by Roxy Wynn
“I’m so sorry Chrissy.” For me, being followed had become a way of life. I was used to it and expected it when I went out in public.
“Jeff, that little stunt he pulled could have killed my wedding cake order. Mrs. Calloway even confronted the guy.” Her eyes were large with terror and rage. “You weren’t followed here, were you?”
“No, not that I know of. I drove my beat up truck, and I’m wearing my fake beard. I know I’m a little desensitized to people following me, but I’m pretty sure no one did.”
She slumped down onto the couch next to me. “Yeah, but that guy with the camera was at your house today. I almost hit him. I thought he had been riding by on his bike, but now I know he was waiting for me.” She winced, remembering the scene. “I looked like shit too. My hair was standing up, and I had mascara under my eyes. What the hell!”
The tears were welling up in her eyes, and I felt awful. I wanted to grab her, wipe the tears from her eyes and promise that nothing like this would ever happen again.
But that would be a lie. Paparazzi always found a way.
“Do you think he’ll show up for the cake delivery?” I asked.
“I don’t know. God, I hope not, but he was right there for all of it. He knows where and when. If he wants some pictures of me looking sweaty on a humid afternoon, he knows where I will be.”
I tried comforting her. “Can anyone else do the delivery?”
“Yeah, I can have Sarah and Tiffany do it, but that’s MY cake. I want to make sure it’s perfect. Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted this?” Now the tears flowed. She placed her head in her hands, and I wrapped my arms around her.
“I am so sorry this happened. This is all my fault. Maybe I can hire you a security guard for that day. Make sure nothing gets between you and that cake delivery. Would that help?” I asked. I wanted to do something, anything to stop those tears.
“Jeff, this isn’t a problem you can just throw money at,” she said, defeated. “I just want to make pretty cakes without being stalked. Is that too much to ask? I’ve worked so hard and sacrificed too much to lose this now.”
“No, it’s not too much to ask.” I knew of a quick way to end this, to put everything right for her, but it would break my heart.
“Chrissy, it’s my experience that these guys won’t stop, even after they get the story. They like to linger just on the outer edges of your life, popping up at inopportune moments hoping to catch you at your worst. I hate this, but maybe we should stop seeing each other for a bit. Maybe until after your cake is finished and Dark Night is done.”
I had never been with a woman who didn’t like the attention and I wasn’t sure how to help her besides walking away. It would kill me, but I would do it in a heartbeat.
For the first time since I arrived, she smiled. “Well I don’t want to do that either. That sucks. I am used to putting my personal relationships on the line for work, but I don’t want to do that anymore either. It’s not fair. This whole situation is bullshit, can’t we just live our lives?”
I wiped the last tear from her cheek and kissed her. “I don’t want to take a break either, but if we are going to do this, we will need to be more discreet.”
“Should I wear a beard too?”
Now there’s the sassy comeback I waited all day for. “Absolutely. A beard and one of those fake noses attached to glasses.”
Finally I got the smile I had been waiting for. I leaned back and peeked out the window to check her street. Both ways looked clear. If they wanted to hide they would, but they rarely bothered. That’s how it worked in Hollywood. Actors were commodities. Everything was for sale. Who they talked to, what parties they went to, and especially who they fucked.
Every juicy bit of information they could find had a price. And unfortunately, Chrissy was now for sale.
I felt terrible.
She snuggled in to me again, baiting me to kiss her with a bat of her eyelashes. Unable to resist, I pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. I wanted to protect her from all of this, kidnap her in the middle of the night and take her to an island in the middle of nowhere. No paparazzi, no T.V. shows and no bakery. Just the two of us, alone, doing whatever we wanted.
Her tears left her face damp, and after I kissed her lips, I traced their tracks with my finger, erasing their marks. As if feeling safe, she kissed me again, and with a little flick of her tongue, the blood rushed to my groin.
“I thought we could have a little appetizer before dinner,” she said, running her hand up my leg. She stopped just short of the bulge that was beginning to appear.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “I didn’t being any cheese with me.” Squeezing her nipple through her uniform, she groaned before giggling and batting my hand away. “Well, this is over then. Take your shit and leave.”
Instead of acquiescing to her fake demands, I wrestled her to the couch and pinned her arms above her head. Giving in, she wrapped her thighs around my ass, grinding against me, and pulling me in.
At first her kisses were gentle, but the more I pressed against her body, the more needy her mouth became. What started as a gentle tangle of tongues became something more primal. She had a rough day and needed my body now, and I was more than happy to give her every inch.
I tugged on the zipper to her jumpsuit, tearing it free of her breasts, enjoying the way they jiggled as I did so. After freeing one from her bra, I took a nipple in my mouth, feeling it stiffen between my teeth.
The bakery smell of vanilla and the salty taste of her skin drove me wild. Frantically, her hand clawed at the buttons on my jeans. I let her struggle while I ripped the rest of her jump suit down, yanking it below her waist. I didn’t need it to come off completely, I just needed access to her. As much as I could get.
When she finally freed me, I plunged into her wetness hard and fast. She needed me to fuck her, I could tell by the way she opened up to me, matching the rhythm of my hips. Within moments she was moaning and running her hands down my back, under my shirt. Scratching, pulling me in as deep as I could go.
Our breathing and moaning were the only noises in the room until I heard her gasp. “You feel so fucking good.”
I pushed into her deep, feeling that perfect wetness close around my shaft, as if hugging me from the inside. Every move she made just drove me further over the edge. I was panting and thrusting, so close to losing myself in her.
As if she could read my mind, I felt her body stiffen and her pussy pulse. Her breathing had become very short, and she was biting my shoulder. With one last thrust, I felt myself let go and exploded inside of her. The orgasm sent shivers down my body and I pumped gently until subsided.
Even after dinner, and another mind blowing orgasm, I couldn’t sleep. While Chrissy lay naked, curled in her baby blue sheets, I checked her windows. Wanting to keep her safe from whatever harm might be out there.
If we were being spied on, I would find that fucker and shove his camera up his ass.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chrissy
I spent the next few days in a wedding cake making haze. By day, Sarah kept watch on Ruby’s, silently judging our customers. Each person that came in to inspect our bakery case was subjected to her intense brand of customer service. And it seemed to be working. Several days had passed, and the creep hadn’t returned.
That didn’t mean he wouldn’t show up at the delivery, just that he knew the bakery was not a place to fuck with me.
“Maybe the cops scared him off,” I said.
By now we were closed, and I had the kitchen to myself to prep for tomorrow’s delivery. With Sarah’s help, I carefully boxed each decorated cake tier and had all the equipment needed to build it, ready to go. It’s not feasible to assemble a cake before delivery, so the rest would have to be assembled on site.
“I hope so. I’m just worried he’ll cause some kind of trouble at the venue tomorrow. Maybe it wouldn’t be a terrible idea taking Jax up on his security idea.”
; Sarah had a point, but I didn’t want to call any more attention to myself than I already had. Weddings are about the bride, not the cake maker and who she happens to be dating. Were we officially dating? And besides, Mrs. Calloway had told me that the building we were headed was very secure. “I think it will be ok. I’m just going to have Tiffany help me unload the boxes from the van, but we will be inside the entire time. The doors are frosted, so unless he’s an invited guest, there’s no way he’ll get in.”
“Are you sure you don’t need me?” she asked.
“Yeah, Tiff and I will be fine. We need you here manning the front. We shouldn’t be any more than an hour.” I played the whole situation off like I was fine with all of it, but the reality was, I was scared. Being followed and confronted was terrifying, but I had given up on too many relationships to pursue my dreams, I was determined to make this one last.
Jeff had slept at my house every night since the incident which went a long way in making me feel secure. Not to mention the sex was a great stress reliever. It made me light headed just thinking about it.
“I’ll open and make sure the delivery of roses is perfect and ready for you at noon.”
“Thanks Sarah.” I paused. “For everything. I’m sorry my love life is causing stress. That was never my intention. You know I hate getting mushy, but you’re the best friend a girl could have. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this stuff too.”
“What are friends for if not to involve them in your weird celebrity drama?” she said before slapping my ass. “Now get out of here and get some sleep. We need tomorrow to be perfect.”
The next day, I woke up to discover Jeff ironing my uniform. I admired him from the doorway, appreciating the care he put into the job. He sprayed a light mist of water and ran the iron over the fabric several times, ensuring it looked perfect for my big day.
The fact that he was naked was only a small part of it.
“Are you real?” I asked, creeping up behind him and hugging him. “Like, what is your deal? You are the perfect man.”
“I just want to make sure you have a marvellous day today. I thought you might want your uniform to look extra nice to make a good impression.”
I wrapped my arms around his powerful chest, hugging him close. “You make me feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
“I aim to please,” he said. “Besides, with all the shit going down with the paparazzi, I wanted do something nice for you.”
“You mean besides the mind blowing orgasms in the evening?”
“Of course. I have more than one talent, you know, I’m not just a piece of meat.” He shook his ass when he said it, as if to prove his point.
After having a cup of coffee, I got dressed and ready to head in. Our routine over the past few days had consisting of him kissing me on the doorstep before I hopped off to work before dawn. Today was different. At eight am, it was practically midday, and there were people milling about.
“You going to be here when I get back?”
“No, I have one last shot today and then I am done with Dark Night forever.” Instead of letting me go, he hugged me close again. “Good luck today, I can’t wait to see pictures. And please call me if anything happens.”
He didn’t have to spell it out, but we both knew what he was talking about. If I was harassed by any creeps, I would call Jeff… after I called the police.
It was on the tip of my tongue to say I love you. He had been such a rock over the past few days, taking great care of me.
Was it too early? The words were right there, behind my lips, ready to spill. But I stayed silent. Instead, I looked into his beautiful green eyes and thanked him.
What are you doing, girl? Tell the man how you feel!
Jeff was amazing, and like a school girl, I was falling for him. Hard.
The past few days had been perfect and so not what I thought dating a celebrity would be. He was funny, caring, and cracked the worst dad jokes. Not only did I feel comfortable in my ratty old jammies around him, but he also seemed fine with me slathering my skin in a peppermint mask every night. A girl could get used to being treated like a princess every day and if this is what our futures could hold for us, then I wanted it one hundred percent.
I walked out my front door and scanned the street. Nothing out of the ordinary. No creeps with nose piercings watching my every move. Maybe today would go smooth.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Jax
I didn’t lie to Chrissy.
I did have to work today, but first I had a breakfast date with the wicked witch. Casually late, I strolled into the restaurant at ten past. Parking my truck at the far end of the lot, I kept my helmet on until I was almost in the building to avoid stares.
At the far end of the room, in the largest booth, sat Alex. She was looking in a compact mirror, fussing with her lipstick while smiling at her own reflection. I’ve never met a woman more obsessed with her own vanity than Alex.
“I see you’ve finally decided to join me,” she sighed. “Out with her last night?”
“Nice to see you too Al.” I took a seat on the plush, red leather cushion as far away from her as I could get. “Out with whom?”
“The bakery girl. The one you want to pull out of our deal over.” She drained the last of her drink and laughed before continuing. “I saw her picture on the web. She’s… not what I pictured.”
Alex always took pleasure in torturing other women.
From the moment I moved into her father’s house in high school, she was a mean girl. Picking on those less fortunate by pointing out their flaws and teasing them relentlessly.
The first month in the house, I managed to steer clear of her ire. Like a ghost, I kept to myself. Until one day she had a sleepover and her friend Beth said I was good looking. Suddenly, I had value to her.
“Forget the girl, Alex. The building isn’t the one.”
“Bullshit. It has everything we need, including some amazing upgrades your girlfriend splurged on in the kitchen. The architect will be here tomorrow to go over plans.”
The waiter came over and dropped a second menu in front of me and then lingered. I glanced up to see a girl, breathless with excitement.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m not supposed to do this, but Mr. Jaxon, I am such a huge fan. Would you mind…”
Alex, sensing a chance to be brutal, interrupted. “Dear, would you like me to photograph you and Mr Jaxon?”
The girl beamed and handed Alex her cell. I knew no good would come of this, but put my arm around the young waitress and smiled while Alex snapped the picture.
“Thank you so much,” she gushed.
Alex smiled at her with perfectly capped teeth. “You are very welcome. We are here discussing Jax’s new restaurant he’s going to be building on Mississippi street. Isn’t that exciting?”
The girl’s eyes grew wide. “Yes! Oh, that’s such a fun area! My friends and I go to that little jazz bar at least once a week. Where will your restaurant be?”
Having grown up with Alex, I knew she was toying with the girl, but I sat while she continued her game.
“Have you heard of that trashy little bakery, Ruby’s?”
The waitress’s brow furrowed. “No, I don’t think so, but I don’t eat a lot of sweets. Give me a bag of chips and I’ll go crazy, but…”
Alex cut her off again. “Well, tell any friends you may have in the industry that we will be hiring in about six months at that location. Anyone can apply. Now, Jax here will have a black coffee and egg white omelette.”
The girl nodded and pranced back to the kitchen.
“Why did you do that?”
“What? Order for you? Jax, you’ve been eating the same breakfast for the past six years. Don’t tell me you eat garbage now?”
“No, telling that girl about the restaurant. We haven’t even talked about the pros and cons of the building. I don’t think it’s…”
She held her hand up in my face, stopping
me from continuing. “The building is perfect. Any qualms you have about walkability will vanish once your name is on the property.”
“I don’t want to buy it, Alex. Find another building.”
“There is no other building. This is the one. You know that.”
My heart was beating hard in my chest. “No, it’s not. We just need more time.”
“We have no more time.” Suddenly her demeanor changed. She went from a power suit wearing business woman to a petty girl in a matter of seconds. “You wouldn’t want me to tell daddy about this, would you? After everything he’s done for you?”
“No. Listen, we can talk about this. I don’t want to disappoint your father…”
“So don’t. Daddy promised to take care of you, just like you…” she walked her fingers one by one up my chest until she reached my nose and tapped it, “… promised to take care of me.”
“Not like this, Alex.”
She stood up and grabbed her purse. “I’m meeting with the building owner tomorrow. You either show up and do this with me and we can discuss salvaging some aspect of the bakery, or you don’t, and I will make sure she loses everything.”
By the time the rage cleared from my vision, Alex was talking with a heavy set man, no doubt the manager, in the corner of the room. She pointed to the server who was pouring my coffee, and then to me. The man was very apologetic.
I took a hundred-dollar bill out to drop on the table. Knowing Alex, she was getting this girl fired for no reason. “Mr Jaxon,” he said when I approached. “I apologize. Our waitstaff knows our policy over the treatment of guests.”
“It’s really no trouble,” I said, but he continued. “She will be let go for this indiscretion.”
With faux concern, Alex placed her hand on the man’s shoulder. “I thank you for your prompt action in this matter. I was appalled when she asked, and just don’t want to see another high profile guest have to deal with that.”