by Nalini Singh
A long pause before she said, “Why are you so sure it’s bullshit?”
Because if there was one thing he knew in the deepest part of himself, it was that Juliet didn’t lie or cheat; her up-front honesty was a core part of her nature. “I’m a mastermind. Want to see my Mensa membership card?”
“Great, you think you’re a comedian these days,” she muttered, but he heard the faintest thawing in her voice. “One of my neighbors called to warn me that the reporters were camped out in front of my place. I’m still at the office. I figured I’d book myself into a hotel tonight.”
Now that pathetic excuse for a man was driving her away from her own home. “It’s about to get worse,” he warned. “Reid’s girlfriend is currently giving an on-camera interview. Full drama.”
The swear word that Juliet spit out was as blue as a summer sky. “I don’t want to be part of any of this! Why is Reid forcing me into it?”
“Because he’s a fame-hungry has-been about to get dropped from his team.” Jake glanced over to see that the reporter and cameraman were striding back down to the van. Another media van, however, was just pulling in. Jesus, it was going to end up a circus.
“I’ll survive.” Juliet sounded like she was gritting her teeth. “I did the last time. Back then I was the vicious gold digger who broke Reid’s heart—even though the only thing he has in the cavity where his heart should be is an alcohol-pickled prune.” She snorted. “Reid conveniently forgot to mention that I’d signed an ironclad prenup, he’d pissed away his money, and oh, that he was sleeping with Lisa well before we separated.”
Jake wanted—needed—to help her, offer refuge, while at the same time kicking in Reid’s face. But this localized scandal would become a massive international one the instant his name was thrown into the mix. Reid would use Jake’s far bigger profile to push his own in the media. Caught in the middle would be Juliet, who wanted to live her life free of media stalking, and Esme, innocent and sweet and sheltered from the kind of spotlight courted by those who sought to be celebrities.
But no fucking way was he just leaving Juliet to the sharks. They were far more to each other now than just old antagonists—and Jake looked after his people. “You don’t need to get a hotel room,” he said, thinking quickly. “My family keeps an apartment on the waterfront. It’s empty right now.”
It had been a gift to Alison and Joseph from their four boys.
Mostly his parents used it as their getaway place in the city. They’d go to a show, eat at one of the fancy restaurants, walk hand in hand down the waterfront. But Alison and Joseph had been adamant they’d only accept the gift if their sons promised to use it as well.
Gabe’s home was in the city anyway, but Sailor and Ísa had used it for date nights, and Danny and his friends crashed there the times they went clubbing. Once in a while, Jake took the girls there for a treat. He’d order their favorite takeout, take them up to see the sparkling view from the Sky Tower, or out to get ice cream in Mission Bay. The two would sit with their cones alongside the fountain by the beach, feeling very grown-up at being out at night.
“That’s very nice of you.” Juliet’s voice was stiff. “But I can take care of myself.”
“I know.” He was beginning to realize exactly how long she’d been doing that. “But let’s try being friends, Jules. After last night, we owe it to each other. And friends step in when the shit hits the fan.” It bugged him that she hadn’t messaged him when things began to blow up, really bugged him, even though rationally he knew they didn’t have that kind of relationship.
Not yet anyway.
A long silence before she said, “I appreciate the offer, but you’d have to come out of your way to give me the keys—”
“It’s all electronic locks with numeric codes,” he said. “I’ll text you the address and the codes.” He’d also tell his family the apartment was in use so no one would disturb her. “The place has excellent security. No reporter’s going to ambush you in the hallways, and you can drive directly into the secure underground garage.”
An aggravated sound on the other end. “When did you get so bossy, Jacob?”
He didn’t know why he always wanted to smile when she said Jacob in that tone. “Survival instinct,” he shot back. “You try having Gabe for a big brother. Steamroller has nothing on the Bishop.”
A startled kind of laugh. “You’re selling me on this apartment deal—especially with the drive-in garage.”
Jake’s shoulders began to unbunch. “So you’ll go?”
“Yes,” she said. “Just for tonight. Hopefully the circus will have calmed down by tomorrow.”
Jake hoped so for her sake, but he wasn’t positive, not with Reid and Lisa fanning the flames. After hanging up, he quickly sent Juliet the details of the apartment and received a reply saying she’d message him once she was successfully inside.
Gut still tense, he fought off the urge to go across to Reid’s and instead walked into the house. Everyone was back in the kitchen once again. Esme and Emmaline were whispering to each other in one corner, no doubt complaining about soon being woefully separated by their unfeeling parents, while the adults were gathered around, divvying up leftovers.
Food did not go to waste in Alison Esera’s house. She’d experienced extreme poverty after her first husband drained their bank accounts and abandoned his family. Of her two boys then, Gabe had been the worst affected, but Sailor hadn’t been far behind. It wasn’t until he was a young teen that Jake had truly understood how lucky he’d been to be born into the stable, supportive unit formed by Alison, Joseph, Gabe, and Sailor.
Now he needed his family to extend their support to Juliet.
“I’ve lent the city apartment to Juliet,” he said during a lull in the conversation before explaining why—including what he’d just seen outside.
His mother slammed down the knife she’d been using to cut the leftover homemade cheesecake. “That Reid Mescall shouldn’t have anything to do with a good woman. I’ve seen his interviews, seen how he talks about her. It’s disgraceful.”
Ísa’s expression was no less furious when she said, “Juliet was telling me before the wedding about how proud she is of this new launch she’s coordinating—the one you modeled for, Jake—and it almost seems like Reid’s trying to ruin that.”
Jake didn’t think Reid had planned that far ahead, but it didn’t matter if the effect was the same. “Hopefully none of the really big media organizations will pick it up.”
Sailor made a face. “You know it’s all about clicks these days.”
“At least they can’t manufacture more scandal out of the fact she’s staying at the apartment.” Ísa was tapping out a message on her phone as she spoke. “I mean, everyone already knows she was a bridesmaid at Charlotte’s wedding.” Sending the message, she looked up, “I told her to call if she needs anything.”
Jake hadn’t even considered that the media knew the apartment belonged to his family. But his sister-in-law was right: Danny had, with Gabriel and Charlotte’s permission, shared photos from their wedding day on his social media. The shots taken by the public had also gone viral when they were posted, especially the one someone had snapped of Charlotte laughing with her bridesmaids.
No one could use Jake’s family to hurt Juliet.
19
Ice Cream
Juliet was still second-guessing herself when she punched in the door code of the exclusive waterfront apartment. She’d had dinner delivered to her office, sharing the meal with Kalia after the photographer swung by to show her images from a catalog shoot she’d done on Saturday. The other woman had offered to get compromising photos of Reid so Juliet could blackmail him into silence.
“Because you know that fuckwit compromises himself all the time,” Kalia had muttered over her chicken satay. “It’ll be a cinch.”
Juliet was seriously considering the offer. What use was it being a good person if a man like Reid could wreck your life on a whim? She’d s
aid as much to Kalia, who’d nodded in agreement, her face the picture of sweetness while her dark brown eyes held pure vengeance.
Of mixed Vietnamese and Indian descent, Kalia might be tiny and soft-looking, but she knew how to hold a grudge—especially on behalf of her friends. Also, she competed in mixed martial arts as a hobby and could probably break Reid in half.
Click.
The red light on the panel went green to indicate the door was now unlocked.
Stepping inside, she locked the door behind herself, then put down the overnight bag she always had in the boot of her car. Every so often, Iris needed her to put out a fire and Juliet had to get on a plane on short notice. It was easier to keep a set of necessities and a couple of changes of clothes ready to go rather than rushing around to pack on the day.
The light switch beside the door was slightly illuminated to stand out in the dark, and she soon had the living area bathed in light. The entire back wall was glass. Water gleamed dark and silken beyond, what looked like a party boat festooned with lights floating some distance out. The islands of the Hauraki Gulf were visible as dark silhouettes against the night sky.
Her phone rang in her hand.
Glancing down, she frowned at the unknown number. This was her fiercely guarded private line. The call ended, but she got the ping for a voice mail not long afterward. When she checked, she felt her eyes widen.
Frantically exiting voice mail, she returned the call. “Alison,” she said. “I’m so sorry I didn’t pick up. I thought you might be a reporter.”
“I understand, honey. I saw the dark side of the media when Gabriel had his injury—they were like parasites wanting to suck my boy dry when he was already hurting.”
Juliet had never heard Alison sound so harsh. “Thank you for calling,” she said, not quite sure what to do with the attention. Ísa’s message had been surprise enough.
“I wanted to make sure you were doing okay.” A warm tone that wrapped around Juliet like a blanket. “You’re going to our apartment, yes?”
“I just stepped inside. It’s beautiful.”
“I’m not sure if there’s any fresh milk in the fridge,” Alison said, “but I always keep a packet of long-life milk in the pantry as an emergency backup.”
Juliet had to sit down, her body felt so strangely weak under the wave of maternal attention. “Okay,” she said. “I’ll have a look.”
“You should find plenty else to eat in the kitchen—frozen meals included. Danny and his friends know to stock things back up after they’ve gone through it like a horde of locusts. If you need anything at all, you make sure to call. It’s an easy drive for us.”
Staring out at the party boat on the water, Juliet blinked back tears and bit down hard on her quivering lower lip. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means a lot.”
She was still sitting there, the phone in her hand and her throat hurting with suppressed emotion, when the screen lit up again. This time with a message: Are you in the apartment? I have to put my little grumpy guts to bed. I’ll call after.
Juliet squeezed the phone. Suddenly afraid, she replied: I’m here and going to bed. Talk tomorrow.
That done, she sat there and stared out at the darkness lit only by the boat on the water. All those people partying and dancing and pretending to be happy. Maybe they actually were happy. Or maybe, like her, they had a loneliness inside them. A loneliness that wondered what it would be like to have Alison’s attention anytime she needed, to be part of a big loyal family who’d back her against the world.
And to have Jacob Esera put his stubborn, serious mind to keeping her safe.
Terrifying thoughts for a girl who’d been alone her entire life except for friendships that were a bulwark against the dark. But Calypso was gone, Iris and Everett had families of their own, Charlotte was transitioning to the next stage of her life, and Aroha was falling fast for an equally smitten Harry. Even Kalia was heading off on one of her travel-photo projects soon.
Juliet felt like an island alone in the ocean.
“Don’t be dramatic, Jules.” Annoyed with herself, she pushed up to her feet. “Charlie and Aroha and the others aren’t disappearing into outer space. It’s just this mess with Reid that’s screwing with your head. Put your phone on Do Not Disturb mode, sleep, get up with a fresh mind. It’ll have blown over by morning.”
Her phone buzzed. Of course it was Jake. The man did not give up.
Wondering why she actually kinda liked that stubbornness in him, she answered, “Can’t you read?” It came out snarly.
“Did you bring home my roses?”
Juliet’s eyes went to her work satchel, from the corner of which poked the head of a single dark red rose. She’d left the others on her desk at the office, their perfume lush in the air.
Kalia had taken one look at them and raised an eyebrow. “Wow, some dude knows what he’s doing. No pansy-ass daisies like that guy who hit on you last time.”
“Daisies are nice,” Juliet had protested while fighting not to fondle the rose petals as she’d been doing since they were delivered.
“Yeah, for another woman.” Kalia had pointed a satay skewer at her. “You’re not daisies, you’re sexy red roses that smell like heaven.” A long breath. “Tell me he’s good in bed. I need it for my fantasies.”
When Juliet almost choked on her own bite of satay chicken, Kalia’s grin had grown to gigantic proportions.
“Oh my gawd. He’s that good?” A shiver. “I hope he screws the bad day right out of you tonight, then lets you parade him through the streets tomorrow to stick it to Reid.”
That last had put a damper on Juliet’s giddy excitement. Roses were easy, private. Anything more public— Juliet, you’re a grade-A idiot.
“Jules, you asleep?”
“No.” She’d just been hit over the head with the fact she was sitting in Jake’s family’s apartment. How much more public could their support get? “Jake, this isn’t going to blow back on—”
“You were Charlotte’s bridesmaid.”
“Oh right.” Slumping back in the sofa on a wave of relief, she said, “Why are you bothering me? I want to get into my pajamas and eat a tub of ice cream.”
“Go check if there’s any in the freezer.”
“Do I look like your slave?” she muttered nonsensically because sparring with Jake was instinct, but she went to check since she really wanted that ice cream. At first she thought she’d struck pay dirt, but when she opened the two-liter tub, she almost cried. “Someone left like a bite of strawberry in here.”
“Danny,” Jake said darkly. “What flavor’s your favorite?”
“Rocky road,” she groused while deciding she might as well eat the measly bite that was left since that was all she was going to get. “Why was Esme grumpy?”
“Poor mistreated thing was cruelly separated from her best buddy.” Dry as dust, Jake’s tone had her grinning. “I pointed out that she’d see Emmaline at school tomorrow and was told that I didn’t understand because I had no best friend.”
“Ouch.” She licked the spoon.
“I tell you, Jules, kids are brutal.” His amused tone didn’t match his words. “Go get into your pj’s. Night concierge will ring up in a bit.” A sound in the background. “Gotta go. Esme just got out of bed for the fifth time to stomp to the bathroom. Time for me to be mean dad again.”
He was gone before she could ask him why the concierge was going to be calling her. Hanging up feeling a whole lot better than she had before his call, she left the empty ice cream container and spoon in the sink for now. She’d wash up and find the internal recycle bin for the container after she’d changed and wiped off her makeup.
It was as she’d just finished braiding her hair into a loose tail, her body clad in a simple gray tank and pink boxer shorts, that the intercom buzzed. Not sure she should answer, she remembered what Jake had said and chanced a wary “Hello?”
“Hello, ma’am,” said a crisp male voice. “We�
�ve just accepted a food delivery for your apartment. We’ll bring it up now unless you have other instructions?”
Her toes curled into the carpet, a warmth deep inside her gut. “Please leave it outside the door after a knock. I’ll grab it myself when I finish something I’m doing.” She wasn’t about to show off her braless tits to some random man—because said tits were large and the tank didn’t exactly cover them enough for public view.
She was all but bouncing on her toes by the time the knock came. But she forced herself to wait another full minute before she cracked open the door and pulled the insulated carrier inside. Putting it on the counter, she zipped it open to find two tubs of rocky road ice cream.
Yes, some dude definitely knew what he was doing.
* * *
Juliet went to sleep full of ice cream and smiles, but when she woke at around six a.m., it was to find her phone’s home screen littered with so many messages and missed-call notifications that it was pure gibberish. Great. One of her contacts had either decided to go into the gossip business or had inadvertently sold her out to a sneaky reporter pretending to be a business contact.
Quickly clearing away the notifications from unknown numbers, she smiled as she came to one from Charlotte. Her friend had called just after ten thirty the previous night, then followed up with a text message: I’ll help you kill him. Gabriel says he’ll dig the hole to bury the body—and he’ll plan the entire thing so no one ever suspects us. Emojis followed—of shovels and pickaxes, then hugs and hearts.
Startled into a much-needed smile, Juliet shot back a reply: I might just take you up on that.
Kalia’s message was a photoshopped image of Reid in which he had a paunch, a bad comb-over, and a unibrow. Below it, she’d written: The future you escaped for the hottie sex god who sends you roses.
Laughing, Juliet sent back a laugh-crying emoji in response.
Everett and Iris had both called yesterday to ensure she was all right. Aroha had also called then—and she’d joined Juliet in verbally eviscerating Reid, his character, and his fading athletic career. It had made Juliet feel so much better. Now she saw her friend had sent another message close to eleven the previous night: Kia kaha, my heart. You’re far tougher than Reid the Pinhead. All my love.