Scandal
Dirty Laundry #2
Jackie Paxson
Contents
Other Works
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Epilogue: There are no endings
Acknowledgments
Other Works
Tabloid
The Ugly Christmas Sweater
Copyright © 2020 Jackie Paxson.
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
First printing, 2020.
Proofreading by Susan Keillor
Cover by Angie @pro_ebooks
To Heath
I never really knew a happily ever after was real until I met you.
Prologue
Prelude to Passion
“May I have this dance?” Rex held his hand out.
“Sure.” Chrissy placed her champagne on the table and her hand in his.
Rex swept Chrissy out onto the dance floor. The band played a sweet country song that she should have known living in Georgia her whole life. Country music just wasn’t her thing. Rex and Chrissy were pushed aside by his grandpa, who was dancing with an old lady who had her hands on his butt. She looked to Rex, who was wide eyed at the sight.
“Well, that was memorable,” Chrissy said.
“I really need to make sure that gets onto one of those cameras around here. Talia cannot be the center of this party and not have that experience.”
“Definitely,” Chrissy agreed.
It was her best friend’s day. She was recently engaged to the man of her dreams. After they got engaged at the premiere of his new movie, they were too busy with junkets and press tours that they couldn’t have an engagement party right away. When they finally were able to leave L.A, they’d decided to come home to Georgia to celebrate their engagement.
Zeke had a huge ranch that was country enough for the country folk and city enough for the city slickers. The mix of small-town folks and Hollywood elite made for some very interesting people watching. Inhibitions lowered by the minute thanks to the open bars conveniently located around the dance floor.
“Are you having fun?” Rex asked.
“Have we really gotten to this, Rex?”
He shrugged as he turned them barely missing another couple. “I know. I’m sorry. It’s weird isn’t it?”
“A little but it’s ok. We had a few fun times, but I like being your friend more than anything else.”
Rex seemed relieved when Chrissy uttered those words. “I’d like that.”
“Ok. Good. Now, friend, I need you to watch my kid, so I can go to the bathroom.” Chrissy let go of Rex as the slow song stopped.
“Oh, man! I knew this friend thing was going to bite me in the ass,” Rex whined.
“Don’t be a pussy! There are only so many things a six-year-old can do to you.”
“What?”
“Let’s hope you don’t have to find out what they are,” Chrissy said over her shoulder leaving him standing near a bouncing Mariah.
Chrissy found her way to the bathroom. Since she’d stayed at Zeke’s house the previous summer, she knew where all the bathrooms were located. She snuck into one of the empty bedrooms to use the bathroom and get just a few moments of peace.
After finishing up, Chrissy walked through the darkened room to look outside onto the party raging below. Rex had taken Mariah onto the dancefloor. They were doing a line dance/chicken dance that she’d never seen. Chrissy laughed at the scene.
“Are you with him?” A deep voice broke into her thoughts.
Chrissy jumped at the sound of the familiar voice. “Max?”
“Are you with him?” he asked standing from the chair he was sitting in.
“Rex?”
“Yes.”
“No. I’m not with him. We are just friends.”
“Good.” Max placed a glass on a nearby table and pulled Chrissy toward him.
“What are you doing?” she stuttered.
“What I’ve been dying to do since I saw you at the premier.”
Before Chrissy could protest, Max pressed his lips to hers. Electricity crackled around them. The soft kiss soon turned passionate. He pulled her closer as she moaned into his mouth. Max took that moment to slide his tongue into her mouth. His tongue massaged hers. He broke the kiss staring into her eyes. She saw her need reflected back.
“I need you.” Max leaned down and kissed along her neck.
“Oh.” The only word to come to her brain.
“Please say yes,” he begged as he kissed lower.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” she said breathlessly.
“Let me pleasure you. We don’t have to do anything else. Please.” He pulled the top of her dress down to kiss her cleavage as his hand slid up the outside of her thigh.
Everywhere his hands and lips touched caught fire. He slowly moved her against the wall. Her dress slid up her hips. His finger traced the lace along the edge of her panties. Chrissy shivered as her legs involuntarily parted for him.
“Please.” The one word came out on a breathy moan.
“Don’t worry, mo chroi. I’m not done yet.” He placed a kiss on her neck as he slid a finger inside her panties.
She knew exactly what he discovered when his finger found her center. She was dripping wet. Just one look at him had her squirming in her seat. When she’d seen him earlier, she knew she’d have to change her panties. Max smiled against her neck when he discovered how turned on she was. With one hand holding onto him she slid the other down the front of his shirt to the hard bulge in his pants.
“Be careful, mo chroi. My control is on a razor’s edge.” He pulled his hips away from her hand. “Now, let’s see if we can get you to come.”
Max shoved two fingers into her aching pussy while his thumb brushed her sensitive bundle of nerves. Circling her hips encouraged his fingers to move. While he continued to nip at her neck, he curled his fingers finding the one spot that could drive her wild.
“Oh, God!” She moaned loudly echoing through the empty room.
“That’s right, baby. I’m going to make you come so hard on my fingers.” His arrogance was replaced with the confidence of a man knowing exactly what he was doing.
Pump. Pump. Swish. Pump. Pump. Swish. The rhythm o
f him fingering her sent her higher and higher. Max turned her body into his own personal playground. It only took a few more pumps and Chrissy was falling over the edge. An orgasm like no other she’d ever had before had her biting her hand, so she wouldn’t scream out Max’s name.
“That was so beautiful.” Max removed his fingers then stuck them one by one into his mouth. He groaned then said, “Next time my mouth is going to be on that pussy.”
Next time! It was like someone threw a bucket of cold water on her. She quickly straightened her dress, fixed her hair and took a few steps away from him. There would never be a next time.
“Uh…Thanks. I better go back to the party.” Chrissy went to leave when Max grabbed her arm.
He kissed her hard on the mouth shoving his tongue against hers.
She could taste a little of herself on his tongue.
Max squeezed her ass then gave it a little tap. “There will be a next time no matter how far you run from me.”
Chrissy huffed then left the room leaving the sexiest man she’d ever met. Why did he have to be the only man to ever give her an orgasm?
That definitely couldn’t happen again!
Chapter 1
The Barbies and Mr. Funk
Chrissy stood at the large bay window looking out on the trees swaying in the warm breeze. She’d been up before the sun and was on her third cup of coffee. Waiting for the few guests that were still at the B & B helped to keep her mind off of a certain movie star.
The previous evening, she was plagued by dreams of him. Memories filtered through the fantasy. How his hands felt on her body. How his lips felt on her neck. How his fingers felt in her most private of parts.
“MAMA!” Mariah yelled.
Chrissy jumped, spilling coffee on her new beige blouse. She should have bought a black one since it wouldn’t show the stains as easily. Taking in a deep breath she looked at her daughter.
“Mariah Opal! What did I tell you about yelling through the bed-and-breakfast?” she asked.
Mariah bit her lip and looked to the ceiling, thinking. “If you are going to yell and act like a rabid hinnie then go outside.”
Chrissy closed her eyes while pinching the bridge of her nose. “Hyena.”
Mariah shrugged then hooted, running out the large doors leading to the expansive front yard.
“You ok, honey?” her mama asked.
“Yeah. I have a meeting at the school and don’t have time to change. Are you and daddy ok to watch the place?”
“Chrissy, we will be fine.”
“I know but Daddy’s heart.”
“He will be fine. Now, go!” Her mama looked out the window. “Mariah is up in that tree again. You need to go now to get her down then to school on time.”
“Dammit!” Chrissy handed her mama the coffee mug, rushing to retrieve her daughter from the tree before she got dirty.
It was too late. Mariah had mud on her butt and a new hole in her leggings. After getting her out of the tree, Chrissy ushered her into the car. She spun out of the B & B’s driveway spewing stones everywhere.
“Gammy says you aren’t supposed to do that,” Mariah commented from the backseat.
“Well, I wouldn’t have to do that if a certain little lady didn’t make me late.”
Mariah crossed her arms in front of her. “I don’t want to go to school.”
Chrissy furrowed her brow looking at her daughter in the rearview mirror. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t like it.”
“That’s not enough of a reason to skip school.”
Grumbling came from the backseat. Chrissy continued to drive to the elementary school turning the music up, giving her a few moments of peace as she pulled into the bustling parking lot. Parking, she sat in the car a moment watching children exiting buses, other mama’s dropping off their children and a few of the Barbie Moms chatting in front of the building. Chrissy buttoned up her courage and got out of the car.
The Barbie moms watched as she approached the building. They consisted of stay at home moms that were once just trophy wives. They all wore some sort of light-colored tight-fitting pants and blouse combos with petite kitten heels. Their kids ran around pushing other children down or screaming at the top of their lungs as they continued to gossip.
“Oh, hello Chrissy,” Barbie #1 with a voice like a mouse said with a too white smile.
“What a nice…uhm…blouse,” Barbie #2 commented on her obviously stained blouse.
“Aww…doesn’t Mariah look very…” Barbie #3 paused looking Mariah up and down, “sporty.”
“Nice to see ya’ll. I’ve got a meeting to get to. Can’t talk now.” Chrissy pried Mariah from her leg and led her by the hand into the building.
Muttering under her breath she said many unladylike things about the Barbies. Chrissy forced herself to take a deep breath before entering the office. Pasting on a good southern smile she entered the air-conditioned office. The elderly secretary, Mrs. Stanley, who still used a typewriter, clacked on the machine with her back to Chrissy and Mariah. A sign on the counter said to ring the bell for assistance.
Chrissy lightly rang the bell. The clacking of the typewriter continued. Chrissy tapped the bell a bit harder. Nothing happened while the typewriter echoed through the empty office. Was she being punked? She looked around waiting for someone to jump out at her. No one appeared to notice they were standing there. Chrissy’s frustration bubbled up. She banged on the bell five times. Unfortunately, she didn’t get the person she needed to react. The principal strode out and snatched the bell off the counter.
“Ms. Benson!” he reprimanded. “Please have a seat. I will be with you in a moment.”
Chrissy muttered more curses and unladylike terms. The damn clacking of the typewriter continued as she waited for the principal to return.
“Mama?” Mariah poked at Chrissy trying to get her attention.
“Not now, Mariah.”
“But Mama I have a question,” she huffed.
“Not now.”
Chrissy felt her temper rising to the surface. When the meeting was requested, they wouldn’t tell her what it was about. Her nerves had been on edge since the conversation the week before. She just wanted to get it over with.
“Ms. Benson. Please come with me.” The principal noticed Mariah was with her and a grimace crossed his face. “If Mariah can be quiet, she can come in with us. If not, she must stay with Mrs. Stanley.”
Chrissy stiffened at his tone toward Mariah. She looked at Mariah’s dejected form then over to the elderly secretary still typing on the typewriter. What the hell did she have to still type?
“Mariah will be fine, Mr. Funk.” Chrissy grabbed Mariah’s hand following the principal into his office.
With a sigh, Mr. Funk took his seat behind his desk and looked at Chrissy. “Thank you for coming, Ms. Benson. Do you know why I asked you to come today?”
“No.” Chrissy followed his squinted gaze to Mariah. She sat in the chair with her head down and her shoulders hunched.
“Well, I think you will be unhappy to know that Mariah has not been behaving in the standards in which we set for our students. Something must be done.”
“What do you mean?”
“Mariah, would you like to tell your mother?” he asked.
Mariah shook her head.
“What is going on, Mr. Funk?”
“Mariah has been arguing and fighting with some of her classmates.”
“What happened?”
“Apparently, Mariah yelled at one of the young boys in her class. She called him names then shoved him.”
“That doesn’t sound like Mariah. Did you ask her what happened?” Chrissy looked at Mariah.
“Of course, I did. She said that he smacked her rump and told her to go get him a sandwich. Then on another occasion he pulled her braids. But, on the day in question, he tried to kiss her. That was when she shoved him off her then proceeded to yell at him. She told him, and I quote
, ‘Keep your dirty hands off me you penis face.’ Then she threatened to rip his hands off and beat him with them.”
Chrissy blinked at Mr. Funk. “So, she is in trouble for defending herself?”
“She should not be taking this into her own hands. She should have gone to the teacher and told her.” He reached into his desk drawer and withdrew a paper with some sentences highlighted. “Please see the highlighted sections below about conduct expectations.”
Chrissy scanned the yellow portion. She didn’t remember reading that part of the student handbook. However, how many parents read every piece of information that was sent home on the first day of school?
As she read the portion, she realized it was strictly about conduct of female students. They addressed not wearing or doing anything that may entice the male population. Included in that were teachers and administrators. Chrissy’s stomach tightened.
“Are you fucking kidding me with this shit?”
The principal flinched at her words. “Please, Ms. Benson, be a good example for your daughter and use some decorum.”
Chrissy’s blood boiled. “Fuck my language. You are protecting boys who are being taught that they can abuse and assault young women. None of what you said is grounds for Mariah to be in trouble. Have you discussed the little boy’s behavior with his parents? He attempted to sexually assault my daughter.”
Scandal (Dirty Laundry Book 2) Page 1