of no good bull riders?”
He sounded wistful. Like he would have rather been out with her and his friends than with CeCe last night. Interesting.
“Garret found me standing at the door of the arena waiting for a cab.”
“Oh, yeah, cabs don’t like to come out to the arena. Too far from town.”
She nodded. “So I’ve been told. It would have been nice to know that before.”
“You should have taken the limo.” He was being a smart ass, trying to pay her back for pushing the limo on him.
Jill cocked a brow. “I would have loved to, but it was otherwise occupied at the time.” And in fact, she should bring some antibacterial wipes with her and wipe down the back seats, because she hated to even think about what might be on them.
“Oh, yeah. I forgot.” He had the decency to look contrite, pressing his lips together as his gaze dropped away from hers.
“Anyway, Garret told me he was meeting everybody at the bar for beer and hot wings, so I went along.”
“Damn. Hot wings sound good.”
“It’s morning.”
“I know, but I’m really hungry.”
She laughed and went on with her story. “So things were pretty quiet until I bought a round of shots…and then another.”
“Shots.” He raised his dark brows high. “What kind of shots?”
Aaron must suffer from envy too, judging by his level of interest in every detail of last night. The grass was always greener. A man can’t have limo sex and a night with CeCe Cole and be out with his buddies at the bar at the same time.
“Garret wanted Slippery Nipples but I ordered Fireballs. My round, my choice.”
Aaron laughed. “Garret’s always ordering those. I think he just likes the name of that one. It’s kind of too sweet actually.”
“Well, I wasn’t going up and ordering four Slippery Nipples, that’s for damn sure.”
He grinned. “Embarrassed?”
“Yes.” She nodded. It was easy talking to him. Too easy. She’d have to remember to keep her distance today at the event. CeCe hadn’t looked too happy yesterday when Jill had talked too much to Aaron.
“So after the shots…” He prompted her to continue.
“The karaoke girl set up.”
“And it was all downhill from there.” Aaron smiled wide. “Things got ugly, I bet.”
“No. Not so bad. Skeeter and Riley did that old Sonny and Cher song. It was pretty cute. And I still maintain that Chase, Garret and me doing that Band Perry song kicked some serious musical ass. I’ll have to look at the video Skeeter shot on his phone now that I’m sober to be sure though.”
Aaron laughed. “Damn. I’m sorry I missed it.”
“So am I.” More than he could know.
The bedroom door opened and CeCe stood in it, looking less than happy. “Aaron.”
He stood and turned. “Hey. Good morning.”
“Good morning. What are you doing?” CeCe’s gaze cut from Aaron to Jill, the suspicion and curiosity clear in her expression.
Amazingly, she had already applied a full face of make-up, even though Jill was sure she’d love Aaron to believe she woke up looking so put together naturally.
“Waiting on breakfast.” Aaron had no idea the minefield he was in the middle of.
Jill scrambled to get them both out of it. “I was making a pot of coffee for you and Aaron came out looking for food, so I told him to order room service.”
“Oh.” Pasting on a smile, CeCe stepped forward toward Aaron, hooking her arm possessively through his.
Jill stood. There was no excuse or explanation that would ease CeCe’s displeasure at having found her boy toy with Jill alone. Time to make an escape and quick. “I’m heading back to my room. I’ve still got some work to get done this morning.”
Aaron turned to frown at her. “Wait. What about your eggs?”
“Um, can you send the guy next door with them when he gets here?”
“A’ight. I’ll do that.” He nodded.
“Thanks.” Jill grabbed her coffee cup. She was willing to bow out gracefully. Leave CeCe to devour Aaron for breakfast if that’s what her boss wanted to do, but Jill would be damned if she was going to sacrifice her morning cup of coffee.
CeCe intently watching the interaction between her and Aaron had Jill forgoing the instinct to say she’d see him later at the event. Instead, Jill took the safer, more conservative course of action. She remained silent and left.
Hopefully, Aaron would soothe CeCe’s ruffled feathers.
Jaw clenched as J
ill envisioned the many ways Aaron could do that, she went to her dark, lonely room.
Chapter Twelve
“So you two get settled up here and I’ll be back.”
“Don’t go.” CeCe clamped down on Aaron’s arm.
He frowned down at her hand wrapped around his biceps. “CeCe, I’m coming right back. I’ve just got to prep my rope.”
“Can’t someone else do that for you?”
Oh, yeah, that would go over real well. Because his friends wouldn’t mock him forever if he told them he couldn’t prep his own damn bull rope because last night’s hookup wouldn’t let him leave her side. Even Garret, legally part of Aaron’s family by marriage, would never let him get away with that shit, and he wouldn’t blame him.
“No, I can’t ask them. They have their own shit to do.”
She was being ridiculous. Insane. Like stalker crazy.
Oh, Jesus. What if CeCe turned out to be a crazy stalker? He’d assumed this weekend with him was just a diversion for her. At least, he’d hoped that was it. Just a divorced woman sowing her wild oats with a younger man now that she was free from her ex-husband. But this behavior, her death grip on his arm, set off the warning bells in his head. As did the killer look CeCe had shot Jill simply for talking to him.
Not good. In fact, this could turn out to be very bad. Very, very bad.
What could he do about it? Tell Tom Parsons? That wouldn’t go over too well either. Aaron had a suspicion that Tom and the association wouldn’t give a crap if it turned out that CeCe was bat-shit crazy. Her money still kept this circuit running.
“CeCe, I swear. I’ll be gone ten minutes at the most.”
She pouted. At one point yesterday, that no-doubt practiced move had him fantasizing about what her lips could do when wrapped around his cock. Today, he was beginning to realize she used it much too often and the habit made her seem more like a grown woman behaving like a spoiled brat.
“I guess I’m a little oversensitive today. I didn’t like waking up in bed alone this morning.”
Aaron drew in a breath. “I’m sorry. I told you, I was thirsty and hungry and you were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake you.”
“Aw, you’re so sweet, worrying about me. I’ll make sure the front desk knows to bring you anything your little heart desires.” She emphasized each word with a tap on his chest.
What his heart desired right now was to prep his damn rope and for her to stop making lovey dovey eyes at him in the VIP section where everyone could see.
He wasn’t quite sure if they’d settled things and she was over her possessive fit or whatever this episode was, but he had to get ready. “So I’m gonna prep my rope. A’ight?”
“Yes, baby. You go. I’ll be waiting right here for you.”
Great.
“Okay.” Aaron knew he needed to make his escape while she was still willing to let him go. Who knew when she’d change her mind.
He spun toward the stairs and came face-to-face with Jill. He’d already learned that CeCe was extra unhappy—and clingy—if he even looked at Jill. He wasn’t about to make that mistake now and risk the delicate balance he’d achieved. Yanking his glance away from her, he focused on his boots as he ran down the steps.
Aaron moved fast, digging his glove, rope and rosin out of his gear bag and carrying it all to the rail where his friends were already set up.
“Jordan.” Tom Parson’s now familiar voice stopped Aaron in his tracks near the stairs.
He sighed and turned. “Yeah?”
What more could this man assign him to do? He’d already gone above and beyond in his opinion.
“How’d things go yesterday?”
Tom hadn’t asked for specifics and Aaron wasn’t about to offer. “Things went just fine.”
“She’s good? You’re keeping her happy?”
“Yeah, I’m keeping her happy.” As hard as he was working at keeping CeCe Cole happy, and considering some of the things she demanded of him, Aaron should be getting a wad of cash from the association for his efforts. Hell, what was the going rate for a male escort nowadays anyway?
“You sure she’s happy? I don’t want her upset. Cole’s sponsorship is too important.”
Aaron let out a snort, remembering last night. CeCe riding his mouth until she came while his numb hands were tied to her bedposts. After which she’d slid a condom on him and ridden his cock while he was still helpless and bound. Then this morning, when he’d had to take her to bed before breakfast because she was flustered over waking up alone. Not to mention how he couldn’t even act civil to Jill, just to make sure CeCe didn’t get jealous.
“I know that.” Oh boy, did he know it. He’d known it when she’d unbuckled his jeans in her limo and also while he’d let her stick her finger in his ass. “And, yes, I am very sure.”
“All right. Keep up the good work.” Tom turned and disappeared in the direction he’d come from.
Keep up the good work. His job was not done yet. God only knew what else CeCe could possibly do to him that she hadn’t already done. Whatever it was, he’d do it. This conversation with Tom Parsons had just ensured that.
“Well, well, well. Look what the cat dragged in.” Garret looked him up and down. “I brought you a clean riding shirt. It’s in my gear bag.”
“Thanks, but you wouldn’t have had to, and I wouldn’t have had to get a ride to the arena with the cat in her limo if you’d come and gotten me last night when I called, or this morning when I first texted you.”
CeCe had insisted he take the limo to the arena and of course, she rode with him. Sure, he’d slept, eaten and showered in a luxurious suite, but the lure of all the many amenities lost something since he’d felt like he was a hostage. Unable to leave when he wanted.
Hell, if he hadn’t done exactly what CeCe had wanted this morning after she’d woken up, she probably wouldn’t have let him get to the rider meeting on time. He couldn’t tell the guys that. Complaining that he had to have sex with CeCe this morning before the room service breakfast was delivered wouldn’t get him much sympathy, he was sure.
“Hey, you made your bed, you can lie it in.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” He glanced at Garret as he ran the brush over his rope to knock off any dirt embedded in it.
“It means you chose to take a limo to the suite of the cougar you rolled around with all night rather than coming out with us. It’s not my responsibility to tote you around after. Besides, I never promised to be your ride. If I had promised and then gotten drunk, then you would have something to complain about. We didn’t talk about it. You just went off—”
“A’ight. I get it. It’s my own fault for going home with her last night.” Aaron scowled at the bitter taste of the truth.
“You look awfully unhappy for a man who spent the night getting sweaty with CeCe Cole.”
Aaron let out a snort. “CeCe Cole doesn’t sweat, believe me.”
She was too rich for anything that common. She kept the A/C in the bedroom so damn cold it would have been impossible for anyone to perspire. He’d been freezing the whole night. Maybe she’d wanted it to be so cold in the room he’d have to spoon her. Whatever the reason, he had gotten a crappy night’s sleep.
Aaron yanked one gloved hand down the rope, fast and hard, working the rosin into the fibers. He looked over and found Garret watching him.
“You okay?” There was sincerity in his brother-in-law’s question.
His first instinct was to say everything was fine, but the nagging in the back of his brain wouldn’t let him deny there was something bothering him.
“I don’t know.” Aaron glanced up into the stands and saw CeCe watching him. Like a hawk keeping an eye on its prey. He turned away so she couldn’t read his lips and kept his voice low as he said to Garret, “I hate to say it, because she’s
nice and all, but she’s acting kind a crazy.”
Garret’s gaze immediately cut to CeCe and Aaron panicked.
“Don’t look!”
Bringing his focus back to Aaron, Garret asked, “Crazy how?”
“She won’t let me out of her sight. She insisted on bringing me to the rider meeting. She didn’t even want me to leave her long enough to prep my rope.”
“Wow.” Garret shook his head. “Who would have thought that about her? No offense, but with her money and looks, she could have any guy she wants.”
“I know. That’s what I thought, but you see it yourself. She’s up there watching me. She’s waiting for me to get back to her. And she gets upset if I even talk to any other woman, including Jill and Riley. I’ll be lucky if she lets me leave her to ride.”
“Sounds like you got yourself a bunny boiler, kid.” At Mustang’s mysterious comment, Aaron turned and saw Mustang and Slade standing behind him.
He hadn’t noticed that the two riders had wandered over some time during the conversation. He needed to be more careful. He couldn’t risk CeCe sneaking up on him.
Mustang’s words had Aaron frowning. “I got myself a what?”
“A bunny boiler. You know, like in that old movie. Guy sleeps with this woman then dumps her. She goes nuts. He and his wife come home and find his kids’ pet rabbit boiling in a big pot on the stove.”
“You serious?” Garret’s eyes widened, while Aaron’s blood ran cold.
Mustang snorted. “Hell yeah, I’m serious. Get on your phone and look it up if you don’t believe me. Fatal Attraction is the name.”
“Yup. It’s a real movie, all right.” Slade dipped his head. “I’ve seen it. Besides, you really think Mustang could make that kinda shit up?”
Aaron swallowed hard, grateful that any family pets were far away in North Carolina. But, no, that was crazy. CeCe couldn’t be that bad. She was just a little…needy. He hoped that was it anyway.
“So what are you going to do?” Garret asked.