0-69 in 5 Minutes

by Jasmine Black

  “Bob picked her up while you were passed out. She’s fine.”

  “Oh yes, Bob. How is nerd boy, anyway? Was that a new pair of glasses he was wearing?” Bambi laughed. “Run on home to Bob. I can handle things here.” Her hand stroked his stomach and dipped lower. “I’m so sorry, baby. Is there anything I can do for you? Anything I can get you?”

  “Val.”

  “What, sweetie?” she leaned closer to hear.

  Sadie laughed. “He said, you can call his girlfriend and then get the hell out of the house.”

  “Girlfriend?” Bambi yanked away.

  “That’s right. As in, moved on with his life, done with you.”

  Bambi crossed her arms and pouted. “Noah, are you dating someone else?”

  He rubbed his forehead and groaned. “I met someone.”

  “But you made love to me. How could you do this?”

  Shit. He looked at Sadie and swallowed hard. This was not a conversation he wanted to have with big sister in the room, hovering over him like she was his mom. The protect-my-brother side of her was about to explode. In her eyes, he could almost see the anger boiling over like a busted radiator.

  “Bambi.” He turned back to his problem, the reason he’d gotten his ass kicked. “We didn’t make love. We’ve never made love.”

  “How can you say that? Just two days ago, we connected with each other.”

  Rude had never been in his nature, but she wasn’t going to get the hint otherwise. He gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. Another stab of pain rocketed through his side, but he needed to get all of this out at one time. If he paused, he might not have the strength to finish. “Bambi, I left your arms to go have dinner with Val and her parents. Then, I spent the entire weekend making love to her. You were just a fuck to take the edge off, so I could get through dinner without stripping Val down. See, she lets me do that to her without other men looking.”

  “Oh, my gosh, too funny!” Sadie busted out, cocked her head and waved. “Bye-bye!”

  Bambi’s lips pouted like a three-year-old trying to get their way. “Tell me you don’t mean it.”

  Lord, is this what he’d fallen for? His head throbbed harder. “We’re divorced. I’m sorry, but it’s over.”

  Bambi stood and stomped her foot like the brat she was. “I have no way to get anywhere.”

  “I already called a cab. It should be here soon, and I’ll be happy to pay the fare,” Sadie said.

  Bambi turned and looked him in the eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “You’re hurt, in more ways than one. I understand that, so I’ll leave. But we are far from over.”

  Chapter 13

  Val stared in the long mirror as she slipped in her emerald teardrop earrings. Heart racing, she trembled as she attempted a contortionist move to zip her green floor length silk gown. A beaded figure eight formed a halter-top bodice, giving the simple dress an elegant illusion.

  “Let me help you with that.” Noah’s deep voice tickled the bare skin on her neck.

  She shivered and blushed as she followed his gaze in the mirror. It dipped down to the center openings of the figure eight and traveled over her breasts. Still trembling, more from the sheer closeness of him than from the events to take place tonight, she held her breath. The sound of the zipper closing echoed in the otherwise silent room.

  Disappointment struck her. She’d much rather him unzip her gown, but she feared complicating his injuries. For the last week, she’d taken care of him while he’d healed. She’d done everything for him: cooked, cleaned house, taken messages. She’d tended his wounds, massaged his sore muscles and helped him bathe. More than once she’d had to make “Spike” heal, but she couldn’t make love to him when he was in pain.

  He moved gingerly, but physically he seemed to be mending fast. Mentally, she wasn’t so sure. What had really happened to his place? He’d told her he’d been robbed. Somehow, she didn’t think it was the truth. Their relationship was so new and they were just starting to build trust. He’d tell her in his own time. She had to believe that, or else she’d end up once more with a broken heart from another lying man.

  “Thank you,” she breathed the words, jagged to her ears. This was her night. The night she’d waited so long for. But with Noah a reality instead of a ruse, showing up Tyler didn’t seem so important anymore. “Noah, if you don’t feel well enough, we don't have to go.”

  “Nonsense. This is what we’ve been working for. Besides…” He spun her around and placed a kiss on her cheek. “You look amazing. I’d be honored to have you on my arm this evening.”

  Heat rushed to her face once more. “Thank you.” Fidgeting with his tie, she continued. “Since we’ve decided to see where this leads, I think you should go as Noah. I mean, people will see us in town, and you can’t pretend to be Sam forever. After tonight, we'll get with my parents and tell them the truth.”

  He stilled her hands. “Are you sure this is what you want?”

  After spending the past week with him, sharing everything so intimately, she wanted Noah more than anything else in her life. More than some fake relationship. More than getting her mother off her back. And more than some petty revenge on an ex. “Positive.” She brushed a soft kiss over his lips.

  The black suit, white shirt and green tie showed off a side of Noah she’d never seen. Nor did she believe she’d get to see it very often. Nonetheless, even with his face still bruised, every female eye would be on him tonight, and a few male gazes for that matter.

  “Kiss me deeper. I’ve been dying to make love to you and I'm not going to break.” His throaty voice sent shivers down her neck.

  “I know.” She sighed her disappointment. “But if I start, I might not stop and you're still recovering from cracked ribs.”

  “Ah, sweetheart, I’m fine. Not making love to you is going to be the death of me, not a cracked rib and some bruises.”

  “Well then, play your cards right and you might be rewarded after the reunion.” She withdrew from his arms, grabbed her evening bag and floated down the stairs. Tonight, she’d show the world the new man in her life, for he was a man she could be proud of. Nothing was going to ruin her night.

  * * * *

  Laughter filled the hotel convention room. Old friends greeted each other and reminisced about the past. Of course, some bragged about the fortunes they’d acquired. Some complained about the fortunes they’d lost in the stock market. Val did a bit of her own bragging about the handsome man on her arm. She couldn’t believe just two weeks ago she’d met Noah in this same room.

  The night had gone smoothly. Noah left her side and strolled to the bar to retrieve drinks for the two of them.

  Scanning the room, she saw him.

  Tyler stood in all his pompous glory, laughing, drinking and passing out business cards. She recognized his Armani suit. The one he’d bought instead of taking her on a weekend getaway as he’d promised. What a jerk! How could I’ve ever dated him? She took a deep breath to still her nerves as he paraded through the crowd and approached her.

  Nothing he says can hurt me anymore. Only lies spew from his lips.

  “Tyler, you’re looking the same as always.” Arrogant and overcompensating.

  “Why thank you. Might I say you do, too? I thought you’d at least lose some weight before showing your face to all your old buddies. But then again, you never really cared about your appearance, why start now?” He smirked as his gaze traveled over her breasts, down her legs and back up again.

  Breathe.

  “Always the jokester.” She smiled, but inwardly she yearned to smack that smirk off his face. It might be harder to control her anger than she’d thought. Two seconds around him and already her muscles had tensed. At least it was resentment and not fear or insecurity. She’d grown in those respects since he’d left her.

  “On the contrary, darling, I’m a realist.”

  “Now that’s paradoxical, considering you work in an industry of illusion.” If she had the
drink Noah had ran off to get, she’d throw it in her ex’s face. Where was Noah anyway? She glanced around the room.

  “Looking for someone? Because I heard you had a new love interest. Or did he discover how boring you are and take flight? It’s much better really that he left you here instead of having to fake a headache later tonight. It got old having to act it out night after night.”

  “For your information, he went to the bar to get us both a drink.”

  He laughed. “Been there. Had to do that, before I could do that.” His eyebrow rose as he did a once over of her body again.

  “Do this?” She gestured to herself. “I’m sorry, I can’t seem to recall. Your dick’s so small I never felt a thing except your bad breath on my skin. And seeing that I never got pregnant, I just assumed you’d always shot your wad like a horny teenager before you got close to a real woman. But, Noah, he’s all man. More man than you’ve ever creamed your jeans for while filming your oh-so-tasteful flicks.” She held her back straight and smiled, trying to remain calm. “Oh, look, here he comes now.”

  “Hey, sweetheart. I got you a white wine.” Noah handed her a flute, and slipped his arm around her waist.

  “Well, well! Isn’t this ironic.” Tyler laughed too loud, drawing attention.

  Noah turned toward Tyler and stiffened. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m an alumni. And you must be her pathetic date.”

  “Do you two know each other?” Val saw the rage boiling inside Noah. His jaws were clenched tight, every muscle in his body tensed and his eyes glazed over.

  “We’ve met briefly, isn’t that right Mr. Kittler?” Tyler held an arrogant stance and laughed.

  Noah put his beer bottle down on a table with a thud. “I wouldn’t be laughing if I were you. It seems your goons are not here to protect you this time.”

  Tyler’s eyes widened and he went pale.

  “What’s going on?” She looked between the two. Something about the situation screamed at her, yet she couldn’t begin to imagine how they knew each other. “One of you, tell me what’s going on.” She had to find out before things got out of hand. The look on Noah’s face and his doubled fists told her his temper threatened to spill over until he pummeled Tyler into an oil stain. Not that it sounded like a bad idea in different circumstances, but Noah still had a cracked rib. One wrong blow and it could break, puncturing a lung. Fear gripped her heart and squeezed.

  “Now boys, you wouldn’t be fighting over little ole me, would you?” A blond bimbo slinked her way between the two guys. She posed in her black halter with a plunging deep “V” neckline mini-dress and stilettos. She took a seductive sip of her champagne and her dress gaped open, leaving nothing to the imagination. Oh those boobs are so fake.

  Then recognition snapped inside. “You!” That fucking bitch! Her own anger soared. She addressed Tyler. “How dare you flaunt that skanky tramp in front of me? You asshole. As if watching you fuck her in my car wasn’t bad enough, you show her off to my friends.”

  “Val?” Noah stared at her. “Is he Tyler?”

  Confusion clouded her mind. She placed her fingertips to her temple, trying not to yell at him. After all, she wasn’t mad at Noah. “I thought you knew that. Who did you think he was?”

  “Well, obviously Noah thought he was my boss. Why else would he be so upset?”

  “Shut up, Bambi,” Noah muttered to the tramp but he continued to look into her eyes.

  “Bambi? She’s your ex?” She felt the blood drain from her face.

  The tramp slid up closer to Noah. “That’s just a technicality. We’re working things out.” She ran her finger down his arm. “You look hot, baby.”

  Val clutched her flute. Anger like she’d never felt before coursed through her veins. Before she realized what she’d done, Bambi stood drenched in white wine. Everyone in the room stared at the four of them.

  “Ugh!” Bambi screeched. “You bitch. I’d kick your ass if I wasn’t carrying Noah’s child.”

  “What?” Noah and Val bellowed in unison.

  Val’s legs began to tremble. Her mind whirled. She grabbed hold of a chair for support.

  “This is too sweet.” Tyler laughed again. “I told you, angel, you’re boring. Your pretty boy didn’t make it as long as I did.”

  Noah landed a punch to Tyler’s jaw. Blood spurted onto her new silk gown. Tyler dropped to his knees. A scream lodged in her throat.

  “That’s for treating Val like shit.” Then he kicked Tyler’s knees out from under him, causing him to crash to the floor. “And that’s for burning down my garage.”

  Oh, my gosh! Her head spun. The room closed in on her, making it hard to breathe. What had just happened? Her ex and Noah’s ex were together. Tyler had torched Noah’s garage. And what the hell, Bambi was pregnant? With Noah’s child! She had to escape. This couldn’t be happening to her. Not again. She had to wake up from this nightmare.

  She released the chair and took a step backwards, trying to take it all in. But it wasn’t far enough. She gripped the sides of her gown, tugging it up a couple of inches so she could run. Out through the lobby and down the front steps, she fled.

  Fresh night air filled her lungs, but it did little to help the throb in her head and the ache in her heart. Noah had lied to her. Kept secrets from her. He said he was over his ex. If she carried his child, she couldn’t be very far along because her stomach was as flat as a board.

  Of course, it could’ve happened a couple of months ago and a lot can transpire over that amount of time. But hadn’t he said they’d been split up for months?

  Insecurity she’d fought to keep at bay crept into her mind. Bambi might be a stripper. And nothing about her body was real, but she was a knockout. Blonde and curvy. She was everything portrayed in porn flicks. If men didn’t desire that, they sure watched it enough to make one believe otherwise.

  What was she going to do? How could she keep Noah happy when he’d had her? She couldn’t compete with modern medicine.

  “Val.” His deep voice enfolded her. “Are you okay?”

  She wasn’t sure if she should lean back into his awaiting arms or run far away. Either way, her feet froze. Her breath caught in her throat.

  “God, Val, talk to me.” Noah moved closer and wrapped his arms around her waist.

  What was there to say? Where would she start? This was not a conversation she wanted to have on the sidewalk in front of the hotel as cars whizzed by, but it was what it was. She withdrew from his embrace and turned to face him. “What happened in there?”

  “I had no clue Bambi was with Tyler or that he was her boss.”

  “Boss? I thought she was a stripper. Tyler films smut.” Nothing made sense to her.

  “She is. But she’s mixed up in a lot of bad stuff. Apparently, Tyler is too.”

  She shook her head, trying to make sense of everything. “Are you saying Bambi’s a porn star?”

  He stroked her arm. “I don’t think so. Not yet anyway, but she might be on her way. She’s a drug addict, and I think Tyler’s her dealer. He probably has his hands in the strip club somehow. I’m pretty sure he’s not the big boss, but he came to my house Monday looking for Bambi.”

  “Why would he come to your house?”

  He bit his lip, and she felt his arm tense.

  “She was at your house, wasn’t she?” Her heart stopped as she waited for the answer she already knew.

  “Yes.”

  She yanked away from his grasp. “How could I be so stupid?” When would she learn? She’d believed everything he’d said Sunday night as he “made love” to her. Then he’d slipped out of her bed in the early hours of the morning and crawled into Bambi’s.

  Damn him!

  “First Tyler leaves me for her. And not that him leaving was a bad thing, but now you.” Anger and hurt fought each other, both wanting dominance. Pain stabbed at her heart. Heat pumped through her blood.

  “No, sweetheart.” He grabbed for her, but she aver
ted him. “It wasn’t like that. I swear to you.”

  She must be a fool, but she yearned to believe him. At least listen to his explanation. “What then?”

  He let out a breath. Did that mean he’d worried whether she’d give him a chance to explain? If so, that was a good sign.

  “Bambi showed up at my house the Saturday after we met. She was a mess, emotionally and physically. Someone had slapped her around. Her lip was cut, eye blackened and bruises everywhere.”

  Even a tramp didn’t deserve that.

  “I let her clean up and change before I came over for dinner. She told me she owed a lot of money to her dealer and she needed a place to hide. I told her I’d help her get the money and she could stay until I got it, but then she had to go to rehab.”

  Shock set in and anger jumped to the top. “My money?” She pointed to her chest. “You were going to give my money to her dealer. Who happens to be Tyler.”

  “I didn’t know that, Val. Him and two other guys showed up Monday looking for her. They wanted their money or her.”

  “And you couldn’t give her back to them.” Had it been because he still had feelings for her or because he wouldn’t let a woman be smacked around? She feared the answer.

  “How could I? They’d beaten her up once.”

  “So instead, they beat you up and burned down your garage.”

  He raked his hand through his hair. “Yes. Sadie hid in the office with Emily. When they left, Sadie got me out. Then she sent Bambi off in a taxi and called you.”

  Hurt took over. “You got your ass kicked over another woman-the same woman that fucked my fiancé in my car-and you have the nerve to ask me to nurse you. How could you? I trusted you.” She fought the tears welling up behind her eyes.

  “Because I don’t care about Bambi like that anymore. I want you. I wanted you to be there with me. Care for me.”

  They were the words she wanted to hear, but could she believe them? And he still hadn’t addressed all the issues. “What about her being pregnant? Is there any truth to that? Is it possible it’s your child?”

  His shoulders slumped and he started to pace. “She said she took a test this morning. But…” He shook his head.