by Livia Grant
They ended up spending a small fortune to outfit her with an entirely new intimate wardrobe, but considering the best thing she had at home was a lacy black bra and panty set from Kohl's, she considered it money well spent.
They were halfway through dinner at Emma's favorite Italian restaurant when her phone lit up with several incoming texts.
She dug her phone out of her purse to find a series of text messages and pictures from Courtney.
"Shit."
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"One day. We left the house for one day."
"And it was a good day." Chase grinned, his mouth full of pasta.
"I'm not sure you'll still say that when you see this."
She handed her phone over so the men who were sitting on the other side of the booth could scroll through the texts.
"Well fuck. This might complicate things a bit."
"You think?" Emma tried to stay calm.
The pictures showed two news vans parked outside her off-campus house. They had crews mulling around as if they were ready to pounce the second the threesome drove up.
"I'm guessing it was the rude chick in the grocery store," Chase observed.
Jaxson countered, "My bets on the quiet one taking pictures."
The men bantered back and forth as they chowed down.
"Hello? Why aren't you guys more upset by this?"
Jaxson pinned her with a serious look. "I think the real question here is why are you? What's the big deal?"
"Easy for you to say. You're used to being recognized everywhere."
She didn't like the silence that fell over the table. Or the probing stare flashed her way.
Chase asked quietly, "Tell us, Em. What's got you spooked?"
They'd gone full circle from their blow up in the middle of the night. She worked hard to find the right words to answer their question. Looking for words that wouldn't result in getting her ass lit up with the paddle again when they got home.
"I'm just not used to the attention, you know? You've been in the spotlight so long I think you forgot what it's like to be anonymous. I'm not looking forward to reporters digging into my past and interviewing my friends and family. I feel bad that I've brought this attention onto my housemates. Now they're holed up in the house so they don't have to walk the gauntlet of reporters."
"I'm sorry this is going to effect them, but we'll be leaving soon so it won't be for long."
Chase raised his hand to flag the server down for their check. As much as she wanted to put it off, she knew they'd eventually have to brave the press. In fact, the line of fans started in the lobby of the restaurant before they could even make it to their truck. Several families stopped them as they pressed towards the door, begging for an autograph or pictures with the celebrities. The models were gracious, scribbling their signatures on the scraps of paper shoved towards them and posing for photos with the handful of well-wishers.
It was only once they were all three safely in the cab of their truck heading away from the restaurant that the awkward silence filled the space.
Emma had to ask. "So, is that what it's like everywhere you go? People surrounding you. Touching you. Asking for pictures or autographs?" She tried not to let her voice sound as afraid as she felt at the thought of that happening everywhere they went.
Chase tried to make light of it. "It's not so bad most of the time. If we know there will be a crush of fans, we usually have security guards with us or sometimes we wear disguises so we can't be recognized."
"Just great. I've always hated Halloween."
Jaxson reached for her hand. "It'll just take you some time to get used to it, baby. We won't let anything happen to you."
She knew they'd keep her physically safe. She couldn't tell him that it was her emotional state she was most worried about. She would only be able to take so much negative press pointing out the men were crazy to be sharing one plump grad student when they could literally pick any woman they wanted in the entire world.
She'd been zoning out, not paying attention so Jaxson's question caught her off-guard. "How does that sound?"
"Sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"I asked if you'd feel better heading to a hotel instead of your house for the rest of the time we're in town. We had a suite reserved but then I called to cancel."
It was tempting. The idea of having to pass through lines of paparazzi to get to her own off-campus house was ludicrous, yet she couldn't very well get her things packed up and moved back to her parents from afar.
"Naw. We have to face it eventually. Might as well be tonight."
They were only a few minutes away from her house as they drove in silence. Emma sat in the middle of the bench seat, wringing her hands in her lap nervously. She reached out to flick on the radio, hoping to fill the quiet with calming music. The sound of a hard rock song banging out a funky rhythm filled the space.
She'd never heard the song and got caught up in the heavy beat, allowing it to wash over her, helping to forget what awaited her at her home.
The song was just wrapping as they turned down her street. The announcer let her know it had been the newest release by the red-hot Crushing Stones band. They would be playing in nearby Milwaukee in two weeks.
"I thought that sounded like Cash and the guys." Chase piped in.
Jaxson grinned. "We should call and give him shit for not getting us his newest material ahead of the public."
Emma just shook her head. "You know the hottest band in the country?"
Chase teased her, "Why, you looking to ditch us for someone new already?"
"Oh yeah, as if Cash Carter would be my type. He changes women more often than he changes his clothes."
Her men just grinned. "That might be true, but we know lots of hot bands... and singers... athletes... actors... politicians. Anyone special you'd like to meet? We can make it happen." Jaxson assured her as if it were the most normal thing in the world to know famous people.
"Oh I don't know. I guess I wouldn't mind meeting the Queen of England." She purposefully suggested the impossible to make her point.
"Sounds good. We'll be in London next week, although I'd suggest you meet the younger generation. They're much less stuffy."
They slowed the truck as they approached the house to avoid running over the pressing media surrounding their truck. Flashes of cameras lit up the darkening sky.
"You ready?" Jaxson had pulled her hand into his, squeezing her gently in contrast to the pounding against the windows as the media grew impatient.
The men grabbed their many bags from shopping and counted down backwards from three – two – one... and they were off, pressing through the crowd, not stopping to answer questions. Not stopping to pose for photos. Just quietly pushing through the throng until they arrived at the front door.
The door flew open from the inside, held open by Ryan who slammed it closed as soon as they were inside.
All her roommates greeted them in the front room. They all stood still, unsure what the right thing to say was in a situation such as this.
Ryan gave it a shot. "So, this is fun. You think we can charge a fee for parking on our front lawn? Maybe we could all pay down our student loans."
Emma opened her mouth to apologize to her roommates, but Jaxson shushed her.
"Chase and I are sorry you are all getting caught up in this, but we really do appreciate the privacy you've given the three of us the last few weeks. I know you could have gone to the press a long time ago and you didn't. We will be helping Emma pack up tonight and tomorrow morning and taking her stuff to her parents. Then we can stay at the hotel next to campus until we leave town so we don't bother you."
Courtney looked shocked. "Wait. Why are you packing up Emma's stuff too?" She pinned Emma with a wide-eyes stare.
She wished Jaxson would do the talking for her again, but he didn't. He did slip his arm around her waist as of to fortify her courage to say the words she was still struggling with.
"Well... see... I'm going to go on the road with Jax and Chase for a while. I'll try to finish my grad school attending remote classes."
"You bitch. I'm so jealous of you!"
"Court, that's enough!" Her boyfriend Ryan popped her bottom a couple of times to make his point.
Richard looked downright green with envy. "You are the luckiest girl in the world, Emma. I hope you know that."
"Oh I do, Richard. Believe me, I know how lucky I am."
Chapter 18
Jaxson pulled up to the closed gate of his parent’s spacious estate located not far from Mount Vernon, Virginia. He pressed the button on the security stand to announce his arrival and looked into the camera trained on him. Within seconds the wrought-iron gate started to open.
They'd been expecting him.
The historical mansion was set back from the private road. A winding driveway led the way to the two-story colonial. Summer flowers were in bloom everywhere he looked giving the manicured grounds the air of a royal property. He had to hand it to Juan, his parent's long time gardener. He sure had a talent for landscaping.
He pulled his Audi into a parking spot to the right of the main house. He had just stepped out of the car when his mom came hustling down the front steps, a mega-watt smile on her face.
A pang of guilt hit Jaxson. His father may not deserve his love or loyalty, but his mom had done her best to shield her only son from the political fallout that came with having a public figure for a father.
"Jaxson!" She flew into his arms, hugging him with the unbound love of a mother. It was in that moment he pledged to do a better job of staying in touch with the woman in his arms.
He chuckled as she squeezed him harder. "I missed you too, Mom."
The attractive woman in her fifties leaned back to take a good look at her son. Jax took the opportunity to do the same and he didn't like what he found.
Despite her many surgeries meant to lock in her youthful beauty, she was showing signs of her age in a way he'd never noticed before.
"You look more handsome than ever." His mom moved her right palm up to cup his scruff-covered face. A genuine smile lit up her face. "You look more relaxed. Happy even."
"You say that like I've never been happy."
She got serious. "Have you been? I mean really happy?"
Her question took him by surprise. They normally followed an unspoken agreement not to ask any questions that might lead to a disagreement. It took him a second to formulate a truthful response. "I wasn't unhappy."
A sad smile played at her lips. "Spoken like your father's son. The apple didn't fall far from the tree."
They so rarely talked about the wedge between them—his father. He wasn't sure he wanted to go there now either, but she was right about one thing.
He was happy. Really happy. Maybe for the first time in his adult life. Being in love changed everything. Apparently even his relationship with his mother.
He asked her his own version of personal question. "Why do you stay, mom?"
Emotions flitted across her face until her politician's wife mask was firmly affixed. He knew before she spoke he'd pushed too hard too fast.
"Don't ask silly questions. I love your father."
They both knew that was a lie, but like the past, he let it go. He'd tried many times to get her to leave. He may never know the real reason she stayed, but he knew he would not be the one to change her mind.
His mom linked her arm through his and pulled him towards the house. "Come inside. Cook prepared all of your favorites for you. I'd kinda hoped you'd bring that new girlfriend of yours. I'm guessing she's what's making you happy."
He should have known the local news in Madison might leak national. "She is making me happy, but it's complicated."
"Isn't everything in life?"
They'd made it to the front door. A gust of cool air hit them as a butler Jaxson had never seen before opened the door for them. It was over eighty degrees outside so the A/C felt great.
"Welcome home, Mr. Davidson."
"Thanks, but this isn't home. I'm just visiting."
He didn't miss the pained look on his mother's face before her mask returned. He supposed he could have let the comment slide to make her happy, but he didn't want there to be any misunderstanding. He would never live under the same roof as his father again. And this building would never be home.
His parents had moved there when he'd left for college so it had never felt like home. Instead, he always felt like he was on a tour of a museum when he visited. That or the stage of a movie set.
Everything was immaculate. Tasteful artwork adorned every nook and cranny, most chosen not for sentimental value or even because of his parent's tastes, but to maximize their illusion of wealth and power. There were no personal knick-knacks from vacations past. No family photos from the beach or school field trips. The only photos of their son were framed magazine covers meant to impress.
No. His parents surrounded themselves with worldly gifts from foreign leaders. Artifacts meant to distract visitors from noticing everything was an illusion.
Jaxson tried to change the subject as they walked to the dining room. "The grounds look magnificent. Juan sure has everything blooming beautifully."
He caught the panic in his mother's face just as they entered the dining room. His father was seated at the head of the table, talking on his cell phone while watching something on the laptop in front of him. His only acknowledgment of Jaxson was a small nod in his direction.
His mother leaned in to whisper, "Don't talk about Juan with your father."
Jaxson turned to see his mother's blush. He had no idea what that was about, but was curious.
"Jaxson. Welcome home." His father had finally ended his call, but didn't bother to stand to greet his son.
"Thanks, but it's just a visit."
Unlike his mother, his comment had no effect on his father. "Of course. Of course. You're off living your life in parts unknown. I'm just lucky you had some time off for a short visit. This is a big week for me."
Typical. It's always about him.
"Yeah, I've been on vacation for a few weeks, but I'm headed back to Europe soon."
They'd taken their seats at the end of the long dining table. His father at the end, as always, while Jax sat across from his mother.
The second their asses hit the chairs, two serving girls in pressed grey uniform dresses came in with the first course. Only his parents would have a formal luncheon for three on a Thursday noon. And for their son, no less. He wasn't sure why it pissed him off, but it did. It was in direct conflict of the real life he'd been enjoying with his lovers. Eating breakfast cereal or cold pizza and watching old reruns. Playing board games, video games and laughing.
Not much laughing went on in this house. It made him sad for his mother.
An awkward silence had fallen over the threesome. Jaxson tried to come up with a topic—anything—that wouldn't incite an argument with his father. Since they disagreed on almost everything, it didn't leave many subjects available.
"So have you been doing much traveling?"
Instead of answering, his father stopped the soupspoon half way to his mouth to stare. "Don't you watch the news?"
Jaxson hated to tell him, but he actually avoided watching the news as much as possible just to stay away from stories about his father that would piss him off.
"I'm afraid you'll have to fill me in. I've been pretty busy."
"I'm running for a national office. I travel every single day."
"Yeah, well I guess I meant for fun. You know... vacation... golfing... swimming... maybe sleeping in?"
"I don't have time for goofing off. There's too much to do." The elder man's voice dripped with distain at the thought of doing anything fun. Jaxson felt another pang of regret for his mother.
Strike one.
Several more minutes of awkward silence went by before Jaxson tried again. "I saw a lot of changes happening down
in Georgetown. Looks like a lot of new development just off campus."
Progress. His father didn't respond with impatience or anger. In fact, he didn't respond at all.
Strike two.
The uneasy silence as the servers cleared the soup dishes and slid plates of salad in front of the three occupants of the room started to piss Jaxson off. Communicating with the people who'd brought him into the world shouldn't be this hard.
Not for the first time, he thought about how lucky he was to even be alive because if there were ever two people who should have never had children, it was his parents. They sucked at it.
He speared a small tomato and popped it in his mouth, deciding on his next topic. He went for broke.
"The estate looks beautiful. Juan sure is doing a great job with the flowers. How is he doing anyway? He have any more grandchildren?"
The clatter of his mother's silverware against her salad plate broke the steely silence. Jaxson glanced her way to see the blood draining from her face. Her mask was gone—replaced by fear.
He swung his gaze towards his father. It appeared all of the blood from his mother had rushed into his father's face. Angry didn't even begin to describe the look on the senator.
"We do not mention that name in this house."
Jaxson was truly bewildered. Juan, and his family, was the closest thing he'd had to an extended family growing up. Jaxson had played with Juan's kids and even helped with the gardening until his father had found out and forbid him to help again stating it was beneath him.
"I don't understand. Did Juan do something wrong?"
His father put down the fork he'd been holding, placed his elbows on the armrests of the formal dining chair and steepled his fingers as he pinned his son with a dominant glare.
"He falsified his documents when he applied to work for me. He was not a legal citizen and should not have been employed. His lying has given my opponents fodder to attack me with."