Flirting With Chaos (15 page)

Jude snatched it out of my fingers.

I sighed. “That’s not funny.”

“What are you doing tonight?”

“Besides going to the courthouse to get a restraining order?” I tapped my feet several times.

“The courthouse is closed now, and I don’t think they’re open on the weekend. You’ll have to wait to get a restraining order against me. In the meantime, I’ll be stalking you the rest of the evening.”

“Funny.” I looked at T-Bone. “Could you control Jude for me please?”

“I’m out of this,” T-Bone muttered.

“Good, then you won’t step in the middle of this when I punch him in his nuts.” I formed my hands into a fist.

T-Bone choked a little as he laughed.

“Are you hanging with someone else tonight?” Jude asked. A serious expression remained on his face.

“Yes.”

The muscle in his jaw twitched.

I checked my watch. “And I don’t want to be late.”

“You told me I had your whole summer. Now you have a date with someone else? Did you lie to me?”

“You do have my summer, but surely you couldn’t mean every minute of my time. There will be moments like these where I’m going to be doing something else.”

“I made plans for us tonight.”

“Then hang out with Vicky. Let her
take care of you.
” I extended my hand his way. “Give me my phone.”

He put my phone in his pocket. “I’m not interested in hanging with Vicky. I made plans for you.”

We stood there in silence. Cars drove by. People traveled the sidewalk. I was sure the receptionist inside the spa had been ogling the whole event. I needed to get out of there before our simple conversation was posted to the Internet. One of the paparazzi across the street had already started focusing his camera on us and was snapping pictures. I shuddered to think about what gossip magazines or blogs would come up with.
News Flash: Top Party Guy Jude Everett and legend Jack Kenner’s daughter were spotted outside of a high-end spa, arguing about her pregnancy.

“Rainy. Please forgive me for earlier today and spend some time with me. I was an idiot. I shouldn’t have disrespected you like that. Now, let me make it right.”

“Cool.” I tapped my foot some more. “Let’s do whatever you want to do tomorrow night.”

“No. I’d rather not.”

“I don’t care.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Good.”

“That was stupid and immature and…fucked up.”

“Yep, but I’m still not hanging with you.”

A camera flashed on the side of us. I turned to see a guy in regular jeans and a shirt, snapping pictures with his camera. It was the same photographer from across the street.

Most likely not wanting any more pictures taken of him, Jude captured my waist and slung me over his shoulder as I screamed out curses and beat his back with my fists.

“This is stupid. Put me down. T-Bone, please make him put me down.”

“Not in it,” T-Bone replied.

“Who’s this, Jude?” The guy snapped another picture and almost pushed the camera in my face. “Is this a new girlfriend? What’s her name?”

T-Bone finally rushed out of the car and pushed the paparazzi forward. “Get back and give Mr. Everett some space.”

“Could this be the one, Jude? You were with actress Polly Michaels last week,” another man with a camera yelled as he crossed the street.

I froze as I hung like a ninny on Jude’s shoulder.

“Come with me, Rain. It’ll be fun.” Jude carried me over to his car, opened the back door, put me down, and gestured toward it as if no one was even around. “Please, get in.”

The two guys took more pictures and barraged Jude with questions. “When is the album coming out? Who is this? Will she be featured on the album? Will your father be singing on some of the tracks?”

More people began to surround us, just passersby probably wondering why the two men were photographing us, and it made me nervous. Even though T-Bone had good control of the forming crowd, I felt trapped.

How the hell does Jude do this every day?

I tucked my hair behind my ears, dug my hands into my purse, and pulled out my birthday glasses. I’d swiped them from Kaden when he was asleep in the back of the car and then later disinfected them to rid the glasses of the pervert’s germs.

Ignoring them, Jude targeted me with that deadly blue gaze. “Please, get in.”

I jumped into the car and slammed the door, shielding my face the whole time.

He hurried to the other side and stepped around everyone. “Give me a break, guys.”

“Come on, Jude. Answer a few questions,” one of the photographers yelled as T-Bone climbed back into the driver’s seat.

“Short interview, please,” another begged.

“Do you see the lady I’m with?” Jude chuckled. “Would you want to stand with you all and answer questions, or ride off with her?”

The men snickered.

Jude hopped in and closed the door. T-Bone sped off. Loud blues music blasted out of the radio. Any time T-Bone drove, he enforced one rule: the driver gets control of all music. So I wasn’t surprised that he played blues.

When Jude and T-Bone had met, it was years ago in a studio somewhere in Georgia. T-Bone had told me the story one night. Jude had fought with some pianist over writing credits. He’d held his own until the opponent’s band mates joined in. T-Bone had been recording a blues demo, heard the racket in the studio room next door, and scurried over there to break it up. T-Bone had ended up getting hit. The next thing everyone knew, he was slinging bodies into keyboards and drums, slamming trumpets against legs, and yanking Jude out of the pile of bodies, recognizing who he was. T-Bone’s demo had never gotten any interested responses from record companies. Somehow Jude had found out and offered him a two-fold deal—he would fund T-Bone’s first album as long as he served as his bodyguard during the whole time. Now it was three years and no T-Bone albums later. I had no idea if he was interested in being a blues singer anymore, but he sure loved playing it.

“Thanks for not making a big scene.” Jude rubbed the sweat off of his forehead and tilted his body my way.

“I wouldn’t do that to you.”

“I know, but thanks anyway.” He continued talking as T-Bone stopped the car at a red light. “I’m so sorry, Rain. I was a dick. I get that.”

“Okay. But I’m still not hanging with you tonight.” I turned away from him and stared straight.

“Because you made plans?”

“Yes.”

“With someone else?”

Is that what this is all about?

I rolled my eyes. “Actually, I’m just going to do a me night.”

“Book, dinner, and a play?”

“How did you know?”

“That’s what you do when you’re not with me.” He tilted my way and kissed my cheek. “If you really are excited about whatever play you’re going to, then we’ll do that. I’ll take you to get your book and watch you eat. I miss you and feel like shit for doing what I did earlier today. I just got so mad, and Dad trying to have sex with you pushed me over the edge. I should have just punched him in the face.”

“I’m not interested in him.”

“You’re lying, so let’s not discuss it.”

“I’m not—”

“How much more do I have to beg you to let me come with you? Are you going to punish me so I can get it over with and spend some time with you?” He brought his face forward. “Slap me.”

“Dear Jesus,” T-Bone muttered. “This white boy has lost his mind.”

“I’m not slapping you.” Even though my hands itched to paint his lovely cheeks with pain.

He kept his face in front of me. “This is the agreement. You slap me as hard as you can, and then all is forgiven.”

“But you’ll just do something like this again.”

“I’m not fucking perfect, Rainy. And you can’t see the future. Just fucking slap me so we can be friends again!”

“Are you sure?” I rubbed my hands together. “Because I’ll do it. I’ve been thinking about it all day.”

“Do it.” He closed his eyes.

I reached my hand back and used all the force I could as I slapped him with no mercy. A loud smack sounded, then a red hand print stained his face.

He swayed back a little and rubbed it. “Goddamn that was hard. Really? Have you started lifting weights, or something?”

“No.” I stuck out my lip and pouted.

“Why are you freaking looking sad over there? I’m the one with the injury.” He scooted my way. “Will you kiss it for me?”

“No.”

He formed his lips into a frown. “Do you forgive me?”

“Yes.” I leaned back like a conquered fool. Jude had me right where he wanted me. I forgave him just like that, and even worse, I no longer felt like being alone.

“I should be driving you both to a mental facility.” T-Bone chuckled and turned up the song.

Jude ignored him and focused on me. “Are you still trying to get rid of me?”

“No.”

“Are we going with my plans or yours? I never finished giving you your birthday surprises. T-Bone, grab that thing for me please.”

T-Bone unclasped the glove compartment, pulled something out, and handed it to me.

I opened the tiny booklet and saw my picture. “Why do you have my passport?”

“If we do my surprise, then you may need it, so I brought it along just in case.”

“How did you get into my house?”

He winked. “Your housekeeper, Lisa, is in love with me. Okay. Decision time. Is it my surprise or your play?”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. “No more ecstasy, right? Last night I was so high I blacked out.”

“No pills or weed. Just a little wine.”

“How are we getting there? Do I need to pack?”

“Everything is taken care of.”

“Okay. Fine.”

“Take us to the airport, T-Bone.”

Out of nowhere, T-Bone did a U-turn. A few cars honked. Drivers yelled curses out of their windows. He sped off, turning up the blues music even louder.

“He’s no good! Oh Lord, he’s no good!”
The woman’s voice came out loud like a scream but couldn’t exactly be defined that way because it had a harmony to it. A harmonica rang out a harsh tune with fierce guitar notes adding pain to each word.
“Lord, show me your plan. ’Cause I can’t get over this man.”

“We’ll need to take my dad’s private plane to get there.” Jude set his arm around my shoulders. “It should be less than an hour and a half. You can eat something small when we’re up in the air, but don’t ruin your appetite.”

Unease settled in my gut at the mention of his dad’s name. “Will it just be you and me, or will Vicky and your dad be coming?”

He chuckled. “Just me, Rainy. No Dad or Vicky. Just you and me, like it always should be.”

“I check on him daily. Make sure he ain’t running around. Oh Lord, I check on him daily. Make sure he ain’t running around. Came home one night, Lord. He was laying two women down.”

I laughed at the lyrics.

T-Bone joined the woman’s singing.
“Oh Lord! He’s no good!”

Chapter 12

One Bite

A
BOUT
N
INETY
M
INUTES
L
ATER
, we landed on one of the islands in the Bahamas. After I stepped outside, I caught a glimpse of the early evening sky and breathed in the fresh island air. Jude slapped a blindfold over my eyes and carted me off into another vehicle.

“I’m starting to feel traumatized by all these blindfolds.” I tugged at it a little to get a peek of my surroundings.

Jude tapped my hand. “Oh, quit complaining, Rain. You love my surprises.”

It took us another five minutes to arrive at the next place. He helped me out and wrapped my hand in his soft fingers. Blind, I walked wherever he led. Piano music played in the background. A cool breeze brushed by, bringing a natural salty fragrance with it, so I knew we still had to be outside. I could hear the crashing of waves too.

Okay. We’re on a beach or near the sea somewhere.

“Take off those sandals.” Jude squeezed my hand. “Do you need my help?”

“No.” I slipped out of them. Cool sand slid under my feet.

Okay. We’re definitely on a beach.

He lifted me up and carried me. I shrieked and then fell into a fit of giggles. “Why did you ask me to take off my sandals if you were just going to carry me?”

“Just be quiet and enjoy the ride.”

“Gee, you’re so bossy right now.”

“I’m more impatient. I really want to do something and it’s driving me crazy.”

“What is it? What do you want to do?” I rested my head on his shoulder. He didn’t answer. I exhaled a long breath. “So we’re on the beach. That’s a good sign.”