Foolish Games (29 page)

“I thought so, yes.” I kept my eyes on the ground.

“Oh.”

“So we’re good?” I rolled my eyes.

“Yeah, I mean, I think I can remember that one.” He tried to stifle a laugh, but it got the better of him and it came spurting out.

“Shut up!” I laughed. “It was the most inconspicuous one I could think of,” I lied. “I mean no one would have thought that was my password.”

“
No
, they certainly would not.” He nodded with a crooked little grin.

“So where are we?” I asked, looking out a nearby window while thinking, so I could crawl away and die somewhere.

“We haven’t left Atlanta, yet,” he explained. “I figured you wouldn’t accept a ride to Charleston.” He mockingly rolled his eyes.

“Oh shit, Riley.” I pulled out my cell phone. “I was supposed to text him last night about where to meet up.”

Hawkins took a sip of his coffee as I texted, “I’m so sorry! Where are you?”

“Target parking lot,” Riley texted back.

At the same time Hawkins asked, “Whose parking lot is it this time?”

“Target.” I giggled.

“Wow,” he said, widening his eyes. “And for a second there I was worried about your safety.”

“I’ll be okay.” I tried to ease his fears.

“How can you be so sure?” A sudden troubled, disconcerting look crossed his face.

“You are the only one who can identify The Grimm Reaper in person.” He stopped to look up at me intently. “He has to be freaked out about that. You just can’t take that kind of risk by riding around in that van unprotected.”

The weight of what Hawkins was saying hit me. He had a point. Yet another more powerful emotion consumed me. Fear of losing my father’s van.

“I can’t just leave my van behind,” I told him. Hawkins seemed to understand that my mind was made up and didn’t push it.

“It doesn’t mean that I can’t have security stationed around the van at the venue like before,” Hawkins muttered. “In case he tries to jimmy it open when you guys are at the concert.”

“Now that makes me feel better.” I had to admit.

“I could also have someone tail you.” Hawkins’ cool exterior cracked for a second. “I mean not to stalk you, but just in case he follows you.”

“No, I understand.” I made light of the situation. “You would do it for anyone if it meant catching this guy, right?”

“Exactly.” He pointed a finger at me.

“It’s strategic.” I nodded while smiling.

“Took the words right out of my mouth.” He grinned. “I mean not that last night wasn’t superb.”

“Superb?”

“You know, hot, went well…superb.” His face slightly flushed.

“Wow, superb.” I smiled at him because I was not used to seeing Hawkins lose his cool.

“You know what? I’ll be right back.” He cleared his throat and got up. “I need to go get my driver.”

He passed me down the aisle for a much needed break while muttering to himself, “Superb?!” He exited the bus while I smiled from ear to ear. Glancing down at lyrics scattered across the table, I noticed that my name was written on one of the papers. I knew that I shouldn’t have been looking over his personal scribbling, but seeing my name, I couldn’t stop myself. Before I could read the lyrics, my phone went off in my pocket. Feeling guilty, I leaned back against the nearby counter again and pulled out my phone.

“So did you hook up with him?” Riley texted me.

“No, we stayed up and talked.”

“Ouch.”

“No, you moron!” I laughed while texting, “It was very nice.”

I was back to glancing down at the lyrics from the counter, when Hawkins came back up the steps with his driver right behind him. The bus suddenly started to move and it threw off my equilibrium. I was thrown a little off balance when Hawkins gently grabbed my arm and pulled me into him to steady me. He leaned me up against the counter to anchor me to the spot as the bus continued to twist and turn down the road. We were pressed up against each other again like last night. His eyes were searching mine before he kissed me. The rocking of the bus had our bodies thoroughly teased by the tantalizing motion. It was not long before Hawkins was guiding me down the hallway to his room.

He stripped off his t-shirt in between kissing me. My hands lingered over his broad shoulders then down the silky skin of his back. He broke away from the kiss and watched me with dazed eyes while I touched him. He was tugging at my shirt from below until it was up over my head. We were kissing passionately when the bus suddenly came to a stop. Hawkins ignored it as he gently thrust me down on to the bed with him when suddenly my phone went off again. “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” was blaring away in my pocket while I thought, damn it, girls do just want to have fun! So stop calling me!

I planned to ignore it, but the moment was thoroughly thrown off by an “ahem” at the door. Hawkins rolled off of me in frustration while I quickly grabbed my shirt and threw it back on. It was thoroughly embarrassing, but Hawkins only laughed as we got ourselves composed. He got up and opened the door.

“What is so important?” he asked the driver politely.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” The driver sounded truly embarrassed.

“It’s okay,” Hawkins assured him.

“Security has been trying to reach you.”

“Thanks.” Hawkins sighed before he shut the door again.

“What the hell, you’d think my driver would be used to it by now,” he said jokingly.

“And for a second, I liked thinking I was the only random girl he’s caught you with.” I smirked while getting up from the bed.

“Hey, let’s not start assuming things again,” he warned while pointing a finger at me. “He’s just not used to seeing a girl the next day.”

“What, Jack and Coke didn’t make it to sunrise?”

“Just missed it,” he tisked. “Mind you, it was three or four in the morning, but you have the general idea.”

“Ah, huh.” I smiled before he leaned in and gave me a loving kiss.

“That’s my favorite t-shirt by the way.” He winked. Looking down, I gasped. In all the confusion, I had flung the once inside out t-shirt over my head without realizing that I put it on the right way this time. Hawkins’ face was across my chest.

I went to hike the thing up over my head when Hawkins stopped me. “No, leave it, I like it on you.” He cupped my face with my hair intertwined around the tips of his fingers. He hovered over my lips before he kissed me so passionately, we stumbled back into the door. A laugh escaped from my lips making us both smile.

“Alright, Mrs. Senator Johnson.” His soft lips pecked mine. “Daddy’s got to make a living.”

We walked out of his bedroom hand in hand down the aisle. Glancing out the window, I saw Riley leaning up against the van. Stopping midstride, Hawkins gently bumped into me.

“What’s wrong?”

“Just giving Riley some time to breathe again.” I smirked as I looked out the tinted window. It wasn’t everyday Hawkins’ tour bus pulled up next to our little beat up van.

“At least he acts like a real fan,” Hawkins muttered.

“What do you mean?”

“What do I mean?” he asked dramatically.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I lied before continuing to head down the aisle.

“Yeah, okay.” Hawkins laughed.

“Just humor him for me.”

Walking down the steps with Hawkins behind me, the sunlight from another warm summer day streamed down around us. Riley gave me a knowing smile, but it suddenly disappeared with the arrival of Hawkins by my side.

“I don’t think that we’ve been properly introduced.” Hawkins held out his hand for Riley. It took Riley a few seconds to adjust to the sudden shock he was obviously feeling as he slowly stretched out his hand in return. As Hawkins released Riley’s hand he added, “I heard that you’re a fan of Harlow’s work?”

Riley was speechless, but finally nodded to show some sign of life. Hawkins seemed used to this kind of reaction, though usually from girls. “Maybe I could introduce you to him? He’s a cool guy. Hell, he’ll probably even let you watch him work the lights one night…I mean if you want to?” Hawkins added.

Riley seemed unable to breathe.

“Riley.” I prompted him to come back down to earth.

“Yeah,” he exhaled. “Yeah.”

“Cool,” Hawkins said then turned to look at me. “Are you sure you don’t want ride with me in the bus? Riley could come, too,” he said, thickening the pot and Riley gasped beside me. Looking up at him, I gave him a knowingly devious glare. It was in that moment that I knew how truly stubborn we both were. He didn’t have any intention of making my decision to stay with the van any easier. That much was clear when he brought Riley into the mix. Riley, who obviously loved the prospect of riding on the tour bus with Hawkins, went silent and still next to me.

“No, we don’t want get in your way,” I returned. Besides, the idea of Riley walking in on us
unexpectedly
was more than I cared to think about.

“We’ll be fine,” I assured him. “So I’ll see you in Charleston?”

“Yeah.” He smiled mischievously at me. “I’ll be around.”

He waved at us before turning around to sing no louder than a whisper, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.” Beaming, I slid into our van’s driver’s seat.

Riley got in quickly after and shouted at me, “Are you nuts!”

“What?”

“What? He…he,” he tried to finish, “that he said.”

“I’ll need a complete sentence.” I laughed while turning the key in the ignition. The van revved to life behind us.

“He offered
us
a ride in his bus!” Riley exclaimed while glancing over at the sleek purple bus. “And you said no!” he shouted hoarsely.

“Is this because you want to go?” I toyed with him while pretending to be serious. “I’m sure he’ll let you ride along. Why don’t you just go up and ask him?”

“Oh, because I’m so good at talking around the guy.” Riley held his arms out with exasperation and laughed.

“Have it your way,” I said with a small smile across my face while looking over my shoulder and putting the van in reverse. He sunk down in his seat, crossed his legs, and bounced one up and down while staring over at the bus. Pretty sure this was the most sulking I had ever seen Riley do.

Shifting the gears, I drove out of the Target parking lot and after stopping at another small road, I smiled, realizing that Hawkins’ tour bus was tagging behind us. As they came closer, I could see Hawkins leaning his arm along an upper banister while directing the driver.

“Is Lizzie coming with us today?” I asked him as we came to a stop at the light at the top of the hill. I needed to know if I had to pick her up, at least, after I decided whether I was willing to pick her up.

“Yeah, she still refuses to give Wayne her social,” he groaned.

“God,” I sighed. What was she thinking? She was much more protected with Warren than with us.

“Security is tight after the death of Jeff Monroe,” he mentioned. “And now that the stakes are higher, I heard The Grimm Reaper is threatening to blow up one of the band’s tour buses. I guess they’re taking extra precautions. The way Lizzie talks, I don’t think that Wayne is going to be asking next time.”

“Riley, how do you know all this?” I asked him in astonishment as I stole a glance at the purple bus behind us through the rearview mirror.

“My boss is good friends with the PR person for the band.” He shrugged. “I guess they’ve worked together for many years. We only heard about it because we need to be one step ahead of everyone else in case they cancel a tour date or something. Besides, my boss is one of
those
people.”

“What do you mean, one of
those
people?” I looked across the street at the nearest Texaco gas station but was relieved when I looked down at the gas gauge and saw that it was full. Riley probably filled it up this morning.

“You know, he likes to be in the know and on top of everything.” Riley rolled his eyes, but didn’t continue the conversation. I got a sense he wasn’t particularly happy with his boss after all the editing to his reviews.

“So where is Lizzie?” I turned the steering wheel and took a right at the intersection when the light turned green. Up ahead were signs identifying the upcoming highway.

“The Grand Hyatt Hotel.” Riley grabbed up his laptop. “She said Peachtree Road.” He quickly typed in the address on the MapQuest site.

“The Grand Hyatt Hotel,” Riley directed. “You want to merge onto I-75 North to I-85 North. It’s right up here after this light.” He pointed ahead.

Behind me, I noticed Hawkins’ bus was merging into the passing lane. The large, slick bus pulled up right beside our beat up van. Hawkins looked hotter than I could possible burn into my memory while leaning ever so coolly with his arm over his head against the banister up above. He was wearing a white t-shirt and crisscrossing, thin, leather necklaces. His dark hair was pushed back off his face. I don’t know why I didn’t notice the clothes before? It might have been because I never seemed to be able to look away from his hypnotic stare. Those twinkling blue eyes which made him look especially hot now were brooding in a sexy way. He gave a nod that was accompanied with a sly smile before turning away when the light changed. Turning down the exit ramp, I headed in the opposite direction of his bus.

“God, I was such a freaking idiot in front of him,” Riley said regretfully.

“No, no. Really, less is more,” I assured him.

Looking over my shoulder, I waited for the cars to fly by us so we could eventually merge onto the eight lane highway. Flooring the gas, I thought, someone will have to move over because I wasn’t stopping. Thankfully, I managed to slip into a tight space behind red Acura. Riley braced the dashboard while I prayed that we didn’t get hit. The driver in the white Land Rover behind us blew his horn for at least a good minute.

Riley looked over at me with his eyes bugged out.