Roman: Book 2 (The Hunter Brothers Series)

by L. J. Dee

  “Yeah, I know. We might argue and fight, but we’re pretty tight,” he laughed. He had that right.”Are you two friends again now?”

  Jess was staring at me with suspicious eyes as I decided to ignore her, commenting instead on how great the track sounded and ‘Sshh-ing’ her as she started to speak.

  “Speaking of friends, is Charlie coming tonight?” Jess asked, as soon as it ended, rolling her tongue around the word which I deliberately ignored. I knew what she was implying as I nodded and smiled. “Scarlett?” she asked.

  “No way. No one likes her.” I couldn’t deny I was curious about Charlie’s new squeeze, but I didn’t want her at my birthday party.

  “You haven’t even met her, Chas,” she replied quickly, casting me a look that told me she’d be giving her the benefit of the doubt.

  “Well Lucas doesn’t like her and I trust him implicitly,” I smiled, casting him a wry glance.

  “Since when? I thought I was a dickwad,” he grinned as I laughed.

  “Only sometimes, the rest of the time you’re implicitly trustworthy, like about this. Besides, I haven’t called you a dickwad for ages. I see how you are with Jess, you convinced me, Hunter.”

  “Good, maybe you can convince her,” he said, pulling Jess onto his lap as she giggled infectiously.

  “I don’t need convincing. I love you,” she laughed as his face lit up and I could see the warmth in their gaze. I was pleased for them, and a little bit jealous. Lucas Hunter adored my sister and my gut clenched as I wondered if I’d passed up my chance for that kind of happiness by sleeping with Roman. I had to forget it. Charlie wasn’t my Mr Right, he was screwing someone else.

  They were both laughing as I went into the kitchen to retrieve my cake, wearing my new red Louboutins with my black Chanel bag swinging from my shoulder. “Now who wants cake for breakfast?” I smiled, holding it out as Dexter screamed “Yes.”

  We spent the next hour eating cake and laughing, playing with Dex and talking about Tyler’s fast ascension to celebrity status. The band was widely recognised already, getting significant radio and TV airplay, and appearing in tabloids and magazine shoots all over the place.

  The band was incredible, but it was Tyler the media wanted, and Lucas was already concerned about him. Reading between the lines, I knew this made him more inclined to buy the label, not less. He consistently referred to it as a “circus full of sharks and freaks.”

  Lucas was private and went to great lengths to keep it that way. I was grateful to Charlie for not revealing my slip up about his sex life. Tyler wanted the fame and the celebrity, but he would have to be careful and so would we. No gossiping in ladies rooms about the Hunter brothers any more, or tittle tattling in coffee shops and we’d have to be really careful around Dexter. That little boy could drop a verbal shock bomb like no one else I knew, and the funny thing was he didn’t even know he was doing it.

  “Are you worried about him getting pulled deeper into that scene, dabbling in drugs and stuff?” I asked as Lucas frowned and nodded.

  “Tyler’s great, but he isn’t always sensible. He likes to push limits and get his kicks in unconventional ways.” I bit back the urge to say ‘It must run in the family then’. Lucas was one to talk.

  “Tyler likes to show off, it’s his nature. He’s determined to live up to his image as the badass rock star that the media are portraying him as. At the moment it’s an act. You know as much as I do that he isn’t that way, but I worry that it’s only a matter of time before life imitates art. He’s still reeling from Romans revelations and Mum and Dad’s deaths. He needs someone to keep a close eye on him, or he could seriously go off the rails. It’s one of the main reasons I want to buy the label. That way, I can put the right staff in place to guide him and keep away the sycophants, pushers and clingers on who’ll encourage him to live up to his image. It’s in their interest that he does and it’s the last thing he needs.”

  “I get why he doesn’t want you to though,” I said as Lucas nodded.

  “So do I, but interfering in his career is the last thing I want. He should have his independence, he’s earned it, but I want to take care of my brother and protect him. It’s what Dad would have wanted too.”

  I could see how torn Lucas was. He’d assumed the position of head of the family and carried the weight and worry for his brothers on his shoulders. “He listens to Roman, Lucas. He’ll step in and help,” I said as Lucas shrugged.

  “Yeah, that’s if we ever know where he is.”

  “I can call him if you need him,” I said as Lucas’s eyes widened and his brows shot up in surprise.

  “You have his number?” he asked incredulously as I nodded and he blew out in a long exaggerated sigh. “Then you must mean a lot to him. That’s more than any of us have ever had, but good to know, Chas.” I was hoping he wasn’t going to ask me for it, but the look on his face suggested he knew better. If Roman wanted his brothers to have it, he’d have given it to them. At least now they knew how to reach him and I realised he wasn’t about to risk losing that.

  “Why didn’t you call him when he left if you had his number?” Jess asked. God, that girl didn’t miss a thing.

  “I didn’t have it then. Anyway, it’s old news,” I said, trying to stop her in her tracks, but she wouldn’t leave it there. If the boot was on the other foot, neither would I.

  “It most certainly is not old news,” she grinned, holding my gaze and I knew I’d have to ‘fess up.

  “Alright, you nosey bitch, he came to see me to apologise,” I laughed as her grin broadened and she started squealing excitedly. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was desperate for me to pair up with one of them. It looked like it didn’t matter which.

  “What happened?”

  “Obviously he apologised, and that’s all you’re getting,” I said as she pouted, turning my attention to Lucas and changing the subject. “Did you manage to sort out the Delaport thing?”

  “That was a very timely piece of information, Chas. It’s not under control, but we’re working on the threat. I appreciate your loyalty,” he said as I nodded.

  “Of course my loyalty is to you. You’re going to marry my sister,” I said as he chuckled deeply.

  “Do you want to tell her that?”

  “Just be patient, Lucas. It’s a done deal,” I smiled.

  “Hello, I am here you know,” Jess laughed as Dexter started jumping and down.

  “Get married, get married and then Lucas will be my Daddy,” he shouted excitedly.

  “Nice one, Chas,” she smiled, nowhere near as cagey as she used to be about the subject and that was a massive leap forward. I was definitely going to have to get my finances in check, or start looking for a lodger.

  They left at lunchtime to spend some time with Dex. They were leaving him with Mrs Kilbride tonight. I spent the rest of the afternoon luxuriating in bubbles, eating my fancy chocolates and pampering myself. Up to now it was quite possibly the sweetest birthday I had ever had.

  Chapter Nineteen

  We’d met at Number One Chelsea, and it was only then I announced we’d be heading for The Lust Lounge. I’d done a party there and loved the dark ambience of the place. They’d gushed incessantly when I told them Tyler Hunter was in the party, securing us the best booth in the VIP section and bringing the champagne as soon as we’d arrived. I was making the most of his new found fame, as was he, currently surrounded at the bar by women clamouring to get his attention, looking divine with his floppy unkempt dark hair and every inch the rock star.

  The streaming of his one man orgy across the internet had only served to boost his fame and reputation, and with his first major gig around the corner, Tyler Hunter looked like the cat that got the cream. From the women swarming around him now, I guessed he’d be getting even more tonight. I turned to look at Charlie.

  He was happier and more relaxed than I’d seen him in a while, at least since he’d got back with Scarlett. His handsome features looked
utterly delicious in the low lights of the club as I slid into the booth beside him and the waitress delivered a tray of tequila shots as his blue eyes crinkled mischievously. “You promised me birthday style shots,” he said, holding my gaze as I looked at him puzzled. I still didn’t know what it entailed, but was certainly looking forward to finding out as Lucas laughed. He clearly knew what was in store for me.

  “Should I be worried?” I asked as he shook his head, taking my hand and kissing it gently before distributing salt over the moist area where his lips had just fired up my skin.

  “Lick,” he said, holding my hand to my mouth. I retrieved the salt with my tongue and downed the drink that he passed me in one. It sent a surge of fire into my stomach as I turned to face him, smirking as I saw exactly where he was holding the lime.

  “He was gazing at me playfully, beckoning me towards him with his finger, my eyes darting from the beautiful eyes to the soft pink lips where the lime nestled between perfect white teeth. My heart fluttered with excitement and anticipation, my tongue running across my lips to prepare them for this little game as Charlie raised his eyebrows.

  “I guess now you want me to suck,” I said seductively, giggling at the dark intensity that flashed through his eyes. If he wanted to take the flirting up a level, I was game for that, edging slowly towards him, grateful that things finally seemed to be normal between us again.

  Jesus Christ, Charlie was gorgeous and while he’d kissed me a thousand times it had never been on the lips. The thought was both thrilling and nerve wracking as I inched closer, all laughter evaporating as I sealed my mouth to his. I caressed those lips with my own as I sucked on the lime, a shiver running through me as he put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer. A gentle tingle of electricity flowed between us and I jumped back suddenly.

  Charlie was as surprised as I was, black pupils burning into mine. “To good times, even greater friends and birthday style shots. Now it’s my turn,” he whispered before I even had a chance to think about what just happened, knowing only that I wanted it to happen again.

  He held his hand to my mouth, gazing into my eyes as I kissed it before pouring on the salt. This time there was no laughter, just a playful twinkle in his eyes as I put the lime between my teeth, ready for him. He knocked the tequila back quickly, wasting no time in placing that wonderful warm mouth against mine, moaning gently. It shouldn’t have been, but the feeling of Charlie was so much more intoxicating than the liquor itself. He wound his arm around me, holding me tight, massaging my lips as I closed my eyes, flooded with sensations I could barely register and wondering how long it would last.

  A girl could only manage so many tequilas, but right now, I could play until I passed out, my skin tingling as he pulled me closer still. I moaned softly against him, unable to help myself, and feeling the heat radiating from his hard body as I opened my eyes suddenly at the loud cough that sounded at the edge of the booth.

  Our lips were still locked, but Charlie’s eyes weren’t focused on me, looking instead over my shoulder to the origin of the noise as I risked a glance at Jess, the only person I could see from my position. She looked painfully embarrassed.

  There was only one reason that could be and I didn’t need to look around to know who was standing there. Charlie pulled away, glancing down at me apologetically as I removed the lime from my mouth, eventually looking up.

  She was smiling but her eyes were hateful as she gazed at me. I didn’t really blame her; our position must have looked fairly compromising.

  “Scarlett,” Charlie gasped, looking slightly embarrassed as he glanced at Lucas, not because he’d been caught in a lip lock with me, but because she was here. He also looked annoyed, standing up and easing his way past me as I looked at Jess. She was still staring at Scarlett as Lucas glanced my way, looking equally as pissed off with her presence as I was.

  “I told you I wasn’t available tonight, Scarlett. I thought you had dinner plans,” Charlie said as she laughed, throwing her head back and flicking her long red mane for effect.

  “We ditched them, darling, and decided a girls night out was in order. I can’t believe you’re here. I’ll be in the bad books if they see you; chicks before dicks and all that,” she laughed, revealing a perfect row of porcelain white teeth behind full red lips. The girl was undeniably beautiful.

  ‘Whatever’, I thought, rolling my eyes as she ran her hands down Charlie’s shirt. “I see you were doing birthday shot’s, can I try?”

  I wasn’t certain if it was the tequila, the fact that the bitch had gate crashed my birthday, or that ever since Roman, I’d been thinking more and more about Charlie, but I suddenly saw red, flashing my eyes at my sister as she shook her head as discreetly as possible. She’d seen this look before.

  “Come on, Charlie, I love birthday shots. You don’t have to bother with the little skank now. Come and do one with your girlfriend,” she smiled, kissing her own hand and pouring on the salt, licking it off and necking the tequila before Charlie even had the chance to respond. She placed the lime in his mouth, sucking gently before grabbing it with her teeth, discarding it on the table and throwing her mouth against his as I forced myself to look away.

  Lucas rolled his eyes and Charlie was barely responding, arms firmly by his side and I knew he wasn’t happy. She was doing this for one reason and it was all for my benefit; marking her territory in no uncertain terms.

  Charlie pushed her away, holding her at arm’s length, looking back at me with an apologetic expression on his face. I was damned if I was letting her get away with insulting me.

  “Your girlfriend, Charlie? That’s funny; I thought you said you were taking things slowly, just dating casually until you’d made up your mind.” Scarlett glowered at me as I relaxed back into my seat, smirking and staring right back. Skank had washed right over me, but I’d hit the bitch where it hurt.

  “Tell the little cling on the truth, Charlie. We’re a couple now, and all the Prada in the world won’t disguise the fact that she’s a jealous, gold digging little tramp,” she spat as I stood up, moving beside Charlie.

  “Oh shit,” I heard Jess mutter behind me as I caught Tyler’s gaze from the centre of his adoring circle at the bar. He winked, watching the show unfold and I couldn’t help but giggle, swaying slightly as Charlie put his arm around my waist to steady me. It had been an instinctive move and one that incensed the fiery Scarlett even more.

  “Tell her the score, Charlie,” she spat, staring as his hand as though she were trying to laser it off me with her piercing green eyes. “The desperate little bitch seems deluded. You’re going to have to spell it out that she doesn’t have a hope in hell with you. Tell her I’m your girlfriend,” she said, holding his gaze, her eyes full of determination. She looked like the devil incarnate with flame red hair, and I was only just holding back the urge to kick box the bitch onto the dance floor. I wasn’t about to back down. She was the unwelcome guest at my birthday party. If Charlie wanted to go off with her, that was another story, but it was clear from his reaction that he didn’t.

  “Desperate? Cling on? That would be you, Scarlett. Show a bit of decorum and stop trying to force the man into a corner, it’s embarrassing. He’s out with his brother and his friends to celebrate my birthday. You’re making a show of yourself, so I suggest you tootle off back to your girlfriends and leave us in peace to enjoy our night” I smiled smugly.

  “Ladies, please,” Charlie said and far from being annoyed, I could hear the humour in his voice. He was enjoying this.

  “Scarlett, I’ll come over to your place later and we will have this conversation then. What I won’t have is you insulting my friend. The birthday shots were my idea and not hers.”

  “How would you feel if you saw me with my lips all over another man?” she asked as Charlie just stared at her blankly. I don’t even think he was being unkind, he wouldn’t be bothered, and his ensuing shrug said that loud and clear.

  “Exactly, you wouldn’t like
it, Charlie,” she said as I stared at her in mute surprise. This woman wasn’t deluded, she was insane. Charlie hadn’t said or indicated anything of the sort and I burst out laughing. She cast me another narrow eyed stare as I moved to sit back down, sharing a knowing glance with Lucas and shaking my head. “Carry on with your birthday shots. I’m not worried; she obviously isn’t in my league. Why bother with a burger when a nice juicy steak is waiting for you at home. I’ll see you later, lover,” she purred at Charlie as if the conversation had never happened, kissing his mouth hard and once again he failed to respond, watching her as she disappeared across the dance floor and back to her friends.

  “Jesus Christ, Charlie, you weren’t kidding when you said she didn’t listen,” I gasped as he chuckled softly.

  “I’m sorry about that, Chas; it can take some time to get used to her.”

  “I can guarantee that even if I live to be a hundred, I never will. That behaviour is not fucking normal. It looks like she’s got my card marked, and worse still, Charlie Hunter, you look like you enjoyed every second of that,” I said, raising my eyebrows in an accusatory glance.

  “Two beautiful women fighting over me, what guy wouldn’t?” he laughed as I shook my head. “But as for marking your card, don’t take it personally, she’s like that with everyone who even looks at me, she’ll have forgotten by tomorrow,” he smiled as I shook my head.

  “That’s insane,” I scoffed, thinking you couldn’t just go around behaving like that, but Charlie seemed unconcerned.

  “That’s Scarlett,” he laughed as I rolled my eyes. What the hell did he see in her?

  “Has she got a fucking tracker on you or what, Charlie?” Lucas asked. I’d wondered the same.

  “You heard her; she’s out with her friends. She can’t have known where I was, I didn’t even know myself until an hour ago,” he said as I looked away, shaking my head and more than a little pissed off that she’d interrupted our fun. From the frustration I was feeling now, it was probably just as well. I’d been enjoying Charlie’s lips on mine far more than was appropriate.