Page 22 of Derailed
Big brown eyes follow my every move from above the top of a magazine. But that’s not what has my entire body taut with tension. No, it’s the virginal white one-piece bathing suit she wears that leaves very little to my imagination. Not that my imagination hasn’t already traced every single curve, but still, now I know for certain her body’s as banging as I thought it’d be. God, I’m such a pervert. Not moving or saying a damn word since I caught herstaring.
Not like she’s moved or said a word, either. I study her with the determination of a straight A student preparing for a final exam. Knowing I won’t get to look again, I memorize everything I can, right down to the little mole on her left thigh.Shit.
“You always start your day with a little eavesdropping?” I didn’t notice her when I came into the yard, but she had to have heard every word of my call. I notice her magazine. “And celebrity tabloids?” It was meant as a joke, but my brows furrow with the realization that I know nothing about this woman. She seems sweet and innocent enough, but if she’s reading that shit . . . She could easily make a quick buck by selling insidersecrets.
Her eyes widen, bigger than I thought they could, and she snaps the magazine shut, holding it over her breasts. “I thought I’d be alone outhere.”
“Yeah? So what, you come out here and read about the lies of the rich and famous while tanning in a luxury backyard of a home you don’t own or pay rent on? What’s your game, Jess?” My tone is harsher than I intend, and I almost feel bad when she slinks further back into thechair.
“Game?” Her brows pull together and she shakes her head. “No game. I swearit.”
“Coy appreciate you reading that crap?” I nod to the magazine and her fingers release it as if the thing just caught on fire. I can’t imagine he does, but my words were only meant to rile her. Maybe draw out her intent, not send Jess into a ghost whitepanic.
Even her lips lose their color as she tucks her legs up and wraps her arms around them, placing a barrier between us. “I . . . um . . . Please, don’t . . . I’m . . .” Her words are barely audible as her entire bodytrembles.
Shit.I close the space between us and prop myself on the edge of the loveseat, my hand rubbing small circles at the center of her back. “Breathe. Just breathe with me. Deep breath in. Let itout.”
Thankfully she does, and color comes back to her face after a few breaths. She won’t meet my gaze, but I consider it a win that she’s not shaking anymore. I try not to ogle her body. I really do, but there is something about a woman in white fabric that pulls at the inner caveman. There’s nothing I’d like more right now than to claim her lips. Kiss that apprehension away and then use my mouth to memorize a map of every dip, valley, and curve of her gorgeousbody.
“You won’t say anything?” She finally tilts her chin and meets my hungrygaze.
The magazine. Right. I also won’t be telling Coy how much I fantasize about his woman. I won’t be telling anyone that. “I won’t say a word. You’re new to all this,” I say and she nods. “So you don’t understand how apprehensive we can be about tabloids. It’s all fun and games until you’re the one they’re talkingabout.”
“Outfits,” she blurts and scoots over, putting a few inches of space betweenus.
I drop my hand from the small of her back and cock my head with a slight smile. “Comeagain?”
She blushes. It starts at the top of her breasts and goes up her neck to stain her cheeks. “I look at this kind of magazine for the outfits. Clothing, jewelry. You’re correct. I’m new to all of this, and I’m terrified I won’t look the part. I’m sure you’ve already guessed I don’t come frommoney.”
“Hey, I don’t come from money, either.” I wait until she meets my gaze again. “That’s nothing to be embarrassedabout.”
“I just don’t want to make the band look bad.” She nibbles on the inside of her lip. It’s her nervous tic. She has no fucking clue how desirable she is, and because of that she’s even more appealing. The media, though, they’ll eat her up in aminute.
“Practice. It comes with practice. You can’t let them in.” I want to touch her again, and I know that’s wrong. I shouldn’t, but I strike a compromise with my desire and lift my hand to tap the side of her brow. My fingertips brush a few loose strands from her forehead and I tuck them back behind her ear. “Fake it ’til you make it, and maybe have Coy take you on a shopping spree. I always feel like a million bucks when my clothes play thepart.”
“Oh, I don’t want to bother him with that. He’s got so much to do beforetonight.”
“You don’t have a dress for tonight?” I frown because if Jess were my girl, I wouldn’t let her worry about this kind of crap. I’d give her my credit card and set her loose in Nordstrom with a personal shopper. “Borrow mycar?”
“I couldn’t do that.” Her eyes go wide with alarm and I wonder why a woman like her is so opposed to a favor like that. I need to know. I want to know everything abouther.
Raising a brow, I smile. “You must. Iinsist.”
“I can’t,” she says, and I catch her chin tremble before her lips pull wide and a laugh escapes them. “Like, I seriously can’t. I don’tdrive.”
“You don’t . . . Where the fuck did you come from?” I laugh and take delight when she joinsme.
“Nowhere,USA.”
“And they don’t have cars there? Still riding horses andshit?”
She shakes her head. “No. I’ve never been on a horseeither.”
“Damn, girl. This really is a whole newworld.”
“You don’t even know.” She sighs and for the first time since I caught her back here, she appearscomfortable.
“Trent’s mom.” I smile with the idea. It’s perfect, really; she always wanted adaughter.
