by Meghan Quinn
“I’ll take care of this,” Kace said as Pepper nodded and ran out the door, closing it behind her.
I tore myself away from Kace and looked at the guilty expression on his face.
“What. The. Fuck?”
Running his hands through his hair, he said, “It isn’t what it looks like.”
“Oh, is that right? Well, it looked like you fucked Pepper three ways to dawn, am I wrong?”
“Yes, it was four.” Kace smirked.
I wacked his chest and said, “Does Jett know?”
“No, and you can’t fucking tell him.”
“You can’t be serious…”
Kace got in my face and said, “I’m dead fucking serious,” no more joking around now.
“Why would he care?”
“Because, he would.”
Well, that didn’t make me feel good. Jett shouldn’t care because he was with me now, right? Isn’t that how it worked?
“You’re not making me feel really good about myself right now,” I admitted.
Kace blew out a frustrated breath as he started to pace the length of his room.
“It’s nothing against you, Lo. Jett just wouldn’t be very fond of his buddy fucking a girl he used to.”
“Then why did you do it?”
Stopping mid-stride, Kace turned and looked at me. “I don’t fucking know. She was drunk last night, I was…feeling sorry for myself so we fucked.”
“Why were you feeling sorry for yourself?” I pressed.
“I don’t want to fucking talk about it,” Kace snapped as his hands ran through his hair. “Just keep your mouth shut.”
“Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine?”
“It’s not easy dealing with your privileged ass all the time.”
“I’m not privileged.”
“Keep telling yourself that, sweetheart.”
“You’re just jealous Jett claimed me first.”
Why the fuck I said that, I had no clue but it hit hard with Kace because he looked up at me and the stone cold man was gone and in his place was a man with damaged eyes.
Instantly feeling regret, I walked closer to him and went to apologize when he held up his hand to stop me.
“You want to know why I was feeling sorry for myself? Because the girl that I’m falling in love with went off with another man, committed herself to someone else.”
Love? There was no way he was talking about me, not a fat chance in hell but as I stood there, thinking about what he was saying, his eyes roamed my body and I realized at that moment that Kace was talking about me and all this time I just thought the guy hated me.
“What?”
“Forget it,” Kace said while pushing me out the door.
“Stop! What are you talking about, Kace?”
“I said, forget it.”
He opened his door and stood up straight when he saw who was behind me. I spun around to see Jett walking down the hallway with his hands in his pockets. When he looked up and saw me, his jaw tensed and he stopped in his tracks.
“What are you doing down here?”
Still thrown off with what Kace said, I stumbled as I replied, “I, uh, just wanted to tell Kace about my new role.”
“I can handle that,” Jett said as he came up behind me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders, claiming me right in front of Kace.
Heat blazed through me from the tension that was building up in the hallway.
“I just wanted to make sure everything was clear.”
“Everything is, isn’t it, Kace?” Jett said in a menacing tone.
“Crystal,” Kace said as he pushed past both of us. “Practice in ten, Lo. That’s if you want to join us.”
With that, Kace walked off and left Jett and me standing in the hallway.
“Why were you down here?” Jett asked, clearly angry.
“I told you, I wanted to make sure Kace knew that I wasn’t to do lap dances anymore.”
“You don’t need to come down here, Goldie. I communicate with Kace every day; I can take care of that business.”
“Okay, sorry. I was just trying to help,” I said softly as I entwined my fingers together.
I learned too much information in the past five minutes that my mind was spinning. I didn’t have enough energy to try to sass Jett right now and stick up for myself. I was still reeling over Kace’s confession. He was falling in love with me? Jett hadn’t even said that to me yet and he’s had his tongue spread all over every orifice of my body.
Not really paying attention, I was startled when Jett grabbed me and pulled me into his chest. He kissed the top of my head and said, “I don’t trust him.”
I didn’t blame Jett! But I didn’t tell him that.
“No need to worry.”
“I have issues, Goldie, issues that run deep and I don’t like you hanging out down here. It isn’t good for my head.”
I had no clue what he was talking about but I felt the tension in his back and knew this was him trying to open up so I cleared my head from the past five minutes and focused on Jett.
I grabbed the sides of his head and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t realize this made you uncomfortable.” I kissed his chin and continued, “I promise you when I say, you have nothing to worry about. I’m yours, Jett.”
He nodded his head and the vulnerable Jett that I was beginning to love pressed his forehead against mine. There was something so special about a powerful man being able to drop his façade and break down in front of you. It made him real and it only made me fall for the man even more.
“You might have to keep reminding me.” He pulled away and hit the wall with his fist, startling me. “Fuck, I don’t act like this.” His vulnerability turned into anger in a matter of seconds, slightly scaring me. “I don’t show weaknesses, ever.” Hello Mr. Moody.
“It’s okay, Jett—”
“No, it’s fucking not.” He gripped his hair and slouched against the wall until his butt hit the ground. I looked down at him and was introduced to a new man, a deflated man, a confused one and my heart reached out to him.
Taking a chance, I sat down next to him and turned his head to face mine.
“This right here—” I pointed to us on the floor, “—this is okay. It’s okay for you to show me your weaknesses, to show my faults and your defects. That’s what makes you human, Jett. You know all about my downfalls in life and you don’t judge me for them.”
“I wouldn’t call trying to survive and provide for yourself after you lost everything a downfall,” he responded. “I would call that being a strong individual and not giving up.”
Well damn, he could make a girl blush.
“Still, though, Jett. I will never judge you…”
“You can’t say that until you know the whole story.”
“Then tell me,” I practically begged.
He shook his head, making my heart deflate on the spot.
“I just can’t. Not now.”
“What are you afraid of? Are you afraid that I’m going to leave you?”
“Yes!” he shouted as he stood and started walking away, leaving me completely confused.
Shaking my head, I ran after him and grabbed his arm.
“Don’t you dare walk away from me,” I reprimanded. “You can’t walk away from me. Remember, no fucking games. If I can’t take off my necklace then you can’t walk away from me. If you don’t want to talk about it then fine but do not disrespect me by walking away.”
Jett nodded his head, turned around and pulled me into his chest once again.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered into my hair. “I’m so fucked up, Goldie.”
“It’s okay.” I rubbed his back. “Just know that I’m not going anywhere.”
He tilted my chin up and kissed me lightly on the lips. “Thank you.”
Still confused about everything that happened this morning, I held on to Jett in the dark hallway that led to Kace’s room. I don’t know how long we stood there but wha
t I did know was that I missed practice because as Jett escorted me upstairs, I heard the thump of the Toulouse Room music. I was going to have to make it up to the girls somehow because even though I wanted more than anything to be with Jett, I still wanted to be a Jett Girl and that meant dedicating myself to the girls just as much as to Jett. I wasn’t about to give up my new found life for a possible chance with a guy that was quickly stealing my heart.
Chapter Sixteen
“Find You”
Jett
“Come in,” I called out after the peppy knock by Jeremy rang through my office.
“Hello, sir. How are you today?”
I looked up to find the man dressed in Magenta manpris and an orange checkered shirt. He looked like a bucket of sherbet. I shook my head and went back to signing my contracts.
“Fine and you Jeremy?”
“Good. Thank you for asking. I heard the event went well. I’m glad to hear it.”
“Who did you hear from?” I asked, curious to know who my assistant has been talking to.
He leaned forward as if he was going to divulge one of the biggest secrets of his life and rested his hands on my desk. I sat back in my chair and studied the excitement rolling off him.
“I joined this Meet Up group in New Orleans—”
“Meet Up group?” I asked not knowing what the hell he was talking about.
“Yeah, it’s a website where people who are looking to get out in the community and do things with others meet up, hence the name. There are so many different kinds of groups and they usually revolve around a particular interest like dog lovers or quilters.”
“Quilters?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.
“You know, sewing,” Jeremy said while making a sewing motion.
“I know what quilters are, I just didn’t know there existed that many to form a group.”
“You would be surprised at the kind of groups there are out there. Quilters Republic is tame compared to some of the other ones like Swingers and Lovers of Anal Plugs. It can get scary.”
I held up my hand, not wanting Jeremy to explain any more clubs. He got the hint and continued with his story.
“So, I started attending one that revolves around personal assistants. It’s more for us to network but what everyone mostly does is complain about their bosses and share secrets.”
The hairs on the back of my neck tingled as I stood up and hovered over Jeremy who had the fear of God instantly put into his eyes.
“What the fuck are you telling me?” I asked, trying not to lose my temper but finding it quite difficult.
“Before you get all worked up,” Jeremy said quickly. “No one knows I work for you. They think I work for some prissy-ass author.”
Feeling better, I sat down in my chair and grabbed my glass of bourbon. “Continue.” I waved my hand at him.
“Well, I made friends with some assistants to some really important people and was able to get the skinny on what’s going down with Lot 17.”
A small smirk crossed my face. “Am I going to have to give you a pay raise?”
“You might have to but we can talk about that later,” he said with a wink. “I was talking to Bernie Butler’s assistant and apparently you got to him at the event and he turned down the offer your dad offered him. Since he is a member of the club, he didn’t want to screw up any kind of relationship he had with you.”
“Smart man,” I responded, happy with my ability to put fear in another man.
“I also heard that the bidding process has been brought to the attention of the mayor and now that he’s running for a second term, he wants to run an honest campaign, meaning, anything he hears that sounds shady, he’s going to take it down so your dad’s unsolicited bid of Lot 17 has been rejected and he is going to have to go about it like everyone else.”
Jeremy sat back in his chair, crossed his legs and smiled at me.
“Wow, I am going to have to give you a pay raise.”
“That or a gay cruise, all expenses paid for.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I said as what Jeremy said to me soaked in. “That is great news. Thank you, Jeremy.”
“Any time, sir. I feel like I’m just as invested in this program as you are and you know I would do anything for you. If it weren’t for you, I would be out on the streets on my ass after my parents disowned me.”
I shook off his comments. I didn’t care for praise much especially when it came to me helping someone out. It was just a duty as someone who was born into a privileged life.
“Think nothing of it,” I responded as I went back to signing more papers. It’s all I ever did, scroll my name with ink every damn day of my life.
“Well, that being said, I have you and Lo set up for the Hopkins Social this coming Friday. I have already talked to Tootse about a dress and she is on it. Do you still want to bring Lo?”
“Yes,” I said without even giving it a second thought. The past couple of days have really opened up my eyes to a new world which revolved around Goldie. I never thought I would see myself in such a vulnerable position again but I couldn’t stay away, she was addicting so now, all I wanted was Goldie near me. It actually pained me to know that she was downstairs practicing and I was up here, signing my life away. I wanted more time with her.
“Oh okay, I wasn’t expecting you to answer so quickly.” I didn’t respond so Jeremy cleared his throat and continued, “I’m not positive on the guest list but so far, neither your dad nor Rex Titan should be there and it’s too late to RSVP so it looks like you will be clear to talk to some of the city planners.”
For a moment, I forgot about my dad and Rex. I knew there was going to be a time when I would run into them again which wouldn’t bother me. What would bother me even more would be running into them with Goldie, I didn’t need to show any weaknesses and Goldie was a weakness, she was my fucking Achilles heel.
“Good, if they do show up on the attendee list you are to inform me.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is that all?”
“I have one last thing. Kace told me I have to order and I quote, ‘a shit ton’ of gold lingerie. I’m a little confused.”
I sat back in my chair and rubbed the bridge of my nose. Kace was being a total prick these days and it was starting to get on my nerves.
“Don’t worry about it,” I replied, not wanting Jeremy to get involved. “If that is all, you can leave for the night. Thank you for your hard work.”
“Of course.”
Jeremy took off and right when he walked out of my office, Kace walked in. He was wearing a pair of jeans, a tight shirt and a black baseball hat. It looked like he was going out which was confusing since he should be downstairs with the girls.
“What do you want?” I asked while flipping on one of the TVs that belonged to the Toulouse Room. An image of the girls practicing popped up on the screen and my mouth watered when my eyes zeroed in on Goldie sliding upside down on a pole. I made a mental note to have her dance for me later. “Why aren’t you downstairs with the girls right now?”
“I wanted to come up here and let you know that nothing happened earlier.”
“I know nothing happened. Goldie told me, I trust her.”
“Well that’s awfully big of you,” Kace said as he sat in the chair in front of me.
“Is that the only reason you came up here?”
“Just wanted to make sure everything is cool between us.”
“It’s cool as long as you stay away from Goldie.”
“You know that’s going to be pretty damn hard when I have to work with her every day.”
“You know what the fuck I’m talking about,” I gritted out.
The smart ass had the audacity to smile at me.
“Well, Jett Colby, are you falling in love?” There was a bit of a sneer to Kace’s voice, letting me know he was in one of his moods.
“Just leave her the fuck alone. I don’t trust you.”
“You don’t
trust me in what way? To make sure you don’t act like an ass and help you see that perfection is standing right in front of you? To make sure Lo doesn’t walk out on your ass because you’re a moron? Or to make sure she is protected when you’re not watching?”
“I know you like her,” I said like a child. “I don’t share and never will.”
“Yeah, that’s old news. I get that.”
“Then just stay away.”
“I am dickhead. She is the one who keeps approaching me.”
From that announcement, my teeth grinded together.
“Don’t worry though, she has eyes only for you,” Kace said while picking at something on his pants.
“As she should.”
Kace looked up at me and stared into my eyes. “She’s too good for you. You’re a controlling prick with a black heart who can’t give her what she needs. You might be able to keep her happy now but she will need more. She always will need more from you, Jett.”
Pain ripped through my gut as I thought about how right Kace really was. Goldie was special, a bright light in my dark day that I believed my mom brought to me and to know that I wasn’t good enough for her was damaging.
“I know,” I said while getting out of my chair. “But I’m going to do whatever it takes to keep her so get that through your thick skull. Stop waiting around for her and move the fuck along.”
Kace stood up too and walked toward my door. “I hope you’re right.”
I didn’t respond, I just let Kace walk back down to the Toulouse Room.
I turned to my monitors and watched the girls practice some more. Goldie was such a natural and she got along so well with the girls, she was the perfect fit for the club. She brought a new, revitalized energy that we needed, that I fucking needed.
I sat on my desk and looked at a picture of my mom that I had framed. It was from when she was ill but she still was a beautiful woman. Her face was the same shape as mine and her smile was bright even though you could see in the photo that she was in pain.
“Did you bring her to me, Mom?” I asked as I stared at the picture. “Is this your way of helping me move on? Did you choose Goldie for me?”
I would give anything for my mom to be alive, giving me advice on how to handle my feelings. She would know exactly what to say. Instead, I had an irritable ex-boxer with the hormones of a pre-pubescent teenage girl and a flamboyant assistant trying to guide me.