She grabbed the skin of my arm in the hard pinch she'd always reserved just for me since childhood, and pulled me out of the room like a child.
I fought back the tears as they tried to gather. There was no use feeling sorry for myself she was always going to take their side over mine no matter what.
I had to remind myself that I was doing this for Janet, that losing it and pulling a family massacre right before her nuptials wasn’t exactly an ideal wedding gift, though it would sure make me happy.
"Mother, I wish you wouldn't tug on my arm like that, it hurts."
"Well, it hurts me to have a daughter who's so, so...ooh you make me so mad. We're going out to dinner and I don't think you should come, just make your excuses or I'll do it for you."
I didn’t falter in my step or turn around to see who else had witnessed my humiliation.
The wretched tears were there no matter how hard I tried to hold them back. I was suddenly very tired. Tired and hurt.
“Very well mother, I won’t embarrass you any farther.” I pulled my arm away from her and refused to rub the spot that now stung.
Without a backward glance, I headed for the stairs and freedom. I wish I could just hit the door and keep going, but I knew it wouldn’t be that easy, nothing in my life ever was.
Chapter 14
JACKSON
I couldn't believe what I was hearing, that a mother would speak to her own child like that. Anyone could see that the imp was just a little high strung and opinionated.
And if I were being honest, I would probably pop off at the mouth if I had to deal with those three on a regular basis myself.
I slid back into the shadows as Maxie ran up the stairs, probably to her room, my eyes following her every move.
What was I getting myself into here? This wasn’t my fight, and she’d gone above and beyond to show her contempt for me. Still, I couldn’t stand the thought of her hiding out in her room licking her wounds.
"Oh Mr. Collins, I didn't see you there, we're just about ready to take our leave, I'll just tell the others."
"Give me five minutes, there's something I have to do." I barely got the words past the heated anger in my gut.
She seemed to want to say something else to me, and from the way she looked from me to the stairs, I knew she wondered if I’d overheard her little set down.
After she headed back into the room with the others, I took the stairs two at a time. I had a pretty good idea which room was imp's, but wasn't sure, until I heard the sobbing.
Without giving it too much thought, I pushed the door open and came up short. What I saw before me gave me pause, I'm not sure what I felt, but I know it wasn't good.
The emotion was so foreign that it caught me completely off guard, until the haziness cleared from my vision.
She laid across the bed, her head on the legs of the guy I'd been introduced to earlier, who was reclining against the headboard.
He had his hand in her hair and I wanted to break it off at the shoulder and beat him with it. Well, shit Collins. You always were a bull headed ass. Nothing easy for you huh?
Looks like you might be too late anyway. I didn’t like that feeling either and instead of turning to head back the way I came, I made my presence known, and not too nicely at that.
"Sorry, didn't know I was interrupting." I made to leave when what I really wanted to do was kick both their asses. Apparently, I'd lost my mind after too much exposure to this bunch.
"You're not interrupting. I'm just doing my brotherly duty here." He actually rolled his eyes at me.
Brotherly? I stayed where I was with my eyes on him gauging the atmosphere so to speak.
"I wasn't aware she had a brother, I thought the Doves had only girls."
"Consider me the adoptee, the stray that mom and dad brought home."
"Stop it Jonas. What do you want, your douchiness? Did you come to gloat, aren't you going to be late for your dinner?"
"I'm not going." I stepped farther into the room.
That got her attention, "What do you mean you’re not going?”
"Uh, I have to go get something, be right back." The big bruiser slid out from under her and my body relaxed.
"Jonas, don't leave me here alone with him, I'll skin you alive." She grabbed on to him while shooting missiles at me with her eyes.
"Stop the theatrics will you, I said I'll be back squirt." He got up from the bed and I started breathing normally again.
She pouted and huffed as he headed for the door, but I could see the hurt in her and it tore at me. Poor baby.
"You two really are a pair." He whispered that cryptic shit to me before breaking out in laughter and leaving the room.
"Are they always like that with you?"
"What do you care, you're no different..." She sniffled and wiped her nose with her hand like a toddler.
Why I should find that move so endearing was beyond me, but it seemed there wasn’t anything about her I didn’t like.
"Really, you know me that well."
"I know of you." She picked at the bedding and refused to look up at me.
"Perhaps, it's time you told me just what it is you know."
"I don't have to tell you shit Mr. Potter."
I had no idea who or what she was talking about, so I just closed and locked the door and walked towards the bed.
"Well then, neither of us is leaving here until you do." I folded my arms and looked down at her. I can be just as stubborn as she if need be.
I don't think I was expecting the shoe that came flying at my head, but my reflexes were quick enough to field it.
"Who would've thought Le Dove would be such a brat?"
"Suck it fuckwit." Had I ever seen anything as beautiful as she in a temper? I don’t think so.
"Such language, now that you've got that out of your system, let’s talk."
"Eat shit and die creep."
"Ah, I see, this is the way you shield, I'm supposed to become repulsed and just give up right, no dice imp."
I kept advancing on her as she tried to escape through the wooden headboard.
"Get out of my room asshole, I don't want to talk to you."
I finally reached her side and towered over her, she looked so tiny on the big bed with tears drying on her cheeks.
"What hurt you Maxie?"
"You'll never know." Her voice was soft and forlorn. And that, I think, was the saddest thing of all.
***
Chapter 15
JACKSON
"Tell me, and stop that swearing, it doesn't become you. It just makes you seem cheap and vulgar."
"Why you piece of..." Fuck it’s like pulling teeth. Now she’s got me doing it too.
"I said it makes you seem that way. Not that you are in fact that way. Settle down will you, geez. You've been going like a whirling dervish ever since I got here, and you called me demented."
She had flown off the bed to attack me, her five foot two frame against my six three build; what a character.
I looked her up and down to remind her that she was out matched.
"Don't let the size fool you Collins, I can still kick your ass."
"Oh so you do know my name."
"Go fuck yourself..."
"That's it, the next time you speak to me like that I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap."
***
MAXIE
He has gone completely around the bend, or maybe madness has been his problem all along, when I'd thought he was just a stuck up monster who hated anything he deemed to be beneath him.
"If you do anything to screw up my sister's wedding I'll get you back you hear?"
My breath was choppy and my head was a bit light. It felt like the day was finally catching up to me, like I’d finally had enough.
"And why would I want to do such a thing?" He actually frowned at me like the thought had never crossed his mind. Yeah right.
"My family might not be as wealthy as we once were, but
we're not paupers either, and if you use your filthy influence to hurt her I'll see you dead." There he goes again with that lost look.
"What makes you think these things of me, is it because I asked to make some changes to the wedding plans?"
"What right do you have? It's their wedding not yours. You should keep your big fat nose out of it." I shook my fist at him to let him know I meant business. I would so bust the shit out of that patrician nose of his. Snobby bastard.
"Understood, but as a business man Michael has certain obligations, some people cannot and should not be slighted. Besides, I offered to pay for the extras, but your father insisted he take care of it."
"Not the point Napoleon, you can't always get your way in everything, people like you make me sick."
"You know what, I'm tired of being at the wrong end of that tongue of yours, since you won't tell me what your damn problem is I'll just have to come to my own conclusions and you know what I've come up with so far?"
JONAS
Shit, they're behind a locked door together, I'm sure she didn't do it, so he must've done it in a move to get her to open up.
Good luck with that dude. Maybe I need to give this rich boy some pointers on how to deal with lil sister's brand of cray-cray.
I tried listening at the door but was waylaid by the bitches of Eastwick coming up the stairs. Oh shit.
Why didn’t I just go have a beer with the guys like I’d planned to? What the hell was I doing here in the middle of this soap opera?
Oh yeah, my baby sister was in the middle of this shit, and we’ve never left each other’s backs before.
I usually try to stay out of these little skirmishes between her and her siblings since we were kids and I use to help her carry out her plans of attack, but this one was really getting to her and I had a good idea why.
If I didn’t get the vibe that the dude was worth it, I would’ve dragged her out of here already, but she needs some happy in her life.
So if I have to tangle with these she wolves that would eat their own young to land a rich sucker like this Collis guy, that’s just what the hell I’ll do.
***
JACKSON
I opened my mouth to tell her exactly what I thought her problem was, but then we heard the raised voices in the hallway.
She held her hand up for me to be quiet so she could listen.
"Jonas where is Jackson?"
"How the hell should I know?"
"Don't play smart, we know he came up here. Now get away from that door this instant, is he in there?"
"No he's not, look, you three got Maxie in trouble, now she's all upset, I went to get her some ginger ale for her upset stomach so if you'll excuse me."
"You always were her little lapdog, and no one did anything to her, she always does it to herself."
That sounded like Jenny.
The fire breather went to rush past me to get to the door, but I pulled her back with my arm around her middle.
"Not so fast there, dragon lady." She felt good pressed up against me, but now was not the time to enjoy.
"Let me go Collins, they don't get to mess with Jonas."
"Your big brother can take care of himself. I think you've been in enough trouble for one day."
She turned those eyes on me as I pulled her in, and for the first time I noticed how absolutely spectacular they were.
Her eyes weren't grey, they were pure silver the black was pure solid black. There were no specks of brown or anything else, just pure beauty.
She felt strong and soft at the same time, as I shifted her in my arms, my eyes caught by the sheer magnificence of hers.
I saw the slight inclination of her head before she checked herself.
"Kiss me." I nuzzled her jaw and felt her tremble in my arms.
"What...no." She fidgeted against me and tried to move her face away from my lips.
"Then I'll kiss you."
Chapter 16
JACKSON
It was like pouring gasoline on a raging inferno as soon as our lips met.
I was torn between wondering who the hell had taught her to kiss like that, and wanting to throw her down on the bed and pound the hell out of her sweet body.
Whoa Collins, since when do you think like that? Since I held living fire in my hands. I dared any man to feel differently, then again no, I wouldn’t like anyone else to experience this.
Her tongue was soft and sweet in my mouth, her whimpers music to my ears. All that fiery passion was concentrated in that place where we touched.
She kissed like an innocent with the soul of a born siren.
I drew her in as tightly as was possible, as I kept one hand buried in her hair and the other wrapped around her amazing ass.
She went under, or at least that’s what it felt like. Like she had lost all self-control and just gave herself over to the feelings that were now taking over her senses.
We came up for air and I wanted back in, but she was already looking at me like she would castrate me if I tried, infuriating woman.
I could still see heat and passion and need, but she is who she is, so she resisted. I set her back on her feet when she pushed against my shoulders.
"Don't think that this changes anything you moron." She fixed her clothes and blushed while avoiding my eyes. I did notice that she was trembling slightly and had to be satisfied with that for now.
"I wouldn't dream of it, just as long as you know that we'll be doing a lot more of that."
"Dream on snake charmer; now get the hell out of the way." Did she know she was still trembling from my touch?
"You're cute you know that?" I could finally see through the bravado, though there was something there, some resentment that had nothing to do with weddings.
It went much deeper, but until she was ready to share, I'll just keep stealing kisses and throwing her off guard. That was a hell of a lot more fun that fielding her barbs.
Then again, now that I know what my kisses do to her, her little zingers won’t pack as much of a punch.
"I'm not cute, little puppies are cute." She was full of indignation as she tried to get herself together under my watchful gaze.
"And what are you?"
I saw the slight slumping of her shoulders.
"I'm...me."
Ah, and there you have it, one of the layers peeled back and exposed. The firecracker, the musical prodigy, had very low self-esteem, which she hid behind a wall of bravado; and no wonder, with a family like hers.
I'm sure she was made to feel inadequate in a family of pale replicas. Where she was dark and exotic, they were just more of the same.
Even Janet with her dark locks was no match for the unusual beauty of Maxie, but I don't think she knows that, and I think they did and would do anything to keep her from realizing it.
I ran my thumb down her cheek as I held her eyes with mine. Eyes that still carried the sheen of tears.
I wanted to make her promises in that moment, promises that I’d never felt let alone uttered to another living soul.
What was it about her that had me so fascinated? Was it just because she had a grievance against me? Was that it?
Somehow I doubted it, I wouldn’t have cared if one of the others out there had held a grudge against me, wouldn’t have given one fuck what they thought.
But with her it was different. With her, I not only wanted to get to the bottom of whatever it was she thought she knew about me, I also wanted to change her opinion of me. For some reason it was suddenly very important to me that she see me only in the best of lights.
“I don’t like seeing you cry.”
“You didn’t...”
“You know what I mean. They’re not worth your tears sweetheart, you’re so much better than that.”
“How would you know?” Now she was sulking.
“Because unlike you, I form my own opinions from what I see with my own eyes, not what I perceive from nothing. Come on, dry your tears; don’t let them see
that they have gotten to you.”
With one last kiss to her forehead, I helped her get herself together to face what was beyond the door, and told myself that I was not going to let anyone else hurt her again, not while I was here.
But what happens when you leave? I’ll just have to think about that later, right now it was enough to get through the rest of this night, especially after I tell her mother that I wouldn’t be joining them for dinner.
I wonder what would happen if I took the fire breather out, just the two of us?
No, better not, until I knew what I was going to do about her I’d better not go making any grand gestures, who knows what horrors they’d wreak on her head next if I showed my newfound interest in her.
“You ready?”
“Geez Lancelot, I’m not headed for the guillotine.” Well, at least she wasn’t looking so pitiful anymore.
***
JONAS
"What the hell’s with you three and this guy anyway?" I faced them down as they tried to get by me for the door.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand, after all how could you? Just because you've won some nice purses running around on that bike of yours, you're just not one of us." The idiot sniffed her nose at me.
"Thank you Petra, you say the sweetest things." What a fucking troll, I should really let the terror loose on her ass the next time she goes on the warpath and wants her blood.
"Anyway in case you didn't know Jackson Collins is one of the wealthiest men on the planet, he has billions. Do you know what that means? It means I would be set for life. The only thing is, we would definitely have to move from Texas, maybe Milan or Paris, oh the possibilities."
Are people really this deluded in real life? I always knew this one was a little touched, then again it could be that Maxie had brained her once too often over the years. Those two can go at it like nobody’s business.
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