Beautiful Entourage (25 page)

“How many women have you slept with?”

I hated this question. It was the worst. “A lot.”

“Can I have a number?”

I looked her in the eye. “Does it really matter?”

“It does.” She pressed me with her eyes.

“A little less than a hundred.”

She took a deep breath. “Wow…”

I cringed. “I wish I could give you a different answer.”

“No,” she said immediately. “I’m not mad or disappointed. I knew the number would be high but…that’s a lot of girls.”

“I liked to sleep around because no girl ever caught my attention long enough to keep me around, not like you.”

Aspen’s eyes lost their light and she quickly looked away. Something got under her skin. Was it the number? Was it the fact I used women for sex? Did it change anything? “Aspen?”

“Hmm?” She wouldn’t look at me.

“Tell me what you’re thinking.”

She was quiet for so long, I didn’t think she would respond. “I don’t care about the number…or what you used to do before we met. You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t surprise me that you went from woman to woman, and I certainly don’t judge you for it.”

“Then what is it?” I whispered.

“It’s just…” She shook her head. “Nothing. Forget I said anything.”

“No, tell me,” I said firmly. I grabbed her chin and directed her gaze on me.

“If you’ve had that many partners, that means you have a lot of experience.”

“So?” I asked.

She tried to look away again.

“Look at me when you talk to me.” I turned her face back to me. “What is it, Aspen?” She’d never struggled to tell me something before. She was always open with me, vulnerable. “I’m your best friend. You can tell me anything.”

“It’s embarrassing.”

“Nothing you say will ever make me think less of you. Just tell me.”

“You heard what Isabella said…about John. About why he left.” She down casted her eyes.

I remembered the conversation on the other side of the door. I remembered all the horrible and mean things they said about Aspen, the sweetest girl on the planet. Now I understood her embarrassment. “You think I’m going to leave you too, since I’m so experienced.” It wasn’t a question.

“Not in those words…”

“Aspen, you don’t have to worry about that.” My hand left her chin then moved through her hair. She never admitted weakness. She was always so strong all the time. “You never told me you used to be engaged.”

“Because he humiliated me,” she whispered. “I didn’t want you to know.”

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed. He’s the one who should be embarrassed. The guy is a fucking idiot. If any man can’t see how incredible you are, then he’s blind—literally.” I kissed her cheek. “You’re an incredible woman. You stole my heart the moment we met. No girl has ever made me look twice. But you…I didn’t stand a chance.”

She smiled slightly. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“What?”

“The reason why I hired you was because…my father told me I disgraced him when John left. I humiliated him to the public and destroyed his image. Because of that, he said I could never be the face of the company. I thought if I hired you as my boyfriend, he would change his mind.”

Anger like I’ve never known washed through me. I tensed then felt my hands ball into fists. Aspen noticed but didn’t flinch. “Let me get this straight. This guy leaves you for another woman after asking for your hand in marriage, and all your dad cares about is his image? All he cares about is how it affects him?” I stopped myself from punching a hole through the table. “Then he made you go to that engagement party? What the hell is wrong with him? He’s the coldest and cruelest man I’ve ever heard of.”

“I know.” She said it simply, like she accepted it.

“It’s unacceptable, Aspen.” I stared at her with angry eyes.

“I know,” she repeated. “Every time I’m around him I…it doesn’t matter. I just need to hold on a little longer. Then the company will be mine and I won’t have to deal with him anymore. I just need to get through it.”

I rubbed my temples. “Aspen, I really hate him.” I didn’t feel bad for saying something so ugly. “I
really
hate him.”

“I hate him too,” she said calmly.

“You shouldn’t have to put up with that.”

“I know.”

I leaned back in the chair and controlled my anger. Snapping wouldn’t make Aspen feel better. I needed to remain calm. “You’re such an amazing girl. It’s a waste he doesn’t see or appreciate it.”

“Life isn’t always fair.” She said it with a hollow voice, like all the emotion left her like a drain. “But I have people who do care about me.” She looked at me. “Who are there for me. And it just makes me appreciate them even more.”

Only she could see the bright side to a dark situation. “You’re right about that.” My arm moved around her shoulders and I pulled her close. “But I can run him over with my Jaguar if you want. Just wait for him to cross the street…” I gave her a playful look that told her I was kidding.

“And ruin that beautiful car?” she asked. “Absolutely not.”

“Yeah, his fat ass would break the windshield pretty quick.”

She laughed then intertwined our fingers together.

The silence stretched but it was nice to listen to. Aspen and I didn’t always have to speak to each other. We were comfortable enough to not say anything at all. Just feeling her beside me made me forget everything else in the world. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to, but what happened with John, exactly?”

She tensed noticeably. “His father is the owner of a successful computer company, so one day he’ll inherit it. John and I met through my father. I liked him, and of course, my father loved him because of his status and wealth. A marriage to me would be ideal.”

“Is this the medieval times?” I said sarcastically.

“I told you my dad was old-fashioned,” she said. “Anyway, I liked him. I thought he liked me. We dated for a few months, and then he proposed. I said yes because I loved him, not just because he was a good match my father would approve of. But I couldn’t deny the convenience. He had his own wealth to look after, leaving me to take care of my father’s company when Dad retired. It was the perfect arrangement.” She paused and looked away. “At some point, he started sleeping with Isabella. Then he called it off between us because he said it was the right thing. He and I haven’t spoken since.”

The betrayal was painful. Why would a man want anyone but Aspen? You couldn’t find someone better. “I’m sorry that happened,” I said honestly. “But I’m also not sorry.”

She turned to me with absorbing eyes.

“Now I have you.”

A slight smile upturned her lips. “I was bitter about it for a long time, mainly because I’ve taken so much heat for it. But now I’m grateful it happened. My relationship with John was nothing like what I have with you. You and I, we have something special. We’re playful and fun, but there’s trust and friendship. You’re the dream guy I never thought I would have.”

“We’re perfect together.” There wasn’t a doubt in my mind. It just felt right with her. With other girls, there was always a hint of awkwardness and obligation. With Aspen, the conversation just unfolded naturally. It wasn’t forced, and I never had to exert any effort to make her laugh or smile. It was like I was made for her. And she was made for me.

“That’s pretty cheesy, but I admit, I agree.” She gave me a teasing look.

“It’s only cheesy when it’s not true.”

She leaned in and kissed my cheek.

I felt warm everywhere. The touch was innocent but it still sent waves of pleasure throughout my body. “Any man who says a girl isn’t good in bed says that because he can’t get her to come. That’s a little secret I’ll share with you.”

She shrugged and looked away.

“Don’t let his words bother you. The fact he would badmouth you in such a way is disgraceful and pitiful. I can already tell he has a small dick.”

She released a loud laugh then choked for a second. “Ohmygod…”

“He does, doesn’t he?”

She shook her head like she couldn’t believe my question. “I wouldn’t know. John is the only guy I’ve been with.”

I suspected that was true. “I’ll show you by comparison then.” I winked at her.

Her cheeks blushed slightly. “I look forward to it.”

***

Aspen took the bat wearing jean shorts and a Yankee jersey. A navy blue baseball cap was on her head, and her hair was in a tight ponytail. She spun it in her wrist. “You ready for this?” she shouted to Chase.

“Bring it.” He moved twenty feet closer to the mound.

She shook her head but there was a slight smile on her lips. “You’re way too close…”

“I know what I’m doing,” Chase said. “Just do your best, Battleship.”

Now everyone was calling her that. She didn’t mind so I didn’t mind. I actually thought the nickname was cute. I stood on the pitcher’s mound. “Ready?”

She took a stance then tapped the bat against the mound a few times before she held it at the ready. “Bring it.”

“I’ll show you my famous curve ball.”

“If you’re holding it like that, you aren’t going to throw a curveball.”

I forgot she used to play in college. “Maybe I’m trying to trick you.”

“You aren’t doing a very good job.”

I narrowed my eyes at her, even more attracted to her because the lip she just gave me.

“Are we going to play or just banter back and forth?” Chase shouted.

I wound up the pitch then threw it hard.

Aspen hit the ball right in the middle of the bat and sent it flying. It flew past Chase’s head and toward the very end of the field where the fence stood. She tossed the bat aside then moved like a snail to first base. “I got the time…”

Chase sprinted to get the ball but I knew he would never make it back in time. His sword hung at his side, looking like a cheap toy children played with.

Aspen looked at her watch as she walked. “Making good time.” She rounded second base.

I watched her with my hands on my hips, grinning even though I wish I wouldn’t.

“Some curveball, by the way.” She walked around third base with her head held high and her shoulders straight. “Totally threw me off.” She walked to home plate.

I blocked her path and stood in her way. “Cocky, are we?”

“It’s not my fault your teammate underestimated my abilities.” She tried to get around me.

I blocked her path each time. “Maybe you shouldn’t underestimate mine.”

“Your behavior is a foul.” She tried to push me away but I didn’t budge.

“I don’t see a ref anywhere.” I turned to Chase. “Hurry up and run to home plate!”

She darted to the right and tried to reach the plate.

I grabbed her and held her back. “Maybe if you’d run around the plates instead of being an arrogant jerk, this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I’m a jerk?” She tried to push me again. “You’re a jerk.”

I laughed then I picked her up with one arm and threw her over my shoulders.

“Put me down!” She kicked and smacked me in the back.

“Nope.” I stood there and waited for Chase.

“This isn’t fair!” She kept flailing in my arms.

I smacked her ass. “Life isn’t fair, baby.”

Chase ran up then reached home plate. “Out!”

She stopped fighting and growled. “Rhett! I’m going to kill you.”

I put her down and faced her. “Me? Your best friend? You don’t have it in you.” I looked down into her face and challenged her. But I smiled as I did it, not making it very convincing.

“You guys are both cheaters and I’m never going to play with you again,” Aspen said. She poked us both in the chest.

“Maybe you should be a graceful winner,” I said.

She turned to Chase. “Maybe you should back up when I tell you to. Just because I look like a girl doesn’t mean I hit like one.”

“I’ll remember that for next time,” Chase said with a laugh.

Aspen turned her glare on me. “I’ll get you back for that.”

“I’m so scared…” I rolled my eyes.

Her eyes smoldered in rage.

I pecked her on the lips then walked away. “I’m up.”

She growled then took the pitcher’s mound. Chase ran to the outfield.

I swung the bat a few times for practice then stepped into the box. “Give me your best, Battleship.”

“I’m going to sink your ship alright,” she said.

“Bring it.”

She wound up the pitch then threw it hard.

I hit the ball hard, sending it into the outfield. Chase took off but it would take him a while to return. I dropped the bat and started to walk. “Who am I—”

Aspen tackled me to the ground and moved on top of me.

My body hit the dirt and the wind was knocked out of me. Like a tiger, she pounced on me when I least expected it. “You aren’t going to be able to keep me here.” I was amused she tried even though I was almost a hundred pounds heavier than she was.