“What?”
“Dad sent me over to this man’s office to intern with him.”
“You’re shitting me, right?” I asked.
“No way. Dad made it an ultimatum.” Pipe then shifted into impersonating his father. “You have two options, Jr. Take care of yourself or intern.”
Yawning, I rolled over to my side. “How many hours do you have to spend with this guy, ‘Wilbur Jr.’?”
“You are never, ever, ever supposed to call me by that name.”
I held in my laughter. “I’m sorry.”
“Twenty hours every week for the whole summer, I will be interning with this hot guy.”
“Down in Miami?”
“Yep. The guy has an office here.”
“And now you’re dating him?”
“Hmmm. I wouldn’t say that. We’re more being wicked together.”
“You’re being safe?”
Pipe groaned. “You sound like Mrs. Elaine.”
“But are you being safe?”
“Everything that we’ve done has been on camera. He’s scared to touch me.”
“On camera?” I asked.
“He’s looking at his laptop. I’m looking at mine. That sort of thing.”
“Webcam sex?”
“Well, I didn’t think you would even know the term. You’re pretty much banging everyone up there these days. Evie tells me that you’ve moved on to her roommate.”
“Yeah, Cynthia. She’s good-looking.”
“You think that’s smart?”
“You think it’s smart to sleep with your Dad’s business buddy?”
“No one said he was a business buddy,” Pipe countered.
“If the guy volunteered to babysit you this summer under the guise of an internship, then he’s definitely a friend of some sort. He’s doing your father a favor.”
“Let’s get off me and back to you. I say you should leave the roommate alone. It’s not proper.”
“Why wouldn’t it be?”
“Evie might not like it.”
“Very funny. Evie sees me only as a friend. Anytime I get too close to her she gets all stiff and uncomfortable.” I yawned again. “If I thought that I had a small chance with Evie, I wouldn’t look at her roommate.”
“You’ve got a chance.”
“Prove it.”
“Evie doesn’t punch you as much.”
“Not good enough.”
“Can’t you just trust me, Jay?” Pipe asked.
“Does Evie ever tell you that she likes me?”
“You know I don’t talk about our conversations. Would you want her to know ours?”
“That’s still not an answer,” I countered.
“I’m going to let you go to sleep. My boss is going to want me in the office bright and early. I showed him some lovely things on cam tonight. I put the computer right in front of the shower, lit some candles, turned on the hot water, and let him watch.”
“So you just washed in front of him?”
“Yes.”
“Sounds boring to me. I’ve seen you in the shower.” I rolled to my side. “I didn’t think it was a big deal at all.”
“Trust me. I showered in a sexy way.” He made some sort of an ocean sound that carried over the line.
“What was the hell was that noise you just made?”
“It’s the sound effect for sexy.” He did the odd noise again.
“I’m getting off of the phone with you.”
“God, you suck. Well, goodnight, but remember this…Havoc. Don’t forget that name. Havoc. You’ve got it?”
“Yes. Havoc.” I hung up the phone and buried my tired face into the pillow with Evie and her roommate on my mind. My dick hardened, and all I could do was picture both of them with their clothes off.
“Jay, can you help us shower?” Dream Evie asked, naked in the bathroom doorway. Her roommate already stood in the shower. Water ran down her lovely body.
“Why yes, ladies. I can help you.” I grabbed the lotion off my night stand and continued the dream.
Havoc was the place Evie and I would be going to. Now, everything started to make sense. I often wondered what happened to that summer corporate fling. Pipe never added anything to the story. And soon, his calls in the middle of the night came less and less. His discussions about other men ceased.
What would I say to this guy? What should I do? I can’t touch him, not in public. Maybe I can scare him a little. Make him think I’m coming for him.
Evie’s words played in my head.
“Tell him to find Pipe too.”
I pulled out my cellphone and typed in the message to the investigator.
Chapter Fifteen
Evie
Jay and I climbed out of the taxi and headed to Havoc.
“Remember, we first have to see if we can get some information about what happened.” I almost stumbled in my heels.
Jay grabbed my hand and helped me forward. “Yes, and then we threaten him.”
“We may not need to threaten him. We’re assuming that he hurt him, but—”
“He did. Pipe was cut up. Who else would do that? Who else would Pipe let do that?”
“We don’t know. He might’ve gone crazy. He could’ve taken home a stranger.”
Jay turned his attention to me and squeezed my hand. “Did he do those things?”
“I doubt it.”
“We have to make sure he’s okay.”
“Yeah.”
“I mean, really okay. Not just physically, but mentally.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I know, Jay.”
Apparently, Pipe had raved about the place before, so we guessed that we needed to dress up, instead of down. Who knew what one wore to a place that Pipe frequented? Casual wear for Pipe was erratic—sneakers with a tuxedo and an untied bow, cowboy boots with jeans and a buttoned-down shirt, and even skinny pants with a tank top and polka dot fur coat.
“Well, at least we’re not underdressed.” Jay placed his hand on the curve of my back. He’d been using any excuse to touch me. “I love this dress.”
“Thank you again for buying it.” I couldn’t even gaze down at myself. The fabric formed around my body like a glove. The main part was all black, except for the front and the sides. Copper straps served as the sides and the whole area in front of my breasts. They left spaces in between that showed just enough skin for a person to imagine me naked. The dress fell only a few inches above my knees. I knew I looked good. I’d stared in the mirror for several minutes, wondering who the woman was in the reflection. The heels matched the straps, copper and shiny.
Jay had come out of nowhere with it, knocked on my hotel door and handed the bag to me when I answered. He didn’t tell me when or where he’d gotten the dress, just that he wanted me to wear it.
And I did, because for once his eyes didn’t hold that sad and dreadful gaze. He’d been wearing that a lot, appearing worried all the time, even before Pipe’s missing status. In SportsTV interviews, he toyed with his tie a lot and stuttered a few times.
Now that he’d confessed about his nightmares, I realized that Pipe wasn’t the only one of my friends in trouble. Jay was stressed out of his mind and even anxious about his future, and the whole time he’d never said anything.
I had to take care of him, so I promised to wear the dress, and he rushed off to put on a suit.
Keeping at my slow pace, Jay directed his focus to my body, sliding his gaze along my frame and causing my skin to shiver.
“I knew the dress would fit you perfectly,” he said.
“Yeah, about that. When did you sneak off to get it?”
“I didn’t sneak out and grab it. I got it a month ago.”
Tension built at my shoulders. “For me?”
“I don’t wear dresses, Evie. Of course, I got it for you. Pipe is not the only person that has style.”
“So Pipe didn’t help you pick it?”
“No comment.” Jay’s phone buzzed. He took
it out and shut the device off. “I don’t know why Shelia keeps calling me, but I don’t have time for her right now.”
“Shelia’s your publicist?”
“Yeah. She’s usually calling me over and over like this when she’s managed to sign me onto some big interview.”
“That sounds good.”
He grunted.
We arrived at the front of Havoc. Outside it was all solid black walls with no way for anyone to peer inside.
“We’re matching too.” Jay grabbed the silver handle and opened the large door.
“Your suit is black. My dress is black and copper. It’s not exactly a matching situation.” I walked through.
He followed. “We’re both in black.”
“I get that, but...oh never mind.”
A hostess stood behind a podium and talked to a couple. We waited behind them.
“So, why did you go shopping for a dress for me a month ago?” I asked.
“I was thinking I would take you to the end of the season award’s ceremony. I knew you would say no, so I considered all of the possible reasons why you would say no—not having a dress or shoes to wear, not enough time, or—”
“What would you have done about my not having enough time?”
“I didn’t figure that out yet.”
“Why not just take someone else?”
With his thumb, he traced a line along the inner part of my wrist. “Because there is no one else. There could never be. Either I go with you, or I go with no one.”
“I—”
“What?”
“I’m going to have to—”
Jay leaned my way and whispered, “What?”
“I’m going to have to figure out us.”
“Yes.” He nodded and didn’t look confident at all. “After we take care of Pipe, we need to figure it all out.”
As usual, Jay was coming on so strong, dizzying my head, and making me forget why I’d walked away from him to begin with. Always the gentleman, he kept me spoiled and feeling protected. More and more these days, he confessed to thinking about me on a higher level—the buying of the dress and planning to propose.
I gave up responding about it further and checked out the restaurant.
Luxurious people crowded the massive space. Classical music rose, a string orchestra in an upbeat tune. The song reminded me of the sort that played in one of those period films with women and men donning big white wigs.
“Must Pipe do everything all the way turned up when it comes to money?” Jay huffed. “The entrees are probably hundreds of dollars.”
Androgynous servers carried trays on their heads. It was the only way I could describe them. Neither truly looked like a male or female. They held somber expressions and walked like models while the platters balanced on top. Dressed in solid black body leotards, they prowled around in at least nine-inch heels.
Uh. Okay.
“No, the entrees are probably closer to a hundred each.” I had no idea how the hell the servers didn’t trip and knock all of those trays to the floor. What genius decided that it would be a good idea to make their servers as uncomfortable as possible?
They must make a lot of money. There is no way anyone would do that for a regular check.
At the host’s station, a brunette woman arrived in a simple cocktail dress, held two menus, and guided the couple into Havoc’s dining area.
Jay and I stepped up to the hostess.
“Hello.” She smiled. “How many?”
“Actually,” Jay got closer, “we have reservations with a Malcolm Ward.”
She quirked her eyebrows. “Mr. Ward?”
“Yes.”
She looked down at the journal in front of her and flipped through the page. “Was Mr. Ward aware of this? There weren’t any additional seats reserved for his usual table.”
“Maybe he made a mistake.”
She let out a nervous laugh. “I’m not sure Mr. Ward makes mistakes.” She flipped through another page. “Okay. I’ll just check with him real quick. I’m sure you understand. What’s your name?”
Jay winked. “Pipe.”
“Really?” She gave him a skeptical look. “I could’ve sworn you were someone else.”
“Who?” Jay asked.
“The Heisman guy that...” She blushed. “Uh. That was on the balcony.”
Jay and I exchanged glances.
On the balcony? What the hell?
“Excuse me?” I asked. “What do you mean on the balcony?”
Her face reddened some more. “I’m sorry. I must be confused. Okay. I’ll go check with Mr. Ward. Until then, I can have Emily take you to the bar.”
We can’t buy anything so whoop dee doo.
“Sounds good.” Jay shrugged.
The brunette returned. Our hostess whispered something to us.
“This way, please.” The brunette nodded at both of us and led us deep into the dining area where gold tables and pink chairs made up most of the space. I had no idea pink and gold went together so well. A small fish tank rested on every table. Inside each, tiny colorful fish swarmed around pretty plants.
I whispered to Jay, “What do you think she meant about the Heisman guy on the balcony?”
“I don’t know. There must’ve been a new story or something about someone else or she got some facts confused.”
A few people glanced at Jay and me, then whispered to each other.
More people turned to us.
“Am I imagining things or are people staring at us?” I asked.
He squeezed my hand. “You’re imagining things. Or they are looking at how sexy you look in that dress.”
“Hmmm.” I caught a woman pointing right at Jay, giggling, and having the rest of the table look. “I don’t know. Maybe the whole Heisman Pimp thing is still big in Miami.”
“I doubt it. That’s old news. Plus, something new happens in this city all of the time. Why would they still be on that?”
“I swear they are pointing and staring at us.”
“Maybe they’re watching you because you’re watching them.”
“Fair point.” I looked up.
Four pink chandeliers hung from the ceiling. Diamonds dangled around them. Lit ivory candles were there instead of bulbs. Again, it was a bad idea. How much time had they spent each day lowering the chandeliers, stuffing the new candles in, lighting them, and then lifting everything into the air?
God. This is so Pipe’s sort of place.
The ceiling rose high around three white walls. The fourth one displayed a huge mural with a black background. A nude woman with pale flesh hugged her breasts and held her mouth open in a moan. Pinks flowers grew from her skin. Some of the petals flared out and merged with her flesh. They covered her eyes and sprawled over her head in a blossoming bouquet. More flowers sprouted from the back of her arms and elbows.
Now, that’s art.
The brunette took us to the end of the bar and gestured for us to be seated.
A white glow lit the whole area. Gold writing decorated the bar’s surface. The word Havoc was scribbled all over it. The whole area was bright light and giggling people stuck in conversation and holding lovely shaped wine glasses. Each crystal was unique. The stems bent or curved, zigzagged and split into three different lines of glass that held up the bowls of wine. Gems outlined the rims.
I wonder if those jewels cut people’s lips.
“Wow.” The bartender spotted Jay, set a napkin down, and a glass. “You’re having a rough day, I’m sure. This set of drinks is on me, buddy.”
He left before I could ask him what he was talking about.
“Okay.” I held my hands out. “What was that about?”
Shaking his head, Jay took out his phone. “Now, I’m worried. Maybe that’s why Shelia has been calling me. Something happened in the news.”
“Fuck. I hope it’s not sports related.”
“At this point, I don’t care. Part of me wants to lose the whole possibilit
y of the pros just to be able to breathe easier.”
I frowned. “You know everything is going to be okay?”
“I hope so, Evie.” He turned on his phone.
I sat down and froze.
Behind Jay, a tall man stood wearing a murderous glare on his face. A designer suit draped his frame. His black hair was smoothed back in wavy perfection. He looked like money, clean and newly printed.
Malcolm Ward.
I cleared my throat and hit Jay’s arm. “Umm. Ward is here.”
Jay looked up from his phone. “What?”
“Malcolm Ward.” I wagged my thumb at him.
“Interesting.” Still wearing a frown, Malcolm stepped around Jay and positioned himself closer to me. “It seems we have a problem. I was told that I had a reservation with you two, but that must be wrong.”
Jay set his phone on the bar with a bang. I hoped the device still worked. Sometimes, it was so scary how Jay could go from zero to a hundred in seconds. He’d just been a relaxed, lovable guy, ready to call his publicist. At the sight of Ward, rage ripped from his skin and thickened the small area all around us. Malcolm was tall, but Jay had several inches over him.
Malcolm’s frowned twitched at the corners of his mouth. “Can I help you?”
“What happened with Pipe?” Jay wasted no time.
“Pipe?” Malcolm’s eyes half closed into slits. “I have no idea who that is.”
“No? Maybe I should ask your wife and kids?” Jay crossed his big arms over his chest.
“Mr. Taylor, don’t you think you’re in the news enough this week? You wouldn’t want to add being thrown out of Havoc to your list of Miami adventures—”
“What?” Jay’s face scrunched in a mix of anger and confusion.
“And then of course, you wouldn’t want to be in the news for other things.”
“Other things?” I asked.
Malcolm’s frown deepened. “One can go to jail for anything around here when one pisses off the wrong person.”
This whole threatening thing is not working on like we planned. Maybe we should just punch the shit out of him.
Jay pointed to Malcolm, putting his finger an inch in front of his face. “You should go to jail for hurting my friend. And if I find out that you damaged Pipe so bad, I’m going to—”
The COMPLETE Coventon Campus Series: Books I, II, & III Page 47