Page 29 of The Devil's Detail
I try to hide it, but I’m sure James sees it. Oh, fuck it. He knows I always swooned over both Jackson and Jonno, I don’t need to hide it. Their muscles had me hot under the collar from day one.
I ham it up for James, trying to cover my admiration for Jackson. “Don’t you just looove the way he operates. My big bad protector. Hey sugar, can I buy you a drink?” James and Bucky laugh as I bat my eyelashes at Jackson. He just snorts in mock disgust and shakes his head, walking away and over to Ash.
I know they're talking about me, and our little situation. Well, they’re not the only ones with questions.
How the hell did that imbecile know where I was? And how did he get here so fast? Someone on my team is spilling the tea again, because no one else should have known where we were tonight. I specifically asked Kasey not to tell his friend, and practically begged him not to post on any of his socials. He knows the hassle I’m having, and has been really good about respecting my wishes.
Or so I thought.
“Let’s take this party back to my penthouse in the city. James, Bucky, are you coming along, sugars?” I pull James infor a hug, hoping Jackson won’t veto my executive decision. He seems determined to do just that, though.
“Don’t you want to go back to the beach? Away from all this?” He gestures around at the still chaotic restaurant.
“Naw, can’t be bothered tonight. And I got the apartment for situations just like this. It’s real close to any city action. And you know how much I love the action, baby.”
I flutter my eyelashes at James and Bucky. They both just shake their heads at me. So fucking cool. So chill. Oh to be twenty again. “Oh, I know that look. I think I’m in for it if your Uncle gets a hold of me. Don’t leave me alone with him, boys,” I implore them as if I’m terrified. My hands in prayer position, I pop my eyes open wide in mock fear. But then I temper my look to be playful. Oh, so playful.
“If I didn’t know you better Carter, I’d say you were actually fearing a good spanking.” Bucky makes a swishing motion with his hand. “But like I say, if I didn’t know you.” Grinning at me and Kasey’s lady friend, he waggles his eyebrows like Groucho Marx
“Be still my heart. It’s a fantasy come true.” I grab ahold of my chest near my heart, flutter my other hand in front of my face and feign a faint. “Don’t leave me, boys,” I plead in my best drawl.
My chaos doesn’t end when we leave the restaurant. I ham up my situation all the way home. Grabbing a hold of James and Bucky in the car, with Jackson and Ash getting more pissed off by the second.
Jackson checks the room as we enter and only allows certain personnel into the sitting area. Oh shit, he really means business. I hope he ain’t gonna quit. I’ve only just started to feel secure.
The only people left in the room are James, Bucky, and Kasey, his companion headed home to Kasey’s to wait for him.The only security is Zak, Ash, and Kasey’s guy. They sit discreetly in the corners. It’s amazing how such big, burly bears can blend into their surroundings so well.
I try to head off the lecture coming my way from my head of security. I wink at James, nodding my head towards the pacing Jackson, as I say, “Am I getting a spanking, Sugar?”
I’m nervous, and my extrovert self has popped out to play. I know it’s a defence mechanism. I use it way too often. But even I’ve started to notice it gets out of hand, normally causing me more problems than it fixes. And while I’m outwardly becoming more extroverted, on the inside I’m shrinking. My outward exhibitionism always covers for my insecurities, my worries. I morph into Carter Maywood, Hollywood fucking A list celebrity actor. He keeps me safe.
But fuck this. I couldn’t even have dinner without that clingy idiot showing up. I’m not taking the rap from Jackson for that. Someone else must be responsible for it, not me.
But he totally surprises me again. He keeps doing that! He doesn’t stalk over and hover over me, all intimidation and alpha bravado. No. He calmly walks over and places a gentle hand on my shoulder. I feel like he’s burning my skin, and I jump at his touch.Fuck.
“Are you alright, Carter? That is the main thing here.” He watches my face for signs of distress, or any indication that I'm lying to him.
What he hasn’t figured out yet, is that I can’t. I can hardly keep a sensible thought in my head, turning into a babbling wreck in his presence. I couldn’t lie to his face if I tried.
“I’m good. But who told him where I was? I never posted a thing. Did you Kase?” I rasp out, scrubbing my hands through my hair.
“No, I didn’t. And neither did my friend. I gave her very clear and strict instructions. She could post afterward, but notbefore or during. And I watched her like a hawk just to make sure.” He nods his head solemnly. “Why is he still showing up? You dumped him at Christmas, didn’t you?” I love Kasey for confirming what I already expected. Or at least hoped was the truth. Making sure everyone knows the situation, he leaves no doubt he’s aware of the severity of what’s going on.
“Yeah, I thought if I went big with the old ‘it’s not you it’s me’ he’d get the irony and fuck off. I mean, it was Christmas Eve for god's sake. Who ditches you on Christmas eve by text? A total asshole.” I point to myself. “He never took the hint. Clearly the message has not been received and understood.” I’m shaking my head in disgust. “I don’t think I could’ve done it any worse, been any harsher.” I nod towards James and Bucky. “You heard what he did, right? About the Christmas Eve dinner. Did Jackson tell you?” I’m fully into exasperation mode now. I don’t even know if Jackson knows everything that happened since it was before he came on board, but I’m on the defensive now, and I’m on a roll.
“He was on his way over to my place because I wasn’t answering his calls or texts. But he wasn’t alone.” I dramatically look around at them all, and as expected, they’re hanging on every word. “He rocked up with a fucking camera crew. For an intimate dinner he'd planned for fifty of my best friends. I don’t have fifty fuckin’ friends.” My arms are flailing wildly, my accent getting thicker and thicker as my anger notches higher. “And it was Christmas. IhateChristmas. Always have since my momma died. Why would I want a party on Christmas fuckin’ Eve. Anyone who knows me well, knows that.”
I get choked up. Still, after all this time. This is a nightmare. I’m reliving a nightmare, and that douche bucket is driving it.
“So when one of the camera crew spilled the beans about theintimate gatheringGary secretly planned, I had to wonder why they were there? Turns out everyone in Hollywood but me knew that fifty specially selected ‘friends’ were due a few hours later, toeat my food and drink my famous champagne cellar dry. I called it off, called a fuckin’ halt. Cancelled the crew, who were pissed since it was double time. I paid them anyway. Evicted them all, including Gary, from my yard. And texted that imbecile ‘Fuck off. We are done. It’s not me, it's you. Because you are an insipid parasite. Go fuck yourself. I never want to see you again.’”
James and Bucky are looking at me in awe.
“Christmas Eve, by text. Wow, man. That’s harsh,” Bucky states. But he looks impressed.
I shrug. “What was I supposed to do? Let him in with all the other leeches. Not a chance that was gonna happen, sugar.”
I grin at them to try to show I really am actually okay. Well, I am now anyway. Even if I wasn’t. “He’d become boring, anyway. All he ever talked about was my clothing. I was a walking mannequin to him. I couldn’t move without him simpering, ‘Caaarrrrtttiiiii… Here Carti, twirl baby, show them what you’re wearing today.’”
